UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): April 23, 2019
Greenlane
Holdings, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-38875 | 83-0806637 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
1095 Broken Sound Pkwy., Suite 300 Boca Raton, Florida | 33487 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 292-7660
N/A
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
Underwriting Agreement
On April 17, 2019, Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with the selling stockholders named on Schedule B thereto (the “ Selling Stockholders ”), and Cowen and Company LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC, as representatives of the underwriters set forth on Schedule A thereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), relating to the Company’s initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”). Under the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to sell 5,250,000 shares, and the Selling Stockholders agreed to sell an aggregate of 750,000 shares, of Class A Common Stock to the Underwriters at a purchase price per share of $15.81 (the offering price to the public of $17.00 per share minus the underwriters’ discount), pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-230405), as amended, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the related registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-230925) that was filed by the Company under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (collectively, the “ Registration Statement ”). The Selling Stockholders also provided the Underwriters with an option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to cover over allotments.
The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and the Selling Stockholders. It also provides that the Company and the Selling Stockholders will indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
Certain of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various investment banking services for the Company for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
The closing of the IPO occurred on April 23, 2019.
The foregoing summary of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Reorganization Transactions
In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into a Reorganization Agreement dated as of April 17, 2019 among the Company, Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and, at such time, an affiliate of the Company (the “ LLC ”), and the members of the LLC listed on the signature page thereto (the “ Reorganization Agreement ”) and completed a series of transactions described therein (the “ Reorganization Transactions ”). The Reorganization Agreement governs the terms of the Reorganization Transactions, which Reorganization Transactions are described in the Registration Statement. A copy of the Reorganization Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Also in connection with the IPO and the Reorganization Transactions, the Company entered into the following additional agreements, forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:
● | a Tax Receivable Agreement, dated April 17, 2019, by and among the Company, the LLC and each of the members of the LLC from time to time party thereto (the “ Tax Receivable Agreement ”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference; |
● | a Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 17, 2019, by and among the Company and each of the persons from time to time party thereto (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference; |
● | a Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the LLC, dated April 17, 2019, by and among the LLC and the members of the LLC (the “ Operating Agreement ”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. |
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The terms of the Reorganization Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Operating Agreement are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described in the Registration Statement.
Indemnification Agreements
On April 17, 2019, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors. These agreements provide, in general, that the Company shall indemnify the applicable executive officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to the Company or on the Company’s behalf. The foregoing summary of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of the indemnification agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
Issuance of Class B and Class C Common Stock
On April 17, 2019, in connection with the Reorganization Transactions, and pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, the Company issued (i) to the Non-Founder Members of the LLC (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement) an aggregate of 6,051,568 shares of the Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “ Class B Common Stock ”), and (ii) to the Founder Members of the LLC (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement) an aggregate of 78,951,969 shares of the Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “ Class C Common Stock ”). Subsequent thereto, in connection with the IPO, certain of the Non-Founder Members redeemed an aggregate of 105,140 shares of Class B Common Stock (and a like number of Common Units of the LLC) for an aggregate of 105,140 shares of Class A common stock, and the Founder Members redeemed an aggregate of 1,934,580 shares of Class C common stock (and 644,860 Common Units of the LLC) for an aggregate of 644,860 shares of Class A common stock, which shares of Class A common stock were sold by such members of the LLC as selling stockholders in the IPO. The Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock were issued for nominal consideration. Holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock are entitled to cast one vote per share, but such shares will not confer any economic rights in the Company (such that the holders of such shares do not have the right to receive any distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock, in connection with such shares of common stock).
The shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock were issued in reliance on the registration exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act on the basis that the transaction did not involve a public offering. No underwriters were involved in the issuance and sale of such shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock.
Issuance of Shares to Noteholders
On April 23, 2019, in connection with the closing of the IPO and the Reorganization Transactions, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,547,776 shares of Class A Common Stock to the holders of $48.25 million aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes of the LLC that were issued in December 2018 and January 2019 to accredited investors, which promissory notes automatically settled in shares of Class A Common Stock at a settlement price equal to 80% of the initial public offering price of the Class A Common Stock, or $13.60 per share, upon the closing of the IPO.
The shares of Class A Common Stock were issued in reliance on the registration exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Acton the basis that the transaction did not involve a public offering. No underwriters were involved in the issuance and sale of such shares of Class A Common Stock.
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Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On April 17, 2019, in connection with the IPO and the Reorganization Transactions, the Company adopted the Greenlane Holdings, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”), as described in the Registration Statement. An aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were originally reserved for future issuance under the Plan. In addition, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will increase annually without further board of directors or stockholder approval.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On April 17, 2019, in connection with the IPO and the Reorganization Transactions, the Company amended and restated its certificate of incorporation (the “ Restated Certificate ”) and amended and restated its by-laws (the “ Restated By-Laws ”). The Company filed the Restated Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 17, 2019. The terms of the Restated Certificate and of the Restated By-Laws are substantially the same as described in the Registration Statement. The Restated Certificate is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference, and the Restated By-Laws are attached as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Ethan Rudin | |
Name:
Ethan Rudin
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
April 25, 2019
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit 1.1
EXECUTION VERSION
6,000,000 Shares
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
Class A Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
April 17, 2019
Cowen and Company , LLC
Canaccord Genuity LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Cowen and Company, LLC
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
c/o Canaccord Genuity LLC
99 High Street, 12th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory . Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the selling stockholders named in Schedule B hereto (the “ Selling Stockholders ”) propose to sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ,” or, each, an “ Underwriter ”), an aggregate of 6,900,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) of the Company. The aggregate of 6,000,000 shares so proposed to be sold is hereinafter referred to as the “ Firm Stock ”. The Selling Stockholders listed in Schedule B hereto also propose to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof, an aggregate of up to 900,000 additional shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Optional Stock ”). The Firm Stock and the Optional Stock are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Stock ”. Cowen and Company, LLC (“ Cowen ”) and Canaccord Genuity LLC are acting as representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Representatives .”
On the date hereof, the Company is a holding company that currently holds no material assets and does not engage in any operations. The business of the Company is conducted through Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Greenlane Holdings, LLC ”), and its subsidiaries. In connection with the offering contemplated by this underwriting agreement (this “ Agreement ”), the “ Transactions ” (as such term is defined in the Registration Statement (as defined below) under the heading “The Transactions”) have been or will be effected, pursuant to which the Company will be appointed as the sole managing member of Greenlane Holdings, LLC. As the sole managing member of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, the Company will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Greenlane Holdings, LLC and, through Greenlane Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business. The Company and Greenlane Holdings, LLC are collectively referred to herein as the “ Greenlane Parties ,” and each of the Company and Greenlane Holdings, LLC is sometimes individually referred to herein as a “ Greenlane Party .”
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company
Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date (as defined below), and agrees with the several Underwriters, that:
(a) Registration Statement . A registration statement of the Company on Form S-1 (File No. 333-230405) (including all amendments thereto, the “ Initial Registration Statement ”) in respect of the Stock 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, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to you for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form and meet in all material respects the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “ Rules and Regulations ”). Other than (i) the Initial Registration Statement, (ii) a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), (iii) any Preliminary Prospectus (as defined below), (iv) the Prospectus (as defined below) contemplated by this Agreement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations in accordance with Section 4(i)(a) hereof and (v) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), no other document with respect to the offer and sale of the Stock has heretofore been filed with the Commission. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities 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 of the Rules and Regulations is hereinafter called a “ Preliminary Prospectus . ” The Initial Registration Statement including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it became effective is hereinafter collectively called the “ Registration Statement .” If the Company has filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus, in the form filed pursuant to and within the time limits described in Rule 424(b) under the Rules and Regulations, is hereinafter called the “ Prospectus .”
(b) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the applicable Closing Date, none of (i) the General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Pricing Prospectus (as defined below) and the information included on Schedule D hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), (ii) any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), (iii) the bona fide electronic roadshow (as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) of the Rules and Regulations); or (iv) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information (as defined in Section 17 hereof). As used in this paragraph (b) and elsewhere in this Agreement:
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“ Applicable Time ” means 4:30 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representatives.
“ General Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is identified on Schedule C to this Agreement.
“ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations relating to the Stock in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) of the Rules and Regulations.
“ Limited Use Free Writing Prospectuses ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
“ Pricing Prospectus ” means the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Stock that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time.
Written Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
(c) No Stop Orders; No Material Misstatements . No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Stock has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, 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 the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus Contents . At the respective times the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became or become effective as to the Underwriters and at each Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was issued and at each Closing Date, conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (d) shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.
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(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Stock or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 4(f), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and did not, does not and will not include, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading provided , however , that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (e) shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.
(f) Distribution of Offering Materials . The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and consistent with Section 4(I)(b) below. The Company will file with the Commission all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (other than a “road show” as described in Rule 433(d)(8) of the Rules and Regulations) in the time and manner required under Rules 163(b)(2) and 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations.
(g) Emerging Growth Company . From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communications) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”). “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.
(h) Not an Ineligible Issuer . At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, and at the date hereof, the Company was not, and the Company currently is not, an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
(i) Testing the Waters Communications . The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule E hereto.
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(j) Organization and Good Standing . The Company and each of its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 15 hereof) have been duly organized and are validly existing as corporations or other legal entities in good standing (or the foreign equivalent thereof) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing as foreign corporations or other legal entities in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification and have all power and authority (corporate or other) necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to so qualify or have such power or authority would not (i) have, singularly or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (any such effect as described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(k) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(l) The Stock . The Stock to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder has been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Stock is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(m) Capitalization . The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company, including the Stock, have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws, and conform to the description thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. As of the date set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there were no authorized or outstanding shares of capital stock, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those described above or accurately described in the General Disclosure Package. Since such date, the Company has not issued any securities other than Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants or upon the exercise of stock options or other awards outstanding under the Company’s stock option plans, options or other securities granted or issued pursuant to the Company’s existing equity compensation plans or other plans, and the issuance of Class A Common Stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plans. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, accurately and fairly present the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
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(n) Capitalization of Subsidiaries . All the outstanding shares of capital stock (if any) of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, except to the extent set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.
(o) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the issue and sale of the Stock by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge upon any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, 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, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or analogous governing instruments, as applicable) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. A “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(p) No Consents Required . Except for the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) and The Nasdaq Global Market in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stock by the Underwriters and the listing of the Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, qualification or registration (each an “ Authorization ”) with, any court, governmental or regulatory agency or body, foreign or domestic, which has not been made, obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect, is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the issuance and sale of the Stock or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and no event has occurred that allows or results in, or after notice or lapse of time or both would allow or result in, revocation, suspension, termination or invalidation of any such Authorization or any other impairment of the rights of the holder or maker of any such Authorization.
(q) Independent Auditors . (i) BDO USA, LLP (“ BDO ”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Article 2-01 of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “ PCAOB ”), (ii) Squar Milner LLP (“ Squar Milner ”), who have certified financial statements of Better Life Holdings, LLC, were, as of the date of Better Life Holdings, LLC’s historical financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, independent public accountants with respect to Better Life Holdings, LLC and (iii) Squar Milner, who have certified financial statements of Pollen Gear LLC, were, as of the date of Pollen Gear LLC’s historical financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, independent public accountants with respect to Pollen Gear LLC.
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(r) Financial Statements . The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes and schedules, included in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. Such statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as may be set forth in the related notes included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The financial statements, together with the related notes and schedules, included in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with Regulation S-X. No other financial statements or supporting schedules or exhibits are required by Regulation S-X to be described or included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X and present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The summary and selected financial data included in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and are derived from the consolidated financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and other financial information. All information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as defined in Regulation G) complies with Regulation G and Item 10 of Regulation S-K, to the extent applicable.
(s) No Material Adverse Change . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package, (i) 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 action, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory authority, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package; (ii) any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, or pursuant to other compensation agreements described in, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse changes, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, assets, general affairs, management, financial position, prospects, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
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(t) Legal Proceedings . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there is no legal or governmental proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any products distributed by the Company or its subsidiaries or the manufacturer of such products is the subject, including any proceeding before or investigations or inquiries by the United States Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“ FDA ”), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“ DEA ”), or comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental bodies which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and is not described therein, or which, singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental or regulatory authorities or threatened by others. The Company is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and orders governing its business as prescribed by the FDA, the DEA, or any other federal, state or foreign agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of controlled substances, tobacco and tobacco products, pharmaceuticals or related substances or materials, except where noncompliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) No Violation or Default . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws (or analogous governing instrument, as applicable), (ii) in default in any respect, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, 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 is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject or (iii) in violation in any respect of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court order, decree or judgment to which it or its property or assets may be subject (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA, the DEA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA or the DEA) except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Licenses or Permits . The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate local, state, federal or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA or otherwise governing public health, consumer safety, and consumer products) that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “ Governmental Permits ”) except where any failures to possess or make the same would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all such Governmental Permits, and all such Governmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in compliance or the validity or failure to be in full force and effect would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received notification of any revocation, modification, suspension, termination or invalidation (or proceedings related thereto) of any such material Governmental Permit and the Company has no reason to believe that any such material Governmental Permit will not be renewed.
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(w) Regulatory Compliance . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any request for documents or information, inspectional observations, notice of adverse filing, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from the FDA, the DEA, or any other court or arbitrator or federal, state, local, or foreign governmental or regulatory authority in relation to potential noncompliance with any applicable laws or regulations, including, without limitation, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C § 301 et seq.) (the “ FDCA ”) or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (the “ CSA ” ), nor has the Company been subject to any seizure of documents, information, or products by any regulatory authority. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its directors, officers, employees and agents are and have been in material compliance with applicable laws and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws, and comparable state laws, and all other local, state, federal, national, supranational, and foreign laws, manual provisions, policies and administrative guidance relating to the regulation of the Company, except where noncompliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted or issued or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post sale warning, or other notice or action relating to the safety or efficacy of any product or the failure to comply with any governmental law, rule or regulation regarding product labeling and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third-party has initiated or conducted any such notice or action and there is no basis for any such notice or action.
(x) Criminal Laws . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in, or will engage in, (i) any direct or indirect dealings or transactions in violation of federal or state criminal laws, including, without limitation, the CSA, the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act, the International Travel Act of 1961 or any anti-money laundering statute, except for direct or indirect dealings or transactions that would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any “aiding and abetting” in any violation of federal or state criminal laws statute, except for any violation that would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, 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 federal or state criminal laws is pending or threatened.
(y) Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering of the Stock and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(z) No Stabilization . Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.
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(aa) Intellectual Property . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all (i) valid and enforceable patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses, trade secret rights (“ Intellectual Property Rights ”) and (ii) inventions, software, works of authorships, trademarks, service marks, trade names, databases, formulae, know how, Internet domain names and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary confidential information, systems, or procedures) (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Assets ”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted and described in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, provided that with respect to Intellectual Property Rights and Intellectual Property Assets owned by third parties, the foregoing representations are made solely to the knowledge of the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any opinion from their legal counsel concluding that any activities of their respective businesses infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or party, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, have not received written notice of any challenge, which is to their knowledge still pending, by any other person or party to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets owned or used by the Company or its subsidiaries, in each case that would cause a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses as now conducted do not give rise to any infringement of, any misappropriation of, or other violation of, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or party. The licenses for the use of the Intellectual Property Rights necessary to conduct business as currently conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole and described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the parties thereto in accordance to their terms. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company has complied in all material respects with, and is not in breach nor has received any written asserted or threatened claim of breach of any Intellectual Property license to which it is a party, and the Company has no knowledge of any material breach or anticipated breach by any other person or party to any Intellectual Property license. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any claim made against the Company alleging the infringement by the Company of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or franchise right of any person or party. The Company has taken reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard its Intellectual Property Rights, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other person or party in respect of, the Company’s right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual Property Rights as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the business as currently conducted. With respect to the use of the software in the Company’s business as it is currently conducted, to its knowledge, the Company has not experienced any material defects in such software including any material error or omission in the processing of any transactions other than defects which have been corrected, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such software contains any device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or otherwise impair the functioning of any software.
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(bb) Privacy Laws . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with (i) all applicable local, national, provincial and international data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“ HIPAA ”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “ HITECH Act ”) (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.), as applicable; and the Company and its subsidiaries have taken all necessary actions to comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“ GDPR ”) (EU 2016/679), as applicable, (ii) the PCI Security Standards Council’s Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) and all other applicable security rules and requirements as promulgated by the PCI Security Standards Council, by any member thereof, or by any entity that functions as a card brand, card association, card network, payment processor, acquiring bank, merchant bank or issuing bank, including, without limitation, all merchant- and service provider-specific requirements, the Payment Application Data Security Standards (PA-DSS) and all audit, scanning and filing requirements (collectively, “ PCI Requirements ”), and (iii) all applicable industry guidelines and self-regulatory programs (collectively, (i) – (iii), “ Privacy Laws ”). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (i) to ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its subsidiaries have, and at all prior times have had, in place policies and procedures relating to data privacy, security and the Data Activities (the “ Policies ”); (ii) the Policies materially comply, and at all times have materially complied, with applicable Privacy Laws and met industry standards for companies engaged in ecommerce; (iii) the Company has materially complied with and taken appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their Policies; (iv) the Company provides accurate notice of its Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives; and (v) the Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such Policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. “ Personal Data ” means (i) a natural persons’ name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, financial account and credit card numbers (and associated payment details), or customer or account number; (ii) any information defined as personal information, personal data, personally identifiable or individually identifiable under applicable laws and FTC guidance; (iii) Protected Health Information as defined by HIPAA; (iv) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (v) any other information that that identifies, could be used to identify or is linkable to a natural person, or his or her family, household or device, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to individual, household or device. “ Data Activities ” means any and all collection, storage, use, disclosure, security, handling, analysis, transfer, acquisition and/or other processing of Personal Data. No disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies in any material respect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any other agreement of the Company referred to in this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws or the Company’s Privacy Policies, and the Company has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
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(cc) IT Systems . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (i)(x) there has been no material security breach or attack or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (“ IT Systems and Data ”), (y) the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any security breach, attack or compromise to their IT Systems and Data and (z) there have been no material events relating to any of the Company’s and its subsidiaries IT Systems and Data that requires notice to consumers, employees, suppliers, vendor or governmental or regulatory authorities, (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have complied in all material respects, and are presently in compliance in all material respects with, all applicable laws, statutes or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practice.
(dd) Title to Real and Personal Property . The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in and (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that (i) do not, singularly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) No Labor Dispute . There is (A) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against it or any of its subsidiaries, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relation board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against it and (B) no labor disturbance by or dispute with, employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, that could reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any such subsidiary.
(ff) Compliance with ERISA . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s knowledge: (i) no “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”)); (ii) no “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA); or (iii) none of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the thirty (30)-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code. The Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred and could not reasonably be expected to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any pension plan (as defined in ERISA), in each case, that would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each pension plan for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) (or may rely upon an opinion or advisory letter issued by the IRS in connection with the underlying prototype or volume submitter plan) and, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s knowledge, nothing has occurred since that would cause the loss of such qualification.
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(gg) Environmental Laws and Hazardous Materials . The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“ Environmental Laws ”). To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has knowledge.
(hh) Taxes . The Company and its subsidiaries each (i) have timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, and all such returns were true, complete and correct, (ii) have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes (whether or not shown on any tax return), for which it is liable, including, without limitation, (A) all sales and use taxes, (B) all taxes which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to withhold from distributions to members or from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, and (C) any taxes for which the Company or its subsidiaries are liable as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, and (iii) do not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding or assessed or, to its knowledge, proposed against any of them, except those, in each of the cases described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Insurance . The Company and each of its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses at a similar stage of development in similar industries. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice from any insurer, agent of such insurer or the broker of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that any material capital improvements or any other material expenditures (other than premium payments) are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance.
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(jj) Accounting Controls . The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the “ Exchange Act Rules ”)) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(kk) Disclosure Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Rules) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in reports that they file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures.
(ll) Meetings and Written Consents of Directors, Stockholders and Others . The Company has made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters minutes, or a complete summary in all material respects, of all meetings and copies of all written consents of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders (or analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable) of the Company and Greenlane Holdings, LLC and each of their respective subsidiaries since the time of their respective incorporations or organizations through the date of the latest meeting and action, and such minutes or summaries accurately in all material respects reflect all actions taken or authorizations referred to in such minutes or summaries.
(mm) No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and which is not so described.
(nn) No Registration Rights . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, no person or entity has the right to require registration of shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or otherwise, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right in writing or who have been given timely and proper written notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Securities Act.
(oo) Margin Rules . The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Stock as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve system or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
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(pp) No Broker’s Fees . Except for the letter agreement, dated as of January 12, 2018, by and between Greenlane Holdings, LLC and Canaccord Genuity Corp., neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
(qq) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
(rr) Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(ss) Listing . The Stock has been approved for listing subject to notice of issuance on The Nasdaq Global Market (the “ Exchange ”). A registration statement has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act.
(tt) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) to the extent applicable to the Company, its officers or directors, prior to the execution of this Agreement.
(uu) No Unlawful Payments . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary, has (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, political parties or campaigns, political party officials, or candidates for political office from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any applicable provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable anti-corruption laws, rules, or regulation of any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any subsidiary conducts business, or (iv) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other unlawful payment to any person.
(vv) Statistical and Market Data . The statistical and market related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived in all material respects.
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(ww) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including, to the extent applicable, those of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), as applicable, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-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 Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(xx) Compliance with OFAC .
(A) | Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate, representative or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council (“ UNSC ”), the European Union (“ EU ”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of a U.S. government embargo (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria). |
(B) | The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of a U.S. government embargo; or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). |
(C) | For the past five (5) years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any direct or indirect dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions or any country or territory that, at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of a U.S. government embargo. |
(yy) No Associated Persons; FINRA Matters . Except as disclosed to the Representatives, to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(1)) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA, other than as described on Schedule E hereof.
(zz) Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners . The Company has delivered to the Representatives a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, and, if required, copies of identifying documentation.
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(aaa) Reorganization Documents . Each of the Tax Receivable Agreement (as such term is defined in the Registration Statement), the Greenlane Operating Agreement (as such term is defined in the Registration Statement) and the Registration Rights Agreement (as such term is defined in the Registration Statement) (collectively, the “ Reorganization Documents ”) has been duly authorized by each Greenlane Party, and when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of each Greenlane Party to the extent a party thereto, enforceable against such Greenlane Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
(bbb) Company Activities . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any person acting on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary has cultivated, produced, processed, imported or distributed, or has any current intention to cultivate, produce, process, import or distribute, any cannabis product or has otherwise engaged, or has any current intention to otherwise engage, in any dealings or transactions in cannabis in or to the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia or any other federal, provincial, state, municipal, local or foreign jurisdiction where such activity is illegal. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has exported any cannabis product to any jurisdiction. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the Company and its subsidiaries do not carry on any activities or distribute any products in a manner that violates applicable federal, state or provincial laws. For all purposes of this Agreement, the term “cannabis” shall exclude the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
(ccc) Description of the Reorganization Documents . Each Reorganization Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
Representations and Warranties and Agreements of the Selling Stockholders . Each Selling Stockholder severally and not jointly represents and warrants to the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date, and agrees with the several Underwriters, that:
(a) Valid Title . Such Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior to each Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof) the Selling Stockholder will have, good and valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code in respect of, the shares of Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder at such Closing Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; and, upon delivery of such shares of Stock and payment therefor pursuant hereto, good and valid title to such shares of Stock, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, will pass to the Underwriters.
(b) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.
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(c) Power of Attorney . Such Selling Stockholder has duly and irrevocably authorized, executed and delivered a power of attorney, in substantially the form heretofore delivered by the Representatives (the “ Power of Attorney ”), appointing, Aaron LoCascio and Adam Schoenfeld, and each of them, as attorney-in-fact (the “ Attorneys-in-fact ”) with authority to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, to authorize the delivery of the shares of Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and the Power of Attorney is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable against such Selling Stockholder in accordance with its terms.
(d) Due Authorization; No Conflict; No Consent . Such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Power of Attorney; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Power of Attorney by such Selling Stockholder, the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the compliance by such Selling Stockholder with its obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized and do not and will not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, constitute a default under, or give rise to the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge upon the Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder or any other property or assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of its charter or by-laws (or analogous governing instruments, as applicable), if any, or any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any property or assets of such Selling Stockholder; and, except for the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stock by the Underwriters, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any such court or governmental or non-governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Power of Attorney by such Selling Stockholder, and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(e) No Material Misstatements . At the respective times the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became or become effective and at each Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, at time the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was issued and at the Applicable Time and at each Closing Date, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (e) shall apply only to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Selling Stockholder in writing by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Selling Stockholder consists of the information relating to the Selling Stockholder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the number of offered shares) that appears under the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholders” therein (the “ Selling Stockholder Information ”).
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(f) No Material, Non-Public Information . Such Selling Stockholder is not prompted to sell its Stock pursuant to this Agreement by any material information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries that has not been disclosed in the General Disclosure Package.
(g) No Stabilization . Such Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.
(h) Associated Persons . Neither such Selling Stockholder nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(1)) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA, other than as described on the FINRA Questionnaire previously completed and executed by such Selling Stockholder, a copy of which has been provided to the Underwriters.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of a Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and each Selling Stockholder agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholders, that number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite (x) the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A hereto and (y) the name of such Selling Stockholder in Schedule B hereto.
The purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Stockholders for the Stock will be $15.81 per share (the “ Purchase Price ”).
The Company and the Selling Stockholders, will deliver the Firm Stock to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the second (2 nd ) full business day preceding the Firm Closing Date (as defined below) against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to an account at a bank specified by the Company payable to the order of the Company and the Selling Stockholders for the Firm Stock sold by them all at the offices of Pryor Cashman LLP, 7 Times Square, New York, New York 10036. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The time and date of the delivery and closing shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on April 23, 2019, in accordance with Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act. The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred to as the “ Firm Closing Date ”. The Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Firm Stock may be varied by agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Representatives.
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For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Stock as contemplated by the Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Stock. The price per share to be paid for the Optional Stock shall be the Purchase Price. The Selling Stockholders agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to the Underwriters the respective numbers of shares of Optional Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Optional Stock specified in such notice by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares set forth opposite the names of such Selling Stockholders in Schedule B hereto under the caption “Number of Optional Shares to be Sold” and the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Optional Stock (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions). Such shares of Optional Stock shall be purchased from each Selling Stockholder for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions). The option granted hereby may be exercised as to all or any part of the Optional Stock at any time, and from time to time, provided however , that notice of such exercise must be delivered not more than thirty (30) days subsequent to the date of this Agreement. No Optional Stock shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm Stock previously has been, or simultaneously is being, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Stock or any portion thereof may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by Representatives to the Selling Stockholders.
The option granted hereby shall be exercised by written notice being given to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the Representatives setting forth the number of shares of the Optional Stock to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock. Each date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock (which may be the Closing Date, but not earlier) is herein called the “ Option Closing Date ” and shall in no event be earlier than two (2) business days nor later than five (5) business days after written notice is given. The Option Closing Date and the Firm Closing Date are herein collectively called the “ Closing Dates .”
The Selling Stockholders will deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Optional Stock to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters in the case of the Selling Stockholders, in the form of definitive certificates, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the second (2 nd ) full business day preceding the Option Closing Date against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to an account at a bank reasonably acceptable to the Representatives payable to the order of the Selling Stockholders for the Optional Stock sold by them. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The Selling Stockholders shall make the certificates for the Optional Stock available to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters in New York, New York not later than 10:00 A.M., New York Time, at least one (1) full business day prior to the Option Closing Date. The Option Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Optional Stock may be varied by agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Representatives.
The several Underwriters propose to offer the Stock for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
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3. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company agrees with the several Underwriters:
(a) Required Filings; Amendments or Supplements; Notice to the Representative . To prepare the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if necessary, in a form approved by the Representatives and file such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission, 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 111(b) under the Rules and Regulations; to prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rules 430A, 430B or 430C of the Rules and Regulations and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the second (2 nd ) business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by the Securities Act; to notify the Representatives immediately of the Company’s intention to file or prepare any supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus and to make no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or to the Prospectus to which the Representatives shall reasonably object by notice to the Company after a reasonable period to review; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication has been filed and to furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rules 433(d) or 163(b)(2) of the Rules and Regulations, as the case may be; to advise the Representatives, 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, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, of the suspension of the qualification of the Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose of which the Company has knowledge, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or for additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, and promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order.
(b) Emerging Growth Company . The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) the completion of the distribution of the Firm Stock within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below).
If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
(c) Permitted Free Writing Prospectus . The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not, make any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations unless the prior written consent of the Representatives, or the Company and the Representatives, as applicable, has been received (each, a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus ”); provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) included in Schedule C hereto. The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Rules and Regulations applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the requirements relating to timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping and will not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder. The Company will satisfy the condition in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.
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(d) Ongoing Compliance . If at any time prior to the date when a prospectus relating to the Stock is required to be delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made when the Prospectus is delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations), not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, that the Company will promptly notify the Representatives thereof and upon their request will prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and will use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable. The Company will furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of such amendment or supplement. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations) relating to the Stock, the Company upon the request of the Representatives and at the expense of such Underwriter will prepare promptly an amended or supplemented Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as such Underwriter may reasonably request of such amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
(e) Amendment to General Disclosure Package . If the General Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Stock at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file and not superseded or modified, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package.
(f) Amendment to Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus and not superseded or modified or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives so that any use of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus may cease until it is amended or supplemented and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.
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(g) Delivery of Registration Statement . To the extent not available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“ EDGAR ”), upon the request of the Representatives, to furnish promptly to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.
(h) Delivery of Copies . Upon request of the Representatives, to the extent not available on EDGAR, to deliver promptly to the Representatives in New York City such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission (in each case excluding exhibits), (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (iv) the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph (h) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement), (v) conformed copies of any amendment to the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits) and (vi) any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (v) and (vi) of this paragraph (h) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day following the date of such amendment or supplement).
(i) Earnings Statement . To make generally available to its stockholders (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s EDGAR system) as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen (16) months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of the Rules and Regulations), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); and 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 possible after each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the first fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail.
(j) Blue Sky Compliance . To take promptly from time to time such actions as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Stock for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect, and to comply with such laws, for so long as required to permit the offer and sale of Stock in such jurisdictions; provided that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be obligated to (i) qualify as foreign corporations (or other entities) in any jurisdiction in which they are not so qualified, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(k) Reports . Upon request, during the period of five (5) years from the date hereof, to deliver to each of the Underwriters, (i) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders of the Company, and (ii) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports on EDGAR, it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.
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(l) Lock-Up . During the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and including the 180th day following the date of this Agreement (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives), directly or indirectly, offer, sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Class A Common Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire Class A Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Class A Common Stock, including, but not limited to, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company (other than is contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Stock) or publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however , that the Company may (i) issue Class A Common Stock and options to purchase Class A Common Stock, shares of Class A Common Stock underlying options granted and other securities, each pursuant to any director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package; (ii) issue Class A Common Stock pursuant to the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, which securities or warrants are outstanding on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package, or upon the redemption of the Common Units issued upon consummation of the Transactions (each as defined in the Registration Statement) as described in the General Disclosure Package; (iii) adopt a new equity incentive plan, and file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of securities to be issued pursuant to such new equity incentive plan, and issue securities pursuant to such new equity incentive plan (including, without limitation, the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of options or other securities issued pursuant to such new equity incentive plan), provided that (1) such new equity incentive plan satisfies the transaction requirements of General Instruction A.1 of Form S-8 under the Securities Act and (2) this clause (iii) shall not be available unless each recipient of shares of Class A Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Class A Common Stock, including, but not limited to, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company, pursuant to such new equity incentive plan shall be contractually prohibited from selling, offering, disposing of or otherwise transferring any such shares or securities during the remainder of the Lock-Up Period. The Company will cause each person and entity listed in Schedule E to furnish to the Representative, prior to the Closing Date, a “lock-up” agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto. In addition, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements.
(m) Release of Lock-Up . If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 4(i)(l) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit II hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
(n) Delivery of SEC Correspondence . To the extent not available on EDGAR, to supply the Underwriters with copies of all correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the Commission in connection with the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act or any of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein.
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(o) Press Releases . Prior to the Firm Closing Date, not to issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representatives is notified), without the prior consent of the Representatives (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representatives, such press release or communication is required by law.
(p) Compliance with Regulation M . Until the Underwriters shall have notified the Company of the completion of the resale of the Stock, that the Company will not, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act) not to, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase, for any account in which it or any of its affiliated purchasers has a beneficial interest, any Stock, or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Stock; and not to, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers not to, make bids or purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in or of raising the price of the Stock.
(q) Registrar and Transfer Agent . To maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Stock.
(r) Use of Proceeds . To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock by the Company as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds,” and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock by the Company hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.
(s) Exchange Listing . To use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market.
(t) Company Activities . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any person acting on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary will cultivate, produce, process, import or distribute any cannabis product or otherwise engage in any direct or indirect dealings or transactions in cannabis in or to the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or any other country unless such activity is in full compliance with all federal, and state or provincial, laws applicable to such activity.
(u) Performance of Covenants and Satisfaction of Conditions . To use its reasonable best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to each Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Firm Stock and the Optional Stock.
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4. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholders . Each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) No Stabilization . Such Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.
(b) Forms W-8 and W-9 . Such Selling Stockholder will deliver to the Representatives on or prior to the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States person) or such other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof.
(c) Free Writing Prospectuses . Such Selling Stockholder agrees that it will not prepare or have prepared on its behalf or use or refer to any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) and agrees that it will not distribute any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Stock.
(d) Selling Stockholder Information . During the period when delivery of a prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to under Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations) is required under the Securities Act, such Selling Stockholder will advise the Representatives promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing to the Representatives, of any material change in the information relating to such Selling Stockholder in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any document comprising the General Disclosure Package.
(e) Performance of Covenants and Satisfaction of Conditions . Such Selling Stockholder will use his, her or its best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by such Selling Stockholder prior to each Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Firm Stock and the Optional Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder.
5. Payment of Expenses . The Company agrees to pay, or reimburse in an amount not to exceed $100,000 if paid by any Underwriter, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated: (a) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Stock and any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the costs incident to the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (c) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and the costs of printing, reproducing and distributing the Power of Attorney, this Agreement and any closing documents by mail, telex or other means of communications; (d) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred in connection with securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Stock and any filings made with FINRA; (e) any applicable listing or other fees; (f) the fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters) of qualifying the Stock under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(i)(j) hereof) and of preparing, printing and distributing wrappers, Blue Sky Memoranda and Legal Investment Surveys; (g) the cost of preparing and printing stock certificates; (h) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Stock; (i) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Stock, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the officers of the Company and such consultants, including 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show (and the Underwriters shall pay 50% of the cost of any such aircraft), and (j) all other costs and expenses incident to the offering of the Stock or the performance of the obligations of the Company and of the Selling Stockholders under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s independent accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel to the Selling Stockholders); provided that, except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 5 and in Sections 9 and 10, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel not contemplated herein, any transfer taxes on the resale of any Stock by them and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Stock made by the Underwriters.
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Each Selling Stockholder will pay all fees and expenses incident to the performance of such Selling Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to any fees and expenses of counsel for such Selling Stockholder, such Selling Stockholder’s pro rata share of fees and expenses of the Attorneys-in-fact and all expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder. The underwriting discount associated with the sale of the Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder shall be deducted from the Selling Stockholders’ proceeds from the sale of such Stock.
6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and as of the Applicable Time and on such Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Orders . The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives; the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus shall have been filed with, the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by, and in compliance with, the Rules and Regulations and in accordance with Section 4(i)(a), and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, shall have become effective immediately upon its filing with the Commission; and FINRA shall have raised no unresolved objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) No Material Misstatements . None of the Underwriters shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the General Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
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(c) Corporate Proceedings . All corporate proceedings incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Stock, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Opinions and 10b-5 Statement of Counsels for the Company . (i) Pryor Cashman LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives such counsel’s written opinion and 10b-5 Statement, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and each dated such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and (ii) the General Counsel of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives an opinion letter, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters . The Representatives shall have received from DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions and 10b-5 Statement, dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) Comfort Letters . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received (x) from BDO a letter, addressed to the Underwriters, executed and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that they are an independent registered accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and PCAOB and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (y) from Squar Milner a letter, addressed to the Underwriters, executed and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that they were the independent registered accounting firm with respect to Better Life Holdings, LLC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and PCAOB and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of Better Life Holdings, LLC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (z) from Squar Milner a letter, addressed to the Underwriters, executed and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that they were the independent registered accounting firm with respect to Pollen Gear LLC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and PCAOB and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of Pollen Gear LLC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(g) Bring Down Comfort . On the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and on such Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a letter (the “ bring-down letter ”) from BDO addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date confirming, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (g) of this Section 6.
(h) Officer’s Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of its Chief Executive Officer or President and its Chief Financial Officer stating in their respective capacities as officers of the Company on behalf of the Company and not in their individual capacities that (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including, for avoidance of doubt, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement), or any post-effective amendment thereto, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or, to their knowledge, threatened by the Commission, (ii) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect, (iii) to their knowledge, after reasonable investigation, as of such Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct (except to the extent that such representations and warranties speak as of another date, in which case such representatives and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date) and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date, and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, any Material Adverse Effect in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to involve a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
(i) Transaction Documents . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received copies of the Power of Attorney executed by each Selling Stockholder and Attorney-in-fact.
(j) Selling Stockholder Certificate . Each Selling Stockholder (or one or more Attorneys-in-fact on behalf of such Selling Stockholder) shall have furnished to the Representatives on such Closing Date a certificate, dated the such date, signed by, or on behalf of, such Selling Stockholder stating that the representations, warranties and agreements of such Selling Stockholder contained herein are true and correct as of such Closing Date and that such Selling Stockholder has complied with all agreements contained herein to be performed by such Selling Stockholder at or prior to such Closing Date.
(k) No Material Adverse Effect . Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained 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, other than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, and (ii) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, or pursuant to other agreements described in, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or the issuance of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock in the Transactions) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (m), is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.
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(l) No Legal Impediment to Issuance . No action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental or regulatory agency or body which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.
(m) No Downgrade . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the Company’s corporate credit rating or the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading), the Company’s corporate credit rating or the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities.
(n) Market Conditions . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE MKT LLC or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices or maximum range for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or market or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, or the subject of an act of terrorism, or there shall have been an outbreak of or escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(o) Exchange Listing . The Exchange shall have approved the Stock for listing therein, subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
(p) Good Standing . The Representatives shall have received on and as of such Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate Governmental Authorities of such jurisdictions.
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(q) Lock Up Agreements . The Representatives shall have received the written agreements, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto, of the officers, directors, stockholders, optionholders and warrantholders of the Company listed in Schedule E to this Agreement.
(r) Secretary’s Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a Secretary’s Certificate of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and customary for the type of offering contemplated by this Agreement.
(s) Chief Financial Officer Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the date of this Agreement and such Closing Date, of its Chief Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit III hereto.
(t) Additional Documents . On or prior to such Closing Date, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
7. Indemnification and Contribution .
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless:
each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, managers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Underwriter Indemnified Parties ,” and each an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Class A Common Stock, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (“ Marketing Materials ”) or (B) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any documented legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and 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, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in, or omission or alleged omission from any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Marketing Materials made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.
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The indemnity agreement in this Section 7(a) is not exclusive and is in addition to any other liability which the Company might have under this Agreement or otherwise, and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to any Underwriter Indemnified Party.
(b) Indemnification of Underwriters by Selling Stockholders . The Selling Stockholders , jointly and severally shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter Indemnified Party, against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which that Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading , and shall reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any documented legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability which the Selling Stockholders might have under this Agreement or otherwise, and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to each Underwriter Indemnified Party.
(c) Indemnification of Company by the Underwriters . Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Company Indemnified Parties ” and each a “ Company Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information, and shall reimburse the Company Indemnified Parties for any documented legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to the Company Indemnified Parties.
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(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a), the Selling Stockholder in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(b) or the Representatives in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(c), (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided , however , that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Company Indemnified Parties. Subject to this Section 7(d), the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 7 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable documented legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such 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. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Sections 7(a) or 7(b) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
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(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Stock, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 7(e) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 7(e) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Stock purchased under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other 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 and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of the Underwriters for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information.
(f) The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to Section 7(e) above were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to Section 7(e) above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to in Section 7(e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Stock exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
8. Termination . The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives, in their absolute discretion by notice given to the Company and the Attorney-in fact (for all Selling Stockholders) prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 6(m), 6(o) or 6(p) have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
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9. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if (a) this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 8 or 10, (b) the Company or any Selling Stockholder shall fail to tender the Stock for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason not permitted under this Agreement, (c) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement or (d) the sale of the Stock is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of the refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or any Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or to satisfy any condition or to comply with the provisions hereof, then in addition to the payment of amounts in accordance with Section 5 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for the reasonable fees and expenses of Underwriters’ counsel and for such other documented out-of-pocket expenses as shall have been reasonably incurred by them in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Stock, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented travel and lodging expenses of the Underwriters, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives; provided that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of expenses to the extent incurred by such defaulting Underwriter; and provided further that the foregoing shall not limit any reimbursement obligation of the Company to any non-defaulting Underwriter under this Section 9.
10. Substitution of underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase shares of Stock hereunder on any Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default or defaults occur is more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such shares by other persons are not made within forty-eight (48) hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate.
If the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part of the shares of Stock of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters on such Closing Date as provided in this Section 10, (i) the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to postpone such Closing Dates for a period of not more than five (5) full business days in order that the Company and the Selling Stockholders may 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 promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers of shares to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Selling Stockholders or the Company, except that the representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, agreements and other statements set forth in Section 2, the obligations with respect to expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Sections 5 and 9 and the provisions of Section 7 and Sections 11 through 21, inclusive, shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect.
11. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge and agree that:
(a) each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company and the Selling Stockholders is solely contractual in nature, the Representatives have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of the Stock and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company of the Selling Stockholders and the Representatives have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether any of the Representatives has advised or is advising the Company or the Selling Stockholders on other matters;
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(b) the price of the Stock set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company and the Selling Stockholders following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives, and the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) they have been advised that the Representatives and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Stockholders and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company or the Selling Stockholders by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and
(d) they waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims they may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Selling Stockholders in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company or the Selling Stockholders, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company or the Selling Stockholders.
12. Successors; Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained in this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties, and the indemnities of the several Underwriters shall be for the benefit of the Company Indemnified Parties. It is understood that each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company and the Selling Stockholders is solely contractual in nature and the Underwriters do not owe the Company, or any other party, any fiduciary duty as a result of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Stock from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
13. Survival of Indemnities, Representations, Warranties, etc . The respective indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by them respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Selling Stockholders, the Company or any person controlling any of them and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Stock. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, including without limitation any termination pursuant to Section 8 or Section 10, the indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements forth in Sections 2, 5, 7 and 9 and Sections 11 through 21, inclusive, of this Agreement shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect at all times.
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14. Notices . All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, facsimile transmission or email to Cowen and Company, LLC, Attention: Head of Equity Capital Markets, Fax: 646-562-1249 with a copy to the General Counsel, Fax: 646-562-1124 and to Canaccord Genuity LLC, 99 High Street, 12 th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, to the attention of U.S. ECM and General Counsel;
(b) if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, facsimile transmission or email to Greenlane Holdings, Inc., Attention: Douglas Fischer, General Counsel, 1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487 or dfischer@gnln.com; and
(c) if to any Selling Stockholders, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, facsimile transmission or email to the Attorneys-in-fact or such Selling Stockholder at the address set forth on Schedule B hereto;
provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be delivered or sent by mail, or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance telex to the Representatives, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.
15. Definition of Certain Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “ affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (b) “ business day ” means any day on which the Nasdaq Global Market is open for trading and (c) “ subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations. The Company and each Selling Stockholder irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding may be heard and determined by any such court, (c) waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any immunity from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process, (d) agrees not to commence any such suit, action or proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.
17. Underwriters’ Information . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters’ Information consists solely of the following information in the Prospectus: (i) the last paragraph on the front cover page concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters; and (ii) the statements concerning the Underwriters contained in the sections entitled “Stabilization” and “Passive Market Making” under the heading “Underwriting.”
18. Authority of the Representatives . In connection with this Agreement, the Representatives will act for and on behalf of the several Underwriters, and any action taken under this Agreement by the Representatives, will be binding on all the Underwriters; and any action taken under this Agreement by any of the Attorneys-in-fact will be binding on all Selling Stockholders.
19. Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
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20. General . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. In this Agreement, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders and the singular and the plural include one another. The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and will not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the Company , one or more Attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the Selling Stockholders and the Representatives.
21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, including by facsimile or other electronic transmission, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney-in-fact for the Selling Stockholders represents by so doing that he has been duly appointed as Attorney-in-fact by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to a validly existing and binding Power of Attorney which authorizes such Attorney-in-fact to take such action.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided for that purpose below.
Very truly yours, | |||
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | ||
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS LISTED
IN SCHEDULE B |
||
By: | Attorney-in-fact |
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Aaron LoCascio |
By: | Attorney-in-fact |
By: | /s/ Adam Schoenfeld | |
Adam Schoenfeld |
Attorneys-in-fact | |
Acting on their own behalf and on | |
behalf of the Selling Stockholders listed in
Schedule B. |
Accepted as of the date first above written:
Cowen and Company, LLC
Canaccord Genuity LLC
Acting on their own behalf
and as Representatives of several
Underwriters listed on Schedule A to this
Agreement.
By: | Cowen and Company, LLC |
By: | /s/ Gavin O’Reilly | ||
Name: | Gavin O’Reilly | ||
Title: | Managing Director |
By: | Canaccord Genuity LLC |
By: | /s/ P. Thomas Pollard | ||
Name: | P. Thomas Pollard | ||
Title: | Managing Director |
SCHEDULE A
Name |
Number of Shares of
Firm Stock to be Purchased |
Number of Shares of
Optional Stock to be Purchased |
||||||
Cowen and Company, LLC | 2,400,000 | 360,000 | ||||||
Canaccord Genuity LLC | 2,400,000 | 360,000 | ||||||
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. | 450,000 | 67,500 | ||||||
Roth Capital Partners, LLC | 450,000 | 67,500 | ||||||
Northland Securities, Inc. | 300,000 | 45,000 | ||||||
Total | 6,000,000 | 900,000 |
SCHEDULE B
Selling Stockholders |
Number of Shares of
Firm Stock to be Sold |
Number of Shares of
Optional Stock to be Sold |
||||||
Adam Schoenfeld | - | 83,309 | ||||||
Better Life Products Investment Group, Inc. | 60,088 | 72,106 | ||||||
Jacoby & Co. Inc.
Attn: Aaron LoCascio 1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487 aaron@gnln.com |
644,860 | 690,523 | ||||||
Jay Scheiner | 8,729 | 10,475 | ||||||
Sasha Kadey | 11,639 | 13,967 | ||||||
Rochester Vapor Group, LLC | 15,955 | 19,145 | ||||||
Zachary Tapp | 8,729 | 10,475 | ||||||
Total | 750,000 | 900,000 |
SCHEDULE C
General Use Free Writing Prospectuses
None.
SCHEDULE D
Pricing Information
Firm Stock to be Sold: 6,000,000 shares
Offering Price: $17.00 per share
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions: 7.00%
Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company (after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before transaction expenses): $94,860,000
SCHEDULE E
Aaron LoCascio
Adam Schoenfeld
Jacoby & Co. Inc.
Jay Scheiner
Sasha Kadey
Zachary Tapp
Neil Closner
Jeff Uttz
Richard Taney
Better Life Products Investment Group, Inc.
Pollen Gear Holdings LLC
Rochester Vapor Group, LLC
Wade Wilson
Douglas Fischer
Dawn Marie Cavanagh
Fabian Acuna
Chad Freling
Hisham Boulhimez
Jason Baum
Joseph Hurwitz
James Leonard
Matthew Paul
Seth Sznapstajler
Tessa Weaver
William Dulin
Ethan Rudin
MMF Moore ET Investments, LP
Anson Investments Master Fund LP
Anson Opportunities Master Fund LP
AC Anson Investments Limited
Navy Capital Green Fund, LP
Sharon Simpson Survivor’s Trust
Michael and Caryl Hart Trust
Rimrock High Income Plus (Master) Fund, Ltd.
GLA Co-Investment LLC
Gotham Green Fund 1, LP
Gotham Green Fund 1 (Q), L.P.
Demeter Capital Group LP
Schonfeld Strategic 460 Fund LLC
ATM Capital Investors LLC
E Squared Capital Fund LP
G1, a series of E Squared Investment Fund, LLC
Whitecap Financial Partners, LLC
Phyto II, LP
David Brooks Irrevocable Trust
NQC Investment Corp.
S.H.N. Financial Investments
John P. Sposato
Sean Dollinger
Harrison Future Funds LLC
Rose Investment Group, LLC
Deborah E. Russell
Beth Ann Carlino
Exhibit I
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
[See attached]
[ ], 2019
Cowen and Company, LLC
Canaccord Genuity LLC
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Cowen and Company, LLC
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
c/o Canaccord Genuity LLC
99 High Street, 12th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Re: Greenlane Holdings, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-1 for Shares of Class A Common Stock
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Lock-Up Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) between Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the Selling Stockholders named therein, and Cowen and Company, LLC (“ Cowen ”) and Canaccord Genuity LLC, as representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”) of a group of underwriters (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), to be named therein, and the other parties thereto (if any), relating to the proposed public offering of shares of Class A common stock (the “ Offering ”), par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) of the Company. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, and in light of the benefits that the Offering will confer upon the undersigned in its capacity as a securityholder and/or an officer, director or employee of the Company, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each Underwriter that, during the period beginning on the date hereof through and including the date that is the 180th day after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, or announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, any shares of Class A Common Stock (including, without limitation, Class A Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, amended (such shares, the “ Beneficially Owned Shares ”)) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company), (ii) enter into any swap, hedge or similar agreement or arrangement that transfers in whole or in part, the economic risk of ownership of the Beneficially Owned Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company), whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or (iii) engage in any short selling of the Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company).
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives agree that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Class A 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 (2) 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 (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
The restrictions set forth in the preceding paragraphs shall not apply to:
(1) if the undersigned is a natural person, any transfers made by the undersigned (a) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (b) to any member of the immediate family (as defined below) of the undersigned or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned or members of the undersigned’s immediate family, (c) to any partnership or limited liability company that is managed or under common control by the undersigned or one or more members of the undersigned’s immediate family or (d) by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned,
(2) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers to any stockholder, partner or member of, or owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned, as the case may be, if, in any such case, such transfer is not for value,
(3) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfer made by the undersigned (a) in connection with the sale or other bona fide transfer in a single transaction of all or substantially all of the undersigned’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the undersigned’s assets, in any such case not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Agreement or (b) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity so long as the transferee is an affiliate (as defined below) of the undersigned and such transfer is not for value,
(4) transactions relating to Class A Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) acquired in open market transactions after completion of the Offering, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise) during the Lock-Up Period,
(5) transactions relating to Class A Common Stock acquired by the undersigned in the Offering, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise) during the Lock-Up Period, provided, further, that this sub-clause shall not apply if the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company,
(6) any transfers made by the undersigned to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or arrangements disclosed in the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) in connection with the vesting or exercise of the Company’s securities issued pursuant to such plan or arrangements, and
(7) other than as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, any Class A Common Stock (including any Additional Shares) being offered by any selling stockholders pursuant to the Prospectus;
provided, however, that in the case of any transfer described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that (A) the transferee executes and delivers to the Representatives, acting on behalf of the Underwriters, not later than one (1) business day prior to such transfer, a written agreement, in substantially the form of this agreement (it being understood that any references to “immediate family” in the agreement executed by such transferee shall expressly refer only to the immediate family of the undersigned and not to the immediate family of the transferee) and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives, and (B) in the case of any transfer described in clause (1) or (2) above, if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock or Beneficially Owned Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) or Beneficially Owned Shares during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that, (A) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (1) above, such transfer is being made as a gift or by will or intestate succession, (B) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (2) above, such transfer is being made to a stockholder, partner or member of, or owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned and is not a transfer for value, (C) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (3) above, such transfer is being made either (a) in connection with the sale or other bona fide transfer in a single transaction of all or substantially all of the undersigned’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the undersigned’s assets or (b) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that is an affiliate of the undersigned and such transfer is not for value and (D) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (6) above, such transfer is being made to satisfy tax withholding obligations. For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, child, grandchild or other lineal descendant (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned; and “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Furthermore, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to: (i) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan (a “ Plan ”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such Plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) during the Lock-up Period; provided further that (a) no public announcement of the establishment or the existence of such plan, and no report in any public report or any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), or otherwise, shall be required and (b) no such public announcement, report or filing shall be made voluntarily, and (ii) transfers, sales, tenders or other dispositions of the shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) occurring after the Offering to a bona fide third party pursuant to a tender offer for securities of the Company or any other transaction, including, without limitation, a merger, consolidation or other business combination, involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (including, without limitation, entering into any lock-up, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the undersigned may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of the shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) in connection with any such transaction, or vote any of the shares of Class A Common Stock in favor of any such transaction); provided, that all of the shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) subject to this Agreement that are not so transferred, sold, tendered or otherwise disposed of remain subject to this Agreement; and provided, further, that it shall be a condition of transfer, sale, tender or other disposition that if such tender offer or other transaction is not completed, any of the shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) subject to this Agreement shall remain subject to the restrictions herein. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other business combination), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an Underwriter pursuant to the Offering), of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 90% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity).
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement prohibits the undersigned from exercising any options or warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock (which exercises may be effected on a cashless basis to the extent the instruments representing such options or warrants permit exercises on a cashless basis), it being understood that any Class A Common Stock issued upon any such exercise will be subject to the restrictions of this Agreement.
In order to enable this covenant to be enforced, the undersigned hereby consents to the placing of legends or stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent with respect to any Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company).
The undersigned further agrees that it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand or request for or exercise any right with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Beneficially Owned Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class B common stock or Class C common stock of the Company) or other Beneficially Owned Shares.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this agreement and that this agreement has been duly authorized (if the undersigned is not a natural person), executed and delivered by the undersigned and is a valid and binding agreement of the undersigned. This Agreement and all authority herein conferred are irrevocable and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned (if a natural person) and shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.
If (i) the Company notifies the Representatives that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by June 30, 2019, (iii) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated for any reason prior to payment for and delivery of any Class A Common Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iv) the Company completes an application with the SEC to withdraw the Registration Statement and Registration Statement is withdrawn, then this Agreement shall immediately be terminated and the undersigned shall automatically be released from all of his or her obligations under this Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that whether or not the Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions.
For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement does not prohibit or restrict any of the Transactions.
[Signature page follows]
Very truly yours, | ||
(Name of Stockholder - Please Print) | ||
(Signature) | ||
(Name of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity - Please Print) | ||
(Title of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity - Please Print) | ||
Address: | ||
Exhibit II
Greenlane Holdings, Inc.
[Date]
Greenlane Holdings, Inc. announced today that Cowen and Company, LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC, the Representatives in the Company’s recent public sale of [ ] shares of common stock, is [waiving][releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [ ] shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors][an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver][release] will take effect on , 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 exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Exhibit III
Form of Chief Financial Officer Certificate
[See attached]
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
[DATE]
I, [NAME], Chief Financial Officer of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of [DATE], by and among the Company, the selling stockholders listed on Schedule B thereto, and Cowen and Company, LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC (collectively, the “ Representatives ”), as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), and the prospectus dated [DATE] (the “ Prospectus ”), and based upon an examination of the Company’s financial records and schedules undertaken by myself or members of my staff who are responsible for the Company’s financial and accounting matters , do hereby certify, in my capacity as an officer of the Company, and not individually, on behalf of the Company, that:
1. | I am providing this certificate pursuant to Section 6(s) of the Underwriting Agreement. |
2. | I am familiar with the financial, accounting, operations and records systems of the Company and its subsidiaries. I have (i) read the Prospectus and (ii) supervised the compilation of and reviewed the financial data and information included in the Prospectus, including the preliminary estimated net sales of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, contained in the Prospectus. |
3. | Nothing has come to my attention that causes me to believe that the financial data and information contained in the Prospectus, including the Covered Information (as defined below), is not true, correct and accurate in all material respects, each as of the date thereof and as of the date hereof. |
4. | For purposes of this certificate, I or members of my staff who are responsible for the Company’s financial and accounting matters have compared each amount circled on the selected pages of the Prospectus, attached as Annex A hereto (the “ Covered Information ”), with the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements or accounting records, as applicable, and found it to be true, correct and accurate in all material respects. |
DLA Piper LLP (US) and Pryor Cashman LLP are entitled to rely on this certificate in connection with any opinions that each such firm may render pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
[ Signature page follows ]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned, on behalf of the Company, has signed this certificate as of the date first written above.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
[Name], Chief Financial Officer |
ANNEX A
The Covered Information
Exhibit 3.1
Delaware | Page 1 | |
The First State |
I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF “GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.’, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF APRIL, A.D. 2019, AT 4:10 O’CLOCK P.M.
A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE KENT COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.
State
of Delaware
Secretary of State Division of Corporations Delivered 04:10 PM 04117/2019 FILED 04:10 PM 04/17/2019 SR 20192932736 - File Number 6807907 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”) hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is Greenlane Holdings, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 2, 2018.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation has been duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
3. The effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be the date and time it is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
4. Immediately prior to the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation has authorized one thousand (1,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Original Common Stock ”), and has issued two hundred (200) shares of Original Common Stock outstanding.
5. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I.
NAME
The name of the corporation is Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).
ARTICLE II.
REGISTERED OFFICE
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Delaware 19904, in the County of Kent. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is National Registered Agents, Inc.
ARTICLE III.
CORPORATE PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”).
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ARTICLE IV.
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is two hundred forty-five million (245,000,000), consisting of (i) one hundred twenty-five million (125,000,000) shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”); (ii) ten million (10,000,000) shares of Class B common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”); and (iii) one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of Class C common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “ Class C Common Stock ”, and together with the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”); and (iv) ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share, as of the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and thereafter as may be established by the Board of Directors with respect to any class or series thereof in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation (the “ Preferred Stock ”). At the effective time, the two hundred (200) shares of Original Common Stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding prior to the effective time shall be cancelled without further action by, or consideration to, the holders thereof.
B. The Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more classes or 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 class or series, and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights thereof, including, without limitation, the authority to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, exchange rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, the dissolution preferences and the rights in respect to any distribution of assets of any wholly unissued class or series of Preferred Stock, and the treatment in the case of a merger, business combination transaction, or sale of the Corporation’s assets, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any class or series so created subsequent to the issue of that class or series but not below the number of shares of such class or series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any class or series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such class or series. There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different classes or series of Preferred Stock as to the designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights thereof; and the several classes or series of Preferred Stock may vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors, providing for the issuance of the various classes or series of Preferred Stock.
C. The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of any holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or of any class or series thereof, unless a separate vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
D. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided by or pursuant to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation:
1. | Each share of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote. |
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2. | Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock). |
3. | The holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or to a Preferred Stock Designation that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding class or series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected class or series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other class or series of Preferred Stock, to vote thereon as a separate class pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Designation or pursuant to the DGCL as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended. |
4. | Except as expressly provided in this Article IV , the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and be identical in all respects as to all matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) in the event of a merger, consolidation, conversion, exchange or other business combination requiring the approval of the holders of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving entity), the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration (if any) as the holders of the Class C Common Stock; provided, however, that on a per share basis, the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, three (3) times the amount of consideration (if any) on a per share basis as the holders of the Class C Common Stock and (b) in the event of (i) any tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Common Stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or (ii) any tender or exchange offer by the Corporation to acquire any shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the terms of the applicable tender or exchange offer, the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration (if any) as the holders of the Class C Common Stock; provided, however, that on a per share basis, the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, three (3) times the amount of consideration (if any) on a per share basis as the holders of the Class C Common Stock; provided that, for the purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) and notwithstanding the first sentence of this Article IV.D.4 , payments under or in respect of the tax receivable or similar agreement entered by the Corporation from time to time with any holders of Common Stock and/or securities of the LLC (as defined below) shall not be considered part of the consideration payable in respect of any share of Common Stock. |
5. | No stockholder has any right or will be permitted to cumulate votes in any election of directors. |
E. From and after the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, additional shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, (i) the Non-Founder Members (as defined below), their respective successors and assigns as well as their respective transferees permitted in accordance with Article IV.J (including all subsequent successors, assigns and permitted transferees) and (ii) any Permitted Class C Owner (as defined below) that acquires Class B Common Stock pursuant to Article IV.F.2 , Article IV.F.3 or Article IV.J (collectively, “ Permitted Class B Owners ”), in accordance with this Article IV and the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock following any such issuance registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner (excluding any Permitted Class C Owner) must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (as defined below) held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner under the Operating Agreement (as defined below).
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F.
1. | Issuance of Additional Shares. From and after the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, additional shares of Class C Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, (a) Aaron LoCascio, his spouse or any of his lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), (b) Adam Schoenfeld, his spouse or any of his lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), (c) Jacoby & Co. Inc., a Nevada corporation, or any other entities wholly owned, individually or jointly with others, by Messrs. LoCascio and Schoenfeld, their spouses, any of their lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), or any trust or other estate planning vehicle for the benefit, individually or jointly with others, of Messrs. LoCascio and Schoenfeld, their spouses or any of their lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), (d) any trust or other estate planning vehicle for the benefit, individually or jointly with others, of Messrs. LoCascio and Schoenfeld, their spouses or any of their lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), or (e) any of their respective successors or assigns, as well as their respective transferees permitted in accordance with Article IV.J.2.b (including all subsequent successors, assigns and permitted transferees) (collectively, “ Permitted Class C Owners ”) or in accordance with Article VI , and following any such issuance, the aggregate number of Common Units held by record of such Permitted Class C Owner under the Operating Agreement must be equal to the sum of the number of shares of Class B Common Stock and one-third (1/3) of the number of shares of Class C Common Stock registered in the name of each such Permitted Class C Owner. |
2. | Voluntary Conversion. Each share of Class C Common Stock shall be automatically converted into one-third (1/3) of a share of Class B Common Stock if the holders of a majority of the shares of Class C Common Stock then outstanding, acting as a single class, approve or consent to such conversion. |
3. | Mandatory Conversion. If, at any time after the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any share of Class C Common Stock shall not be owned, beneficially or of record, by a Permitted Class C Owner, such share of Class C Common Stock shall be automatically converted into one third (1/3) of a share of Class B Common Stock. |
4. | Mechanics of Conversion. Upon any conversion of shares of Class C Common Stock into shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to Article IV.F.2 or Article IV.F.3 , the holder shall surrender any certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class C Common Stock being converted, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office stating the name or names in which the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class B Common Stock issued upon conversion of such holder’s shares of Class C Common Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates representing 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 upon the occurrence of any conversion described in Article IV.F.2 or Article IV.F.3 , 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. |
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5. | Reservation of Shares upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect a conversion of all outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock and all additional shares of Class C Common Stock (if any) issuable upon the exercise of any outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Class C Common Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class B Common Stock issued upon any such conversion will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
6. | Status of Converted Stock. In the event any shares of Class C Common Stock shall be converted into shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to this Article IV.F , the shares of Class C Common Stock so converted shall be retired and shall not be reissued by the Corporation. |
G. As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation:
1. | “Common Unit” means a unit of membership interest in the LLC, authorized and issued under the Operating Agreement, and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in the Operating Agreement as in effect as of the effective time of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. |
2. | “Founder Members” means each of the Permitted Class C Owners on the date hereof. |
3. | “LLC” means Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entities thereto. |
4. | “Non-Founder Members” means each of the holders of Common Units on the date hereof other than the Founder Members or the Corporation (or any subsidiaries of the Corporation). |
5. | “Operating Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2019, of the LLC, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. |
H. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding class or series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor, at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock or the Class C Common Stock.
I. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to have their Common Units redeemed in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock, or at the Corporation’s option, cash, in accordance with the Operating Agreement (or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up), the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination of the Corporation with any other person or persons, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Article IV.I .
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J.
1. | In connection with the redemption of Common Units pursuant to the Operating Agreement, a holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock may surrender shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, to the Corporation for no consideration at any time. Following the surrender of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation. |
2. | The following transfer restrictions described in this Article IV.J.2 are referred to as the “ Restrictions ”. |
a. | A holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer shares of Class B Common Stock to any transferee (other than the Corporation) only if such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units (as such numbers may be adjusted to reflect equitably any stock split, subdivision, combination or similar change with respect to the Class B Common Stock or Common Units) to such transferee in compliance with the Operating Agreement. In the event a holder of Class B Common Stock transfers shares of Class B Common Stock to a Permitted Class C Owner in accordance with this provision, such transferred shares will remain shares of Class B Common Stock. |
b. | A holder of Class C Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any Permitted Class C Owner (which does not include the Corporation) only if (i) such holder also simultaneously transfers a number of Common Units equal to one third (1/3) of the number of shares of Class C Common Stock to be transferred and (ii) the amount of such transfer of shares of Class C Common Stock is equal to three or a multiple of three (as such numbers may be adjusted to reflect equitably any stock split, subdivision, combination or similar change with respect to the Class C Common Stock or Common Units) to such transferee in compliance with the Operating Agreement. In the event a holder of Class C Common Stock transfers shares of Class C Common Stock to any transferee other than a Permitted Class C Owner in accordance with this Article IV.J.2.b , such transferred shares shall be automatically converted into shares of Class B Common Stock in accordance with Article IV.F.3 . |
3. | Any purported transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a person or entity shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, purportedly become or attempt to become, the purported owner (“ Purported Owner ”) of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in and to such shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable (the “ Restricted Shares ”), and the purported transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation’s transfer agent for such class of shares (the “ Transfer Agent ”). |
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4. | Upon a determination by the Board of Directors that a person has attempted or is attempting to transfer or to acquire Restricted Shares, or has purportedly transferred or acquired Restricted Shares, in violation of the Restrictions, the Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent to record the Purported Owner’s transferor as the record owner of the Restricted Shares, and to institute proceedings to enjoin any such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition, or reverse any entries or records reflecting such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition. |
5. | The Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures that are consistent with the provisions of this Article IV.J for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock would violate the Restrictions and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article IV.J. Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with its Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by any prospective transferee and, upon written request to the Secretary, shall be mailed to holders of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable. |
6. | The Board of Directors shall have all powers necessary to implement the Restrictions, including without limitation the power to prohibit the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation thereof. |
K. To the extent that any Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner exercises its right pursuant to the Operating Agreement to have its Common Units redeemed by the LLC in accordance with the Operating Agreement, then simultaneous with the payment of, at the Corporation’s election, cash or Class A Common Stock consideration to such Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner by the LLC (in the case of a redemption) or the Corporation (in the case of an election by the Corporation pursuant to the Operating Agreement to effect a direct exchange with such Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner), the Corporation shall cancel for no consideration, as applicable, a number of shares of Class B Common Stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Permitted Class B Owner equal to the number of Common Units held by such Permitted Class B Owner that are redeemed or exchanged in such redemption or exchange transaction or a number of shares of Class C Common Stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Permitted Class C Owner equal to three (3) times the number of Common Units held by such Permitted Class C Owner. Notwithstanding the Restrictions, (i) in the event that any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall cease to be held by a registered holder of Common Units, such share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or holder of Class C Common Stock be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such share and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, (ii) in the event that any registered holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock no longer holds an interest in a number of Common Units equal to the sum of the number of shares of Class B Common Stock and one-third (1/3) of the number of shares of Class C Common Stock registered in the name of such registered holder, the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock registered in the name of such holder that exceed the number of Common Units held by such holder (as described above) shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, (iii) in the event that no Permitted Class B Owner owns any Common Units that are redeemable pursuant to the Operating Agreement, then all shares of Class B Common Stock will be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, and (iv) in the event that no Permitted Class C Owner owns any Common Units that are redeemable pursuant to the Operating Agreement, then all shares of Class C Common Stock will be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.
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L. All certificates or book-entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as the case may be, shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board of Directors may determine):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE] [BOOK-ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).
M. The Class B Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class B Common Stock. The Class C Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class C Common Stock. Subject to the Restrictions, holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to transfer fractions thereof and the Corporation shall, and shall cause the Transfer Agent to, facilitate any such transfers, including by issuing certificates or making book entries representing any such fractional shares. For all purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, Article IV.D , Article IV.I , Article IV.J , Article IV.K , this Article IV.M and Article IV.E hereof), all references to the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or any share thereof (whether in the singular or plural) shall be deemed to include references to any fraction of a share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, respectively.
ARTICLE V.
RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK
The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares or other securities of each class or series, the number of shares or securities of such class or series required to be available for issuance pursuant to the Operating Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such issuance by delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Operating Agreement will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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ARTICLE VI.
RECLASSIFICATIONS, MERGERS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
A. The Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division or recapitalization, with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards made under the Greenlane Holdings, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not yet vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock, or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC).
B. The Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division or recapitalization, with respect to (i) the shares of Class B Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and (ii) the shares of Class C Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a three-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class C Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class C Owners.
C. The Corporation shall not undertake or authorize (i) any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock; or (ii) any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times, subject to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a one-to-one ratio and three-to-one ratio, respectively, between the number of Common Units owned by the Permitted Class B Owners and Permitted Class C Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, unless, in the case of clause (i) or (ii) of this Article VI.C, such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and a one-to-three ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Permitted Class C Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock.
D. The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A Common Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery or repurchase the Corporation takes or authorizes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards made under the Greenlane Holdings, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not yet vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC). The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem shares of Preferred Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery, repurchase or redemption, the Corporation takes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the LLC which (in the good faith determination by the Board of Directors) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent in all respects to the outstanding Preferred Stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed.
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E. The Corporation shall not consolidate, merge, combine or consummate any other transaction (other than an action or transaction for which an adjustment is provided in one of the preceding paragraphs of this Article VI or in Article IV) in which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property, unless in connection with any such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction each Common Unit shall be entitled to be exchanged for or converted into (without duplication of any corresponding share of Class A Common Stock which the Corporation may elect to issue upon a redemption of such Common Unit by the holder thereof) the same kind and amount of stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Class A Common Stock is exchanged or converted, in each case to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between (x) the stock or securities, or rights to receive cash and/or any other property issuable in such transaction in exchange for or conversion of one share of Class A Common Stock and (y) the stock or securities, or rights to receive cash and/or any other property issuable in such transaction in exchange for or conversion of one Common Unit. The foregoing provisions of this Article VI.E shall not apply to any action or transaction (including any consolidation, merger or combination) approved by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each voting as a separate class.
ARTICLE VII.
BYLAW AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).
ARTICLE VIII.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Elections of the directors comprising the Board of Directors (each such director, in such capacity, a “Director”) need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.
B. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolutions adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors for the Board of Directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
C. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the stockholders. Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
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D. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
E. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX.
STOCKHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by 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.
ARTICLE
X.
AMENDMENTS
A. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner, and subject to approval by stockholders as, now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided that any amendment to Article IX shall be effective only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding representing two-thirds or more of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of directors.
B. If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or 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 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XI.
LIMITATION ON DIRECTOR LIABILITY
No director of the Corporation will have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. Neither the amendment nor the repeal of this Article XI shall eliminate or reduce the effect thereof in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment or repeal.
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ARTICLE XII.
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, other than any action or proceeding that, under applicable law, may only be commenced or prosecuted in another forum, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Aaron LoCascio, its Chief Executive Officer, on this 17th day of April, 2019.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 3.2
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.1 Place of Meetings . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place within or outside of the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors (the “Board” or the “Board of Directors”) of Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”), the Chief Executive Officer or the President or, if not so designated, at the registered office of the Corporation.
SECTION 1.2 Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Board of Directors at the time and place to be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 1.3 Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, for any purpose or purposes prescribed in the notice of the meeting and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board may fix. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting, subject to the last two sentences of the first paragraph of Section 1.10.
Upon request in writing sent by registered mail to the Chief Executive Officer or the President by any stockholder or stockholders entitled to request a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.3, and containing the information required pursuant to Sections 1.10 and 2.15, as applicable, the Board of Directors shall determine a place and time for such meeting, which time shall be not less than 120 nor more than 130 days after the receipt of such request, and a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, in advance, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. Following such receipt of a request and determination by the Secretary of the validity thereof, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to present the request to the Board of Directors, and upon Board action as provided in this Section 1.3, to cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, in the manner set forth in Section 1.4, hereof, that a meeting will be held at the place and time so determined, for the purposes set forth in the stockholder’s request, as well as any purpose or purposes determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 1.3.
SECTION 1.4 Notice of Meetings . Written notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or as required by law (meaning here and hereafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation). The notices of all meetings shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
SECTION 1.5 Voting List . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare, or the Corporation shall cause its stock transfer agent to prepare and deliver to the Corporation, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. This list shall determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.
SECTION 1.6 Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time.
If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those present constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law, those present at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
SECTION 1.7 Adjournments . Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the Chairman of the meeting, or in the absence of such person by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as Secretary of such meeting, or by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
SECTION 1.8 Voting and Proxies . Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by law as in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize any other person or persons to vote or act for him by written proxy executed by the stockholder or his authorized agent or by a transmission permitted by law and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. No stockholder may authorize more than one proxy for his shares. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
SECTION 1.9 Action at Meeting . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws: all action taken by the holders of a majority of the vote cast, excluding abstentions and any broker non-votes, at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation; except that in a Contested Election directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. For purposes of these Bylaws, an election shall be deemed to be Contested Election if the Secretary of the Corporation has received one or more notices that a stockholder or stockholders intend to nominate a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors, which notice(s) purport to be in compliance with Section 1.10 and 2.15 of these Bylaws and all such nominations have not been withdrawn by the proposing stockholder(s) on or prior to the tenth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to its stockholders (regardless of whether all such nominations are subsequently withdrawn and regardless of whether the Board of Directors determines that any such notice is not in compliance with Section 1.10 or 2.15 of these Bylaws).
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In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee of the Board of Directors for further service on the Board of Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable resignation, contingent on (i) that person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a Contested Election, and (ii) acceptance of that resignation by the Board of Directors in accordance with any policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purpose.
In any election of directors other than a Contested Election, if any nominee for director receives a greater number of “withhold” votes than votes “for” his or her election (with “abstentions” and “broker non votes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against”), the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors shall make a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, or whether other action should be taken.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s evaluation shall begin promptly following certification of the voting results and shall be forwarded to the Board of Directors to permit the Board of Directors to act on it no later than 90 days following the date of the stockholders’ meeting. If the Board of Directors determines that resignation is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, the Board of Directors shall promptly accept the resignation. The Corporation shall publicly disclose any such decision of the Board of Directors.
All voting, including on the election of directors, but excepting where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the chairman of the meeting. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as an alternate inspector to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.
SECTION 1.10 Notice of Stockholder Business .
(a) At an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Section 1.11 or 2.15 of these Bylaws, as applicable) must be either (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 1.10 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with this Section 1.10 as to such business. For any business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Section 1.11 or 2.15 of these Bylaws, as applicable), it must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder proposal to be presented at an annual meeting shall be received at the Corporation’s principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days in advance of the first anniversary of the date that the Corporation’s (or the Corporation’s predecessor’s) proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, except that if no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting more than 30 calendar days earlier than the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the stockholders to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which the date of the annual meeting is publicly announced. “Public announcement” for purposes hereof shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(c) of these Bylaws. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. For business to be properly brought before a special meeting by a stockholder, the business must be limited to the purpose or purposes set forth in a request under Section 1.3.
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(b) A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the text of the proposal or business, including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment, (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, and any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith (each, a “Proposing Person”), the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business and of any other Proposing Person, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting on the date of such notice and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose the business specified in the notice, (iv) any material interest of the stockholder and any other Proposing Person in such business, (v) the following information regarding the ownership interests of the stockholder and any other Proposing Person which shall be supplemented in writing by the stockholder not later than 10 days after the record date for voting at the meeting to disclose such interests as of such record date: (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Proposing Person; (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record or any other Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Proposing Person, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or other Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (D) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or other Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or other Proposing Person with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (“Short Interests”); (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or other Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder or other Proposing Person is entitled based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or other Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household; (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder or other Proposing Person; and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or other Proposing Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), and (vi) any other information relating to such stockholder or other Proposing Person, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.10; provided however, that any references in this Section 1.10 to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to proposals as to any business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.10. Nothing in this Section 1.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Corporation’s proxy statement any nomination or directors or any other business purpose.
(d) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) above shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of the stockholder’s intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
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SECTION 1.11 Proxy Access – Inclusion of Director Candidates in Proxy Materials .
(a) Proxy Access . Subject to compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in these Bylaws, in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall include (i) in its proxy statement and form of proxy relating to such annual meeting, in addition to the persons nominated for election by the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof), the name of any person nominated for election to the Board of Directors by a record stockholder who is, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in Section 1.11(e) below) pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11 (each such nominated person, a “Stockholder Nominee” and the particular annual meeting of stockholders at which they are nominated, the “Applicable Meeting”) and (ii) in its proxy statement the Required Information (as defined below) relating to each Stockholder Nominee.
(b) Timeliness of Notice . To nominate a potential Stockholder Nominee, a record stockholder who is, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder must provide a timely, written notice that expressly requests to have the proposed Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11 (the “Notice of Proxy Access Nomination”). To be timely, a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (local time) on the 120th day before, nor earlier than the 150th day before, the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the annual meeting in the year preceding the Applicable Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 calendar days earlier than the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, then for a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination to be timely, it must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which a public announcement (as defined in Article II, Section 2.15 of these Bylaws) of the date of the Applicable Meeting is first made (the last day on which a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination may be timely delivered, the “Final Proxy Access Nomination Date”). In no event shall an adjournment of the Applicable Meeting, or postponement of the date scheduled for the Applicable Meeting for which notice has been given (or with respect to which there has been a Public Announcement of the date of the meeting), commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a timely Notice of Proxy Access Nomination under this Article I, Section 1.11.
(c) Information Included in Proxy Materials . An Eligible Stockholder may provide to the Secretary of the Corporation a written statement for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the Applicable Meeting, not to exceed 500 words, in support of a proposed Stockholder Nominee (a “Statement”). In order to have a Statement included in the proxy statement, an Eligible Stockholder must submit the Statement to the Secretary of the Corporation at the same time that the corresponding Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is submitted to the Secretary of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article I, Section 1.11, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that it believes would violate any applicable law or regulation. Nothing in this Article I, Section 1.11 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Stockholder Nominee.
(d) Number of Stockholder Nominees . The number of Stockholder Nominees included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an Applicable Meeting shall not exceed the greater of (i) two (2) or (ii) twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office and subject to election by the holders of common stock as of the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date, or if such number is not a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%) (the number determined pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of this sentence, as applicable, and subject to reduction as provided below, the “Permitted Number”); provided, that in the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors at any time after the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date and before the date of the Applicable Meeting, and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith such that the number of directors subject to election by the holders of common stock is thereby reduced, the Permitted Number shall be determined based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.
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The Permitted Number shall also be reduced by (i) the number of director candidates that will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to the Applicable Meeting as an unopposed (by the Board of Directors) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of shares by such stockholder or group of stockholders from the Corporation), (ii) the number of incumbent director candidates who previously were Stockholder Nominees with respect to any of the preceding two annual meetings of stockholders and whose re-election at the upcoming annual meeting is being recommended by the Board of Directors and (iii) the number of director candidates whose names were submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11, but who were thereafter nominated by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article I, Section 1.11, the Corporation shall not be required to include any Stockholder Nominees in its proxy materials pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11 for any meeting of stockholders for which the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate one or more persons for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting pursuant to Article II, Section 2.15.
In the event that the number of proposed Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11 exceeds the Permitted Number, each Eligible Stockholder will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Permitted Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of common stock of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as owned in its respective Notice of Proxy Access Nomination as submitted to the Corporation. If the Permitted Number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder has selected one Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Permitted Number is reached. If any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Article I, Section 1.11 (i) thereafter withdraws from the election (or his or her nomination is withdrawn by the applicable Eligible Stockholder) or (ii) is thereafter not submitted for director election for any reason (including the failure to comply with this Article I, Section 1.11) other than due to a failure by the Corporation to include such Stockholder Nominee in the proxy materials in violation of this Article I, Section 1.11, no other nominee or nominees shall be substituted for such Stockholder Nominee and included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for director election pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11.
(e) Group Provisions to Determine Eligible Stockholder . An “Eligible Stockholder” is one or more persons who own and have owned, or are acting on behalf of one or more beneficial owners who own and have owned (in each case, as defined in Article I, Section 1.11(f)), for at least three years as of the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Corporation, shares representing at least the Required Shares (as defined in Section 1.11(m) below), and who continue to own the Required Shares at all times between the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Corporation and the date of the Applicable Meeting; provided that the aggregate number of record stockholders and beneficial owners in a “group” whose stock ownership is counted for the purposes of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement shall not exceed twenty (20). Whenever a group of two or more persons (including a group of funds that are part of the same Qualifying Fund (as defined in Section 1.11(m) below)) are taken together to constitute an Eligible Stockholder for purposes of this Article I, Section 1.11, then (1) the duration and nature of the share ownership criteria, and each provision in this Section 1.11 that requires the Eligible Stockholder to provide any written statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments shall be deemed to require each person (including each individual fund) that is a member of such group (other than a Custodian Holder) to meet such ownership criteria and to provide such statements, representations, undertakings, agreements or other instruments, and (2) a breach of any obligation, agreement or representation under this Section 1.11 by any member of such group (other than a Custodian Holder) shall be deemed a breach by the Eligible Stockholder. A Qualifying Fund shall be counted as one record stockholder or beneficial owner for the purpose of determining the aggregate number of record stockholders and beneficial owners in this paragraph, and treated as one person for the purpose of determining “ownership” as defined in this Article I, Section 1.11(f), provided that each fund comprising a Qualifying Fund otherwise meets the requirements set forth in this Article I, Section 1.11. No record stockholder (other than a Custodian Holder (as defined in Section 1.11(m) below)) or beneficial owner is permitted to be a member of more than one group constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Article I, Section 1.11, and no shares may be attributed to more than one Eligible Stockholder or group constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Article I, Section 11.1. For the avoidance of doubt, the Required Shares will qualify as such if and only if the beneficial owner of such shares has itself beneficially owned such shares continuously for the three-year period ending on the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Corporation and through the other applicable dates referred to above (in addition to the other applicable requirements being met).
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(f) Definition of Ownership . For purposes of calculating the Required Shares, “ownership” shall be deemed to consist of and include only the outstanding shares as to which a person possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (A) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (B) borrowed by such person or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar instrument or agreement entered into by such person or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of common stock, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such person’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (2) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree any potential gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such person or its affiliate. “Ownership” shall include shares held in the name of a nominee (including a Custodian Holder) or other intermediary so long as the person claiming ownership of such shares retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and the right to direct disposition thereof and possesses the full economic interest in the shares; provided that this provision shall not alter the obligations of a record stockholder to provide the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination. Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period (x) in which shares have been loaned if the person claiming ownership may recall such loaned shares on no more than five (5) business days’ notice or (y) in which any voting power has been delegated by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement which is revocable by the person claiming ownership, at any time without condition. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings.
(g) Contents of Notice of Proxy Access Nomination . The Notice of Proxy Access Nomination shall set forth or be submitted with the following information and materials in writing (including, as applicable, with respect to each Eligible Stockholder, every member of any group that constitutes such Eligible Stockholder other than a Custodian Holder):
(i) with respect to each Stockholder Nominee and each Eligible Stockholder, the information identified in Article I, Section 2.15, as applicable;
(ii) the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the Corporation’s proxy materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;
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(iii) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been, or concurrently is, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act;
(iv) with respect to each Eligible Stockholder and its affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith and each Stockholder Nominee, all information as would be required to be disclosed in a solicitation of proxies for the election of such Stockholder Nominee as a director in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(v) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among the Eligible Stockholder and its or their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each of such Eligible Stockholder’s Stockholder Nominee(s), and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the Eligible Stockholder, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the Stockholder Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and
(vi) a completed director questionnaire signed by the Stockholder Nominee (a form of which shall be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation promptly following a request therefor).
In addition, the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination must be submitted with a signed, written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (and each member of any group that together constitute an Eligible Stockholder other than a Custodian Holder) setting forth:
(i) a representation that the Eligible Stockholder (1) acquired ownership of the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent, (2) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the Applicable Meeting any person other than its Stockholder Nominee(s), (3) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act in support of the election of any individual as a director at the Applicable Meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or other nominees of the Board of Directors, (4) will not distribute to any person any form of proxy for the Applicable Meeting other than the forms distributed by the Corporation and (5) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and otherwise will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with any actions taken pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11;
(ii) a representation that (1) within five business days after the date that the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is sent to the Corporation, the Eligible Stockholder will provide one or more written statements from the record holder of the Required Shares (and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) that, as of a date within seven days prior to the date that the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination was received by the Corporation, the Eligible Stockholder owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three years, the Required Shares, (2) within five business days after the record date for determining stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the Applicable Meeting, the Eligible Stockholder will provide one or more written statements from the record holder (and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are held) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through such record date and (3) the Eligible Stockholder will provide immediate written notice to the Corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the convening of the Applicable Meeting;
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(iii) in the case of a nomination by an Eligible Stockholder consisting of a group, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of that group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination; and
(iv) an undertaking that the Eligible Stockholder agrees to (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provides to the Corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination, solicitation or other activity by the Eligible Stockholder in connection with its efforts to elect any Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11, (3) file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any solicitation or other communication with the Corporation’s stockholders relating to the meeting at which the Stockholder Nominee is to be nominated, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, (4) comply with all laws and regulations applicable to any solicitation in connection with the Applicable Meeting and (5) provide to the Corporation, prior to the Applicable Meeting, such additional information as necessary or reasonably requested by the Corporation. In addition, no later than the Final Proxy Access Nomination Date, a Qualifying Fund whose stock ownership is counted for purposes of qualifying as an Eligible Stockholder must provide to the Secretary of the Corporation documentation satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds comprising the Qualifying Fund are (x) under common management and investment control, (y) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer or (z) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act.
Any information required by this Article I, Section 1.11 to be provided to the Corporation must be updated and supplemented by the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as applicable, by delivery to the Secretary of the Corporation (1) no later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the Applicable Meeting, of such information as of such record date and (2) no later than five days before the Applicable Meeting, of such information as of the date that is 10 days before the Applicable Meeting. Further, in the event that any information or communications provided (pursuant to this Article I, Section 11.1 or otherwise) by the Eligible Stockholder or the Stockholder Nominee to the Corporation or its stockholders ceases to be true and correct in any respect or omits a fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation of any inaccuracy or omission in any previously provided information and of the information that is required to make such information or communication true and correct. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement to update, supplement and correct such information shall not permit any Eligible Stockholder or other person to change or add any proposed Stockholder Nominee or be deemed to cure any defects or limit the remedies (including without limitation under these Bylaws) available to the Corporation relating to any defect (including any inaccuracy or omission).
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(h) Information and Agreements from Nominees . Upon the request of the Corporation, each Stockholder Nominee must: (i) provide an executed agreement, in a form satisfactory to the Corporation, that the Stockholder Nominee (1) has read and agrees, if elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, to adhere to the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct and Ethics, and any other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors (which will be provided by the Corporation following a request therefor), (2) is not and will not become a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity in connection with his or her nomination, service or action as a Stockholder Nominee or as a director of the Corporation, in each case that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (3) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how the Stockholder Nominee would vote or act on any issue or question as a director; and (ii) provide (within five business days of the Corporation’s request) such additional information as the Corporation determines may be necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine whether or not such Stockholder Nominee (1) is independent under the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common stock of the Corporation is listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (2) has any direct or indirect relationship with the Corporation, other than those relationships that have been deemed categorically immaterial pursuant to the standards used by the Corporation for determining director independence, (3) would, by serving on the Board of Directors, violate or cause the Corporation to be in violation of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules or listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which any class of common stock of the Corporation is listed or any applicable law, rule or regulation and (4) is or has been subject to any event specified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K (or successor rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(i) Ineligibility of Certain Stockholder Nominees . Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but either (i) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at that annual meeting or (ii) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election at least equal to 25% of the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors, will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11 for the next two annual meetings of stockholders. Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders, but subsequently is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements of this Article I, Section 1.11 or any other provision of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines or applicable law or regulation at any time before the Applicable Meeting, will not be eligible or qualified for election at such annual meeting of stockholders and no other nominee may be substituted by the Eligible Stockholder that nominated such Stockholder Nominee (or any other Eligible Stockholder).
(j) Exclusion of Stockholder Nominees from Nomination and from Proxy Materials . The Corporation shall not be required to recognize or allow the nomination of a Stockholder Nominee (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nominee may have been received by the Board of Directors) or to include a Stockholder Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Article I, Section 1.11:
(i) who is not independent under (a) the rules or listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which any class of common stock of the Corporation is listed, (b) any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body with jurisdiction over the Corporation or (c) any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing independence of the Corporation’s directors, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors;
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(ii) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the Corporation to be in violation of these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, the rules or listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which any class of common stock of the Corporation is listed or any applicable law, rule or regulation;
(iii) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years;
(iv) who is subject to an order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(v) who is or has been, within the past three years, as officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended;
(vi) if such Stockholder Nominee or the nominating Eligible Stockholder (or any member of the underlying group) shall have provided information to the Corporation in connection with such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make any statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, as determined by the Corporation;
(vii) if the nominating Eligible Stockholder (or any member of the underlying group) or applicable Stockholder Nominee otherwise breaches or fails to comply with its representations, undertakings or obligations pursuant to these Bylaws, including, without limitation, this Article I, Section 1.11;
(viii) if the nominating Eligible Stockholder ceases to be an Eligible Stockholder for any reason, including but not limited to failure to own the Required Shares through the date of the Applicable Meeting; or
(ix) if the Stockholder Nominee is determined not to satisfy the eligibility requirements provided in the Corporate Governance Guidelines.
For the purposes of this subsection (j), the occurrence of any events or conditions contemplated by clauses (i) through (v) and (ix) or, to the extent related to a breach or failure by the particular Stockholder Nominee, clauses (vi) and (vii) will result in the ineligibility of such Stockholder Nominee to stand for election and (if the proxy statement for the Applicable Meeting has not already been filed) in the exclusion from the Corporation’s proxy materials of each specific Stockholder Nominee to whom the ineligibility applies. The occurrence of any events or conditions contemplated by clause (viii) or, to the extent related to a breach or failure by the nominating Eligible Stockholder (or any member of the underlying group), clauses (vi) or (vii) that results in the shares owned by such Eligible Stockholder being excluded from the Required Shares such that such person (or group of persons) shall no longer constitute an Eligible Stockholder, will result in the ineligibility of such Stockholder Nominee to stand for election and (if the proxy statement for the Applicable Meeting has not already been filed) in the exclusion from the Corporation’s proxy materials of each specific Stockholder Nominee to whom the ineligibility applies.
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(k) Attendance of Eligible Stockholder at Annual Meeting . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article I, Section 9, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the Chairman of the Applicable Meeting, if none of: (i) the Eligible Stockholder, (ii) a Qualified Representative (as defined below) or (iii) if the Eligible Stockholder is comprised of a group, a member of such group, appears at the Applicable Meeting to present the sponsored Stockholder Nominee(s), such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded and conclusively deemed withdrawn, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee(s) may have been received by the Corporation.
(l) Exclusive Method of Proxy Access . This Article I, Section 1.11 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the Corporation’s proxy materials.
(m) Definitions . As used in these Bylaws, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i) “ Custodian Holder ”, with respect to any Eligible Stockholder, means any broker, bank or custodian (or similar nominee) who (i) is acting solely as a nominee on behalf of a beneficial owner and (ii) does not “own” (as defined in Article I, Section 1.11) any of the shares comprising the Required Shares of the Eligible Stockholder.
(ii) “ person ” means, as applicable, any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, association, trust or other entity or organization.
(iii) A “ Qualified Representative ” of an Eligible Stockholder means a person that is a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Eligible Stockholder or is authorized by a writing (i) executed by such Eligible Stockholder, (ii) delivered (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing is delivered) by such Eligible Stockholder to the Corporation prior to the taking of the action taken by such person on behalf of such Eligible Stockholder and (iii) stating that such person is authorized to act for such Eligible Stockholder with respect to the action to be taken.
(iv) A “ Qualifying Fund ” means two or more collective investment funds that are (i) under common management and investment control, (ii) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer or (iii) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended from time to time the “Investment Company Act”.
(v) “ Required Information ” that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is (i) the information concerning the Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that the Corporation determines is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a Statement.
(vi) “ Required Shares ” means that number of shares of common stock of the Corporation that represents at least three percent (3%) of the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation as of both (A) the most recent date for which such amount was given in any filing by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the start of the three year period ending as of the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is received by the Corporation and (B) the most recent date for which such amount was given in any filing by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date the Notice of Proxy Access Nomination is provided to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with Section 1.11(b).
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SECTION 1.12 Conduct of Business . At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, or, in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, as, in his or her absence, the person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall act as Chairman. The Secretary of the Corporation or a person designated by the Chairman of the meeting shall act as Secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise approved by the Chairman of the meeting, attendance at the stockholders’ meeting is restricted to stockholders of record, persons authorized in accordance with Section 1.8 of these Bylaws to act by proxy, and officers and directors of the Corporation.
The Chairman of the meeting shall call the meeting to order, establish the agenda, and conduct the business of the meeting in accordance therewith or, at the Chairman’s discretion, it may be conducted otherwise in accordance with the wishes of the stockholders in attendance. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
The Chairman shall also conduct the meeting in an orderly manner, rule on the precedence of, and procedure on, motions and other procedural matters, and exercise discretion with respect to such procedural matters with fairness and good faith toward all those entitled to take part. The Chairman may impose reasonable limits on the amount of time taken up at the meeting on discussion in general or on remarks by any one stockholder. Should any person in attendance become unruly or obstruct the meeting proceedings, the Chairman shall have the power to have such person removed from participation. Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and Section 1.10 above. The Chairman of a meeting shall if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that any proposed item of business was not brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.12 and Section 1.10, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
SECTION 1.13 Stockholder Action Without Meeting . 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.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.1 General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.
SECTION 2.2 Number and Term of Office . The number of directors shall be five (5) and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption).
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SECTION 2.3 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other cause (including removal from office by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
SECTION 2.4 Resignation . Any director may resign by delivering notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chief Executive Officer, President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.
SECTION 2.5 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 2.6 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors, called by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or two or more directors may be held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware.
SECTION 2.7 Notice of Special Meetings . Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director by (i) giving notice to such director in person or by telephone, email or other electronic transmission or voice message system at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) sending a facsimile, or delivering written notice by hand, to his last known business or home address at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or (iii) mailing written notice to his last known business or home address at least three days in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
SECTION 2.8 Participation in Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls . Directors or any members of any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 2.9 Quorum . A majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors. In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than 1/3 of the number so fixed constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or at a meeting of a committee which authorizes a particular contract or transaction.
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SECTION 2.10 Action at Meeting . At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
SECTION 2.11 Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
SECTION 2.12 Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION 2.13 Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, with such lawfully delegated powers and duties as it therefor confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board 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 of the committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another 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 and subject to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.14 Compensation of Directors . Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary Corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
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SECTION 2.15 Nomination of Director Candidates .
(a) Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, nominations for the election of directors at an annual meeting may be made by (i) the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, (ii) any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.15 and who is a stockholder of record at the time notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation or (iii) by any stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors who has complied with the requirements and procedures set forth in Section 1.11 and whose nominees are included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such meeting. Any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at an annual meeting only if timely notice of such stockholder’s intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder nomination for a director to be elected at an annual meeting must be received at the Corporation’s principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days in advance of the first anniversary of the date that the Corporation’s (or the Corporation’s predecessor’s) proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, except that if no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the stockholders to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Each such notice shall set forth (i) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, and any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith (each, a “Nominating Person”), the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of any other Nominating Person, (ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors on the date of such notice and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (iii) the following information regarding the ownership interests of the stockholder and any other Nominating Person, which shall be supplemented in writing by the stockholder not later than 10 days after the record date for notice of the meeting to disclose such interests as of such record date: (A) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Nominating Person; (B) any Derivative Instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or other Nominating Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (D) any Short Interests in any securities of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person; (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or other Nominating Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder or other Nominating Person is entitled based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or other Nominating Person’s immediate family sharing the same household; (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder or other Nominating Person; and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or other Nominating Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder or other Nominating Person and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder, (v) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and any other Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (vi) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors, and (vii) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding the third sentence of this Section 2.15(a), in the event that the number of directors to be elected at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting as first specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after such notice was first sent), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.15(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
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(b) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.15 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as are specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice as required by Section 2.15(a) is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 70th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) No stockholder, other than the stockholders requesting a special meeting pursuant to Section 1.3 of these Bylaws, shall be permitted to submit nominations at any special meeting of the stockholders requested by stockholders pursuant to Section 1.3.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.15; provided however, that any references in this Section 2.15 to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.15. Nothing in this Section 2.15 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
(f) Only persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.15 or Section 1.11 shall be eligible to serve as directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting for the election of directors shall have the power and duty (i) to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.15 and (ii) if any proposed nomination was not made in compliance with this Section 2.15, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded.
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SECTION 2.16 Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement . To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.15 of these Bylaws to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request), and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation publicly disclosed from time to time.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
SECTION 3.1 Enumeration . The officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a President, Chairman of the Board, and one or more Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate.
SECTION 3.2 Election . Officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Officers may be appointed by the Board of Directors at any other meeting.
SECTION 3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
SECTION 3.4 Tenure . Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until his successor is appointed by the Board of Directors, unless a different term is specified in the vote appointing him, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.
SECTION 3.5 Resignation and Removal . Any officer may resign by delivering his written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chief Executive Officer, President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event. Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 3.6 Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors may appoint a Chairman of the Board. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, he shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned to him by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, and, if he is a director, at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.7 Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the provisions of these By laws and the direction of the Board of Directors, have responsibility for the general management, supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and over its officers, employees and agents (other than the Chairman of the Board). The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of the Chief Executive Officer, and any other duties and powers as may be from time to time assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors, in each case subject to the control of the Board of Directors. In the absence of or because of the inability of the Chairman of the Board to act in this capacity, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of stockholders. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the power to appoint and remove subordinate officers, agents and employees, except those elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall keep the Board of Directors fully informed and shall consult them concerning the business of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer may sign certificates for shares of the Corporation’s stock and any deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts, checks, notes, drafts, or other instruments that the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof has been expressly delegated by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed.
SECTION 3.8 President . The President shall report and be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties that are normally incident to the office of the president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors from time to time.
SECTION 3.9 Vice Presidents . Any Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the President (if one is appointed) may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President (or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the President and when so performing shall have at the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries . The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of the secretary, including, without limitation, the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, to keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
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SECTION 3.11 Chief Financial Officer . Unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In addition, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of chief financial officer, including without limitation, the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to maintain the financial records of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories as authorized, to disburse such funds as authorized, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors accounts of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
SECTION 3.12 Salaries . Officers of the Corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.13 Delegation of Authority . The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 4.1 Issuance of Stock . Unless otherwise voted by the stockholders and subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
SECTION 4.2 Certificates of Stock . The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates or one or more classes of such shares shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock, or a combination of both. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form approved by the Board of Directors. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of shareholders or among such holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
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SECTION 4.3 Transfers . Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation: (i) in the case of shares represented by a certificate, by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require; and (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner thereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
SECTION 4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or it may issue uncertificated shares if the shares represented by such certificate have been designated as uncertificated shares in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 4.2, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.
SECTION 4.5 Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or to express consent (or dissent) to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, concession or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date shall not be more than 60 or less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record date relates.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held. The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.
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 the adjourned meeting.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5.2 Corporate Seal . The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5.3 Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a waiver of such notice either in writing signed by the person entitled to such notice or such person’s duly authorized attorney, or by electronic transmission or any other method permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law, whether before, at or after the time stated in such waiver, or the appearance of such person or persons at such meeting in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
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SECTION 5.4 Actions with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations . Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer or President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or President shall have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or proxy, and may waive notice of, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact to this Corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders (or with respect to any action of stockholders) of any other corporation or organization, the securities of which may be held by this Corporation and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of this Corporation’s ownership of securities in such other corporation or other organization.
SECTION 5.5 Evidence of Authority . A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
SECTION 5.6 Certificate of Incorporation . All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
SECTION 5.7 Severability . Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.
SECTION 5.8 Pronouns . All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
SECTION 5.9 Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by telecopy or other electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or by commercial courier service. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if delivered by hand, telecopy, other electronic transmission or commercial courier service, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mails.
SECTION 5.10 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.
SECTION 5.11 Time Periods . In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
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SECTION 5.12 Facsimile Signatures . In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
SECTION 5.13 Forum for Certain Actions . Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought by a stockholder on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any action asserting a claim 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 subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants or said defendants waiving personal jurisdictional challenges. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Bylaw.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 6.1 By the Board of Directors . Except as is otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present.
SECTION 6.2 By the Stockholders . Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders, provided notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws shall have been stated in the notice of such special meeting.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 7.1 Right to Indemnification . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or as a controlling person of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said Law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 7.2 of this Article 7, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (b) the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (c) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) the proceeding (or part thereof) is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under an indemnity agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights hereunder shall be contract rights and shall include the right to be paid expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, unless the Delaware General Corporation Law then so prohibits, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is tendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.
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SECTION 7.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit . If a claim under Section 7.1 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 90 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if such suit is not frivolous or brought in bad faith, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to this Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
SECTION 7.3 Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of related expenses, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to directors and officers of the Corporation.
SECTION 7.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any person in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 shall not be exclusive of any other right which such persons may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
SECTION 7.5 Indemnification Contracts . The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article 7.
SECTION 7.6 Effect of Amendment . Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article 7 by the stockholders and the directors of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
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Exhibit 10.1
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and among Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and each Person identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as of the date hereof (such Persons, collectively, the “ Original Members ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Corporation is executing and delivering this Agreement in contemplation of consummating the offer and sale of its shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ” and such shares, the “ Shares ”), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”);
WHEREAS , the Corporation desires to use a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase Common Units (as defined below) of the Company, and the Company desires to issue its Common Units to the Corporation in exchange for such portion of the net proceeds from the IPO;
WHEREAS , immediately prior to the consummation of the issuance of Common Units by the Company to the Corporation, the Original Members are the sole members of the Company;
WHEREAS , immediately prior to or simultaneous with the purchase by the Corporation of the Common Units, the Corporation, the Company and the Original Members will enter into that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”);
WHEREAS , in connection with the closing of the IPO, (i) the Corporation will become the sole manager of the Company, (ii) each Person identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as a “Member” (such Persons, collectively, the “ Members ”) will become a non-managing member of the Company but, except as otherwise disclosed in the prospectus relating to the IPO, will otherwise retain their Common Units in the Company, and (iii) in consideration of the Corporation acquiring the Common Units and becoming the manager of the Company, among other things, the Company will provide the Members with a redemption right pursuant to which the Members may be able to require redemption of their Common Units and the Corporation may, at the Corporation’s option, redeem or exchange the Member’s Common Units for Class A Common Stock or for cash on the terms set forth in the Operating Agreement;
NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1 :
“ Acquired Common ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 .
“ Additional Investor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 , and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.
“ Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).
“ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .
“ Business Day ” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.
“ Capital Stock ” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above.
“ Class A Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Class B Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“ Class C Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“ Common Units ” means the “Common Units” of the Company as defined in the Operating Agreement.
“ Company ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Controlling Holder ” means each of Jacoby & Co., Inc. and Adam Schoenfeld, in each case so long as such Holder continues to hold Registrable Securities.
“ Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Demand Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .
“ End of Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .
“ Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
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“ Writing Prospectus ” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“ Holder ” means any Person who is the registered holder of Registrable Securities.
“ Holder Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .
“ IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Joinder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 .
“ Long-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .
“ Members ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.
“ MNPI ” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act.
“ Operating Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Original Members ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.
“ Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Piggyback Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) .
“ Public Offering ” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Corporation pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Corporation, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Corporation’s Capital Stock.
“ Registrable Securities ” means (i) any Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in a Share Settlement in connection with (x) the redemption by the Company of Common Units owned by any Member or (y) at the election of the Corporation, in a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Member, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement, (ii) any common Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned by Persons that are the registered holders of securities described in clauses (i) or (ii) above. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO or (c) repurchased by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation or otherwise have ceased to be outstanding. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Corporation that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) while Common Units may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obligated to register Common Units and only Shares issuable upon redemption or exchange of such Common Units will be registered and (y) under no circumstances shall the Corporation be required to register any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Registrable Securities held by any Person that may be sold under Rule 144(b)(1)(i) without limitation under any other of the requirements of Rule 144 shall not be deemed to be Registrable Securities upon notice from the Corporation to such Person and the Corporation shall, at such Person’s request, remove the legend provided for in Section 11 .
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“ Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) .
“ Rule 144 ,” “ Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 405 ” and “ Rule 415 ” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.
“ Schedule of Investors ” means the schedule attached to this Agreement entitled “Schedule of Investors”, which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.
“ Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Share Settlement ” means “Share Settlement” as defined in the Operating Agreement.
“ Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“ Shelf Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .
“ Shelf Offering Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .
“ Shelf Offering Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .
“ Shelf Registrable Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .
“ Shelf Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .
“ Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) .
“ Short-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to the Corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (y) the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.
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“ Suspension Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .
“ Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .
“ Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(i) .
“ Underwritten Takedown ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .
“ Violation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .
“ WKSI ” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.
Section 2. Demand Registrations .
(a) Requests for Registration . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time from and after 180 days following the IPO, Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“ Long-Form Registrations ”), and Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“ Short-Form Registrations ”) if available; provided that the Corporation shall not be obligated to file any registration statement related to any Long Form Registration or Short Form Registration under this Section 2(a) unless the Long Form Registration or Short Form Registration is reasonably expected to register at least $10.0 million in Registrable Securities held by the Controlling Holders making the request. All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “ Demand Registrations .” The Controlling Holders making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “ Shelf Registration ”) and, if the Corporation is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Corporation, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “ Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ”). Following the request for the Demand Registration, the Corporation shall give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 2(e) , shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of the Corporation’s notice; provided that the Corporation shall provide notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders no later than five (5) days prior to the non-confidential filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation or until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to take any action that would otherwise be required under this Section 2 if such action would violate any lock-up or hold-back provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.
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(b) Long-Form Registrations . The Controlling Holders shall be entitled to request up to three (3) Long-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders making the Demand Registration.
(c) Short-Form Registrations . In addition to the Long-Form Registrations described in Section 2(b) , the Controlling Holders shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of Short-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Corporation is permitted to use any applicable short form and if the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration. After the Corporation has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.
(d) Shelf Registrations .
(i) Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Corporation receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration, the Corporation shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and once effective, the Corporation shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Original Members in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement (or such other number of Registrable Securities specified in writing by the Holder with respect to the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder) to enable and cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed and maintained with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as practicable after the Corporation becomes eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement for a Short-Form Registration; provided that any of the Original Members may, with respect to itself, instruct the Corporation in writing not to include in such Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder. In order for any of the Original Members to be named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Corporation may require such Holder to deliver all information about such Holder that is required to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(d)(ii) , any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.
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(ii) In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders holding Registrable Securities with an aggregate market value of at least $10.0 million shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “ Underwritten Takedown ”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith; provided that Controlling Holders shall have the right at any time and from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an Underwritten Takedown) pursuant to a Shelf Offering Request (as defined below) made by such Controlling Holders so long as the amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Offering Request (including any Registrable Securities included pursuant to the third succeeding sentence) by such Controlling Holders is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds to such Controlling Holders in excess of $5.0 million. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Corporation a written request (a “ Shelf Offering Request ”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “ Shelf Offering ”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Shelf Offering Notice ”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Corporation shall, subject to Sections 2(e) and 7 hereof, include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Corporation for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within seven (7) days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Corporation shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within twenty (20) days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Controlling Holders holding Registrable Securities with an aggregate market value of at least $5.0 million wish to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Corporation of the block trade Shelf Offering two (2) Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall promptly notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day ( i.e. , one (1) Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three (3) Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Corporation and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.
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(iv) The Corporation shall, at the request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.
(e) Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings . The Corporation shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering. If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, that can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested by Holders to be included that, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein. Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.
(f) Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings .
(i) The Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3 . The Corporation may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “ Suspension Period ”) by providing written notice to the Holders if (A) the Corporation’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) either (x) the Corporation has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Corporation’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering. The Corporation may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders. The Corporation also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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(ii) In the case of an event that causes the Corporation to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 4(a)(vi) (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Corporation shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Corporation shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders. A Holder shall not affect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Corporation and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Corporation, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Corporation to the Holders and their counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event.
(iii) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Corporation gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(f) , the Corporation agrees that it shall (A) extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice, and (B) provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) Selection of Underwriters . Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval, which is not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Takedown, the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
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(h) Other Registration Rights . The Corporation represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Corporation. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Corporation or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders.
Section 3. Piggyback Registrations .
(a) Right to Piggyback . Following the IPO, whenever the Corporation proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Corporation shall give prompt written notice to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d) , shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within twenty (20) days after delivery of the Corporation’s notice (provided that if such Piggyback Registration is to be effected pursuant to a “bought deal agreement” (within the meaning of National Instrument 44-101 - Short Form Prospectus Distributions of the Canadian Securities Administrators), the Corporation shall have promptly upon the initial communication relating to a proposed “bought deal agreement” with a prospective underwriter notified the Holders of the substance of such communication and shall consistently update the Holders on all material developments with respect thereto, and the Holder shall respond consistent with the time periods typical for transactions of that nature).
(b) Piggyback Expenses . The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Corporation in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.
(c) Priority on Primary Registrations . If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Corporation, and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Corporation proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.
(d) Priority on Secondary Registrations . If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Corporation’s securities (other than the Holders), and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the initial holders requesting such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.
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(e) Selection of Underwriters . If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Corporation (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the holders of other Corporation securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Corporation or such other initiating holders of Corporation securities).
(f) Right to Terminate Registration . The Corporation shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Corporation in accordance with Section 5 .
Section 4. Registration Procedures .
(a) Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (i) such Holders shall, if applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities, and (ii) the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible:
(i) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Corporation shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);
(ii) notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Corporation or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;
(iii) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
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(iv) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;
(v) use its reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Corporation shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);
(vi) notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(f) , at the request of any such seller, the Corporation shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(vii) use reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;
(viii) use reasonable efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
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(ix) enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);
(x) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Corporation as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;
(xi) take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xii) otherwise use its reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Corporation’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;
(xiii) to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Corporation, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;
(xiv) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Class A Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(xv) use its reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(xvi) cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;
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(xvii) cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;
(xviii) use its reasonable efforts to make available the executive officers of the Corporation to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;
(xix) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable efforts to obtain one or more comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;
(xx) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Corporation’s outside counsel, dated the closing date of the Public Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold;
(xxi) if the Corporation files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;
(xxii) if the Corporation does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and
(xxiii) if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, file a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Corporation is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Corporation determines that it is not a WKSI, use its reasonable efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.
(b) Any officer of the Corporation who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Corporation and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.
(c) The Corporation may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Corporation such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Corporation may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
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(d) If the Original Members or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Corporation shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.
Section 5. Registration Expenses .
(a) The Corporation’s Obligation . All expenses incident to the Corporation’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Corporation) (all such expenses being herein called “ Registration Expenses ”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Corporation shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.
(b) Counsel Fees and Disbursements . In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, the Corporation shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering.
Section 6. Indemnification and Contribution .
(a) By the Corporation . The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “ Holder Indemnified Parties ”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “ Violation ”) by the Corporation: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 6 , collectively called an “ application ”) executed by or on behalf of the Corporation or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Corporation filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Corporation of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Corporation and relating to action or inaction required of the Corporation in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Corporation will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Corporation by such Holder Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Holder Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Corporation has furnished such Holder Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Corporation shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holder Indemnified Parties.
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(b) By Each Holder . In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Corporation in writing such information and affidavits as the Corporation reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Corporation, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.
(c) Claim Procedure . Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(t) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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(e) Release . No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6 , an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the indemnifying party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(f) Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival . The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.
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Section 7. Underwritten Registrations .
(a) Participation . No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lockup agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4 and this Section 7(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, this Section 7(a) , the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Corporation and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 7(a) .
(b) Price and Underwriting Discounts . In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.
(c) Suspended Distributions . Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(a)(vi)(B) or (C) , shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 4(a)(vi) . In the event the Corporation has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section 7(c) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(a)(vi) .
Section 8. Additional Parties; Joinder . Subject to the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders, the Corporation may make any Person who acquires Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock from the Corporation after the date hereof (including any Person who acquires Common Units) a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “ Additional Investor ”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Investor in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “ Joinder ”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation acquired by such Additional Investor or issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units acquired by such Additional Investor (the “ Acquired Common ”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Investor shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Corporation shall add such Additional Investor’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.
Section 9. Current Public Information . The Corporation shall at all times when any Registrable Securities remain outstanding file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Corporation shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
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Section 10. Subsidiary Public Offering . If, after an initial Public Offering of the Capital Stock of one of its Subsidiaries (including the Company), the Corporation distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equityholders, then the rights and obligations of the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such Subsidiary, and the Corporation shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.
Section 11. Transfer of Registrable Securities .
(a) Restrictions on Transfers . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Corporation, (ii) a transfer by any Original Member or any of its Affiliates to its respective equityholders, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the IPO or (v) a transfer in connection with a sale of the Corporation, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including by operation of law), the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Corporation a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Corporation shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.
(b) Legend . Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF APRIL 17, 2019, BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “CORPORATION”) AND CERTAIN OF THE CORPORATION’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE CORPORATION TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
The Corporation shall imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof, and shall cause the Company to imprint such legend on certificates, if any, evidencing Common Units exchangeable for Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.
Section 12. MNPI Provisions .
(a) Each Holder acknowledges that (i) the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Corporation or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Corporation’s securities is pending or the number of Corporation securities or the identity of the selling Holders), and (ii) there is no limitation on the duration of time that such Holder and its Representatives may be in possession of MNPI and no requirement that the Company or other Holders make any public disclosure to cause such information to cease to be MNPI; provided that the Corporation will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify each Holder if any proposed registration or offering for which a notice has been delivered pursuant to this Agreement has been terminated or aborted.
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(b) Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“ Policies ”); provided that a holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “ Representatives ”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further , that in the case of clause (i) , the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 12 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v) , such disclosure is required by law and you promptly notify the Corporation of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.
(c) Each Holder, by its execution of a counterpart to this agreement or of a Joinder, hereby (i) acknowledges that it is aware that the U.S. securities laws prohibit any person who has MNPI about a company from purchasing or selling, directly or indirectly, securities of such company (including entering into hedge transactions involving such securities), or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, and (ii) agrees that it will not use, and that it will use its reasonable efforts to assure that none of its representatives will use or permit any third party to use, any MNPI the Corporation provides in contravention of the U.S. securities laws and that it will cease trading in the Corporation’s and the Company’s securities while in possession of material non-public information.
(d) Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect not to receive any notice that the Corporation or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Corporation a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “ Opt-Out Request ”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for so long as such Opt-Out Request is in effect, (i) the Corporation and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Corporation or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI and (ii) such Holder waives any right to participate in any registration covered by this Agreement. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Corporation an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Corporation arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.
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Section 13. General Provisions .
(a) Amendments and Waivers . Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Corporation and Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder in a manner materially different than any other Holder ( provided that the accession by Additional Investors to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Holder), shall be effective against such Holder without the consent of such Holder that is materially and adversely affected thereby; and provided further that any amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Controlling Holders shall also require the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.
(b) Remedies . The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(d) Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
(e) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Corporation and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not). In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.
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(f) Notices . Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient but; if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one (1) Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three (3) Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Corporation at the address specified below and to any Original Member or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Investors, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein. The Corporation’s address is:
Greenlane Holdings, Inc.
1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
Attention: General Counsel
Email: dfischer@gnln.com
With a copy to:
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square, 40 th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Jeffrey C. Johnson, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 326-0806
Email: jjohnson@pryorcashman.com
or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
(g) Business Days . If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.
(h) Governing Law . The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Corporation and its stockholders. All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
(i) MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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(j) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
(k) No Recourse . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Corporation and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
(l) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
(m) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
(n) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(o) Electronic Delivery . This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
(p) Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(q) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Corporation shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Aaron LoCascio |
|
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC By: Greenlane Holdings, Inc., its Manager |
||
By: |
/s/ Aaron LoCascio |
|
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
ORIGINAL MEMBERS |
||
CLASS A | ||
JACOBY & CO. INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Co-President | |
By: | /s/ Adam Schoenfeld | |
Name: | Adam Schoenfeld | |
Title: | Co-President | |
/s/ Adam Schoenfeld | ||
Adam Schoenfeld | ||
CLASS B | ||
BETTER LIFE PRODUCTS INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Sherman | |
Name: | Jeffrey Sherman | |
Title: | President |
Signature Page to
R e gistration Rights Agreement
ROCHESTER VAPOR GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Clive Fleissig | |
Name: | Clive Fleissig | |
Title: | Manager | |
POLLEN GEAR HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Edward Kilduff | |
Name: | Edward Kilduff | |
Title: | Manager | |
/s/ Zachary Tapp | ||
Zachary Tapp | ||
/s/ Jay Scheiner | ||
Jay Scheiner | ||
/s/ Sasha Kadey | ||
Sasha Kadey | ||
/s/ Tessa Weaver | ||
Tessa Weaver | ||
/s/ Chad Freling | ||
Chad Freling | ||
/s/ Hisham Boulhimez | ||
Hisham Boulhimez | ||
/s/ Seth Sznapstajler | ||
Seth Sznapstajler |
Signature Page to
R egistration Rights Agreement
/s/ Joseph Hurwitz | |
Joseph Hurwitz | |
/s/ William Bradford Dulin | |
William Bradford Dulin | |
/s/ Matthew Paul | |
Matthew Paul | |
/s/ Wade Wilson | |
Wade Wilson | |
/s/ Fabian Acuna | |
Fabian Acuna | |
/s/ James Leonard | |
James Leonard | |
/s/ Ethan Rudin | |
Ethan Rudin | |
/s/ Jason Baum | |
Jason Baum | |
/s/ Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
/s/ Douglas Fischer | |
Douglas Fischer |
Signature Page to
R egistration Rights Agreement
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
Holder
|
Jacoby & Co. Inc . |
Attn: Aaron LoCascio and Adam Schoenfeld |
1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300 |
Boca Raton, FL 33487 |
Adam Schoenfeld |
Better Life Products, Inc. |
Rochester Vapor Group, LLC |
Jay Scheiner |
Sasha Kadey |
Zachary Tapp |
Pollen Gear Holdings LLC |
Tessa Weaver |
Chad Freling |
Hisham Boulhimez |
Seth Sznapstajler |
Joseph Hurwitz |
William Bradford Dulin |
Matthew Paul |
Wade Wilson |
Fabian Acuna |
James Leonard |
Ethan Rudin |
Jason Baum |
Dawn Marie Cavanagh |
Douglas Fischer |
EXHIBIT A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 17, 2019 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and the other persons named as parties therein.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Corporation, and upon acceptance hereof by the Corporation upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Corporation is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day of , 20 .
Signature of Stockholder |
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Print Name of Stockholder | ||
Its: | ||
Address: | ||
Agreed and Accepted as of |
, 20 |
Greenlane Holdings, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Its: |
Exhibit 10.2
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
Dated as of April 17, 2019
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS OPERATING AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
Article I. DEFINITIONS | 2 | |
Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS | 10 | |
Section 2.01 | Formation of Company | 10 |
Section 2.02 | Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement | 10 |
Section 2.03 | Name | 10 |
Section 2.04 | Purpose | 10 |
Section 2.05 | Principal Office; Registered Agent | 10 |
Section 2.06 | Term | 10 |
Section 2.07 | No State-Law Partnership | 10 |
Article III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION | 11 | |
Section 3.01 | Members | 11 |
Section 3.02 | Units | 11 |
Section 3.03 | Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units | 11 |
Section 3.04 | Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units | 12 |
Section 3.05 | Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class A Common Stock | 13 |
Section 3.06 | Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units | 13 |
Section 3.07 | Negative Capital Accounts | 13 |
Section 3.08 | No Withdrawal | 13 |
Section 3.09 | Loans From Members | 13 |
Section 3.10 | Corporation Stock Incentive Plans | 14 |
Section 3.11 | Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan | 14 |
Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS | 14 | |
Section 4.01 | Distributions | 14 |
Section 4.02 | Restricted Distributions | 15 |
Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS | 15 | |
Section 5.01 | Capital Accounts | 15 |
Section 5.02 | Allocations | 16 |
Section 5.03 | Regulatory Allocations | 16 |
Section 5.04 | Final Allocations | 17 |
Section 5.05 | Tax Allocations | 17 |
Section 5.06 | Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member | 18 |
Article VI. MANAGEMENT | 18 | |
Section 6.01 | Authority of Manager | 18 |
Section 6.02 | Actions of the Manager | 19 |
Section 6.03 | Resignation; No Removal | 19 |
Section 6.04 | Vacancies | 19 |
Section 6.05 | Transactions Between Company and Manager | 19 |
Section 6.06 | Reimbursement for Expenses | 19 |
Section 6.07 | Delegation of Authority | 19 |
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Section 6.08 | Limitation of Liability of Manager | 20 |
Section 6.09 | Investment Company Act | 20 |
Section 6.10 | Outside Activities of the Manager | 21 |
Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS | 21 | |
Section 7.01 | Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members | 21 |
Section 7.02 | Lack of Authority | 21 |
Section 7.03 | No Right of Partition | 21 |
Section 7.04 | Indemnification | 22 |
Section 7.05 | Members Right to Act | 23 |
Section 7.06 | Inspection Rights | 23 |
Article VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 23 | |
Section 8.01 | Records and Accounting | 23 |
Section 8.02 | Fiscal Year | 24 |
Section 8.03 | Reports | 24 |
Article IX. TAX MATTERS | 24 | |
Section 9.01 | Preparation of Tax Returns | 24 |
Section 9.02 | Tax Elections | 24 |
Section 9.03 | Tax Controversies | 24 |
Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS | 25 | |
Section 10.01 | Transfers by Members | 25 |
Section 10.02 | Permitted Transfers | 25 |
Section 10.03 | Restricted Units Legend | 25 |
Section 10.04 | Transfer | 25 |
Section 10.05 | Assignee’s Rights | 26 |
Section 10.06 | Assignor’s Rights and Obligations | 26 |
Section 10.07 | Overriding Provisions | 26 |
Section 10.08 | Spousal Consent | 27 |
Section 10.09 | Tender Offers and Other Events with respect to the Corporation | 27 |
Article XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS | 28 | |
Section 11.01 | Redemption Right of a Member | 28 |
Section 11.02 | Election and Contribution of the Corporation | 30 |
Section 11.03 | Exchange Right of the Corporation | 30 |
Section 11.04 | Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation | 31 |
Section 11.05 | Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right | 31 |
Section 11.06 | Tax Treatment | 31 |
Article XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS | 31 | |
Section 12.01 | Substituted Members | 31 |
Section 12.02 | Additional Members | 31 |
Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS | 32 | |
Section 13.01 | Withdrawal and Resignation of Members | 32 |
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Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | 32 | |
Section 14.01 | Dissolution | 32 |
Section 14.02 | Liquidation and Termination | 32 |
Section 14.03 | Deferment; Distribution in Kind | 33 |
Section 14.04 | Cancellation of Certificate | 33 |
Section 14.05 | Reasonable Time for Winding Up | 33 |
Section 14.06 | Return of Capital | 33 |
Article XV. VALUATION | 33 | |
Section 15.01 | Determination | 33 |
Section 15.02 | Dispute Resolution | 34 |
Article XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS | 34 | |
Section 16.01 | Power of Attorney | 34 |
Section 16.02 | Confidentiality | 34 |
Section 16.03 | Amendments | 35 |
Section 16.04 | Title to Company Assets | 35 |
Section 16.05 | Addresses and Notices | 36 |
Section 16.06 | Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries | 36 |
Section 16.07 | Creditors | 36 |
Section 16.08 | Waiver | 36 |
Section 16.09 | Counterparts | 36 |
Section 16.10 | Applicable Law | 36 |
Section 16.11 | Severability | 36 |
Section 16.12 | Further Action | 36 |
Section 16.13 | Delivery by Electronic Transmission | 37 |
Section 16.14 | Right of Offset | 37 |
Section 16.15 | Effectiveness | 37 |
Section 16.16 | Entire Agreement | 37 |
Section 16.17 | Remedies | 37 |
Section 16.18 | Descriptive Headings; Interpretation | 37 |
Exhibits
Exhibit A | – | Form of Joinder Agreement |
Exhibit B | – | Corporation Equity Plan Guidelines |
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC
This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 17, 2019, is entered into by and among Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and its Members (as defined herein).
WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company under the name of “Jacoby Holdings LLC” on September 2, 2015 by the filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of February 20, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to but excluding the date hereof, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “ Prior Operating Agreement ”), with the members of the Company party thereto (including pursuant to consent and joinders thereto) (collectively, the “ Original Members ”); and
WHEREAS, the Company changed its name to “Greenlane Holdings, LLC” on June 27, 2018 by the filing of an amendment to the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Original Members hold Class A Units and Class B Units (each as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement, respectively, the “ Original Class A Units ” and the “ Original Class B Units ,” respectively, and collectively, the “ Original Units ”) of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to have Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), effect an initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), and in connection therewith, to amend and restate the Prior Operating Agreement as of the Effective Time (as defined herein) to reflect (a) a recapitalization of the Company (as set forth in Section 3.03 hereof) (the “ Recapitalization ”), (b) the addition of the Corporation as a Member of the Company and its designation as sole Manager (as defined herein) of the Company, and (c) the rights and obligations of the Members of the Company that are enumerated and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement effective as of the Effective Time, at which time the Prior Operating Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Recapitalization and as of the Effective Time, the Original Units of each Original Member will be canceled and Common Units (as defined herein) will be issued as contemplated by this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Original Members are the members of the Company as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the Recapitalization; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Corporation will (i) sell shares of its Class A Common Stock to public investors in the IPO and will use the net proceeds received from the IPO (the “ IPO Net Proceeds ”) to purchase newly-issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement, (ii) issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon the redemption by certain of the Original Members of an aggregate of 750,000 Common Units and deliver such shares of Class A Common Stock to the underwriters upon the direction of such Original Members pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement and (iii) issue shares of Class A Common Stock to the Convertible Noteholders (as defined herein) in consideration of the receipt of newly-issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Corporation may issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock to or upon the order of certain of the Original Members upon the redemption of Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.
“ 10% Member ” means (i) a Member that holds Units representing a direct Percentage Interest of at least 10% or (ii) a Person that holds, directly and/or indirectly and together with such Person’s Affiliates, Units representing a Percentage Interest of at least 10% provided that the Company has knowledge that such Person (together with such Person’s Affiliates) holds, directly and/or indirectly, Units representing a Percentage Interest of at least 10%.
“ Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time, or any corresponding provision or provisions of any succeeding or successor law of the State of Delaware; provided , however , that any amendment to the Act, or any succeeding or successor law, is applicable to the Company only if the Company has elected to be governed by the Act as so amended or by such succeeding or successor law, as the case may be. The term “Act” shall refer to the Act as so amended or to such succeeding or successor law only after the appropriate election by the Company, if made, has become effective.
“ Additional Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02 .
“ Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:
(a) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and
(b) increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to minimum gain).
“ Admission Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06 .
“ Affiliate ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Affiliated ”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition and the definition of Majority Member, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).
“ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement. “ Appraisers ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.02 .
“ Assignee ” means a Person to whom a Company Interest has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to Article XII .
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“ Assumed Tax Liability ” means, with respect to a Member, an amount equal to the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by the estimated or actual taxable income of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.05 for the period to which the Assumed Tax Liability relates as determined for federal income tax purposes to the extent not previously taken into account in determining the Assumed Tax Liability of such Member, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided that, in the case of the Corporation, such Assumed Tax Liability (i) shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code and (ii) shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet its tax obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, for the relevant taxable year.
“ Base Rate ” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.
“ Black-Out Period ” means any “black-out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Redeeming Member is subject, which period restricts the ability of such Redeeming Member to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeeming Member in connection with a Share Settlement.
“ Book Value ” means, with respect to any Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).
“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banks located in New York City, New York generally are authorized or required by Law to close.
“ Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Member in accordance with Section 5.01 .
“ Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to Article III hereof.
“ Cash Settlement ” means immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the Redeemed Units Equivalent.
“ Certificate ” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act, as such Certificate may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Act.
“ Change of Control Transaction ” means (a) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets determined on a consolidated basis, or (b) a sale of a majority of the Company’s outstanding Units (other than (i) to the Corporation or (ii) in connection with a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI ); in any such case, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise; provided, however , that neither (w) a transaction solely between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, nor (x) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of domicile of the Company, nor (y) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the form of entity of the Company, nor (z) a sale of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise, shall in each case of clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z) constitute a Change of Control Transaction.
“ Class A Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Class B Common Stock ” means the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.
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“ Class C Common Stock ” means the Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.
“ Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Common Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of the Members and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.
“ Common Unit Redemption Price ” means the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the five (5) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then a majority of the Independent Directors shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.
“ Common Unitholder ” means a Member who is the registered holder of Common Units.
“ Company ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Company Interest ” means the interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions.
“ Contribution Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b) .
“ Convertible Note ” means a Convertible Promissory Note of the Company issued by the Company pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 21, 2018 among the Company and the investors named therein.
“ Convertible Noteholder ” means each Person that is a registered holder of a Convertible Note.
“ Corporate Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“ Corporate Incentive Award Plan ” means the Greenlane Holdings, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.
“ Credit Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2018, by and among the Company and 1095 Broken Sound Parkway LLC, as borrowers, and Fifth Third Bank, as the lender, including all exhibits, schedules and attachments thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancings or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation.
“ Direct Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(a) .
“ Distributable Cash ” shall mean, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a) , the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Company for such purposes in accordance with the Credit Agreement (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement).
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“ Distribution ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Distribute ”) means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however , that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Members or any exchange of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units (b) any payments made by the Company to the Manager pursuant to Section 6.06 , or (c) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, or 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.
“ Distribution Tax Rate ” shall mean, for any Fiscal Year, a rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to corporate or individual taxpayers that may potentially apply to any Member for such Fiscal Year taking into account (i) any deductions pursuant to Section 199A of the Code, and (ii) the character of the relevant tax items ( e.g., ordinary or capital), as reasonably determined by the Manager. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall use the same Distribution Tax Rate for determining the Assumed Tax Liability for each Member with respect to any particular item of income or gain, regardless of whether the Member is a corporation, individual, partnership, trust, estate or other juridical entity.
“ Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.15 .
“ Equity Plan ” means any option, stock, unit, stock unit, appreciation right, phantom equity or other incentive equity or equity-based compensation plan or program, in each case, now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation, including the Corporate Incentive Award Plan.
“ Equity Securities ” means (a) Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
“ Event of Withdrawal ” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iii) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).
“ Exchange Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10 .
“ Exchange Election Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(b) .
“ Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset, its fair market value determined according to Article XV .
“ Fiscal Period ” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Company and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.
“ Fiscal Year ” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.02 .
“ Founder Members ” refer to Adam Schoenfeld and Jacoby & Co. Inc.
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“ Governmental Entity ” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.
“ Indemnified Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(a) .
“ Independent Directors ” means the members of the Corporate Board who are “independent” under the standards of the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.
“ Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
“ IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ IPO Closing Date ” means the closing date of the IPO, which for the avoidance of doubt means the date on which all IPO Net Proceeds required to be delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been delivered to the Corporation in respect of its sale of Class A Common Stock.
“ IPO Common Unit Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b) .
“ IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement ” means that certain Common Unit Redemption Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Original Members that are parties thereto.
“ IPO Common Unit Subscription ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b) .
“ IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement ” means that certain Common Unit Subscription agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Corporation and the Company.
“ IPO Net Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Joinder ” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“ Law ” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the United States, any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof.
“ Losses ” means items of Company loss or deduction determined according to Section 5.01(b) .
“ Majority Members ” means the Members (which may include the Manager) holding a majority of the Voting Units then outstanding; provided that, if as of any date of determination, a majority of the Voting Units are then held by the Manager or any Affiliates controlled by the Manager, then “Majority Members” shall mean the Manager together with Members (other than the Manager and its controlled Affiliates) holding a majority of the Voting Units (excluding Voting Units held by the Manager) then outstanding.
“ Manager ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 .
“ Material Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that, as of any date of determination, represents more than (a) 50% of the consolidated net tangible assets of the Company or (b) 50% of the consolidated net income of the Company before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (calculated in a manner substantially consistent with the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” and/or “Consolidated EBITDA” or similar definition(s) appearing therein in the Credit Agreement).
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“ Member ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each Person named on the Schedule of Members and (b) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with Article XII , but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units.
“ Minimum Gain ” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“ Net Loss ” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Fiscal Year over Profits for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04 ).
“ Net Profit ” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Fiscal Year over Losses for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04 ).
“ Officer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b) .
“ Original Class A Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Original Class B Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Original Members ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Original Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Other Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04 .
“ Over-Allotment Option ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Partnership Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 .
“ Percentage Interest ” means, as among an individual class of Units and with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing such Member’s Units of such class by the total Units of all Members of such class at such time. The Percentage Interest of each member shall be calculated to the 4 th decimal place.
“ Permitted Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02 .
“ Person ” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.
“ Prior Operating Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Pro rata ,” “ pro rata portion ,” “ according to their interests ,” “ ratably ,” “ proportionately ,” “ proportional ,” “ in proportion to ,” “ based on the number of Units held ,” “ based upon the percentage of Units held ,” “ based upon the number of Units outstanding ,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.
“ Profits ” means items of Company income and gain determined according to Section 5.01(b) .
“ Pubco Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09 .
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“ Quarterly Redemption Date ” means, for each quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter during which this Agreement is executed and delivered, the latest to occur of either: (a) the second Business Day after the date on which the Corporation makes a public news release of its quarterly earnings for the prior quarter, (b) the first day of each quarter on which directors and executive officers of the Corporation are permitted to trade under the applicable policies of the Corporation related to trading by directors and executive officers, or (c) such other date as the Corporation shall determine in its sole discretion. The Corporation will deliver notice of the Quarterly Redemption Date to each Member (other than the Corporation) at least seventy-five (75) days prior to each Quarterly Redemption Date.
“ Recapitalization ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Redeemed Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redeemed Units Equivalent ” means the product of (a) the Share Settlement, times (b) the Common Unit Redemption Price.
“ Redeeming Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redemption Settlement Agreement ” means that certain Stock Redemption Settlement Agreement dated as of December 21, 2018 among the Company and the Original Members named therein.
“ Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redemption Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .
“ Redemption Settlement ” means the settlement of the redemption of Common Units from certain of the Original Members required by the Redemption Settlement Agreement.
“ Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Original Members (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such Agreement).
“ Restricted Taxable Year ” shall mean (i) the Taxable Year of the Company ending December 31, 2020, unless the Manager determines otherwise and notifies the Members prior to December 31, 2019, and (ii) any Taxable Year during which the Manager determines the Company does not satisfy the private placement safe harbor of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h).
“ Retraction Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b) .
“ Schedule of Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b) .
“ SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.
“ Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.
“ Share Settlement ” means a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units.
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“ Sponsor Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d) .
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“ Substituted Member ” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 12.01 .
“ Tax Distribution Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i) .
“ Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i) .
“ Tax Receivable Agreement ” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Original Members, on the other hand (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such Agreement).
“ Taxable Year ” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.02 .
“ Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).
“ Transfer ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Transferring ”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units.
“ Treasury Regulations ” means the income tax regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.
“ Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2019, by and among the Corporation, the Original Members that are parties to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement, and Cowen and Company, LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters name therein.
“ Unit ” means a Company Interest of a Member or a permitted Assignee in the Company representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of all Members and Assignees as may be established by the Manager from time to time in accordance with Section 3.02 ; provided, however , that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement, and the Company Interest represented by such class or group of Units shall be determined in accordance with such relative rights, powers and duties.
“ Unitholder ” means a Common Unitholder and any Member who is the registered holder of any other class of Units, if any.
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“ Unvested Corporate Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to an Equity Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.
“ Vested Corporate Shares ” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to an Equity Plan that are vested pursuant to the terms thereof or any award or similar agreement relating thereto.
“ Voting Units ” means (a) the Common Units and (b) any other Units other than Units that by their express terms do not entitle the record holder thereof to vote on any matter presented to the Members generally under this Agreement for approval; provided that (i) no vote by Voting Units shall have the power to override any action taken by the Manager or to remove or replace the Manager, (ii) the Voting Units have no ability to take part in the conduct or control of the Company’s business and (iii) notwithstanding any vote by Voting Units hereunder, the Manager shall retain exclusive management power over the business and affairs of the Company in accordance with Section 6.01(a) .
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Section 2.01 Formation of Company . The Company was formed on September 2, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
Section 2.02 Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement . The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.06 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Act. On any matter upon which this Agreement is silent, the Act shall control. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Act and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that where the Act provides that a provision of the Act shall apply “unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement” or words of similar effect, the provisions of this Agreement shall in each instance control.
Section 2.03 Name . The name of the Company shall be “Greenlane Holdings, LLC”. The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members and, to the extent practicable, to all of the holders of any Equity Securities then outstanding. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.
Section 2.04 Purpose . The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 2.05 Principal Office; Registered Agent . The principal office of the Company shall be at 1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300, Boca Raton, Florida 33487, or such other place as the Manager may from time to time designate. The registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware, and the address of such agent, shall be c/o National Registered Agents, Inc., 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, Delaware, 19904. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent in the State of Delaware.
Section 2.06 Term . The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the Act and shall continue in existence until termination and dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.
Section 2.07 No State-Law Partnership . The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.07, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.
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ARTICLE III
MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION
Section 3.01 Members .
(a) Each Original Member previously was admitted as a Member and shall remain a Member of the Company upon the Effective Time.
(b) The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member; and (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member (such schedule, the “ Schedule of Members ”). The applicable Schedule of Members in effect as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the Recapitalization and the Redemption Settlement is set forth as Schedule 2 attached to this Agreement. Upon any change in the number or ownership of outstanding Units (whether upon an issuance of Units, a Transfer of Units, a redemption or exchange of Units or otherwise), the Company shall amend and update the Schedule of Members. The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Schedule of Members shall be deemed a reference to the Schedule of Members as amended and as in effect from time to time. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Act.
(c) No Member shall be required or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.01 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to loan any money or property to the Company or borrow any money or property from the Company.
Section 3.02 Units . Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. Immediately after the Effective Time, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units (with an aggregate of 36,666,667 Common Units being authorized for issuance by the Company). To the extent required pursuant to Section 3.04(a), the Manager may create one or more classes or series of Common Units or preferred Units solely to the extent they are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to a class of common stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation; provided that as long as there are any Members of the Company (other than the Corporation), then no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the pro rata share of all Company Interests they would have received or to which they would have been entitled if such new class or series of Units had not been created except to the extent (and solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the pro rata share of Company Interests allocated to such new class or series of Units and the number thereof issued by the Company.
Section 3.03 Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units .
(a) The number of Original Class A Units and Original Class B Units that in each case are issued and outstanding and will be held by the Original Members immediately prior to the Effective Time are set forth opposite the names of the respective Original Members on Schedule 1 attached to this Agreement. In connection with the Recapitalization, all of such Original Units are hereby converted, as of the Effective Time, and after giving effect to the Recapitalization and the Redemption Settlement, into the number of Common Units set forth opposite the names of the respective Members on the Schedule of Members attached hereto as Schedule 2 , and such Common Units will be issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and the holders of such Common Units shall continue as Members. Any Common Units issued to the holders of Original Class B Units in respect of the Original Class B Units that are subject to vesting immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be subject to continued vesting as set forth in any agreement governing the issuance of such Original Class B Units.
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(b) Following the Recapitalization, immediately upon the Effective Time, the Corporation will acquire (i) 5,250,000 newly-issued Common Units in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to the Company upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement with the Company (the “ IPO Common Unit Subscription ”), (ii) 750,000 existing Common Units from the Original Members that are parties to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement upon redemption of such Common Units by such Original Members upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement (the “ IPO Common Unit Redemption ”) and (iii) 3,547,776 newly-issued Common Units in consideration of the contribution of the Convertible Notes to the Company by the Corporation and the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Convertible Noteholders in consideration of the contribution of the Convertible Notes by the Convertible Noteholders to the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Notes and the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement. The IPO Common Unit Subscription and the IPO Common Unit Redemption shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members. In addition, to the extent the underwriters in the IPO exercise the Over-Allotment Option in whole or in part, upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation will acquire existing Common Units from the Original Members that are parties to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement, and such existing Common Units shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members (the “ Over-Allotment Redemption ”). The number of Common Units acquired in the Over-Allotment Redemption, in the aggregate, shall be equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in connection with such redemption upon such exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall be admitted as a Member with respect to all Common Units it holds from time to time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the IPO Common Unit Subscription and the IPO Common Unit Redemption will result in a “reevaluation of partnership property” and corresponding adjustments to Capital Account balances as described in Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) of the Treasury Regulations.
Section 3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units .
(a) The Company shall undertake all actions requested by the Manager, including a reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) Unvested Corporate Shares, (ii) treasury stock, or (iii) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the Company). In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, subject to the immediately preceding sentence. In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems the Corporation’s preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the Company which (in the good faith determination by the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. The Company shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, Common Unit distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.04(a).
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(b) The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.02, this Section 3.04, Section 3.10 and Section 3.11. Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Common Units authorized under this Agreement at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and the Manager shall amend this Agreement as necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Common Units and admission of additional Members under this Section 3.04 without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.
Section 3.05 Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class A Common Stock . If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Corporation for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.
Section 3.06 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units .
(a) Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer and any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The Manager agrees that it shall not elect to treat any Unit as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction unless thereafter all Units then outstanding are represented by one or more certificates.
(b) If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.
(c) Upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.
Section 3.07 Negative Capital Accounts . No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).
Section 3.08 No Withdrawal . No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
Section 3.09 Loans From Members . Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c), the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.
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Section 3.10 Corporation Stock Incentive Plans . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating an Equity Plan or from issuing shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to any such Equity Plans. The Corporation may implement such Equity Plans and any actions taken under such Equity Plans (such as the grant or exercise of options to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, or the issuance of Unvested Corporate Shares), whether taken with respect to or by an employee or other service provider of the Corporation, the Company or its Subsidiaries, in a manner determined by the Corporation, in accordance with the initial implementation guidelines attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B, which may be amended by the Corporation from time to time. The Corporation may amend this Agreement (including Exhibit B) as necessary or advisable in its sole discretion in connection with the adoption, implementation, modification or termination of an Equity Plan. In the event of such an amendment by the Corporation, the Company will provide notice of such amendment to the Members. The Company is expressly authorized to issue Units (i) in accordance with the terms of any such Equity Plan, or (ii) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to any such Equity Plan, without any further act, approval or vote of any Member or any other Persons.
Section 3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan . Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III, including any guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 3.10, all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.01 Distributions .
(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions . To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate; such Distributions shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however, that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 14.02; and, provided further, that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means either (i) the inability of the Company to pay its debts as they come due in the usual course of business, or (ii) the total assets of the Company being less than the sum of its total liabilities. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(a), the Manager shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, it is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation to pay dividends or to meet its obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)).
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(b) Tax Distributions .
(i) On or about each date (a “ Tax Distribution Date ”) that is five (5) Business Days prior to each due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of an individual calendar year taxpayer (without regard to extensions) (or, if earlier, the due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of the Corporation, as determined without regard to extensions), the Company shall be required to make a Distribution to each Member of cash in an amount equal to the excess of such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability, if any, for such taxable period over the Distributions previously made to such Member pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) with respect to such taxable period (the “ Tax Distributions ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, in its discretion, make such Tax Distributions on a quarterly basis, and any date on which such Tax Distributions are made will be considered a Tax Distribution Date for purposes hereof.
(ii) To the extent a Member otherwise would be entitled to receive less than its Percentage Interest of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) on any given date, the Tax Distributions to such Member shall be increased to ensure that all Distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) are made pro rata in accordance with such Member’s Percentage Interest. If, on a Tax Distribution Date, there are insufficient funds on hand to distribute to the Members the full amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall be made to the Members to the extent of available funds in accordance with their Percentage Interests and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions as soon as funds become available sufficient to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled.
(iii) In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year, or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section 4.01(a) and this Section 4.01(b) in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall.
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) , if any, shall be made to a Member (or its predecessor in interest) only to the extent all previous Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(a) with respect to the Fiscal Year are less than the Distributions such Member (and its predecessor in interest) otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) .
Section 4.02 Restricted Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any Distribution to any Member on account of any Company Interest if such Distribution would violate any applicable Law or the terms of the Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS
Section 5.01 Capital Accounts .
(a) The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of Company property.
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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however, that:
(i) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(ii) If the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.
(iii) Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.
(iv) Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).
(v) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).
Section 5.02 Allocations . Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03 and Section 5.04, Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
Section 5.03 Regulatory Allocations .
(a) Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).
(b) Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.03(a), if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(c) If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Sections 5.03(a) and 5.03(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
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(d) If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.03(d) .
(e) Profits and Losses described in Section 5.01(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).
(f) The allocations set forth in Section 5.03(a) through and including Section 5.03(e) (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Members may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.
Section 5.04 Final Allocations . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.03, the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.
Section 5.05 Tax Allocations .
(a) The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.
(b) Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).
(c) If the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b), subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).
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(d) Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members pro rata as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).
(e) For purposes of determining a Member’s pro rata share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be in proportion to the Units held by such Member.
(f) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.05 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
Section 5.06 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member . If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal withholding or other taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes), then such Person shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06. A Member’s obligation to make contributions to the Company under this Section 5.06 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section 5.06, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.06, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled.
ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT
Section 6.01 Authority of Manager .
(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation, as the sole manager of the Company (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “ Manager ”) and (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Act. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Act with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.04.
(b) The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “ Officer ” and collectively, the “ Officers ”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section 6.07 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Company’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis. The existing Officers of the Company as of the Effective Time shall remain in their respective positions and shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Manager. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer or director of the Manager.
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(c) The Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity.
Section 6.02 Actions of the Manager . The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.07 .
Section 6.03 Resignation; No Removal . The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.
Section 6.04 Vacancies . Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation (or, if the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation). The Members have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.
Section 6.05 Transactions Between Company and Manager . The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided such contracts and dealings are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing with the Company at arm’s length or are approved by the Members and otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreement and any other agreements of the Company with third parties. The Members hereby approve the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement in the form heretofore provided to each such Member, together with such modifications, revisions or amendments as the Manager may approve in its discretion.
Section 6.06 Reimbursement for Expenses . The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the IPO, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and therefore the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including without limitation all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including expenses incurred in connection with public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence. In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in the IPO (or in any subsequent public offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in the IPO (or in such subsequent public offering, as applicable) after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “Discount”), (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly-issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.
Section 6.07 Delegation of Authority . The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including chief executive officer, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officers, chief operating officer, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.
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Section 6.08 Limitation of Liability of Manager .
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates shall be liable to the Company or to any Member that is not the Manager for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole manager of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s fraud, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company, in each case as determined by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The Manager shall be entitled to rely in good faith on the provisions of this Agreement and on information, opinions, reports or statements (including financial statements and information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value or amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Company or any facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Members might properly be paid) of the following other Persons or groups: one or more Officers or employees of the Company or the Manager; any attorney, independent accountant, appraiser or other expert or professional employed or engaged by or on behalf of the Company or the Manager; or any other Person who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, or the Manager, in each case as to matters which such Member, Manager or Officer reasonably believes to be within such other Person’s competence, and any act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager.
(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles.
(c) Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or other Members.
(d) Whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates.
Section 6.09 Investment Company Act . The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.
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Section 6.10 Outside Activities of the Manager . The Manager shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business or operations, other than in connection with (a) the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Common Units, (b) the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Manager as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and listed on a U.S. and, if approved by the Manager, other securities exchange, (d) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests, (e) financing or refinancing of any type related to the Company, its Subsidiaries or their assets or activities, and (f) such activities as are incidental to the foregoing; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, the net proceeds of any financing raised by the Manager pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Company, whether as Capital Contributions, loans or otherwise, as appropriate, and, provided further, that the Manager may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the Manager takes commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such assets are otherwise vested in the Company or its Subsidiaries, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise or, if it is not commercially reasonable to vest such economic interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Members shall negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to reflect such activities and the direct ownership of assets by the Manager. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Manager from executing any guarantee of indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VII
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
Section 7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members .
(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Act, no Member (including the Manager) shall be obligated personally for any debt, obligation or liability solely by reason of being a Member. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.
(b) In accordance with the Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Article IV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Act. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (subject to Section 6.08 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.
Section 7.02 Lack of Authority . No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.
Section 7.03 No Right of Partitio n. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Company property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.
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Section 7.04 Indemnification .
(a) Subject to Section 5.06, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “ Indemnified Person ”) to the fullest extent permitted under the Act, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or is or was serving at the request of the Company as the Manager, an Officer, an employee or another agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, member, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for actions not made in good faith and not or 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 action or proceeding other than by or in the right of the Company, had reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful, or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company. Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
(b) The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.
(c) The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or make other financial arrangements, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person (and the investment funds, if any, they represent) against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.04(a) whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.04. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.
(d) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including in this Section 7.04 ), the Company agrees that any indemnification and advancement of expenses available to any current or former Indemnified Person from any investment fund that is an Affiliate of the Company who served as a director of the Company or as a Member of the Company by virtue of such Person’s service as a member, director, partner or employee of any such fund prior to or following the Effective Time (any such Person, a “ Sponsor Person ”) shall be secondary to the indemnification and advancement of expenses to be provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.04 which shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only and no Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company and the Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Sponsor Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 and (ii) shall be fully responsible for the advancement of all expenses and the payment of all damages or liabilities with respect to such Sponsor Person which are addressed by this Section 7.04 .
(e) If this Section 7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.
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Section 7.05 Members Right to Act . For matters that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Members holding a majority of the Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Members. Any Member entitled to vote at a meeting of Members or to express consent or dissent to Company action in writing without a meeting may authorize another Person or Persons to act for it by proxy. An electronic mail or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Member shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section 7.05(a). No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest. Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Company shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.
(b) The actions by the Members permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Members holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least 72 hours’ (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to all of the Members) prior written notice to the other Members entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Members entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Members entitled to vote or consent as to whom it was improperly held signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. The actions by the Members entitled to vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Members entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Members having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Members entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Members at a meeting thereof.
Section 7.06 Inspection Rights . The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives, at such Member’s expense, to (i) visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, (ii) examine the corporate and financial records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom, and (iii) consult with the managers, officers, employees and independent accountants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 7.06 to provide access to any information that the Company considers to be a trade secret. The presentation of an executed copy of this Agreement by any Member to the Company’s independent accountants shall constitute the Company’s permission to its independent accountants to participate in discussions with such Persons and their respective designated representatives.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Section 8.01 Records and Accounting . The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 8.03 or pursuant to applicable Law. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles III and IV and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.
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Section 8.02 Fiscal Year . The Fiscal Year of the Company shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.
Section 8.03 Reports . The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, all information reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Person’s United States federal and applicable state income tax returns.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.01 Preparation of Tax Returns . The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. On or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Company’s outside tax accountants. In addition, no later than the later of (i) March 15 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, and (ii) 30 Business Days after the issuance of the final financial statement report for a Fiscal Year by the Company’s auditors, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, a statement showing such Member’s final state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and a completed IRS Schedule K-1. Each Member shall notify the other Members upon receipt of any notice of tax examination of the Company by federal, state or local authorities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, the Corporation shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Company Interests of its Members.
Section 9.02 Tax Elections . The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02 . The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.
Section 9.03 Tax Controversies . The Corporation shall be designated and may, on behalf of the Company, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any Member, act as the “partnership representative” of the Company (within the meaning given to such term in Section 6223 of the Code) (the “ Partnership Representative ”) for purposes of the Code. The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Partnership Representative and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall keep all Members fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities, and the Members shall have the right to observe and participate through representatives of their own choosing (at their sole expense) in any tax proceedings.
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ARTICLE X
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Section 10.01 Transfers by Members . No holder of Units may Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 10.02 or (b) approved in writing by the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).
Section 10.02 Permitted Transfers . The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “ Permitted Transfer ”) pursuant to (i)(A) a Change of Control Transaction, (B) a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or (C) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) a Transfer by any Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants hold (and continue to hold while such trusts or other entities hold Units) 50% or more of such entity’s beneficial interests; (iii) the laws of descent and distribution and (iv) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliated investment fund of such Member; provided, however, that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), the transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee. In the case of a Permitted Transfer by any Member of Common Units to a transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02, such Member (or any subsequent transferee of such Member) shall be required to also transfer one share of Class B Common Stock or three shares of Class C Common Stock, as applicable, for each Common Unit that is transferred in the transaction to such transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b).
Section 10.03 Restricted Units Legend . The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC, AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”
The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.
Section 10.04 Transfer . Prior to Transferring any Units (other than pursuant to a Change of Control Transaction), the Transferring Holder of Units shall cause the prospective Assignee to be bound by this Agreement as provided in Section 10.02 and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate (collectively, the “ Other Agreements ”), and shall cause the prospective Assignee to execute and deliver to the Company and the other holders of Units counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) shall be void, and in the event of any such Transfer or attempted Transfer, the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported Assignee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.
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Section 10.05 Assignee’s Rights .
(a) The Transfer of a Company Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other Company items shall be allocated between the transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.
(b) Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XII, the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that, without relieving the transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.06, such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein that a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Company Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Company Interest).
Section 10.06 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations . Any Member who shall Transfer any Company Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06 , duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.08 and 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “ Admission Date ”), (i) such assigning Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Company Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Act and incorporated into this Agreement or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.
Section 10.07 Overriding Provisions .
(a) Any Transfer in violation of this Article X shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Article X shall not become a Member, shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the Members and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X .
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.01 and Article XI and Article XII ), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer could, in the reasonable determination of the Manager:
(i) result in a violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;
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(ii) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;
(iii) be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any indebtedness under, any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that (x) the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an affiliate of the Company or the Manager and (y) such indebtedness, individually or in the aggregate, has an aggregate principal amount then outstanding that is greater than $5,000,000;
(iv) cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer was effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Section 1.7704-1 of the Treasury Regulations;
(v) be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);
(vi) cause the Company or any Member or the Manager to be treated as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
(vii) cause the Company (as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion) to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code; or
(viii) result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) in any Taxable Year that is not a Restricted Taxable Year.
Section 10.08 Spousal Consent . In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member who is a natural person will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit C-1 attached hereto or a Member’s spouse confirmation of separate property in the form of Exhibit C-2 attached hereto. If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause his or her spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto. Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit C at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.
Section 10.09 Tender Offers and Other Events with respect to the Corporation .
(a) In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to Class A Common Stock (a “ Pubco Offer ”) is proposed by the Corporation or is proposed to the Corporation or its stockholders and approved by the Corporate Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Corporate Board, the Common Unitholders shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivery of a Redemption Notice (which Redemption Notice shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Pubco Offer (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be contingent upon such Pubco Offer and not be effective if such Pubco Offer is not consummated)). In the case of a Pubco Offer proposed by the Corporation, the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Common Unitholders to participate in such Pubco Offer to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock without discrimination; provided, that without limiting the generality of this sentence (and without limiting the ability of any Member holding Common Units to consummate a Redemption at any time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), the Manager will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Common Unitholders may participate in such Pubco Offer without being required to have their Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock redeemed (or, if so required, to ensure that any such redemption shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Pubco Offer). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Common Unitholders be entitled to receive in such Pubco Offer aggregate consideration for each Common Unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with a Pubco Offer (it being understood that payments under or in respect of the Tax Receivable Agreement shall not be considered part of any such consideration).
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(b) The Corporation shall send written notice to the Company and the Common Unitholders at least thirty (30) days prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Pubco Offer notifying them of their rights pursuant to this Section 10.09 , and setting forth (i) a copy of the written proposal or agreement pursuant to which the Pubco Offer will be effected, (ii) the consideration payable in connection therewith, (iii) the terms and conditions of transfer and payment and (iv) the date and location of and procedures for selling Common Units. In the event that the information set forth in notice changes from that set forth in the initial notice, a subsequent notice shall be delivered by the Corporation no less than seven (7) days prior to the closing of the Pubco Offer.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS
Section 11.01 Redemption Right of a Member .
(a) Redemption Notice .
(i) Subject to the provisions set forth in this Section 11.01 , each Member (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “ Redemption ”) its Common Units (the “ Redemption Right ”) at any time beginning on the earlier of (A) 180 days after the Effective Time or (B) if such Member has entered into a contractual lock-up agreement with the underwriters in connection with the IPO and relating to the shares of the Corporation that may be applicable to such Member, the date such lock-up agreement has been waived or terminated as it applies to such Member; provided , however , that the Original Members shall be entitled to effect a Redemption pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement of a number of their Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock needed by the Original Members to fulfill their obligations to sell shares of Class A Common Stock to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, including in connection with any exercise by the underwriters of the Over-Allotment Option. A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (the “ Redeeming Member ”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Company with a copy to the Corporation. The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “ Redeemed Units ”) that the Redeeming Member intends to have the Company redeem and a date (unless and to the extent that the Manager in its sole discretion agrees in writing to waive such time periods) on which exercise of the Redemption Right shall be completed, which complies with the requirements set forth in Section 11.01(a)(ii) (the “ Redemption Date ”); provided that (x) if the Redemption Date occurs in a Restricted Taxable Year, the Redemption Date must be a date that satisfies the conditions of Section 11.01(a)(ii) , and (y) the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member may change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided further that a Redemption Notice may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption. Unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(b) or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(c) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (A) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender the Redeemed Units to the Company, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and (B) the Company shall (x) cancel the Redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section 11.01(b) , and (z), if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (B) of this Section 11.01(a)(i) and the Redeemed Units.
(ii) Except as provided in Section 11.01(f) , any Redemption Date that occurs in a Restricted Taxable Year must be a Quarterly Redemption Date not less than sixty (60) days after delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice. Except as provided in Section 11.01(f) , any Redemption Date that occurs in a year that is not a Restricted Taxable Year must be not less than seven (7) Business Days nor more than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice.
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(b) In exercising its Redemption Right, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement; provided that, except as provided in Section 11.01(f) , the Corporation shall have the option (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested) as provided in Section 11.02 and subject to Section 11.01(d) to select whether the redemption payment is made by means of a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement. Within three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Redemption Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Contribution Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to the Redeeming Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Corporation does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method. If the Corporation elects the Cash Settlement method, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “ Retraction Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) within two (2) Business Days of delivery of the Contribution Notice. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.01 arising from the Redemption Notice.
(c) In the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption if any of the following conditions exists: (i) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (ii) the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption; (iii) the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption; (iv) the Corporation shall have disclosed to such Redeeming Member any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which could reasonably be determined to result in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure); (v) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (vi) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded; (vii) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption; (viii) the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Redeeming Member to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; (ix) the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period; provided further, that in no event shall the Redeeming Member seeking to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of such Redemption and relying on any of the matters contemplated in clauses (i) through (ix) above have controlled or intentionally materially influenced any facts, circumstances, or Persons in connection therewith (except in the good faith performance of his or her duties as an officer or director of the Corporation) in order to provide such Redeeming Member with a basis for such delay or revocation. If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(c) , the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing).
(d) The number of shares of Class A Common Stock or the Redeemed Units Equivalent that a Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) (through a Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as applicable) shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however, that if a Redeeming Member causes the Company to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeeming Member transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Company prior to such date.
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(e) In the event of a reclassification or other similar transaction as a result of which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then in exercising its Redemption Right a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security that the Redeeming Member would have received if such Redemption Right had been exercised and the Redemption Date had occurred immediately prior to the record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Company nor the Corporation shall be obligated to effectuate a Redemption if such Redemption (in the sole discretion of the Manager) could cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant Section 7704 of the Code or successor provisions of the Code.
(f) Notwithstanding any conflicting provisions of this Section 11.01 , in connection with the IPO, the Original Members that are parties to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement may effect a Redemption pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement of an aggregate number of Common Units equal to the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by Original Members to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, including in connection with any exercise by the underwriters of the Over-Allotment Option.
Section 11.02 Election and Contribution of the Corporation . In connection with the exercise of a Redeeming Member’s Redemption Rights under Section 11.01(a) , the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) . Except as provided in Section 11.01(f) , the Corporation, at its option (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested), shall determine whether to contribute, pursuant to Section 11.01(b) , the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(b) , or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(c) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make its Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement) required under this Section 11.02 , and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Corporation elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions) from the sale by the Corporation of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to be redeemed with such Cash Settlement provided that the Corporation’s Capital Account shall be increased by an amount equal to any Discount relating to such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 6.06. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.
Section 11.03 Exchange Right of the Corporation .
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI , the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and such consideration between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “ Direct Exchange ”). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 11.03 , the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.
(b) The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date, deliver written notice (an “ Exchange Election Notice ”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided that such election does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption. Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03 , a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice.
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Section 11.04 Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation . At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to Share Settlements; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation) or the delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available for such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation.
Section 11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right . This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Members and the Redeeming Member (to the extent of such Redeeming Member’s remaining interest in the Company). No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve such Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement.
Section 11.06 Tax Treatment . Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Redeeming Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.
ARTICLE XII
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
Section 12.01 Substituted Members . Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Company Interest hereunder, the transferee shall become a substituted Member (“ Substituted Member ”) on the effective date of such Permitted Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company.
Section 12.02 Additional Members . Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not an Original Member may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “ Additional Member ”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as the Manager may deem appropriate in its reasonable discretion). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its reasonable discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company.
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ARTICLE XIII
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS
Section 13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members . No Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV . Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV , but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV , shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06 , such Member shall cease to be a Member.
ARTICLE XIV
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 14.01 Dissolution . The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) the decision of the Manager together with the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Common Units entitled to vote to dissolve the Company;
(b) a Change of Control Transaction that is not approved by the Majority Members;
(c) a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801 of the Act; or
(d) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV , the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 14.02 Liquidation and Termination . On dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidator. The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:
(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;
(b) the liquidators shall cause the notice described in the Act to be mailed to each known creditor of and claimant against the Company in the manner described thereunder;
(c) the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine): first, all expenses incurred in liquidation; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company; and
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(d) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Article IV by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation). The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below constitutes a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.
Section 14.03 Deferment; Distribution in Kind . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02 , the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XV .
Section 14.04 Cancellation of Certificate . On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Company is terminated (and the Company shall not be terminated prior to such time), and the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company. The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04 .
Section 14.05 Reasonable Time for Winding Up . A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.
Section 14.06 Return of Capital . The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).
ARTICLE XV
VALUATION
Section 15.01 Determination . “ Fair Market Value ” of a specific Company asset will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 14.02 , the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.
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Section 15.02 Dispute Resolution . If any Member or Members dispute the accuracy of any determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 15.01 , and the Manager and such Member(s) are unable to agree on the determination of the Fair Market Value of any asset of the Company, the Manager and such Member(s) shall each select a nationally recognized investment banking firm experienced in valuing securities of closely-held companies such as the Company in the Company’s industry (the “ Appraisers ”), who shall each determine the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.01 . The Appraisers shall be instructed to give written notice of their determination of the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) within thirty (30) days of their appointment as Appraisers. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is higher than Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser by 10% or more, and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the original Appraisers shall designate a third Appraiser meeting the same criteria used to select the original two. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is within 10% of the Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser (but not identical), and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the Manager shall select the Fair Market Value of one of the Appraisers. The fees and expenses of the Appraisers shall be borne by the Company.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.01 Power of Attorney .
(a) Each Member who is an individual hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII ; and
(ii) sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, necessary or appropriate to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member who is an individual and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Company Interest and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.
Section 16.02 Confidentiality .
(a) The Manager and each of the Members agree to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not use such information except (i) in furtherance of the business of the Company, (ii) as reasonably necessary for compliance with applicable law, including compliance with disclosure requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and securities laws of other jurisdictions, or (iii) as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “ Confidential Information ” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to the Manager and each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of the Manager or each Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to the Manager or each Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or of the Corporation; (d) is disclosed to the Manager or such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by the Manager or such Member or their respective representatives without use or reference to the Confidential Information.
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 16.02(a) , each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such disclosing party is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential, solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement; provided , that the disclosing party shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 16.02 by any such Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 16.02(a) or Section 16.02(b) , each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such party is legally compelled (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Common Units held by such Member, or a prospective merger partner of such Member ( provided , that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 16.02 by any such Persons), or (iv) to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable Law. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 16.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Corporation to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.
Section 16.03 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended or modified upon the consent of the Manager and the Members holding a majority of the Common Units entitled to vote then outstanding (excluding for such purposes all Common Units held directly or indirectly by the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification (x) to this Section 16.03 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members, (y) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter, and (z) to any of the terms and conditions of Article VI or Section 14.01 (and related definitions as used directly or indirectly therein) may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager, which consent may be given or withheld in the Manager’s sole discretion.
Section 16.04 Title to Company Assets . Company assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Company assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.
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Section 16.05 Addresses and Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Member at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally, three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service or transmission via e-mail (provided confirmation of transmission is received). The Company’s address is:
to the Company:
Greenlane Holdings, LLC
1095 Broken Sound Parkway
Suite 300
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
Attn: Zachary Tapp, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: ztapp@gnln.com
with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attn: Jeffrey C. Johnson, Esq.
E-mail: jjohnson@pryorcashman.com
Section 16.06 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 16.07 Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.
Section 16.08 Waiver . No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.09 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.
Section 16.10 Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any dispute relating hereto shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties agree to jurisdiction and venue therein.
Section 16.11 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
Section 16.12 Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
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Section 16.13 Delivery by Electronic Transmission . This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
Section 16.14 Right of Offset . Whenever the Company is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 16.14 .
Section 16.15 Effectiveness . This Agreement shall be effective immediately prior to the time at which the IPO closes on the IPO Closing Date (the “ Effective Time ”). The Prior Operating Agreement shall govern the rights and obligations of the Company and the other parties to this Agreement in their capacity as holders of the Original Units prior to the Effective Time.
Section 16.16 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Prior Operating Agreement with any member of the board of managers at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Prior Operating Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Time and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.
Section 16.17 Remedies . Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.
Section 16.18 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation and shall mean, “including, without limitation”. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.
[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]
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The undersigned hereby agree(s) to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Greenlane Holdings, LLC as of the date first set forth above.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC., Manager | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: Greenlane Holdings, Inc., its Manager | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
MEMBERS | ||
CLASS A | ||
JACOBY & CO. INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Co-President | |
By: | /s/ Adam Schoenfeld | |
Name: | Adam Schoenfeld | |
Title: | Co-President | |
/s/ Adam Schoenfeld | ||
Adam Schoenfeld | ||
CLASS B | ||
BETTER LIFE PRODUCTS INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Sherman | |
Name: | Jeffrey Sherman | |
Title: | President |
ROCHESTER VAPOR GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Clive Fleissig | |
Name: | Clive Fleissig | |
Title: | Manager | |
POLLEN GEAR HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Edward Kilduff | |
Name: | Edward Kilduff | |
Title: | Manager | |
/s/ Zachary Tapp | ||
Zachary Tapp | ||
/s/ Jay Scheiner | ||
Jay Scheiner | ||
/s/ Sasha Kadey | ||
Sasha Kadey | ||
/s/ Tessa Weaver | ||
Tessa Weaver | ||
/s/ Chad Freling | ||
Chad Freling | ||
/s/ Hisham Boulhimez | ||
Hisham Boulhimez | ||
/s/ Seth Sznapstajler | ||
Seth Sznapstajler |
/s/ Joseph Hurwitz | |
Joseph Hurwitz | |
/s/ William Bradford Dulin | |
William Bradford Dulin | |
/s/ Matthew Paul | |
Matthew Paul | |
/s/ Wade Wilson | |
Wade Wilson | |
/s/ Fabian Acuna | |
Fabian Acuna | |
/s/ James Leonard | |
James Leonard | |
/s/ Ethan Rudin | |
Ethan Rudin | |
/s/ Jason Baum | |
Jason Baum | |
/s/ Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
/s/ Douglas Fischer | |
Douglas Fischer |
Exhibit A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of _____________ , 20__ (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of [●], 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”) by and among Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the manager of the Company (the “ Corporation ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Operating Agreement.
1. | Joinder to the Operating Agreement . Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the Operating Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the Operating Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof. |
2. | Incorporation by Reference . All terms and conditions of the Operating Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full. |
3. | Address . All notices under the Operating Agreement to the undersigned shall be directed to: |
[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME OF NEW MEMBER] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC., its Manager | |
By: | ||
Name: [•] | ||
Title: [•] |
A- 1
Exhibit B
Corporation Stock Incentive Plan Implementation Guidelines
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances
All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Greenlane Holdings, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).
Pursuant to Sections 3(a) and 10(q) of the Plan, this Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances (this “ Policy ”), effective as of April 17, 2019, is established to provide for the method by which shares of Common Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed between Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and Greenlane Holdings, LLC (the “ Operating Company ”), or any Subsidiary, or may be returned to the Company upon any forfeiture of shares of Common Stock or other securities by the Participant, for the purpose of ensuring that the relationship between the Company and its Subsidiaries remains at arm’s-length.
This Policy may be modified, supplemented or terminated at any time and from time to time in the Company’s discretion. In the event of any conflict between the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, dated as of April 17, 2019 (the “ Operating Agreement ”) or the Plan and this Policy, the Operating Agreement or Plan, as applicable, will control. In the event of any conflict between the Operating Agreement and the Plan, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the Operating Agreement will control.
1. | Restricted Stock Awards |
a. | Transfers of Restricted Stock to Company Employees, Company Consultants or Company Directors . The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Company and Directors (collectively, “ Company Service Providers ”) in consideration for services performed by such Company Service Providers: |
i. | Issuance of Restricted Stock . |
A. | The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan. |
B. | Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, a Company Service Provider shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Company in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock. |
C. | Prior to the Vesting Date (as defined below), the Company shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Company Service Provider as the terms of the Restricted Stock award provide for. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Company, and the Company shall report such payments as compensation to the Company Service Provider for all purposes. Prior to the Vesting Date, the Operating Company shall pay to the Company the amount of any such payments the Company is required to pay to the Company Service Provider, as a reimbursement of Company expenses pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement. |
B- 1
ii. | Vesting of Restricted Stock . On the date when the value of any share of Restricted Stock is includible in taxable income (with respect to each such share, the “ Vesting Date ”) of the Company Service Provider, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred: |
A. | If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the amount includible in taxable income of the Company Service Provider. |
B. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units (as defined in the Operating Agreement) equal to the number of such shares of Restricted Stock that are includible in the taxable income of the Company Service Provider as of the applicable Vesting Date in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution (as defined in the Operating Agreement) from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Operating Agreement). |
b. | Transfers of Restricted Stock to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company . The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company in consideration for services performed by such Employees and Consultants for the Operating Company or its Subsidiaries: |
i. | Issuance of Restricted Stock . |
A. | The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan. |
B. | Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Company in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock. |
C. | The Company shall transfer any such purchase price to the Operating Company. For tax purposes, any such purchase price shall be treated as paid by the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company to the Operating Company as the employer of the Employee or the recipient of the Consultant’s services ( i.e., not a capital contribution). |
D. | Prior to the Vesting Date, the Company shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company as provided by the terms of the Restricted Stock award, provided that the Operating Company shall reimburse the Company for such amounts and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s distributions to the Company with respect to the Common Units held by the Company, the Operating Company shall make an additional payment to the Company in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Operating Company (and not by the Company) to such Employee or Consultant, and the Operating Company shall report such payments as compensation to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company for all purposes. |
ii. | Vesting of Restricted Stock . On the Vesting Date of any shares of Restricted Stock of the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred: |
A. | The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, such shares of Restricted Stock that are includible in the taxable income of the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company on such Vesting Date (the “ Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock ”). The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Vesting Date. |
B- 2
B. | The Operating Company (or any Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation. |
C. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, then the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company. |
2. | Restricted Stock Unit and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards . The following shall apply to all Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards (other than cash awards) granted under the Plan and settled in shares of Common Stock: |
a. | Transfers of Common Stock to Company Service Providers . The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to a Company Service Provider in accordance with Section 6 or 7 of the Plan and, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement: |
i. | If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the amount includible in taxable income of the Company Service Provider with respect to such Award. |
ii. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. |
b. | Transfer of Common Stock to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company . The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with Section 6 or 7 of the Plan and, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement: |
i. | The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares ”) equal to the number issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Other Cash or Stock Based Awards. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of settlement. |
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ii. | The Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer such shares of Common Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation. |
iii. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company. |
c. | Other Full-Value Awards . To the extent the Company grants full-value Awards (other than Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock and Cash Based Awards), the provisions of this Section 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such full-value Awards, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator). |
3. | Stock Options . The following shall apply to Options granted under the Plan: |
a. | Transfer of Common Stock to a Company Service Provider . As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which in the case of a Company Service Provider was issued to and is held by such Participant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a Company Service Provider: |
i. | The Company shall transfer to the holder of such Option the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (or portion thereof) that is exercised. |
ii. | The Company, shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Operating Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Company by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option less the exercise price paid to the Company by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to this Section 3(a)(ii), the Company shall be deemed to have contributed to the Operating Company as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option. |
iii. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company, on the date of the deemed Capital Contribution described in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof, a number of Common Units equal to the number of newly issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereof, in consideration for the deemed Capital Contribution described in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof. |
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b. | Transfer of Common Stock to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company . As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which was issued to and is held by an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company: |
i. | The Company shall transfer to the Participant, on behalf of the Operating Company, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (A) the amount of the exercise price paid by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan divided by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of exercise (the “ Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares ”). |
ii. | The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Operating Company Purchased Option Shares ”) equal to the excess of (A) the number of shares subject to the Option (or portion thereof) that is exercised, over (B) the number of Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased Option Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of the exercise. |
iii. | The Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer Operating Company Purchased Option Shares to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation. |
iv. | The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of exercise a number of Common Units equal to the sum of the number of Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares and the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company. |
c. | Stock Appreciation Rights . To the extent the Company grants any Stock Appreciation Rights, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such Stock Appreciation Rights, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator). |
4. | Dividend Equivalent Awards . The following shall apply to Dividend Equivalents granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company: |
a. | The Company shall make any payments to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company under the terms of the Dividend Equivalent award, provided that the Operating Company shall reimburse the Company for such amounts and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s distributions to the Company with respect to Common Units held by the Company, the Operating Company shall make an additional payment to the Company in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Operating Company (and not by the Company to such Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company shall report such payments as compensation to such Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company for all purposes. |
5. | Forfeiture, Surrender or Repurchase of Common Stock . If any shares of Common Stock granted under the Plan are (a) forfeited or surrendered by any Service Provider eligible to participate in the Plan (an “ Eligible Service Provider ”) or (b) repurchased from any Eligible Service Provider by the Company, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary, (i) the shares of Common Stock forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shall be returned to the Company, (ii) the Company (or, if the Eligible Service Provider is an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, as applicable) shall pay the repurchase price (if any) of the repurchased shares of Common Stock to such Eligible Service Provider, and (iii) the Operating Company shall, contemporaneously with such forfeiture, surrender or repurchase of shares of Common Stock, redeem or repurchase a number of the Common Units held by the Company equal to the number of forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shares of Common Stock, such redemption or repurchase to be upon the same terms and for the same price per Common Unit as such shares of Common Stock are forfeited, surrendered or repurchased. |
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Exhibit C-1
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND CONSENT OF SPOUSE
The undersigned spouse of _____________ (the “ Member ”), a party to that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) by and among Greenlane Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledges on the undersigned’s own behalf that:
I have read the Agreement and understand its contents. I acknowledge and understand that under the Agreement, any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in the Units owned by the Member is subject to the terms of the Agreement, which include certain restrictions on transfer.
I hereby consent to and approve the Agreement. I agree that said Units and any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in such Units are subject to the provisions of the Agreement and that I will take no action at any time to hinder operation of the Agreement on said Units or any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in said Units.
I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of the Agreement have been explained fully to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this agreement and consent without any duress and of free will.
Dated:
[NAME OF SPOUSE] | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
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Exhibit C-2
FORM OF SPOUSE’S CONFIRMATION OF SEPARATE PROPERTY
The undersigned spouse of _____________ (the “ Member ”), a party to that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) by and among Greenlane Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledges and confirms on his or her own behalf that the Units owned by said Member are the sole and separate property of said Member, and I hereby disclaim any interest in same.
I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property have been fully explained to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property without any duress and of free will.
Dated:
[NAME OF SPOUSE] | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
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Schedule 1
Schedule of Members On File With The Company
Schedule 2
Schedule of Members On File With The Company
Exhibit 10.3
REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 17, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
1.1 Certain Defined Terms | 1 |
1.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement | 2 |
1.3 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions | 3 |
ARTICLE II THE REORGANIZATION | 3 |
2.1 Reorganization Transactions | 3 |
2.2 Other Transactions | 4 |
2.3 Consent to Transactions. | 5 |
2.4 No Liabilities in Event of Termination; Certain Covenants. | 5 |
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 6 |
3.1 Representations and Warranties | 6 |
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS | 7 |
4.1 Amendments and Waivers | 7 |
4.2 Successors and Assigns | 7 |
4.3 Notices | 7 |
4.4 Further Assurances | 8 |
4.5 Entire Agreement | 8 |
4.6 Governing Law | 8 |
4.7 Jurisdiction | 8 |
4.8 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 9 |
4.9 Severability | 9 |
4.10 Enforcement | 9 |
4.11 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures | 9 |
4.12 Expenses | 9 |
Schedule A – Founder Members
Schedule B – Non-Founder Members
Exhibit A – Form of Class B Common Stock subscription letter
Exhibit B – Form of Class C Common Stock subscription letter
Exhibit C – Form of Common Unit Redemption Agreement
Exhibit D – Form of Common Unit Subscription Agreement
REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT
THIS REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 17, 2019, by and among Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Pubco ”), Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and the members of the Company listed on the signature pages hereto (each a “ Member ” and collectively, the “ Members ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Pubco (the “ Board ”) has determined to effect an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of Pubco’s Class A Common Stock (as defined below);
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to effect the Transactions (as defined below) in contemplation of the IPO; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the applicable parties hereto intend to enter into the Transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Article
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Defined Terms . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“ Business Day ” means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable law to close.
“ Class A Common Stock ” shall mean Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Pubco, having the rights set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
“ Class B Common Stock ” shall mean Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Pubco, having the rights set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
“ Class C Common Stock ” shall mean Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Pubco, having the rights set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
“ Common Unit ” shall mean a Common Unit of the Company, having the rights set forth in the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.
“ Convertible Notes ” shall mean the $48.25 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Convertible Promissory Notes that were issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 21, 2018 among the Company and the investors named therein.
“ Effective Time ” means the date and time on which the Registration Statement becomes effective.
“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ Existing Certificate of Incorporation ” means the Certificate of Incorporation of Pubco, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 2, 2018.
“ Existing Company LLC Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of February 20, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement effective December 19, 2018, by the Members as the sole members of the Company.
“ Founder Members ” means the Members listed on Schedule A to this Agreement.
“ IPO Closing ” means the initial closing of the sale of the Class A Common Stock in the IPO.
“ IPO Price Per Share ” means the per share public offering price for the Class A Common Stock.
“ Non-Founder Members ” means the Members listed on Schedule B to this Agreement.
“ Person ” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity.
“ Pricing ” means such date and time as the Board or the pricing committee thereof determines to price the IPO.
“ Registration Statement ” means the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-230405) filed by Pubco under the Securities Act with the SEC to register the IPO.
“ Reorganization Documents ” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated By-laws, the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and all other agreements and documents entered into in connection with the Transactions.
“ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1.2 Terms Defined Elsewhere in this Agreement . Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:
Term | Section | |
2019 Equity Incentive Plan | 2.2(c) | |
Agreement | Preamble | |
Amended and Restated Bylaws | 2.1(b) | |
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | 2.1(a) | |
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement | 2.1(c) | |
Board | Recitals | |
Common Unit Redemption Agreement | 2.2(d) | |
Common Unit Subscription Agreement | 2.2(e) | |
Company | Preamble | |
4.3 | ||
IPO | Recitals | |
Proceeds | 2.2(e) | |
Pubco | Preamble | |
Registration Rights Agreement | 2.2(a) | |
Reorganization Transactions | 2.1 | |
Tax Receivable Agreement | 2.2(e) | |
Transactions | 2.2(b) |
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1.3 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions . The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Articles, Sections, and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. The Reorganization Documents referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”, whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute as amended from time to time and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.
Article
II
THE REORGANIZATION
2.1 Reorganization Transactions . Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and on the basis of and in reliance upon the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto shall take the actions described in this Section 2.1 (each, a “Reorganization Transaction” and, collectively, the “Reorganization Transactions”), which shall be effective as of immediately after the Effective Time:
(a) Filing of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation . Pubco shall adopt and file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware an amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Pubco, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”).
(b) Adoption of Amended and Restated By-laws . The Board shall adopt amended and restated by-laws of Pubco, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Amended and Restated By-laws”).
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(c) Adoption of Amended and Restated Operating Agreement . The Company and the Members shall execute and deliver the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement (the “Amended and Restated Operating Agreement”).
(d) Issuance of Class B Common Stock to Non-Founder Members . In connection with the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each of the Non-Founding Members shall execute and deliver to Pubco a subscription letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto to subscribe for and purchase for a purchase price of $0.0001 per share, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock set forth opposite the name of each Non-Founder Member on Schedule B hereto, and Pubco shall accept such subscriptions and agree to issue such shares to the Non-Founder Members at the effective time of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement.
(e) Issuance of Class C Common Stock to Founder Members . In connection with the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each of the Founder Members shall execute and deliver to Pubco a subscription letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto to subscribe for and purchase for a purchase price of $0.0001 per share, the number of shares of Class C Common Stock set forth opposite the name of each Founder Member on Schedule A hereto, and Pubco shall accept such subscriptions and agree to issue such shares to the Founder Members at the effective time of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement. At the time of issuance of the shares of Class C Common Stock to the Founder Members, all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Pubco, if any, held by the Founder Members pursuant to the Existing Certificate of Incorporation shall be cancelled.
2.2 Other Transactions . Simultaneously with the Reorganization Transactions set forth above, the parties hereto shall, in connection therewith, take the following actions described in this Section 2.2 and the IPO (together with the Reorganization Transactions, the “Transactions” and each a “Transaction”):
(a) Registration Rights Agreement . In connection with the issuance of Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock and Common Units to the Members as provided in Section 2.1, the Members, the Company and Pubco shall enter into that certain Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).
(b) Tax Receivable Agreement . In connection with the issuance of Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock and Common Units to the Members as provided in Section 2.1, Pubco and the Members shall enter into that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”).
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(c) 2019 Equity Incentive Plan . Pubco shall adopt, and each of the Members, as stockholders of Pubco hereby approve, the 2019 Greenlane Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement (the “2019 Equity Incentive Plan”).
(d) Redemption of Common Units of Members in IPO . Each of the Members shall agree to redeem the number of Common Units necessary to meet such Member’s obligations for the sale of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, including shares of Common Stock to be sold upon the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and Pubco shall agree to issue and deliver shares of Class A Common Stock upon such redemptions, each pursuant to the terms of the Common Unit Redemption Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Members, the Company and Pubco substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “ Common Unit Redemption Agreement ”).
(e) Issuance of Common Units to Pubco . Pubco shall use the net proceeds (after payment of all underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with the IPO) from the sale by Pubco of Class A Common Stock in the IPO (the “Proceeds”) to purchase from the Company pursuant to the terms of the Common Unit Subscription Agreement dated the date hereof, between the Company and Pubco, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the “Common Unit Subscription Agreement”), a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold by Pubco in the IPO. Upon receipt of the Proceeds from Pubco, the Company shall issue to Pubco the number of Common Units set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Issuance of Class A Common Stock to Settle Convertible Notes . Pubco shall issue to the holders of the Convertible Notes shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the automatic conversion of the Convertible Notes and in consideration of the subsequent contribution of the Convertible Notes to the Company by Pubco, the Company shall issue to Pubco of a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by Pubco to the holders of the Convertible Notes, each pursuant to the terms of the Common Unit Subscription Agreement.
2.3 Consent to Transactions .
(a) Each of the parties hereto hereby acknowledges, agrees and consents to all of the Transactions. Each of the parties hereto shall take all reasonable action necessary or appropriate in order to effect, or cause to be effected, to the extent within its control, each of the Transactions and the IPO.
(b) The parties hereto shall deliver to each other, as applicable, prior to or at the Effective Time, each of the Reorganization Documents to which it is a party, together with any other documents and instruments necessary or appropriate to be delivered in connection with the Transactions.
2.4 No Liabilities in Event of Termination; Certain Covenants.
(a) In the event that the IPO is abandoned or, unless the Board, the Company and the Members otherwise agree, the IPO Closing has not occurred by April 30, 2019, (a) this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect except for this Section 2.4 and Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.12 and (b) there shall be no liability on the part of any of the parties hereto, except that such termination shall not preclude any party from pursuing judicial remedies for damages and/or other relief as a result of the breach by the other parties of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein prior to such termination.
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(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated for any reason after the consummation of any Transaction, but prior to the consummation of all of the Transactions, the parties agree, as applicable, to cooperate and work in good faith to execute and deliver such agreements and consents and amend such documents and to effect such transactions or actions as may be necessary to re-establish the rights, preferences and privileges that the parties hereto had prior to the consummation of the Transactions, or any part thereof, including, without limitation, voting any and all securities owned by such party in favor of any amendment to any organizational document and in favor of any transaction or action necessary to re-establish such rights, powers and privileges and causing to be filed all necessary documents with any governmental authority necessary to reestablish such rights, preferences and privileges.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that until the consummation of the Transactions: (i) the parties hereto shall not receive or lose any voting, governance or similar rights in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions and (ii) the rights of the parties hereto under the Existing Company LLC Agreement shall not be effected.
Article
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties . Each party hereto hereby represents and warrants to all of the other parties hereto as follows:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement and of the applicable Reorganization Documents, to the extent a party thereto, has been or prior to the Effective Time will be duly authorized by all necessary action. If such party is not an individual, such party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation;
(b) Such party has or prior to the Effective Time will have the requisite power, authority, legal right and, if such party is an individual, legal capacity, to execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the Reorganization Documents, to the extent a party thereto, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as the case may be;
(c) This Agreement and each of the Reorganization Documents to which it is a party has been (or when executed will be) duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and
(d) Neither the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement and the applicable Reorganization Documents, to the extent a party thereto, nor the consummation by such party of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by such party with the terms and provisions hereof, will, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time or both), (i) if such party is not an individual, contravene or conflict with, or result in a breach or termination of, or constitute a default under (or with notice or lapse of time or both, result in the breach or termination of or constitute a default under) the organizational documents of such party, (ii) constitute a violation by such party of any existing requirement of law applicable to such party or any of its properties, rights or assets or (iii) require the consent or approval of any Person, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of such party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Article
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may be modified, amended or waived only with the written approval of Pubco, the Company, and each of the Members; provided, however, that any modification, amendment or waiver that would affect any other party hereto in a manner materially and disproportionately adverse to such party shall be effective against such party so materially and adversely affected only with the prior written consent of such party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, nothing in this Section 4.1 shall be deemed to contradict the provisions of Section 2.4 hereof.
4.2 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
4.3 Notices . All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission and electronic mail (“e-mail”) transmission, so long as a receipt of such e-mail is requested and not received by automated response). All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt. All such notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be given to such party as follows:
If to Pubco or the Company addressed to it at:
1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
Attention: Aaron LoCascio, Chief Executive Officer
Douglas Fischer, General Counsel
E-mail: aaron@gnln.com
dfischer@gnln.com
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With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Jeffrey C. Johnson
Eric M. Hellige
Facsimile: (212) 326-0806
E-mail: jjohnson@pryorcashman.com
ehellige@pryorcashman.com
If to a Member, to the address of such Member set forth on the signature page hereto.
4.4 Further Assurances . At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as the other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.
4.5 Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement, together with the Reorganization Documents, embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, that may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
4.6 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such State that would result in the application of the laws of any other State.
4.7 Jurisdiction . The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (whether brought by any party or any of its affiliates or against any party or any of its affiliates) shall be brought in the Delaware Chancery Court or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in the State of Delaware or other Delaware state court, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 4.3 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.
8
4.8 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
4.9 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
4.10 Enforcement . Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof.
4.11 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile, e-mail or .pdf format signature(s).
4.12 Expenses . Unless otherwise provided in the Reorganization Documents, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.
[Signature Page Follows]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Aaron LoCascio |
|
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | Greenlane Holdings, Inc., its Manager | |
By: |
/s/ Aaron LoCascio |
|
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
MEMBERS | ||
CLASS A | ||
JACOBY & CO. INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Co-President | |
By: | /s/ Adam Schoenfeld | |
Name: | Adam Schoenfeld | |
Title: | Co-President | |
/s/ Adam Schoenfeld | ||
Adam Schoenfeld |
[Signature Page to the Reorganization Agreement]
CLASS B | ||
BETTER LIFE PRODUCTS INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Sherman | |
Name: | Jeffrey Sherman | |
Title: | President | |
ROCHESTER VAPOR GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Clive Fleissig | |
Name: | Clive Fleissig | |
Title: | Manager | |
POLLEN GEAR HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Edward Kilduff | |
Name: | Edward Kilduff | |
Title: | Manager | |
/s/ Zachary Tapp | ||
Zachary Tapp |
/s/ Jay Scheiner | |
Jay Scheiner | |
/s/ Sasha Kadey | |
Sasha Kadey | |
/s/ Tessa Weaver | |
Tessa Weaver | |
/s/ Chad Freling | |
Chad Freling | |
/s/ Hisham Boulhimez | |
Hisham Boulhimez |
/s/ Seth Sznapstajler | |
Seth Sznapstajler | |
/s/ Joseph Hurwitz | |
Joseph Hurwitz | |
/s/ William Bradford Dulin | |
William Bradford Dulin | |
/s/ Matthew Paul | |
Matthew Paul | |
/s/ Wade Wilson | |
Wade Wilson |
/s/ Fabian Acuna | |
Fabian Acuna | |
/s/ James Leonard | |
James Leonard | |
/s/ Ethan Rudin | |
Ethan Rudin | |
/s/ Jason Baum | |
Jason Baum | |
/s/ Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
/s/ Douglas Fischer | |
Douglas Fischer |
SCHEDULE A
FOUNDER MEMBERS
Name |
No. Shares of
Class C Common Stock |
|||
Jacoby & Co. Inc. | 67,864,878 | |||
Adam Schoenfeld | 13,021,671 |
SCHEDULE B
NON-FOUNDER MEMBERS
Name |
No. Shares of
Class B Common Stock |
|||
Better Life Products, Inc. | 2,512,341 | |||
Rochester Vapor Group, LLC | 667,073 | |||
Jay Scheiner | 364,970 | |||
Sasha Kadey | 486,630 | |||
Zachary Tapp | 364,970 | |||
Pollen Gear Holdings LLC | 1,324,756 | |||
Tessa Weaver | 8,577 | |||
Chad Freling | 8,577 | |||
Hisham Boulhimez | 10,292 | |||
Seth Sznapstajler | 8,577 | |||
Joseph Hurwitz | 17,154 | |||
William Bradford Dulin | 8,577 | |||
Matthew Paul | 85,770 | |||
Wade Wilson | 8,577 | |||
Fabian Acuna | 8,577 | |||
James Leonard | 8,577 | |||
Ethan Rudin | 190,600 | |||
Jason Baum | 31,768 | |||
Dawn Marie Cavanagh | 8,577 | |||
Douglas Fischer | 31,768 |
EXHIBIT A
Form of Class B Common Stock subscription letter
April 17, 2019
Greenlane Holdings, Inc.
1095 Broken Sound Pkwy, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Attn: Aaron LoCascio
Greenlane Holdings, LLC
1095 Broken Sound Pkwy, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Attn: Aaron LoCascio
Re: | Subscription for Class B Common Stock |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby subscribes for such number of shares (the “ Class B Shares ”) of the Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), as is equal to the number of “Common Units” of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Greenlane LLC ”), that the undersigned will hold immediately after giving effect to the “Recapitalization” contemplated by that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Greenlane LLC substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2019 (the “ Operating Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Operating Agreement.
The Class B Shares to be issued to the undersigned shall be issued upon the effectiveness of the Recapitalization contemplated by the Operating Agreement, and the aggregate consideration to be paid for such Class B Shares shall be equal to the total number of such Class B Shares multiplied by the par value of each Class B Share (which amount is agreed to be at least 100% of the fair market value of the Class B Shares on the date hereof).
The purchase price for the Class B Shares shall be paid by Greenlane LLC to the Company, and the undersigned hereby authorizes Greenlane LLC to pay the purchase price for the Class B Shares and to adjust the undersigned’s Capital Account to give effect to such payment. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.01 of the Operating Agreement, the undersigned hereby consents to Greenlane LLC paying the purchase price for the Class B Shares to the Company on its behalf, and to also paying the purchase price to the Company on behalf of each other Member of Greenlane LLC that is subscribing for shares of the Class B common stock or shares of the Class C common stock of the Company on or about the date of this letter, with such amounts to be allocated to the members in proportion to the amounts paid on behalf of such member.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the Company will issue the Class B Shares without their registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”); therefore, the Class B Shares may not be resold or transferred unless they are registered under the Act or unless an exemption from registration is available. The transfer of the Class B Shares is also subject to restriction under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. The undersigned hereby further acknowledges that the Class B Shares shall be subject to any vesting restrictions applicable to the Common Units held by the undersigned.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
Please use the address set forth beneath the signature of the undersigned below for registration of the Class B Shares.
Please confirm your receipt and acceptance of the undersigned’s subscription for the Class B Shares and the other items set forth herein by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
Name: | ||
Address: | ||
Tax ID#: |
ACKNOWLEDGED and AGREED TO
this ____ day of April, 2019
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Class C Common Stock subscription letter
April 17, 2019
Greenlane Holdings, Inc.
1095 Broken Sound Pkwy, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Attn: Aaron LoCascio
Greenlane Holdings, LLC
1095 Broken Sound Pkwy, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Attn: Aaron LoCascio
Re: | Subscription for Class C Common Stock |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby subscribes for such number of shares (the “ Class C Shares ”) of the Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), as is equal to three times the number of “Common Units” of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Greenlane LLC ”), that the undersigned will hold immediately after giving effect to the “Recapitalization” contemplated by that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Greenlane LLC substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2019 (the “ Operating Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Operating Agreement.
The Class C Shares to be issued to the undersigned shall be issued upon the effectiveness of the Recapitalization contemplated by the Operating Agreement, and the aggregate consideration to be paid for such Class C Shares shall be equal to the total number of such Class C Shares multiplied by the par value of each Class C Share (which amount is agreed to be at least 100% of the fair market value of the Class C Shares on the date hereof).
The purchase price for the Class C Shares shall be paid by Greenlane LLC to the Company, and the undersigned hereby authorizes Greenlane LLC to pay the purchase price for the Class C Shares and to adjust the undersigned’s Capital Account to give effect to such payment. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.01 of the Operating Agreement, the undersigned hereby consents to Greenlane LLC paying the purchase price for the Class C Shares to the Company on its behalf, and to also paying the purchase price to the Company on behalf of each other Member of Greenlane LLC that is subscribing for shares of the Class B common stock or shares of the Class C common stock of the Company on or about the date of this letter, with such amounts to be allocated to the Members in proportion to the amounts paid on behalf of such Member.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the Company will issue the Class C Shares without their registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”); therefore, the Class C Shares may not be resold or transferred unless they are registered under the Act or unless an exemption from registration is available. The transfer of the Class C Shares is also subject to restriction under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
Please use the address set forth beneath the signature of the undersigned below for registration of the Class C Shares.
Please confirm your receipt and acceptance of the undersigned’s subscription for the Class C Shares and the other items set forth herein by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
Name: | ||
Address: | ||
Tax ID#: |
ACKNOWLEDGED and AGREED TO
this ____ day of April, 2019
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT C
Form of Common Unit Redemption Agreement
EXHIBIT D
Form of Common Unit Subscription Agreement
Exhibit 10.4
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
by and among
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.,
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC
and
THE MEMBERS OF GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
Dated as of April 17, 2019
CONTENTS
|
Page | |||
Article I. DEFINITIONS | 2 | |||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 2 | ||
Section 1.2 | Rules of Construction | 8 | ||
Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT | 9 | |||
Section 2.1 | Basis Adjustments; Greenlane Holdings, LLC 754 Election | 9 | ||
Section 2.2 | Basis Schedules | 9 | ||
Section 2.3 | Tax Benefit Schedules | 10 | ||
Section 2.4 | Procedures; Amendments | 10 | ||
Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS | 11 | |||
Section 3.1 | Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments | 11 | ||
Section 3.2 | No Duplicative Payments | 13 | ||
Section 3.3 | Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members | 13 | ||
Article IV. TERMINATION | 14 | |||
Section 4.1 | Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement | 14 | ||
Section 4.2 | Early Termination Notice | 15 | ||
Section 4.3 | Payment upon Early Termination | 15 | ||
Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS | 16 | |||
Section 5.1 | Subordination | 16 | ||
Section 5.2 | Late Payments by the Corporation | 16 | ||
Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION | 16 | |||
Section 6.1 | Participation in the Corporation’s and Greenlane Holdings, LLC’s Tax Matters | 16 | ||
Section 6.2 | Consistency | 16 | ||
Section 6.3 | Cooperation | 17 | ||
Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS | 17 | |||
Section 7.1 | Notices | 17 | ||
Section 7.2 | Counterparts | 17 | ||
Section 7.3 | Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries | 17 | ||
Section 7.4 | Governing Law | 18 | ||
Section 7.5 | Severability | 18 | ||
Section 7.6 | Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver | 18 | ||
Section 7.7 | Titles and Subtitles | 18 | ||
Section 7.8 | Resolution of Disputes | 19 | ||
Section 7.9 | Reconciliation | 20 | ||
Section 7.10 | Withholding | 20 | ||
Section 7.11 | Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets | 20 | ||
Section 7.12 | Confidentiality | 21 | ||
Section 7.13 | Change in Law | 21 | ||
Section 7.14 | Interest Rate Limitation | 21 | ||
Section 7.15 | Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations | 21 |
Exhibits
Exhibit A | - | Form of Joinder Agreement |
i
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 17, 2019, is hereby entered into by and among Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formerly known as Jacoby Holdings LLC (“ Greenlane Holdings, LLC ”) and each of the Members from time to time party hereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1 .
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Greenlane Holdings, LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
WHEREAS, each of the members of Greenlane Holdings, LLC as of the date hereof other than the Corporation (such members, together with each other Person who becomes party hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “ Members ”) owns common limited liability company interests in Greenlane Holdings, LLC (the “ Units ”);
WHEREAS, the Corporation intends to issue shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), to certain purchasers in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “ IPO ”);
WHEREAS, on the closing date of the IPO (the “ IPO Closing Date ”), the Corporation will acquire newly-issued Units directly from Greenlane Holdings, LLC using proceeds from the IPO and will become the managing member of Greenlane Holdings, LLC;
WHEREAS, on and after the IPO Closing Date, pursuant to Article XI of the Operating Agreement (as defined below), each Member has the right, in its sole discretion, from time to time to have all or a portion its Units redeemed by Greenlane Holdings, LLC for, at the Corporation’s election, cash or Class A Common Stock (a “ Redemption ”); provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion, the Corporation may effect a direct exchange of such cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Units (a “ Direct Exchange ”);
WHEREAS, on the IPO Closing Date, the Corporation will acquire additional Units from certain Members in a Direct Exchange pursuant to the terms of the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement ( as defined below) and may in the future acquire additional Units from such Members pursuant to the terms of the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement;
WHEREAS, Greenlane Holdings, LLC will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code as provided under Section 2.1(b) for the Taxable Year (as defined below) in which any Exchange (as defined below) occurs, which election will result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by Greenlane Holdings, LLC and its relevant subsidiaries (including any subsidiaries that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and have made an election under Section 754 of the Code) (Greenlane Holdings, LLC and its relevant subsidiaries, the “ Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group ”), as of the date of the Exchange, with a consequent result on the taxable income subsequently derived therefrom; and
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to any tax benefits to be derived by the Corporation as the result of Exchanges and making payments under this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article
I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both (i) the singular and plural and (ii) the active and passive forms of the terms defined).
“ 10% Member ” is defined in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.
“ Actual Interest Amount ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vii) of this Agreement.
“ Actual Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Covered Taxes of the Corporation (a) appearing on Tax Returns of the Corporation for such Taxable Year and (b) if applicable, determined in accordance with a Determination (including interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable law).
“ Advisory Firm ” means an accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Covered Tax matters, selected by the Corporation.
“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.
“ Agreed Rate ” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.
“ Agreement ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Amended Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.
“ Attributable ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.
“ Audit Committee ” means the audit committee of the Board.
“ Basis Adjustment ” means the increase or decrease to, or the Corporation’s share of, the tax basis of the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b), 754 and 755 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, following an Exchange, Greenlane Holdings, LLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and (ii) under Sections 732 and 1012 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, Greenlane Holdings, LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), in each case, as a result of any Exchange and any payments made under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.
“ Basis Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
“ Beneficial Owner ” means, with respect to any security, a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, with respect to such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.
“ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“ Business Day ” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in New York are closed.
2
“ Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any “person” or “group” who, on the date of the consummation of the IPO, is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities)) becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities;
(2) the shareholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly, or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of assets of Greenlane Holdings, LLC), other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets to an entity at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporation immediately prior to such sale;
(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation (including Greenlane Holdings, LLC) with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (x) the board of directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the merger or consolidation does not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (y) all of the Persons who were the respective Beneficial Owners of the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation;
(4) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Corporation then serving: individuals who were directors of the Corporation on the date of the consummation of the IPO and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Corporation) whose appointment or election by the board of directors of the Corporation or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors of the Corporation on the date of the consummation of the IPO or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause 4; or
(5) a “change of control” or similar defined term in any agreement governing indebtedness of Greenlane Holdings, LLC or any of its Subsidiaries with aggregate principal amount or aggregate commitments outstanding in excess of $25,000,000.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
“ Class A Common Stock ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Class B Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
3
“ Class C Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“ Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ Corporation ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Corporation Letter ” means a letter prepared by the Corporation in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, which states that the relevant Schedules, notices or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Members, along with all supporting schedules and work papers, were prepared in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement and, to the extent not expressly provided in this Agreement, on a reasonable basis in light of the facts and law in existence on the date such Schedules, notices or other information were delivered by the Corporation to the Members.
“ Covered Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, whether as an exclusive or an alternative basis (including for the avoidance of doubt, franchise taxes), and any interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable law.
“ Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iii) of this Agreement.
“ Default Rate ” means LIBOR plus 500 basis points.
“ Default Rate Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ix ) of this Agreement.
“ Determination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for tax.
“ Direct Exchange ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.8(a) of this Agreement.
“ Early Termination Effective Date ” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.
“ Early Termination Notice ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“ Early Termination Payment ” is defined in Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement.
“ Early Termination Rate ” means the Agreed Rate.
“ Early Termination Reference Date ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“ Early Termination Schedule ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“ Exchange ” means any (i) Direct Exchange, (ii) Redemption or (iii) any transaction using proceeds of the IPO or any distribution by Greenlane Holdings, LLC that in either case results in an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code with respect to the Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group.
“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto.
4
“ Exchange Date ” means the date of any Exchange.
“ Expert ” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.
“ Extension Rate Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(viii) of this Agreement.
“ Final Payment Date ” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Final Payment Date in respect of a Tax Benefit Payment is determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.
“ Greenlane Holdings, LLC ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the hypothetical liability of the Corporation that would arise in respect of Covered Taxes, using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the actual relevant Tax Returns of the Corporation but (i) calculating depreciation, amortization, or other similar deductions, or otherwise calculating any items of income, gain, or loss, using the Corporation’s share of the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule, including amendments thereto for such Taxable Year and (ii) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for such Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any of the items described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the previous sentence.
“ Imputed Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vi ) of this Agreement.
“ Independent Directors ” means the members of the Board who are “independent” under the standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and the corresponding rules of the applicable exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.
“ IPO ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ IPO Closing Date ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement ” means that certain Common Unit Redemption Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Members that are parties thereto.
“ IRS ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“ Joinder ” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“ Joinder Requirement ” is defined in Section 7.6(a) of this Agreement.
“ LIBOR ” means during any period, a rate per annum equal to the ICE LIBOR rate for a period of one month (“ ICE LIBOR ”), as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the Corporation from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period.
“ Market Value ” shall mean the Common Unit Redemption Price, as defined in the Operating Agreement.
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“ Member Advisory Firm ” means an accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Covered Tax matters, selected by the applicable Member; provided that such accounting firm shall be different from the accounting firm serving as the Advisory Firm.
“ Members ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Net Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ii) of this Agreement.
“ Non-Adjusted Tax Basis ” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at any time, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made.
“ Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 2.4(a)(i) of this Agreement.
“ Operating Agreement ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ Parties ” means the parties named on the signature pages to this agreement and each additional party that satisfies the Joinder Requirement, in each case with their respective successors and assigns.
“ Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.
“ Pre-Exchange Transfer ” means any transfer of one or more Units (including upon the death of a Member or upon the issuance of Units resulting from the exercise of an option to acquire such Units) (i) that occurs after the IPO but prior to an Exchange of such Units and (ii) to which Section 743(b) of the Code applies.
“ Realized Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iv) of this Agreement.
“ Realized Tax Detriment ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(v) of this Agreement.
“ Reconciliation Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.
“ Reconciliation Procedures ” is defined in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement.
“ Redemption ” has the meaning in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Reference Asset ” means any asset of Greenlane Holdings, LLC or any of its successors or assigns, and whether held directly by Greenlane Holdings, LLC or indirectly by Greenlane Holdings, LLC through a member of the Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group, at the time of an Exchange. A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.
“ Schedule ” means any of the following: (i) a Basis Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule, or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule, and, in each case, any amendments thereto.
“ Senior Obligations ” is defined in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person and as of any determination date, any other Person as to which such first Person (i) owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls, more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests of such other Person or (ii) is the sole general partner interest, or managing member or similar interest, of such Person.
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“ Subsidiary Stock ” means any stock or other equity interest in any subsidiary entity of the Corporation that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“ Supermajority Member Approval ” means written approval by Members whose rights under this Agreement are attributable to at least seventy percent (70%) of the Units outstanding (and not held by the Corporation) immediately after the IPO (as appropriately adjusted for any subsequent changes to the number of outstanding Units). For purposes of this definition, a Member’s rights under this Agreement shall be attributed to Units as of the time of a determination of Supermajority Member Approval. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) an Exchanged Unit shall be attributed only to the Member entitled to receive Tax Benefit Payments with respect to such Exchanged Unit (i.e., the Exchangor or the assignee of its rights hereunder) and (ii) an outstanding Unit that has not yet been Exchanged shall be attributed only to the Member entitled to receive Tax Benefit Payments upon the Exchange of such Unit (i.e., the member of Greenlane Holdings, LLC or the assignee of its rights hereunder).
“ Tax Benefit Payment ” is defined in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“ Tax Benefit Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.
“ Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated tax.
“ Taxable Year ” means a taxable year of the Corporation as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of U.S. state or local tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the closing date of the IPO.
“ Taxing Authority ” shall mean any national, federal, state, county, municipal, or local government, or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body, or any other authority of any kind, exercising regulatory or other authority in relation to tax matters.
“ Termination Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 4. 2 of this Agreement.
“ Treasury Regulations ” means the final, temporary, and (to the extent they can be relied upon) proposed regulations under the Code, as promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.
“ U.S. ” means the United States of America.
“ Units ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Valuation Assumptions ” shall mean, as of an Early Termination Effective Date, the assumptions that:
(1) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions) in which such deductions would become available;
(2) the U.S. federal, state and local income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Effective Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;
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(3) all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period;
(4) any loss carryovers or carrybacks generated by any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) and available as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be used by the Corporation ratably in each Taxable Year from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers or carrybacks; by way of example, if on the date of the Early Termination Schedule the Corporation had $100 of net operating losses with a carryforward period of ten (10) years, $10 of such net operating losses would be used in each of the ten (10) consecutive Taxable Years beginning in the Taxable Year of such Early Termination Schedule;
(5) any non-amortizable assets (other than Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the fifteenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the applicable Basis Adjustment and (ii) the Early Termination Effective Date;
(6) any Subsidiary Stock will be deemed never to be disposed of except if Subsidiary Stock is directly disposed of in the Change of Control;
(7) if, on the Early Termination Effective Date, any Member has Units that have not been Exchanged, then such Units shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value of the shares of Class A Common Stock that would be received by such Member if such Units had been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date, and such Member shall be deemed to receive the amount of cash such Member would have been entitled to pursuant to Section 4.3(a) had such Units actually been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date and
(8) any payment obligations pursuant to this Agreement will be satisfied on the date that any Tax Return to which such payment obligation relates is required to be filed excluding any extensions.
Section 1.2 Rules of Construction . Unless otherwise specified herein:
(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) For purposes of interpretation of this Agreement:
(i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(ii) References in this Agreement to a Schedule, Article, Section, clause or sub-clause refer to the appropriate Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or subclause in, this Agreement.
(iii) References in this Agreement to dollars or “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America.
(iv) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.
(v) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.
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(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(d) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organization documents (including the Operating Agreement), agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted hereby; and (b) references to any law (including the Code and the Treasury Regulations) shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
Article
II
DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT
Section 2.1 Basis Adjustments; Greenlane Holdings, LLC 754 Election .
(a) Basis Adjustments . The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) each Redemption, including each Redemption pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Redemption Agreement, shall be treated as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporation from the applicable Member pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code and (B) each Exchange will give rise to Basis Adjustments. In connection with any Exchange, the Parties acknowledge and agree that, pursuant to applicable law, the Corporation’s share of the basis in the Reference Assets shall be increased (or decreased) by the excess (or deficiency), if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the Market Value of Class A Common Stock or the cash transferred to a Member pursuant to an Exchange as payment for the Units, (y) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange and (z) the amount of liabilities allocated to the Units acquired pursuant to the Exchange, over (B) the Corporation’s proportionate share of the basis of the Reference Assets immediately after the Exchange attributable to the Units exchanged, determined as if each relevant member of the Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Greenlane Holdings, LLC) remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes and no member of the Greenlane Holdings, LLC Group (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Greenlane Holdings, LLC) made the election provided by Section 754 of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest or Default Rate Interest. Further, the Parties intend that Basis Adjustments be calculated in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1.
(b) Greenlane Holdings, LLC Section 754 Election . In its capacity as the sole managing member of Greenlane Holdings, LLC, the Corporation will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, Greenlane Holdings, LLC will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for each Taxable Year.
Section 2.2 Basis Schedules . Within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to the Members a schedule (the “ Basis Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail as necessary in order to understand the calculations performed under this Agreement: (a) the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis of the Reference Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date; (b) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year, calculated (I) in the aggregate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Exchanges by all Members) and (II) solely with respect to Exchanges by the applicable Member; (c) the period (or periods) over which the Reference Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable; and (d) the period (or periods) over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable. The Basis Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b) .
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Section 2.3 Tax Benefit Schedules.
(a) Tax Benefit Schedule . Within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the Members a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year (a “ Tax Benefit Schedule ”). The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) , and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b) .
(b) Applicable Principles . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Actual Tax Liability of the Corporation for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest, as determined using a “with and without” methodology described in Section 2.4(a) . Carryovers or carrybacks of any tax item attributable to any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of U.S. state and local tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any tax item includes a portion that is attributable to a Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (a “TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not (a “Non-TRA Portion”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion (with the TRA Portion being applied on a proportionate basis consistent with the provisions of Section 3.3(a) ); and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the prior Taxable Year. The Parties agree that, subject to the second to last sentence of Section 2.1(a) , all Tax Benefit Payments attributable to an Exchange will be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments for the Corporation beginning in the Taxable Year of payment, and as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into such Taxable Year continuing for future Taxable Years until any incremental Basis Adjustment benefits with respect to a Tax Benefit Payment equals an immaterial amount.
Section 2.4 Procedures; Amendments .
(a) Procedures . Each time the Corporation delivers an applicable Schedule to the Members under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.4(b) , but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule delivered pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 4.2 , the Corporation shall also: (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by any Member, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule; (y) deliver a Corporation Letter supporting such Schedule; and (z) allow the Members and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by the Members, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Schedule. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall ensure that any Tax Benefit Schedule that is delivered to the Members, along with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability of the Corporation for the relevant Taxable Year (the “with” calculation) and the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for such Taxable Year (the “without” calculation), and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations. An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on the Parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the Members first received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless:
(i) a Member within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with (A) written notice of a material objection to such Schedule that is made in good faith and that sets forth in reasonable detail such Member’s material objection (an “ Objection Notice ”) and (B) a letter from a Member Advisory Firm in support of such Objection Notice; or
(ii) each Member provides a written waiver of its right to deliver an Objection Notice within the time period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date the waiver from all Members is received by the Corporation.
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In the event that a Member timely delivers an Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Objection Notice, the Corporation and the Member shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “ Reconciliation Procedures ”). For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the expense of preparing and obtaining the letter from a Member Advisory Firm referenced in clause (i) above shall be borne solely by the relevant Member and the Corporation shall have no liability with respect to such letter or any of the expenses associated with its preparation and delivery.
(b) Amended Schedule . The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation: (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule; (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was originally provided to the Member; (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures applicable to this Agreement; (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year; (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year; or (vi) to adjust a Basis Schedule to take into account any Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).
ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS
Section 3.1 Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments .
(a) Timing of Payments . Subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.3 , within three (3) Business Days following the date on which each Tax Benefit Schedule that is required to be delivered by the Corporation to the Members pursuant to Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement (such date, the “Final Payment Date” in respect of any Tax Benefit Payment), the Corporation shall pay to each relevant Member the Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) . Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such Members or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such Members. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members shall not be required under any circumstances to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporation to the Members (including any portion of any Early Termination Payment).
(b) Amount of Payments . For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Tax Benefit Payment ” with respect to any Member means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of: (i) the Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such Member and (ii) the Actual Interest Amount.
(i) Attributable . A Net Tax Benefit is “ Attributable ” to a Member to the extent that it is derived from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest that is attributable to an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such Member.
(ii) Net Tax Benefit . The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the amount of the excess, if any, of (x) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit Attributable to such Member as of the end of such Taxable Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made to such Member under this Section 3.1 . For the avoidance of doubt, if the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of any Taxable Year is less than the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made to a Member, such Member shall not be required to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously made by the Corporation to such Member.
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(iii) Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit . The “ Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.
(iv) Realized Tax Benefit . The “ Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.
(v) Realized Tax Detriment . The “ Realized Tax Detriment ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.
(vi) Imputed Interest . The principles of Sections 1272, 1274, or 483 of the Code, as applicable, and the principles of any similar provision of U.S. state and local law, will apply to cause a portion of any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member under this Agreement to be treated as imputed interest (“Imputed Interest”). For the avoidance of doubt, the deduction for the amount of Imputed Interest as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.
(vii) Actual Interest Amount . The “ Actual Interest Amount ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year will equal the amount of any Extension Rate Interest.
(viii) Extension Rate Interest . The amount of “ Extension Rate Interest ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (including previously accrued Imputed Interest) for a Taxable Year will equal interest calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the date on which the Corporation makes a timely Tax Benefit Payment to the Member on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) .
(ix) Default Rate Interest . In the event that the Corporation does not make timely payment of all or any portion of a Tax Benefit Payment to a Member on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) , the amount of “Default Rate Interest” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (including previously accrued Imputed Interest and Extension Rate Interest) for a Taxable Year will equal interest calculated at the Default Rate from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes such Tax Benefit Payment to such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Default Rate Interest as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member shall be included in the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.
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(x) The Corporation and the Members hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes.
(c) Interest . The provisions of Section 3.1(b) are intended to operate so that interest will effectively accrue in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for any Taxable Year as follows:
(i) first, at the applicable rate used to determine the amount of Imputed Interest under the Code (from the relevant Exchange Date until the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year);
(ii) second, at the Agreed Rate in respect of any Extension Rate Interest (from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) ); and
(iii) third, at the Default Rate in respect of any Default Rate Interest (from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes the relevant Tax Benefit Payment to a Member).
Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments . It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in the duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) that may be required under this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be consistently interpreted and applied in accordance with that intent. For purposes of this Agreement, and also for the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be calculated or made in respect of any estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, any estimated U.S. federal income tax payments.
Section 3.3 Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members .
(a) Insufficient Taxable Income . Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1(b) to the contrary, if the aggregate potential Covered Tax benefit of the Corporation as calculated with respect to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest (in each case, without regard to the Taxable Year of origination) is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporation does not have sufficient actual taxable income, then the available Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to the respective Tax Benefit Payment that would have been payable if the Corporation had in fact had sufficient taxable income so that there had been no such limitation. As an illustration of the intended operation of this Section 3.3(a) , if the Corporation had $200 of aggregate potential Covered Tax benefits with respect to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest in a particular Taxable Year (with $50 of such Covered Tax benefits being attributable to Member 1 and $150 of such Covered Tax benefits being attributable to Member 2), such that Member 1 would have potentially been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $42.50 and Member 2 would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $127.50 if the Corporation had $200 of taxable income, and if at the same time the Corporation only had $100 of actual taxable income in such Taxable Year, then $25 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation for such Taxable Year would be allocated to Member 1 and $75 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation would be allocated to Member 2, such that Member 1 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $21.25 and Member 2 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $63.75.
(b) Late Payments . If for any reason the Corporation is not able to timely and fully satisfy its payment obligations under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then Default Rate Interest will begin to accrue pursuant to Section 5.2 and the Corporation and other Parties agree that (i) the Corporation shall pay the Tax Benefit Payments due in respect of such Taxable Year to each Member pro rata in accordance with the principles of Section 3.3(a) and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all Members in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.
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ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
Section 4.1 Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement .
(a) Corporation’s Early Termination Right . With the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors, the Corporation may completely terminate this Agreement, as and to the extent provided herein, with respect to all amounts payable to the Members pursuant to this Agreement by paying to the Members the Early Termination Payment; provided that Early Termination Payments may be made pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) only if made to all Members that are entitled to such a payment simultaneously, and provided further, that the Corporation may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid. Upon the Corporation’ payment of the Early Termination Payment, the Corporation shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than with respect to any: (i) prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of the Early Termination Notice; and (ii) current Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending on or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (ii) is included in the calculation of the Early Termination Payment). If an Exchange subsequently occurs with respect to Units for which the Corporation has exercised its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) , the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange.
(b) Acceleration upon Change of Control . In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated pursuant to this Article IV as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and utilizing the Valuation Assumptions by substituting the phrase “the closing date of a Change of Control” in each place where the phrase “ Early Termination Effective Date ” appears. Such obligations shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control, (2) any Tax Benefit Payments agreed to by the Corporation and the Members as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (3) any Tax Benefit Payments due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the closing date of a Change of Control (except to the extent that any amounts described in clauses (2) or (3) are included in the Early Termination Payment). For the avoidance of doubt, Sections 4.2 and 4.3 shall apply to a Change of Control, mutadis mutandi.
(c) Acceleration upon Breach of Agreement . In the event that the Corporation materially breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder, or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable upon notice of acceleration from such Member (provided that in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, such acceleration shall be automatic without any such notice), and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such notice of acceleration (or, in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, on the date of such breach) and shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such acceleration; (ii) any prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of such acceleration; and (iii) any current Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of such acceleration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement and such breach is not a material breach of a material obligation, a Member shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this Agreement, including potentially seeking an acceleration of amounts payable under this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1(c) , and subject to the following sentence, the Parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date shall be deemed to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a material breach of a material obligation of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date to the extent that the Corporation has insufficient funds, or cannot take commercially reasonable actions to obtain sufficient funds, to make such payment; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate).
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Section 4.2 Early Termination Notice . If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporation shall deliver to the Members a notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right (an “ Early Termination Notice ”) and a schedule (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment. The Corporation shall also (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by a Member, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Early Termination Schedule; (y) deliver a Corporation Letter supporting such Early Termination Schedule; and (z) allow the Members and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by the Members, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on each Party thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Members received such Early Termination Schedule unless:
(i) a Member within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with (A) notice of a material objection to such Early Termination Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail such Member’s material objection (a “ Termination Objection Notice ”) and (B) a letter from a Member Advisory Firm in support of such Termination Objection Notice; or
(ii) each Member provides a written waiver of such right of a Termination Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Early Termination Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver from all Members is received by the Corporation.
In the event that a Member timely delivers a Termination Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Termination Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Termination Objection Notice, the Corporation and such Member shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures. For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the expense of preparing and obtaining the letter from a Member Advisory Firm referenced in clause (i) above shall be borne solely by such Member and the Corporation shall have no liability with respect to such letter or any of the expenses associated with its preparation and delivery. The date on which the Early Termination Schedule becomes final in accordance with this Section 4.2 shall be the “ Early Termination Reference Date .”
Section 4.3 Payment upon Early Termination .
(a) Timing of Payment . Within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Reference Date, the Corporation shall pay to each Member an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment for such Member. Such Early Termination Payment shall be made by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the Members or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the Members.
(b) Amount of Payment . The “Early Termination Payment” payable to a Member pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as determined as of the Early Termination Reference Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such Member, whether payable with respect to Units that were Exchanged prior to the Early Termination Effective Date or on or after the Early Termination Effective Date, beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions. For the avoidance of doubt, an Early Termination Payment shall be made to each Member, regardless of whether such Member has Exchanged all of its Units as of the Early Termination Effective Date.
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ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS
Section 5.1 Subordination . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by the Corporation to the Members under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest, or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations owed in respect of secured indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (“ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations. To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the Members and the Corporation shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.
Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporation . The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the Members when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with Default Rate Interest, which shall accrue beginning on the Final Payment Date and be computed as provided in Section 3.1(b)(ix) .
ARTICLE VI
TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION
Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporation’s and Greenlane Holdings, LLC’s Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as provided in Article IX of the Operating Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and Greenlane Holdings, LLC, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall notify the Members of, and keep them reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any tax audit of the Corporation or Greenlane Holdings, LLC, or any of Greenlane Holdings, LLC’s Subsidiaries, the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to such Members under this Agreement, and any Member holding directly and/or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Units, provided that Greenlane Holdings, LLC has knowledge that such Member holds directly and/or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Units (a “ 10% Member ”), shall have the right to participate in and to monitor at their own expense (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not to control) any such portion of any such Tax audit; provided that the Corporation shall not settle or fail to contest any issue pertaining to Covered Taxes that is reasonably expected to materially adversely affect the Members’ rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each 10% Member, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Section 6.2 Consistency . All calculations and determinations made hereunder, including, without limitation, any Basis Adjustments, the Schedules, and the determination of any Realized Tax Benefits or Realized Tax Detriments, shall be made in accordance with the elections, methodologies or positions taken by the Corporation and Greenlane Holdings, LLC on their respective Tax Returns. Each Member shall prepare its Tax Returns in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, and any related calculations or determinations that are made hereunder, including, without limitation, the terms of Section 2.1 of this Agreement and the Schedules provided to the Members under this Agreement. In the event that an Advisory Firm is replaced with another Advisory Firm acceptable to the Audit Committee, such replacement Advisory Firm shall perform its services under this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with the previous Advisory Firm, unless otherwise required by law or unless the Corporation and all of the Members agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.
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Section 6.3 Cooperation .
(a) Each Member shall (i) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (ii) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter.
(b) The Corporation shall reimburse the Members for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to Section 6.3(a) .
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.1 ). All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice:
If to the Corporation, to:
Greenlane Holdings, Inc.
1095 Broken Sound Parkway, Suite 300
Boca Raton, Florida 33487
Attn: Ethan Rudin, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: erudin@gnln.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation) to:
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square, 40 th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attn: Jeffrey C. Johnson, Esq.
E-mail: jjohnson@pryorcashman.com
If to a Member, the address, facsimile number and e-mail address specified on such Member’s signature page to this Agreement.
Any Party may change its address, fax number or e-mail address by giving each of the other Parties written notice thereof in the manner set forth above.
Section 7.2 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
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Section 7.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
Section 7.5 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 7.6 Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver .
(a) Assignment . No Member may assign, sell, pledge, or otherwise alienate or transfer any interest in this Agreement, including the right to receive any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement, to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and without such Person executing and delivering a Joinder agreeing to succeed to the applicable portion of such Member’s interest in this Agreement and to become a Party for all purposes of this Agreement (the “ Joinder Requirement ”); provided, however , that to the extent any Member sells, exchanges, distributes or otherwise transfers Units to any Person (other than the Corporation or Greenlane Holdings, LLC) in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Members shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, provided that such transferee has satisfied the Joinder Requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Member transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such Member shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units. The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person without Supermajority Member Approval (and any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void).
(b) Amendments . No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by the Corporation and made with Supermajority Member Approval; provided that amendment of the definition of Change of Control will also require the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(c) Successors . All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(d) Waiver . No failure by any Party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement, or condition of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof, shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement, or condition.
Section 7.7 Titles and Subtitles . The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
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Section 7.8 Resolution of Disputes .
(a) Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9 , any and all disputes which cannot be settled after substantial good-faith negotiation, including any ancillary claims of any Party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall designate one arbitrator and the Members party to such Dispute shall designate one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Resolution Rule 5.4. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. , and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be Boca Raton, Florida.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), any Party may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling another Party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Party (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.8 to any such action or proceeding, and (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.8 shall not apply to Reconciliation Disputes to be settled in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 7.9 .
(c) This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof. The Parties agree that any suit or proceeding in connection with, arising out of, or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted only in a court (whether federal or Delaware) located in Kent County, Delaware, and the Parties, for the purpose of any such suit or proceeding, irrevocably consent and submit to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and venue of any such court in any such suit or proceeding. Each Party 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.
(d) Each Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that 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 in any court referred to in Section 7.8(c) . Each Party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.
(e) Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process by means of notice in the manner provided for in Section 7.1 . Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(f) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
(g) Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of Section 7.9 , or a Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.8 , shall be decided and resolved as a Dispute subject to the procedures set forth in this Section 7.8 .
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Section 7.9 Reconciliation . In the event that the Corporation and any Member are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to a Schedule (other than an Early Termination Schedule) prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.4 , or with respect to an Early Termination Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.2 , within the relevant time period designated in this Agreement (a “ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “ Expert ”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both Parties. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting firm, and unless the Corporation and such Member agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the Parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the selection of an Expert shall be treated as a Dispute subject to Section 7.8 and an arbitration panel shall pick an Expert from a nationally recognized accounting firm that does not have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto, or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporation and the Members shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the Member’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the Member for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the Member shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation and the Members and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction.
Section 7.10 Withholding . The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment that is payable to any Member pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid by the Corporation to the relevant Member. Each Member shall promptly provide the Corporation with any applicable tax forms and certifications reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law.
Section 7.11 Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .
(a) If the Corporation is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 or other applicable Sections of the Code governing affiliated or consolidated groups, or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments, and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.
(b) If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset. For purposes of this Section 7.11 , a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.
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Section 7.12 Confidentiality . Each Member and its assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, learned by any Member heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of any Member in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prosecute or defend claims arising under or relating to this Agreement, and (iii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Members and each of their assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Members or their assignees, as applicable) may disclose at their discretion to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporation, the Members and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Members relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. If a Member or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12 , the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.
Section 7.13 Change in Law . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a Member reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such Member (or direct or indirect equity holders in such Member) in connection with any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to such Member or any direct or indirect owner of such Member, then at the written election of such Member in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such Member and delivered to the Corporation) and to the extent specified therein by such Member, this Agreement shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to an Exchange occurring after a date specified by such Member, or may be amended by in a manner reasonably determined by such Member, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in any payments owed by the Corporation under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.
Section 7.14 Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the interest paid or agreed to be paid hereunder with respect to amounts due to any Member hereunder shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If any Member shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment, as applicable (but in each case exclusive of any component thereof comprising interest) or, if it exceeds such unpaid non-interest amount, refunded to the Corporation. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by any Member exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Member may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the payment obligations owed by the Corporation to such Member hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Parties to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.
Section 7.15 Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations . The rights and obligations of each Member hereunder are several and not joint with the rights and obligations of any other Person. A Member shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Person hereunder, nor shall a Member have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other Person hereunder (other than the Corporation). The obligations of a Member hereunder are solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable solely by, the Corporation. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Member pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Members acting as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Members are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Corporation acknowledges that the Members are not acting in concert or as a group and will not assert any such claim with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.
[ Signature Page Follows This Page ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Agreement as of the date first written above.
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: Greenlane Holdings, Inc., its Manager | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
MEMBERS | ||
CLASS A | ||
JACOBY & CO. INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron LoCascio | |
Name: | Aaron LoCascio | |
Title: | Co-President | |
By: | /s/ Adam Schoenfeld | |
Name: | Adam Schoenfeld | |
Title: | Co-President | |
/s/ Adam Schoenfeld | ||
Adam Schoenfeld | ||
CLASS B | ||
BETTER LIFE PRODUCTS INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey Sherman | |
Name: | Jeffrey Sherman | |
Title: | President |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
ROCHESTER VAPOR GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Clive Fleissig | |
Name: | Clive Fleissig | |
Title: | Manager | |
POLLEN GEAR HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Edward Kilduff | |
Name: | Edward Kilduff | |
Title: | Manager | |
/s/ Zachary Tapp | ||
Zachary Tapp | ||
/s/ Jay Scheiner | ||
Jay Scheiner | ||
/s/ Sasha Kadey | ||
Sasha Kadey | ||
/s/ Tessa Weaver | ||
Tessa Weaver | ||
/s/ Chad Freling | ||
Chad Freling |
/s/ Hisham Boulhimez | |
Hisham Boulhimez | |
/s/ Seth Sznapstajler | |
Seth Sznapstajler |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
/s/ Joseph Hurwitz | |
Joseph Hurwitz | |
/s/ William Bradford Dulin | |
William Bradford Dulin | |
/s/ Matthew Paul | |
Matthew Paul | |
/s/ Wade Wilson | |
Wade Wilson | |
/s/ Fabian Acuna | |
Fabian Acuna | |
/s/ James Leonard |
|
James Leonard | |
/s/ Ethan Rudin | |
Ethan Rudin | |
/s/ Jason Baum | |
Jason Baum | |
/s/ Dawn Marie Cavanagh |
|
Dawn Marie Cavanagh | |
/s/ Douglas Fischer |
|
Douglas Fischer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
Exhibit A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of , 20 (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of [●] 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Tax Receivable Agreement ”) by and among Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Greenlane Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Greenlane Holdings, LLC ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.
1. | Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement . The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation that, as of the date hereof, the undersigned has been assigned an interest in the Tax Receivable Agreement from a Member. |
2. | Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement . Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement and a Party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof. |
3. | Incorporation by Reference . All terms and conditions of the Tax Receivable Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full. |
4. | Address . All notices under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to: |
[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME OF NEW PARTY] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Acknowledged and agreed as of the date first set forth above: |
||
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.5
GREENLANE HOLDINGS, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose .
The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities. Capitalized terms used in the Plan are defined in Section 11.
2. Eligibility .
Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein.
3. Administration and Delegation .
(a) Administration. The Plan is administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable. The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions and reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.
(b) Appointment of Committees; Delegation of Powers. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees. The Board may also delegate to an executive officer of the Company the authority to grant Awards to Service Providers that are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Board may rescind any such delegation at any time or re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority at any time.
4. Stock Available for Awards .
(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 8 and the terms of this Section 4, Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to the Overall Share Limit. Shares issued under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares.
(b) Share Recycling . If all or any part of an Award expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares covered by the Award for less than Fair Market Value or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan. In addition, Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option or to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan.
(c) Incentive Stock Option Limitations . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than 5,000,000 Shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options, and no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if it would cause an Incentive Stock Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(d) Substitute Awards . In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or the Company’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit, except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.
5. Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights .
(a) General. The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to Service Providers subject to the limitations in the Plan, including Section 5(f) with respect to Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator will determine the number of Shares covered by each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the Stock Appreciation Right from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations of the Plan or as the Administrator may impose.
(b) Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement. The exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
(c) Duration of Options. Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years.
(d) Exercise; Notification of Disposition. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company a written notice of exercise, in a form the Administrator approves (which may be electronic), signed by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, payment in full (i) as specified in Section 5(e) for the number of Shares for which the Award is exercised and (ii) as specified in Section 9(e) for any applicable withholding taxes. Unless the Administrator otherwise determines, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
(e) Payment Upon Exercise. The exercise price of an Option must be paid in cash or by check payable to the order of the Company or, subject to Section 10(h), any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) and Applicable Laws, by:
(i) if there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;
(ii) delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value, provided (A) such payment method is then permitted under Applicable Laws, (B) such Shares, if acquired directly from the Company, were owned by the Participant for a minimum time period that the Company may establish and (C) such Shares are not subject to repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements; or
(iii) any other mechanism that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines to be appropriate for a Participant, which the Administrator can determine on a case by case basis and any such determination with respect to one Participant shall not bind the Administrator with respect to any other Participant.
(f) Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. No person qualifying as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option, unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to Section 422 of the Code. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years. The Administrator may modify an Incentive Stock Option with the holder’s consent to disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option. All Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code. By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired from the Option made within (i) two years from the grant date of the Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, (i) if an Option (or any part thereof) intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or (ii) for the Administrator’s actions or omissions that cause an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, but fails to qualify for any reason, including the portion of any Option becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
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6. Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units .
(a) General . The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award. In addition, the Administrator may grant to Service Providers Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during applicable restriction period or periods, as set forth in an Award Agreement. The Administrator will determine and set forth in the Award Agreement the terms and conditions for each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in the Plan.
(b) Restricted Stock .
(i) Dividends . Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise in the Award Agreement. In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, if any dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock of property other than an ordinary cash dividend, the Shares or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. All such dividend payments will be made no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the right to the dividend payment becomes nonforfeitable.
(ii) Stock Certificates . The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.
(c) Restricted Stock Units .
(i) Settlement . When a Restricted Stock Unit vests, the Participant will be entitled to receive from the Company one Share, an amount of cash or other property equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share on the settlement date or a combination of both, as the Administrator determines and as provided in the Award Agreement. The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A.
(ii) Stockholder Rights . A Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until the Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit.
7. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards; Dividend Equivalents .
(a) Other Stock or Cash Based Awards . Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive Shares to be delivered in the future and including annual or other period or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified Performance Criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including any purchase price, performance goal (which may be based on the Performance Criteria), transfer restrictions, and vesting conditions, which will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Dividend Equivalents . If the Administrator provides, a grant of Restricted Stock Units or an Other Stock Award may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents, and no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are paid and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement. All such Dividend Equivalent payments will be made no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the right to the Dividend Equivalent payment becomes nonforfeitable, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator.
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8.
Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain
Other Events
.
(a) In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8, the Administrator will equitably adjust each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to effect the Equity Restructuring, which may include adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and/or the Award’s exercise price or grant price (if applicable), granting new Awards to Participants, and making a cash payment to Participants. The adjustments provided under this Section 8(a) will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.
(b) In the event that the Administrator determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, as determined by the Administrator, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award, then the Administrator may, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of:
(i) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted or awarded (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 4 hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued and specifically including for the avoidance of doubt adjustments to the Incentive Stock Option limitation set forth in Section 4(c));
(ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards;
(iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award; and
(iv) the terms and conditions of any Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable financial or other performance “targets” specified in an Award Agreement).
(c) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 8(b) hereof (including without limitation any Change in Control) or any unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company, or any change in any Applicable Laws or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take such actions as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following actions:
(i) To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the vested portion of such Award may be terminated without payment;
(ii) To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;
(iii) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;
(iv) To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;
(v) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or
(vi) To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.
(d) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock, including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction, for administrative convenience, the Administrator may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award for up to 60 days before or after such transaction.
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(e) Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 8(a) above or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price. The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares. The Administrator may treat Participants and Awards (or portions thereof) differently under this Section 8.
(f) No action shall be taken under this Section 8 which shall cause an Award to fail to comply with Section 409A of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable to such Award.
9. General Provisions Applicable to Awards .
(a) Transferability. Except as the Administrator may determine or provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in accordance with Applicable Laws (and subject to the applicable requirements for Shares underlying Awards to be registered on Form S-8 under the Securities Act), Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a DRO, and, during the life of the Participant, will be exercisable only by the Participant. Any permitted transfer of an Award hereunder shall be without consideration, except as required by Applicable Law. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a Participant’s authorized transferee that the Administrator specifically approves under Applicable Laws.
(b) Documentation. Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement, as the Administrator determines. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
(c) Discretion. Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.
(d) Termination of Status. The Administrator will determine how the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable.
(e) Withholding. Each Participant must pay the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards by the date of the event creating the tax liability. In satisfaction of the foregoing requirement or in satisfaction of any additional tax withholding, the Company may satisfy, or may allow a Participant to satisfy, such obligations by any payment means described in Section 5(e) hereof, including, without limitation, by withholding, or allowing such Participant to elect to have the Company or an affiliate withhold, Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the maximum individual statutory withholding rates in the applicable jurisdiction, in accordance with Company policies and at the discretion of the Administrator. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.
(f) Amendment of Award. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant, or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 8 or pursuant to 10(f).
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(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any Applicable Laws. The Company’s inability to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which the Administrator determines is necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any securities, will relieve the Company of any liability for failing to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been obtained.
(h) Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.
(i) Repricing . Subject to Section 8, the Administrator shall have the authority, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, to (i) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per share, or (ii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. In addition, subject to Section 8, the Administrator shall have the authority, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, to amend any outstanding Award to increase the price per share or to cancel and replace an Award with the grant of an Award having a price per share that is greater than or equal to the price per share of the original Award.
(j) Cash Settlement . Without limiting the generality of any other provision of the Plan, the Administrator may provide, in an Award Agreement or subsequent to the grant of an Award, in its discretion, that any Award may be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
10. Miscellaneous .
(a) No Right to Employment or Other Status. No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement.
(b) No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates. Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise determines or Applicable Laws require, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan that the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.
(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan will become effective on the date it is adopted by the Board. No Awards may be granted under the Plan after ten years from the earlier of (i) the date the Board adopted the Plan or (ii) the date the Company’s stockholders approved the Plan, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date in accordance with the Plan. If the Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with Section 422 of the Code, the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan shall be null and void and of no force and effect.
(d) Amendment of Plan. The Administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided that no amendment, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit may materially and adversely affect any Award outstanding at the time of such amendment without the affected Participant’s consent. Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination. The Board will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws.
(e) Provisions for Foreign Participants . The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to address differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.
(f) Section 409A .
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(i) General . The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 10(f) or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant, “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.
(ii) Separation from Service . If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a termination of a Participant’s Service Provider relationship will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the termination of the Participant’s Service Provider relationship. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”
(iii) Payments to Specified Employees . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Administrator determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.
(iv) Separate Payments . Each payment made under this Plan shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of Section 409A.
(g) Limitations on Liability . Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee and agent of the Company that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Administrator’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning this Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith.
(h) Lock-Up Period . The Company may, at the request of any underwriter representative or otherwise, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Participants from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any Shares or other Company securities during a period of up to 180 days following the effective date of a Company registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or such longer period as determined by the underwriter.
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(i) Data Privacy . As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among the Company and its Affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “ Data ”). The Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 10(i) in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 10(i). For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.
(j) Severability . If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.
(k) Governing Documents . If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Affiliate) that the Administrator has approved, the Plan will govern, unless it is expressly specified in such Award Agreement or other written document that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.
(l) Governing Law . The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding any state’s choice-of-law principles requiring the application of a jurisdiction’s laws other than the State of Delaware.
(m) Claw-back Provisions . All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to any Company claw-back policy implemented to the comply with Applicable Laws, including any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, as set forth in such claw-back policy or the Award Agreement.
(n) Titles and Headings . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.
(o) Conformity to Securities Laws . Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in conformance with Applicable Laws. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.
(p) Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
(q) Grant of Awards to Certain Eligible Service Providers . The Company may provide through the establishment of a formal written policy (which shall be deemed a part of this Plan) or otherwise for the method by which Common Stock or other securities of the Company may be issued and by which such Common Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed, or may be returned upon any forfeiture of Common Stock or other securities by the eligible Service Provider.
(r) Section 83(b) Election . No Participant may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to any Award under the Plan without the consent of the Administrator, which the Administrator may grant (prospectively or retroactively) or withhold in its sole discretion. If, with the consent of the Administrator, a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.
11. Definitions . As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases will have the following meanings:
(a) “ Administrator ” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.
(b) “ Affiliate ” means (a) Greenlane Holdings, LLC, and (b) any Subsidiary.
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(c) “ Applicable Accounting Standards ” means the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, International Financial Reporting Standards or other accounting principles or standards applicable to the Company’s financial statements under U.S. federal securities laws.
(d) “ Applicable Laws ” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity incentive plans under U.S. federal and state securities, tax and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws and rules of any foreign country or other jurisdiction where Awards are granted.
(e) “ Award ” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards.
(f) “ Award Agreement ” means a written agreement evidencing an Award, which may be electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(g) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h) “ Change in Control ” means and includes each of the following:
(i) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any Significant Stockholder, or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
(ii) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 11(h)(i) or 11(h)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction: (A) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and (B) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 11(h)(iii)(B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(iv) The consummation of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any portion of an Award that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A.
The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(i) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.
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(j) “ Committee ” means one or more committees or subcommittees comprised of one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent Applicable Laws permit. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.
(k) “ Common Stock ” means the Class A common stock of the Company.
(l) “ Company ” means Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.
(m) “ Consultant ” means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or its parent or Affiliate to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company; (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) is a natural person.
(n) “ Designated Beneficiary ” means the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Administrator determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies or becomes incapacitated. Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate.
(o) “ Director ” means a Board member.
(p) “ Dividend Equivalents ” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 7(b) to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares.
(q) “ DRO ” means a domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.
(r) “ Employee ” means any employee of the Company or its Affiliates.
(s) “ Equity Restructuring ” means, as the Administrator determines, a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, affecting the Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causing a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.
(t) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(u) “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the closing sales price for such Common Stock as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the first market trading day immediately before such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not traded on a stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the date immediately before such date on which sales prices are reported, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) without an established market for the Common Stock, the Administrator will determine the Fair Market Value in its discretion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(v) “ Greater Than 10% Stockholder ” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its subsidiary or parent corporation, as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.
(w) “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
(x) “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means an Option, or portion thereof, not intended or not qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option.
(y) “ Option ” means an option to purchase Shares.
(z) “ Other Stock or Cash Based Awards ” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise denominated in, based on or linked to, Shares or other property.
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(aa) “ Overall Share Limit ” means the sum of (i) 5,000,000 Shares and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2020 and ending on and including January 1, 2028, equal to the least of (A) 3,000,000 Shares, (B) 5% of the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and the Company’s Class B common stock plus one-third of the Company’s Class C common stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (C) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board.
(bb) “ Participant ” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.
(cc) “ Performance Criteria ” means mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator may select for an Award to establish performance goals for a performance period.
(dd) “ Performance Goals ” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of an Affiliate, division, operating or business unit, or an individual.
(ee) “ Performance Period ” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, and the payment of, an Award.
(ff) “ Plan ” means this 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
(gg) “ Public Trading Date ” shall mean the first date upon which Common Stock is listed upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.
(hh) “ Restricted Stock ” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Section 6 subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.
(ii) “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such payment date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.
(jj) “ Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(kk) “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder.
(ll) “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(mm) “ Service Provider ” means an Employee, Consultant or Director of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.
(nn) “ Shares ” means shares of Common Stock.
(oo) “ Significant Stockholder ” shall mean any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) that, immediately following the issuance of Common Stock and Class B common stock to holders of equity interests in Greenlane Holdings, LLC in connection with the Company’s initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, holds 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of common stock of the Company (ignoring for purposes of such calculation any Common Stock issued in connection with the Company’s initial public offering to persons or entities other than the holders of equity interests in Greenlane Holdings, LLC).
(pp) “ Stock Appreciation Right ” means a stock appreciation right granted under Section 5.
(qq) “ Subsidiary ” means any entity (other than the Company or Greenlane Holdings, LLC), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company or Greenlane Holdings, LLC if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
(rr) “ Termination of Service ” means the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.
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