Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2021, by and among Bioventus Inc., Bioventus LLC and its Members

EX-10.2 5 d134776dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

by and among

BIOVENTUS INC.

BIOVENTUS LLC and

the MEMBERS (as defined herein)

Dated as of February 16, 2021

 

 

 


CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     2  

Section 1.2

 

Rules of Construction

     10  

Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

     11  

Section 2.1

 

Basis Adjustments; 754 Election

     11  

Section 2.2

 

Basis Schedules

     12  

Section 2.3

 

Tax Benefit Schedules

     12  

Section 2.4

 

Procedures; Amendments

     13  

Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

     14  

Section 3.1

 

Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments

     14  

Section 3.2

 

No Duplicative Payments

     17  

Section 3.3

 

Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members

     17  

Section 3.4

 

Optional Estimated Payment Procedure

     17  

Section 3.5

 

Changes; Clawback

     19  

Article IV. TERMINATION; change of control; breach of Agreement

     19  

Section 4.1

 

Early Termination of Agreement; Change of Control; Breach of Agreement

     19  

Section 4.2

 

Early Termination Notice

     21  

Section 4.3

 

Payment Upon Early Termination

     22  

Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

     23  

Section 5.1

 

Subordination

     23  

Section 5.2

 

Late Payments by the Corporation

     23  

Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

     23  

Section 6.1

 

Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’s Tax Matters

     23  

Section 6.2

 

Consistency

     23  

Section 6.3

 

Cooperation

     24  

Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS

     24  

Section 7.1

 

Notices

     24  

Section 7.2

 

Counterparts

     25  

Section 7.3

 

Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries

     25  

Section 7.4

 

Governing Law

     26  


Section 7.5

 

Severability

     26  

Section 7.6

 

Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver

     26  

Section 7.7

 

Titles and Subtitles

     27  

Section 7.8

 

Resolution of Disputes

     27  

Section 7.9

 

Reconciliation

     28  

Section 7.10

 

Withholding

     29  

Section 7.11

 

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

     29  

Section 7.12

 

Confidentiality

     30  

Section 7.13

 

Change in Law

     30  

Section 7.14

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     31  

Section 7.15

 

Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations

     31  

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A  

   -       

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

 

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TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 16, 2021, is hereby entered into by and among Bioventus Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Bioventus LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”) and Smith & Nephew, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“S&N”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.01.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS, S&N (together with each other Person who becomes party hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “Members”) owns (or, in the case of such other Persons, will own) common limited liability company interests in the LLC (the “Units”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation is the managing member of the LLC and is the registered owner of Units;

WHEREAS, on the date hereof and exclusive of the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below), the Corporation issued 8,000,000 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 date hereof and immediately following the IPO, the Corporation used a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase newly-issued Units directly from the LLC (the “Base Offering Capital Contribution”);

WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, the Corporation may issue additional Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is in fact exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds will be used by the Corporation to acquire additional newly-issued Units directly from the LLC (the “Over-Allotment Capital Contribution” and, together with the Base Offering Capital Contribution, the “Corporation’s Capital Contribution”);

WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, pursuant to Article IX of the LLC Agreement, each Member has the right, in its sole discretion, from time to time to require the LLC to redeem (a “Redemption”) all or a portion of such Member’s Units for Class A Common Stock or, under certain circumstances, cash; provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion, the Corporation may effect a direct exchange (a “Direct Exchange”) of such Class A Common Stock or, under certain circumstances, cash for such Units;

WHEREAS, subject to Section 2.1(b), the LLC and any direct or indirect subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (together with the LLC and any direct or indirect subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the “LLC Group”) will have in effect an election under

 

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Section 754 of the Code (as defined herein) for the Taxable Year (as defined herein) in which any Exchange or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction (each 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 the LLC Group as of the date of the Exchange or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction, 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 Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transactions, and the receipt of payments under this Agreement, as contemplated by the LLC 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).

Actual Interest Amount” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vii) of this Agreement.

Advisory Firm” means an accounting firm selected by the Corporation that is nationally recognized as being an expert in Covered Tax matters and is not an Affiliate of the Corporation.

Advisory Firm Letter” means a letter, that has been prepared by the Advisory Firm used 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.

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.

Aggregate Adjusted Tax Benefit Amount” is defined in Section 3.5(b).

Aggregate Tax Benefit Payments” is defined in Section 3.5(b).

Agreed Rate” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

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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 the tax basis of, or the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of, the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, following an Exchange, the LLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes), (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, the LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), in the case of each of (i) and (ii), as a result of any Exchange and any payments made under this Agreement in respect of such Exchange, or (iii) under Section 734(b), as a result of a Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction and any payments made under this Agreement in respect of such Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction. 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.

Change Notice” is defined in Section 3.5(a) of this Agreement.

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto (the “Exchange Act”) but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the Permitted Investors) shall become the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of voting stock of the Corporation entitling such “person” or “group” to cast more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of directors of the Corporation;

 

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(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 (on a consolidated basis, including a sale of assets of the LLC and its subsidiaries), 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; or

(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation (including the 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock 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. For purposes of this definition, the terms “beneficial owner” and “beneficially owned” are used within the meaning of such terms under Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.

Clawback Payment” is defined in Section 3.5(b).

Clawback Payment Date” is defined in Section 3.5(b).

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

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 preamble to this Agreement.

Corporation’s Capital Contribution” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

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Covered Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits and any interest, penalties and additions to tax related thereto.

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 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 lesser of (i) 6.50% per annum, compounded annually, and (ii) 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.

Estimated Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

Exchange” means (i) any Direct Exchange, (ii) any Redemption or (iii) any transaction using the proceeds from the Base Offering Capital Contribution or the Over-Allotment Option Capital Contribution that results in a Basis Adjustment.

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.

 

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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.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Corporation notifies the Members that the Corporation requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP or in the application thereof occurring after the date of this Agreement (including through the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto, “IFRS”) on the operation of such provision (or if the Members notify the Corporation that they request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of IFRS), then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

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 Non-Adjusted Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule, including amendments thereto for the Taxable Year and (ii) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest or Actual Interest Amounts for the 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 the previous sentence.

Imputed Interest” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vi) of this Agreement.

Independent Directors” means the members of the Board other than members of the Board that have been appointed or designated by a Member or any of such Member’s Affiliates.

IPO” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement

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(b) of this Agreement.

LIBOR” means during any period, a rate per annum equal to the ICE USD LIBOR rate for a period of one year (“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), or the rate which is quoted by another source selected by the Corporation, in conjunction with S&N, as an authorized information vendor for

 

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the purpose of displaying rates at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market (an “Alternate Source”) 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 (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg screen page publishing ICE USD LIBOR (or other commercially available source) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined in good faith by the Corporation and S&N; provided, that at no time shall LIBOR be less than 0%).

LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Bioventus LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

Market Value” means the Common Unit Redemption Price, as defined in the LLC Agreement, determined as of an Early Termination Date.

Members” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

LLC” 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.

Over-Allotment Option” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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.

Permitted Investors” shall mean (i) Smith & Nephew plc and Essex Woodlands Health Ventures and their respective affiliates (other than any portfolio company) and (ii) any “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) of which any of the foregoing are members; provided that in the case of such group and without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, such persons referenced in clause (i) above, collectively, have beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation or any of its direct or indirect parent companies.

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.

 

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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 tangible or intangible asset of the LLC or any of its successors or assigns, and whether held directly by the LLC or indirectly by the LLC through any entity in which the LLC now holds or may subsequently hold an ownership interest (but only if such entity is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for purposes of the applicable tax), at the time of an Exchange or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction. 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.

Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction” means (i) any distribution, transaction or other event or change in circumstances, including any repayment by the LLC of any liabilities or the issuance by the LLC of additional Units or other equity interests pursuant to the Corporation’s Capital Contribution or otherwise, which results in a reduction in the amount of liabilities allocated to S&N under Section 752 of the Code, other than as a result of an Exchange, and (ii) any payment made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction, in each case, only to the extent that such distribution, transaction, event or change in circumstances, or such payment, results in the recognition of gain by S&N under Section 731(a)(1).

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

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.

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.

 

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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.

True-Up” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

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 income tax rates and U.S. state 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;

(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

 

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result of payments under this Agreement) and available under applicable law as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be used by the Corporation on a pro rata basis from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers or carrybacks or, if there is no scheduled expiration date, the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Early Termination Effective Date;

(5)    any non-amortizable assets (other than Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the fifteenth anniversary of the applicable Basis Adjustment; provided that, in the event of a Change of Control, such non-amortizable assets shall be deemed disposed of at the time of sale of the relevant asset (if earlier than such fifteenth anniversary);

(6)    any Subsidiary Stock will be deemed never to be disposed of;

(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 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 LLC 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; 754 Election.

(a)    Basis Adjustments. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) each Direct Exchange shall give rise to Basis Adjustments, (B) each Redemption using cash or Class A Common Stock contributed to the LLC by the Corporation 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 that will give rise to Basis Adjustments and (C) each Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction shall give rise to Basis Adjustments. In connection with any Direct Exchange or Redemption, the Parties acknowledge and agree that pursuant to applicable law the Corporation’s share of the basis in the Reference Assets shall be increased by the excess, 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 member of the LLC Group remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes and no member of the LLC Group 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 are Actual Interest Amounts. With respect to any Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction, the Parties agree to work in good faith to determine the appropriate tax treatment of such transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, taking into account, among other things, whether one or more Exchanges has occurred prior to such Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction.

(b)    Section 754 Election. In its capacity as the sole managing member of the LLC, the Corporation will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, the LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a

 

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partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes 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); provided that with respect to any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the LLC that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes for which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries do not have the authority under the governing documents of such Subsidiary to cause such Subsidiary to have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (or under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law), the Corporation shall only be required to take commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Subsidiary to have such an election in effect.

Section 2.2    Basis Schedules. Within sixty (60) 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 Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transactions effected in such Taxable Year and (b) 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).

Section 2.3    Tax Benefit Schedules.

(a)    Tax Benefit Schedule. Within sixty (60) 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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest and Actual Interest Amounts, 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, Imputed Interest or Actual Interest Amounts 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, Imputed Interest or Actual Interest Amounts (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 (i) all Tax Benefit

 

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Payments (other than Imputed Interest and Actual Interest Amounts) attributable to an Exchange will (A) be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments for the Corporation and (B) have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments for the Corporation in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current Taxable Year continuing until any incremental current Taxable Year benefits equal 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 the Members that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule; (y) deliver an Advisory Firm 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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes (the “with” calculation) and the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation (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 the Member’s material objection (an “Objection Notice”) and (B) a letter from an Advisory Firm (that is different from the Advisory Firm that was used by the Corporation to prepare the Schedule at issue) in support of such Objection Notice; or

(ii)    each of the Members 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 each of the Members is received by the Corporation.

In the event that any 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 relevant Members 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

 

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preparing and obtaining the letter from an Advisory Firm referenced in clause (i) above shall be borne solely by the relevant Members 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 Members; (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 the extent available under applicable law, 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. Except as provided in Sections 3.4, 3.5(b) and 4.1(b), and 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, 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, except as described in Section 3.5(b), 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 Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or 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 (including Imputed Interest calculated in respect of such amount); 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, Imputed Interest, or Actual Interest Amount that is attributable to an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such Member or a Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction with respect to such Member.

 

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(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 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 reduced by any Clawback Payments previously paid to the Corporation by such Member pursuant to Section 3.5(b). For the avoidance of doubt, except as described in Section 3.5(b), 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.

(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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes. If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit 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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit 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 with respect to an Exchange 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. For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Actual Interest Amount as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a

 

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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.

(viii)    Extension Rate Interest. Subject to Section 3.4, 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, the amount of 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.

(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 or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction 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 or date on which the relevant Tax Benefit Payment was made 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).

 

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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 required to 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, Imputed Interest and Actual Interest Amounts is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporation does not have sufficient actual taxable income to fully utilize available deductions, 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, Imputed Interest and Actual Interest Amounts 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, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all Members in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

Section 3.4    Optional Estimated Payment Procedure. As long as the Corporation is current in respect of its payment obligations owed to each Member pursuant to this Agreement and there are no delinquent Tax Benefit Payments (including interest thereon) outstanding in respect of prior Taxable Years for any Member, the Corporation may, at any time on or after the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for a Taxable Year and at the Corporation’s option, in its sole discretion, make one or more

 

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estimated payments to the Members in respect of any anticipated amounts to be owed with respect to a Taxable Year to the Members pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement (any such estimated payments referred to as an “Estimated Tax Benefit Payment”); provided that any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made to a Member pursuant to this Section 3.4 is matched by a proportionately equal Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to all other Members then entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment. Any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made under this Section 3.4 shall be paid by the Corporation to the Members and applied against the final amount of any expected Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. The payment of an Estimated Tax Benefit Payment by the Corporation to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall also terminate the obligation of the Corporation to make payment of any Extension Rate Interest that might have otherwise accrued with respect to the proportionate amount of the Tax Benefit Payment that is being paid in advance of the applicable Tax Benefit Schedule being finalized pursuant to Section 2.4. Upon the making of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment pursuant to this Section 3.4, the amount of such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment shall first be applied to any estimated Extension Rate Interest, then to Imputed Interest, and then applied to the remaining residual amount of the Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. In determining the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1, and for purposes of finalizing the Tax Benefit Schedule pursuant to Section 2.4, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments that may have been made with respect to the Taxable Year shall be increased, if the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made for such Taxable Year, with such increase being paid by the Corporation to the Members along with an appropriate amount of Extension Rate Interest in respect of the amount of such increase (a “True-Up”). If the Estimated Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for such Taxable Year (such excess, the “Excess Tax Benefit Payment”), such Excess Tax Benefit Payment, along with interest on such amount calculated at the Agreed Rate from the date that the Tax Benefit Schedule for the applicable Taxable Year is finalized pursuant to Section 2.4, shall be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such Member; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Member may, but shall not be not required to, repay to the Corporation all or a portion of such Excess Tax Benefit Payment, plus accrued interest in respect of such Excess Tax Benefit Payment as determined above, at any time after on or after the date that the Tax Benefit Schedule for the applicable Tax Year is finalized pursuant to Section 2.4, and to the extent of such repayment, the amount of any such reduction in the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such Member shall be reduced accordingly. As of the date on which any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments are made, and as of the date on which any True-Up is made, all such payments shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.1 and all other applicable terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, as is the case with Tax Benefit Payments made by the Corporation to the Members pursuant to Section 3.1, the amounts of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Section 3.4 that are attributable to an Exchange shall also be treated, in part, as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to Basis Adjustments in the Taxable Year of payment and as of the date on which such payments are made (to the extent of the estimated Net Tax Benefit associated with such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment, less any Imputed Interest, and exclusive of any Extension Rate Interest).

 

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Section 3.5    Changes; Clawback.

(a)    Receipt of Change Notice. If any Party, or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of any Party, receives a 30-day letter, a final audit report, a statutory notice of deficiency, or similar written notice from any Taxing Authority relating to the amount of the Net Tax Benefit calculated for purposes of this Agreement, or relating to any other material tax matter that is relevant to the terms of this Agreement and the calculation of the Tax Benefit Payments that may be payable by the Corporation to the Members (a “Change Notice”), prompt written notification and a copy of the relevant Change Notice shall be delivered by the Party, or its Affiliate or Subsidiary, that received such Change Notice to each other Party.

(b)    Clawback. If there has been a Determination with respect to any Taxable Year or Taxable Years (including for the avoidance of doubt any Taxable Year or Taxable Years that are impacted by such Determination), and the aggregate amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made to any Member pursuant to this Agreement for such relevant Taxable Years (reduced by any Clawback Payments previously paid to the Corporation by such Member pursuant to this Section 3.5(b) with respect to such relevant Taxable Years) (such amount, the “Aggregate Tax Benefit Payments”) is greater than the aggregate amount that such Tax Benefit Payments for such relevant Taxable Years would equal if calculated by taking into account the adjustments made in connection with such Determination (including, for the avoidance of doubt, interest, penalties and additions to tax related thereto) (such amount, an “Aggregate Adjusted Tax Benefit Amount”), then (i) the Corporation shall deliver to the Members an Amended Schedule (in accordance with Section 2.4) for each relevant Taxable Year (and, for the avoidance of doubt, each such Amended Schedule shall reflect the adjustments, interest, penalties and additions to tax related to such Determination which arise in the relevant Taxable Year) and (ii) each Member shall, within fifteen (15) days of such Amended Schedule becoming final in accordance with Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement (the “Clawback Payment Date”), pay to the Corporation the excess of (x) such Member’s Aggregate Tax Benefit Payments over (y) such Member’s Aggregate Adjusted Tax Benefit Amount, calculated in accordance with such Amended Schedule(s) (such excess, a “Clawback Payment”). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Clawback Payments payable pursuant to this Agreement shall first be offset by the Tax Benefit Payment for the Taxable Year in which the Determination is made, as reasonably estimated by the Corporation. In the event that a Member does not make timely payment of all or any portion of a Clawback Payment to the Corporation on or before the Clawback Payment Date, interest (calculated at the Default Rate) in respect of such Clawback Payment shall accrue from the Clawback Payment Date until the date on which such Member makes such Clawback Payment to the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV.

TERMINATION; CHANGE OF CONTROL; BREACH OF AGREEMENT

Section 4.1    Early Termination of Agreement; Change of Control; 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

 

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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’s 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)    Change of Control.

(i)    Upon a Change of Control for which the Corporation has not elected to make an Early Termination Payment pursuant to Section 4.1(a), and subject to Section 4.1(b)(ii), all Tax Benefit Payments, whether payable with respect to Units that were Exchanged or Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transactions that occurred prior to the date of such Change of Control or on or after the date of such Change of Control, shall be calculated (A) by using Valuation Assumptions (4), (5) and (6), substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Effective Date” and (B) assuming that in each Taxable Year ending on or after the closing date of such Change of Control, the Corporation’s taxable income (prior to the application of deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and Actual Interest Amounts) will equal the greater of (x) the actual taxable income (prior to the application of deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and Actual Interest Amounts) for such Taxable Year and (y) the product of (i) four and (ii) the highest taxable income (calculated without taking into account extraordinary items of income or deduction and prior to the application of deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and Actual Interest Amounts) in any of the four fiscal quarters ended prior to the closing date of such Change of Control. For all purposes of this Agreement, the amount determined pursuant to clause (y) of the preceding sentence shall (A) be calculated as though the Corporation owned the same percentage of the LLC as it owned in the Taxable Year in respect of which the Tax Benefit Payment is being made and (B) be increased by 10% (compounded annually) for each Taxable Year beginning with the second Taxable Year following the closing date of the Change of Control and shall be adjusted on a daily pro rata basis for any short Taxable Year following the Change of Control.

(ii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change of Control occurs prior to January 1, 2022, all Tax Benefit Payments payable pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) shall be calculated using Valuation Assumptions (1), (4), (5) and (6), substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Effective Date.”

 

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(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 a 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, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, 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 six (6) months 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 six (6) months 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 six (6) months 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).

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 the Members, 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 an Advisory Firm 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 a Member, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become

 

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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 the Members’ material objection (a “Termination Objection Notice”) and (B) a letter from an Advisory Firm (that is different from the Advisory Firm that was used by the Corporation to prepare the Early Termination Schedule) in support of such Termination Objection Notice; or

(ii)    each of the Members 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 an 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.

 

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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. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, 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 any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the Final Payment Date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable to the date of actual payment.

ARTICLE VI.

TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1    Participation in the Corporations and the LLCs Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as provided in Article IX of the LLC Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and the 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 the LLC, or any of the 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 the Members 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. In addition to the foregoing, the Corporation shall not take any action outside the ordinary course of business (other than exercising its early termination right under Section 4.1(a)) the purpose of which is to minimize Tax Benefit Payments determined in accordance with this Agreement; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to in any way limit or otherwise prohibit the Corporation from exercising its rights pursuant to this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.1).

Section 6.2    Consistency. Except as otherwise required by law, all calculations and determinations made hereunder, including, without limitation, any Basis Adjustments, the

 

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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 the 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, 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.

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:

Bioventus Inc.

4721 Emperor Boulevard

Suite 100

Durham, NC 27703

Attn: General Counsel

E-mail: ***@***

 

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

555 11th Street N.W.

Suite 1000

Washington, D.C. 20004

Attn: Andrea Ramezan-Jackson

E-mail: ***@***

If to S&N:

Smith & Nephew, Inc.

150 Minuteman Road

Andover, MA 01810

Attn: Head of Tax

E-mail: ***@***

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to S&N) to:

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Michael Mollerus

E-mail: ***@***

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 the LLC) in accordance with the terms of the LLC 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 LLC 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 the prior written consent of each of the Members (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 each of the Parties; 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.

 

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(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.

Section 7.8    Resolution of Disputes.

(a)    Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9, any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, 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 New York, New York.

(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)    Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware or, if such Court declines jurisdiction, the courts of the State of Delaware sitting in Wilmington, Delaware, and of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware sitting in Wilmington, Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Delaware State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such U.S. District Court. 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.

 

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(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.

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

 

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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)    Subject to Section 4.1(b), 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. For the avoidance of doubt, and with respect to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, if the Corporation is not a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return prior to a Change of Control, but becomes a member of such a group immediately following such Change of Control, then the actual taxable income of the Corporation for purposes of clause (ii)(A) of the first sentence of Section 4.1(b) shall be calculated based on the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole, while the taxable income of the Corporation for purposes of clause (ii)(B) of the first sentence of Section 4.1(b) shall be calculated based on the taxable income of the Corporation on a stand-alone basis as determined prior to the closing date of such Change of Control.

(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

 

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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 as determined by the Advisory Firm or a valuation expert selected by the Corporation. 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporation or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies, the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.11(b).

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 or LLC Option Holder 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. 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

 

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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, Estimated 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 Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.

Section 7.15    Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations. The rights and obligations of the 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 or an LLC Option Holder 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.

Section 7.16    LLC Agreement. This Agreement shall be treated as part of the LLC Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

[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.

 

CORPORATION:  
  BIOVENTUS INC.
  By:  

/s/ Kenneth Reali

  Name:   Kenneth Reali
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
LLC:    
  BIOVENTUS LLC
  By:  

/s/ Kenneth Reali

  Name:   Kenneth Reali
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
MEMBERS:  
  SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Catheryn A. O’Rourke

  Name:   Catheryn A. O’Rourke
  Title:   Director

 

[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 February 16, 2021 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) by and among Bioventus Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Bioventus LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“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 is a member of the LLC, and that it acquired [                    ] Units in the LLC upon assignment 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:

[Signature Page Follows This Page]


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:

 

BIOVENTUS INC.
By:  

    

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement to Tax Receivable Agreement]