Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 23, 2025, by and among Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc., Bridge Investment Group Holdings LLC, Apollo Global Management, Inc., Aspen PubCo Merger Sub I, Inc., Aspen Second Merger Sub, LLC, and solely for purposes of Section 6.16 thereof, Adam O'Farrell
Exhibit 2.1
Execution Version
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
ASPEN PUBCO MERGER SUB 1, INC.
ASPEN SECOND MERGER SUB, LLC
BRIDGE INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS INC.,
BRIDGE INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
AND
(SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 6.16)
ADAM OFARRELL
February 23, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | 3 | |||||
Section 1.01 | Definitions | 3 | ||||
Section 1.02 | Definitional and Interpretative Provisions | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE II. THE TRANSACTION | 27 | |||||
Section 2.01 | The Closing | 27 | ||||
Section 2.02 | The Mergers | 28 | ||||
ARTICLE III. CONVERSION OF SECURITIES | 30 | |||||
Section 3.01 | Effect of Corporate Merger on Capital Stock | 30 | ||||
Section 3.02 | Effect of LLC Merger on OpCo Units | 31 | ||||
Section 3.03 | Surrender and Payment | 33 | ||||
Section 3.04 | Lost Certificates | 36 | ||||
Section 3.05 | Withholding Rights | 37 | ||||
Section 3.06 | Treatment of Company Stock Awards | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 38 | |||||
Section 4.01 | Organization | 38 | ||||
Section 4.02 | Authority | 39 | ||||
Section 4.03 | Governmental Authorization | 40 | ||||
Section 4.04 | Non-Contravention | 41 | ||||
Section 4.05 | Capitalization; Subsidiaries | 41 | ||||
Section 4.06 | Vote Required | 43 | ||||
Section 4.07 | Holding Company | 43 | ||||
Section 4.08 | Company SEC Documents; Company Financial Statements; Disclosure Controls | 43 | ||||
Section 4.09 | Absence of Certain Changes | 46 | ||||
Section 4.10 | No Undisclosed Liabilities | 46 | ||||
Section 4.11 | Company Material Contracts | 47 | ||||
Section 4.12 | Compliance with Applicable Laws; Company Licenses | 50 | ||||
Section 4.13 | Litigation | 52 | ||||
Section 4.14 | Real Property | 53 | ||||
Section 4.15 | Intellectual Property | 53 | ||||
Section 4.16 | Insurance Coverage | 55 | ||||
Section 4.17 | Tax Matters | 55 | ||||
Section 4.18 | Employees and Employee Benefit Plans | 57 | ||||
Section 4.19 | Environmental Matters | 60 | ||||
Section 4.20 | Funds; Other Clients | 61 | ||||
Section 4.21 | Regulatory Matters | 65 | ||||
Section 4.22 | Compliance Procedures | 66 |
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Section 4.23 | Disclosure Documents | 68 | ||||
Section 4.24 | TRA Amendment | 68 | ||||
Section 4.25 | No Brokers | 68 | ||||
Section 4.26 | Fairness Opinion | 68 | ||||
Section 4.27 | Related Party Transactions | 69 | ||||
Section 4.28 | Antitakeover Statutes | 69 | ||||
Section 4.29 | Ownership of Parent Capital Stock | 69 | ||||
Section 4.30 | No Additional Representations or Warranties | 69 | ||||
Section 4.31 | Insurance Business | 70 | ||||
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND THE MERGER SUBS | 71 | |||||
Section 5.01 | Organization | 71 | ||||
Section 5.02 | Authority | 71 | ||||
Section 5.03 | Governmental Authorization | 72 | ||||
Section 5.04 | Non-Contravention | 73 | ||||
Section 5.05 | Litigation | 73 | ||||
Section 5.06 | Ownership of Company Stock and OpCo Units | 73 | ||||
Section 5.07 | Parent SEC Documents; Parent Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities | 73 | ||||
Section 5.08 | Disclosure Documents | 74 | ||||
Section 5.09 | Ownership of the Merger Subs; No Prior Activities | 75 | ||||
Section 5.10 | Investment Intention | 75 | ||||
Section 5.11 | Compliance with Applicable Laws | 75 | ||||
Section 5.12 | Parent Capitalization | 75 | ||||
Section 5.13 | Tax Matters | 76 | ||||
Section 5.14 | Absence of Certain Changes | 76 | ||||
Section 5.15 | No Additional Representations or Warranties. | 76 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES | 76 | |||||
Section 6.01 | Conduct of the Company Pending the Mergers | 76 | ||||
Section 6.02 | No Solicitation | 82 | ||||
Section 6.03 | Governmental Consents and Filings | 86 | ||||
Section 6.04 | Proxy Statement and Registration Statement | 89 | ||||
Section 6.05 | Access to Information | 92 | ||||
Section 6.06 | Confidentiality; Public Announcements | 93 | ||||
Section 6.07 | Indemnification of Officers and Directors | 93 | ||||
Section 6.08 | Section 16 Matters | 95 | ||||
Section 6.09 | Stockholder Litigation | 95 | ||||
Section 6.10 | Employee Matters | 95 | ||||
Section 6.11 | Third Party Consents | 97 | ||||
Section 6.12 | Client Consents | 97 | ||||
Section 6.13 | Notices of Certain Events | 100 | ||||
Section 6.14 | Stock Exchange Delisting and Listing | 100 | ||||
Section 6.15 | The Merger Subs | 100 |
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Section 6.16 | Tax Matters | 100 | ||||
Section 6.17 | Merger Sub Stockholder Consent | 104 | ||||
Section 6.18 | Further Assurances | 104 | ||||
Section 6.19 | Credit Facilities Prepayment | 105 | ||||
Section 6.20 | Treatment of Company Indebtedness | 105 | ||||
Section 6.21 | Company Restructuring | 108 | ||||
Section 6.22 | SEC Correspondence | 108 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTION | 108 | |||||
Section 7.01 | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party | 108 | ||||
Section 7.02 | Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and the Merger Subs | 109 | ||||
Section 7.03 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Company | 110 | ||||
Section 7.04 | Frustration of Closing Conditions | 111 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION | 111 | |||||
Section 8.01 | Termination | 111 | ||||
Section 8.02 | Effect of Termination | 113 | ||||
Section 8.03 | Termination Fee | 113 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS | 115 | |||||
Section 9.01 | Notices | 115 | ||||
Section 9.02 | Remedies Cumulative; Specific Performance | 116 | ||||
Section 9.03 | Expenses | 117 | ||||
Section 9.04 | No Survival of Representations and Warranties | 117 | ||||
Section 9.05 | Amendments and Waivers | 117 | ||||
Section 9.06 | Disclosure Letter References | 118 | ||||
Section 9.07 | Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment | 118 | ||||
Section 9.08 | Governing Law | 118 | ||||
Section 9.09 | Jurisdiction | 119 | ||||
Section 9.10 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 119 | ||||
Section 9.11 | Counterparts; Effectiveness | 120 | ||||
Section 9.12 | Entire Agreement | 120 | ||||
Section 9.13 | Severability | 120 | ||||
Section 9.14 | Obligations of Merger Subs | 120 | ||||
Section 9.15 | No Recourse | 120 | ||||
Section 9.16 | Exercise of Discretion | 121 |
Exhibit A | Key Individual | |
Exhibit B | Second A&R TRA | |
Exhibit C | Surviving Corporation Certificate of Incorporation | |
Exhibit D | Amended and Restated Opco LLC Agreement |
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this Agreement), dated as of February 23, 2025, is entered into by and among Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), Bridge Investment Group Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (OpCo), Apollo Global Management, Inc. a Delaware corporation (Parent), Aspen PubCo Merger Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub Inc.), Aspen Second Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub LLC and, together with Merger Sub Inc., the Merger Subs) and, solely for purposes of Section 6.16, Adam OFarrell as the OpCo Representative. Each of the Company, OpCo, Parent, Merger Sub Inc. and Merger Sub LLC is referred to herein as a party and, collectively, the parties.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the Company Board) (i) established a special committee of the Company Board consisting only of independent and disinterested directors of the Company (the Special Committee) to, among other matters, review, evaluate and negotiate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers (as defined below) and the other transactions contemplated hereby (other than the Pre-Closing Restructuring) (the Transactions), and (ii) resolved not to approve or implement any transaction of the type contemplated by this Agreement without the prior independent review and approval of the Special Committee;
WHEREAS, the Special Committee has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of, the Company and the Non-Unitholder Stockholders (as defined below) and (ii) recommended that the Company Board (A) approve and declare advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, and (B) recommend adoption of this Agreement to the Companys stockholders (this clause (ii), the Special Committee Recommendation);
WHEREAS, the Company Board, upon the Special Committee Recommendation, has, by a unanimous vote of the directors present and voting, (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders (including the Non-Unitholder Stockholders), (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions, (iii) directed that this Agreement and the Transactions be submitted to a vote by the Companys stockholders at a duly convened meeting of the Company stockholders and (iv) subject to Section 6.02, recommended that the Company stockholders vote in favor of the approval of, and adoption of, this Agreement and the Transactions (such recommendation, the Company Board Recommendation);
WHEREAS, the Manager (as defined below) of OpCo has (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the merger of Merger Sub LLC with and into OpCo, with OpCo surviving such merger as the surviving limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the LLC Merger), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the DLLCA), are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of OpCo and its members and (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions, including the LLC Merger;
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WHEREAS, the Executive Committee of Parent, having been delegated full power and authority by the board of directors of Parent has unanimously approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, including the issuance of the Corporate Merger Consideration and LLC Merger Consideration consisting of shares of Parents common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (Parent Common Stock), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merger Sub Inc. has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the merger of Merger Sub Inc. with and into the Company, with the Company surviving such merger as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the Corporate Merger and, together with the LLC Merger, the Mergers), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the DGCL, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Merger Sub Inc. and Parent, its sole stockholder, and (ii) recommended that Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub Inc., approve the adoption of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, including the Corporate Merger;
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, it is intended that (i) the Corporate Merger qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ii) this Agreement constitute, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §§ 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) with respect to the Corporate Merger;
WHEREAS, Parent, on its own behalf and as the sole member of Merger Sub LLC, has determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the LLC Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the DLLCA, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Merger Sub LLC;
WHEREAS, immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub Inc., will execute and deliver to Merger Sub Inc. (with a copy also sent to the Company) a written consent adopting this Agreement and approving the consummation of the Transactions in accordance with the DGCL (the Merger Sub Stockholder Consent);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement the Specified Stockholders and Parent have entered into a voting agreement (the Voting Agreement), which provides, among other things, that the Specified Stockholders will vote all of their Company Capital Stock in favor of the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
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WHEREAS, to induce Parent to enter into this Agreement, immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company, OpCo and the other requisite parties to the A&R TRA have entered into the Second A&R TRA, which is binding on all parties to the A&R TRA and will be effective immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, but subject to the subsequent Closing;
WHEREAS, the Company as the sole manager of OpCo has approved the Transactions;
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Parent to enter into this Agreement, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Key Individual has entered into an offer letter, a restrictive covenants agreement and a lock-up and release agreement with Parent or an Affiliate of Parent, as applicable (the Key Individual Agreements), each of which shall be effective as of the Closing; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Mergers and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Mergers.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
2020 Note Purchase Agreement means the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2020, by and between OpCo and the noteholders thereof, for (i) $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.90% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 and (ii) $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.15% Senior Secured Notes due 2027, as amended by that certain Amendment, dated as of November 23, 2021 and Second Amendment, dated as of June 3, 2022.
2022 Note Purchase Agreement means the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2022, by and between OpCo and the noteholders thereof, for (i) $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2032 and (ii) $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.10% Senior Secured Notes due 2034.
2023 Note Purchase Agreement means the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between OpCo and the noteholders thereof, for (i) $120,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.99% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 and (ii) $30,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.10% Senior Secured Notes due 2033.
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Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement means a confidentiality agreement which contains terms that are at least as restrictive in all material respects on the counterparty as those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (except for such changes specifically necessary in order for the Acquired Companies to be able to comply with their obligations under this Agreement, including that such confidentiality agreement shall not contain any exclusivity provision or other term that would restrict, in any manner, the Acquired Companies ability to consummate the Transactions or to comply with their disclosure obligations to Parent pursuant to this Agreement); provided, that such confidentiality agreement need not include any standstill or similar terms.
Acquired Companies means, collectively, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the GP Entities); provided, that no Fund, Subsidiary of a Fund, Company Facilitator Vehicle, or any Portfolio Investment or other Person owned by of any of the foregoing shall be deemed to be an Acquired Company.
Acquisition Proposal means, other than the Transactions or any other proposal or offer from Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, any proposal or offer from a Third Party relating to (i) any acquisition or purchase, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of (A) the assets of the Acquired Companies (1) constituting twenty percent (20%) or more of the consolidated assets of the Acquired Companies or (2) to which twenty percent (20%) or more of the Acquired Companies revenues or earnings on a consolidated basis are attributable, or (B) twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company; (ii) any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group acquiring beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company; (iii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, share exchange or other similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which a Third Party or its equityholders, if consummated, would acquire twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company or the surviving entity or the resulting direct or indirect parent of the Company or such surviving entity; or (iv) any combination of the foregoing types of transactions if as a result of a series of related transactions the aggregate percentage of the consolidated assets, consolidated revenues or earnings acquired by such Third Party is twenty percent (20%) or more of the consolidated assets, revenues or earnings of the Acquired Companies.
Advisers Act means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, (i) control, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests or by Contract or otherwise, and the terms controlling, under common control with and controlled by have correlative meanings to the foregoing, (ii) with respect to the Acquired Companies, other than in the case of the definition of Non-Recourse Party, Section 8.02 (Effect of Termination), Section 6.06 (Confidentiality; Public Announcements) and Section 9.15 (No Recourse), in no event shall any Fund, Subsidiary of a Fund, Company Facilitator Vehicle, or any Portfolio Investment of a Fund or Company Facilitator Vehicle or other Person owned by any of the foregoing be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Acquired Company and (iii) with respect to Parent and the Merger Subs, other than in the case of the definition of Apollo Group, Non-Recourse Party, Section 8.02 (Effect of Termination), Section 6.06 (Confidentiality; Public
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Announcements) and Section 9.15 (No Recourse), in no event shall any Parent Fund, Subsidiary of a Parent Fund, Parent Facilitator Vehicle, Portfolio Investment of a Parent Fund or Parent Facilitator Vehicle or other Person directly or indirectly controlling or under common control with, Parent or Merger Subs (other than the Merger Subs) be deemed to be an Affiliate of Parent or either Merger Sub.
Ancillary Agreements means the Key Individual Agreements, the Voting Agreement, the Contracts with respect to the Company Restructuring and each other Contract entered into in connection with the Transactions as set forth in Section 1.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Anti-Corruption Laws means all Applicable Laws relating to corruption or governmental or commercial bribery, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
Anti-Money Laundering Laws means all Applicable Laws relating to money laundering, terrorism financing, the proceeds of criminal activity, including any financial record keeping and reporting requirements related thereto, including without limitation the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, USA PATRIOT Act, and their implementing regulations, and applicable FINRA rules related to money laundering and recordkeeping.
Apollo Group means, collectively, Parent and its respective direct and indirect Affiliates, and the funds, accounts, clients or entities that are advised, controlled or managed by Parent or its Affiliates and any portfolio investment of such Persons.
Applicable Law means, with respect to any Person, any Law or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority that has jurisdiction over, is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise.
Assets Under Management means, with respect to any Client as of a particular date of determination, the Base Date Assets Under Management with respect to such Client, as adjusted, in the case of any Assets Under Management determination after the Base Date, to reflect (i) any additional binding capital commitments in respect of (in the case of any Client for which investment advisory fees are determined by reference to committed capital as of the Base Date) or contribution of (in the case of any Client for which investment advisory fees are determined by reference to invested capital as of the Base Date) fee-earning assets (other than by a Related Client) by such Client (or, if applicable, any investor therein) or (ii) any reductions or waivers of capital commitments, withdrawals or redemptions (or written notices of withdrawal or redemption) or other reductions of any fee-earning assets from, or the dissolution or termination (or written notice of dissolution or termination) of, such Client (or, if applicable, any investor therein), in each case, from and after the Base Date (or, in the case of a Person that becomes a Client after the date of this Agreement, on or after the date that such Person became a Client) through such date of determination. Any determination of Assets Under Management after the Base Date shall exclude any increase or decrease in the Assets Under Management with respect to such Client due to market appreciation or depreciation (including with respect to any Portfolio Investments of such Client), any currency fluctuations and any distributions of interest, income or capital gains by any Client made in the ordinary course of business consistent in nature with past practice of the Acquired Companies administration and operation of Funds. Any Assets Under Management for any Client for which any Acquired Company acts as investment adviser and sub-adviser shall be counted only once. In no event will the Assets Under Management for any Client be less than zero.
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A&R TRA means the Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2022, by and among the Company, OpCo and the other members party thereto.
Base Date means December 31, 2024.
Base Date Assets Under Management means, with respect to any Client, the amount of fee-earning assets under management of the Acquired Companies with respect to such Client as of the Base Date, which means with respect to (i) any Client for which investment advisory fees are determined by reference to committed capital, the aggregate amount of such capital commitments as of the applicable date of determination, (ii) any Client for which investment advisory fees are determined by reference to invested capital, the aggregate amount of such capital invested as of the applicable date of determination, and (iii) any Client other than a Client described in the foregoing clause (i) or clause (ii), the total fee-earning assets under management of such Client.
Base Revenue Run-Rate means the Revenue Run-Rate of all Clients as of the Base Date.
BIGRM means Bridge Investment Group Risk Management, Inc., a Utah captive insurance corporation.
Bridge Entity means each of the Acquired Companies, each Fund, each controlled Affiliate of any Fund and each Portfolio Investment.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks located in Salt Lake City, Utah or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is closed.
Carried Interest means all direct and indirect rights (including such rights via ownership of any Bridge Entity) with respect to any performance or incentive fee, performance or incentive allocation, carried interest, promote, special profits interest or other performance-based compensation (or priority allocation) and other payments, distributions and allocations based, in whole or in part, on the investment performance of a Client, including any such phantom arrangement the benefit of which is determined by reference to amounts that otherwise constitute Carried Interest hereunder, but excluding (i) any investment advisory, investment management and sub-advisory fees, (ii) fund capital proceeds or the equivalent, and (iii) to the extent applicable, any such amounts that are paid in lieu of investment advisory, investment management and sub-advisory fees in connection with any cashless contribution, fee waiver or fee conversion strategy or otherwise.
Class A Exchange Ratio means 0.07081.
Class B Exchange Ratio means 0.00006, subject to such adjustments as may be required to ensure that the value of the Class B Corporate Merger Consideration received at the Effective Time in respect of one share of Company Class B Common Stock does not exceed $0.01.
Client means any Person to which any Acquired Company provides Investment Advisory Services.
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Client Consent has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
Closing Revenue Run-Rate means the aggregate Revenue Run-Rate for all Clients (other than any Non-Consenting Client) as determined as of the second Business Day prior to Closing. The calculation of the applicable fee rates used in the Closing Revenue Run-Rate shall be made in a manner consistent with the methodologies used for the calculation of the applicable fee rates used in the Base Revenue Run-Rate.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company Balance Sheet means the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2024 and the notes thereto, as contained in the Company SEC Documents.
Company Balance Sheet Date means September 30, 2024.
Company Capital Stock means the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.
Company Class A Common Stock means the Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.
Company Class B Common Stock means the Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.
Company Common Stock means, collectively, the Company Class A Common Stock and Company Class B Common Stock.
Company Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to Parent in connection with the execution of this Agreement.
Company Facilitator Vehicle means, solely to the extent not included in the definition of Fund, any blocker, splitter, feeder or other entity formed for the purpose of investing in a Fund or any alternative investment vehicle, special purpose vehicle or other entity formed for the purpose of facilitating an investment in a Portfolio Investment by a Fund or, in lieu thereof, by the investors in a Fund.
Company Fund Material Event means, with respect to any Fund, that (a) the applicable Fund (or, as applicable, the board of directors or trustees, advisory committee or investors of such Fund) has provided written notice to any Acquired Company (that has not been withdrawn in accordance with the applicable terms of the applicable Fund Documentation) (i) that it is terminating (or intends to seek the termination of) its Investment Advisory Contract or Fund Documentation (excluding Side Letters) in accordance with the applicable terms of such Investment Advisory Contract or such Fund Documentation, (ii) that it is suspending any withdrawal or redemption rights in respect of a Fund in accordance with the applicable terms of the applicable Fund Documentation, (iii) that it intends to seek the acceleration or early termination of the investment or commitment period or term applicable to its investment program (prior to the natural expiry or termination of such investment or commitment period or term) in accordance with the applicable terms of the applicable Fund Documentation or (iv) that it is removing (or
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intends to remove) the general partner or investment manager (or equivalent entity) of such Fund in accordance with the applicable terms of the applicable Fund Documentation, or (b) there has been an event constituting a key person or similar event, cause, disabling conduct or the requisite grounds for a for cause removal of the general partner or managing member (or equivalent) or for cause termination that has not been withdrawn in accordance with the applicable terms of the applicable Fund Documentation.
Company IP means all Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by any Acquired Company.
Company IT Assets means computers, hardware, servers and all other information technology assets, systems, and networks that are owned, leased or licensed by the Acquired Companies in connection with the operation of their respective businesses.
Company Material Adverse Effect means any state of facts, effect, change, development, condition, occurrence or event (each, an Effect) that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), continuing results of operations of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay beyond the End Date the ability of any Acquired Company to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, nor shall any of the following (including the Effect of any of the following) be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Company Material Adverse Effect under clause (i) above to the extent attributable to: (a) any change in Applicable Law, GAAP or any applicable accounting standards or any interpretation thereof following the date hereof; (b) general economic, political or business conditions or changes therein, force majeure events, acts of terrorism (including cyberterrorism or cyberattacks), civil unrest, riots, epidemics or pandemics (including COVID-19), or disease outbreak or changes in geopolitical conditions (including commencement, continuation or escalation of war, armed hostilities or national or international calamity) or any escalation or worsening relating to the foregoing; (c) any changes or developments in or affecting domestic or any foreign securities, equity, credit, real estate or financial and capital markets conditions, including interest rates and currency exchange rates; (d) any change generally affecting the real estate investment, real estate management or asset management industries; (e) the negotiation, execution, announcement, performance, consummation or existence of this Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement (including (i) any Proceeding threatened or initiated by any Person with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions and (ii) the impact thereof on the Acquired Companies officers, employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners, lenders, financing sources, Governmental Authorities or others having business relationships with the Acquired Companies); provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to any representation or warranty set forth in Section 4.03 or Section 4.04 (or any condition to any partys obligation to consummate the Mergers relating to such representation and warranty); (f) the taking of any action (or the omission of any action) expressly required or prohibited by this Agreement; (g) any act of God or natural disaster; (h) any change in the price or trading volume of the Companys securities or other financial instruments, in and of itself; (i) any failure of the Acquired Companies to meet any internal or published projections, estimates or forecasts for any period, any changes in credit ratings and any changes in any analysts recommendations or ratings with
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respect to the Acquired Companies (provided that clauses (h) and (i) shall not prevent a determination that any change or effect underlying such change in price or failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect (to the extent such change or effect is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect)); or (j) the identity of Parent or any of its Affiliates as the acquiror of the Company; provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (b), (c), (d) and (g), except to the extent that such matters disproportionately and adversely impact the Acquired Companies (taken as a whole) relative to other businesses in the real estate investment, real estate management or asset management industries, in which case, the incremental disproportionate and adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Company Preferred Stock means the preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.
Company Restricted Stock Award means an outstanding award of service-based restricted shares of Company Class A Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plan which, for the avoidance of doubt, vests solely based on the passage of time.
Company RSU Award means an outstanding award of service-based restricted stock units in respect of shares of Company Class A Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plan which, for the avoidance of doubt, vests solely based on the passage of time.
Company Service Provider means each current or former director, officer, employee or independent contractor of any of the Acquired Companies.
Company Stock Award means each Company RSU Award and Company Restricted Stock Award.
Company Stock Plan means the Companys 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time.
Company Termination Fee means an amount in cash equal to $45,000,000.
Confidentiality Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2024, by and between an Affiliate of Parent and the Company.
Continuing Employees means all employees of the Acquired Companies who, as of the Closing, continue their employment with Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving LLC or any of their Subsidiaries.
Contract means any legally binding written contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, and purchase orders; provided, that Contracts shall not include any Company Benefit Plans.
COVID-19 means (i) SARS-CoV-2, (ii) COVID-19, (iii) any similar diseases which cause a global pandemic, and (iv) any evolutions or mutations thereof (including any subsequent waves or outbreaks thereof).
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Disclosure Letter means the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable.
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws relating to the protection of the environment or natural resources, or the production, distribution, use, transportation, recycling, treatment, storage, or Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances.
Equity Instruments of any Person shall mean any (i) shares, capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other rights or interests in the voting, ownership, distributions or enterprise value of such Person (including any grant, issuance or award of a right to receive or other entitlement to any Carried Interest), (ii) structured interests, structured financing arrangement, revenue sharing interests, profit participation rights, contractual revenue or profit sharing rights, phantom equity, phantom units, equity appreciation rights, restricted stock units or other securities or equity-like instrument of or similar type of arrangement with such Person, (iii) rights, awards or grants of compensation or other amounts for the benefit of any Person where any amount or value to be paid in respect of such right, award or grant is linked to, or otherwise determined by reference to, carried interest (including where such right, award or grant is in lieu of the grant, issuance or award of an equity interest in any Acquired Company that receives any Carried Interest) and (iv) options, warrants, puts, calls or any other securities or interests convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for or granting any right to acquire any of the foregoing in clauses (i)-(iii).
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Ex-Im Laws means all applicable Laws, rules and regulations relating to export, re-export, transfer or import controls (including the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and customs and import Laws administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection), except to the extent inconsistent with U.S. Law.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute, rules or regulations thereto.
Exchange Ratio means the Class A Exchange Ratio or the Class B Exchange Ratio, as applicable.
Existing Note Purchase Agreements means (i) the 2020 Note Purchase Agreement, (ii) the 2022 Note Purchase Agreement and (iii) the 2023 Note Purchase Agreement.
Existing Notes means the outstanding notes issued by OpCo pursuant to the Existing Note Purchase Agreements.
Fraud means, the actual and knowing common law fraud as determined in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware by a party to this Agreement with respect to the making of the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article IV or Article V, as applicable, and not with respect to any other matters. For the avoidance of doubt, Fraud shall only include actual and knowing fraud and shall not include equitable fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud or other claims based on constructive knowledge, negligent misrepresentation, recklessness or similar theories.
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Fund means any investment fund or other pooled investment vehicle (including any general or limited partnership, account, trust, limited liability company or other entity and whether or not dedicated to a single investor) or managed account or other investment arrangements (including any master or feeder funds, parallel vehicles, accounts or arrangements (including funds-of-one, separately managed accounts or co-investment vehicles formed for the purpose of investing alongside one or more pooled investment vehicles), REIT Client or, where the context so requires, any collateralized loan obligations, private real estate investment vehicles, business development companies, blank check companies, co-investment vehicles or alternative investment vehicles) (a) for which any Acquired Company provides Investment Advisory Services, (b) that is sponsored or controlled by any Acquired Company, (c) for which any Acquired Company acts as investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, general partner, managing member or manager, or (d) from which any Acquired Company receives or is entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, management fees, Carried Interest or other similar revenues of any kind; provided, a Fund shall not include (i) any Portfolio Investment or other investment of a Fund or (ii) any other Persons owned, directly or indirectly, by a Fund (including any direct or indirect investment of or by a Fund in collateralized loan obligations, private real estate investment vehicles, business development companies, blank check companies or otherwise, solely in its capacity as an investor in such).
Fund Documentation means, with respect to each Fund (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any general or limited partnership, account, trust, limited liability company or other entity and whether or not dedicated to a single investor) as of any date of determination, all organizational and governing documentation that is material in respect of such Fund, including its memorandum and articles of incorporation or association, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or other constitutional or governing documents, subscription documents and Side Letters, in each case, that as of such date of determination, are in effect.
Fund Documentation Amendments means the amendments to the Fund Documentation to be executed by the GP Entities and any other applicable parties thereto at Closing, in each case, as agreed by Parent and the Company as set forth in Section 6.12(e).
Fund Material Adverse Effect means, with respect to a Fund, any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), continuing results of operations of the Fund and its Subsidiaries and Portfolio Investments, taken as a whole or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay beyond the End Date the ability of any Bridge Entity to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, nor shall any of the following (including the Effect of any of the following) be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Fund Material Adverse Effect under clause (i) above to the extent attributable to: (a) any change in Applicable Law, GAAP or any applicable accounting standards or any interpretation thereof following the date hereof; (b) general economic, political or business conditions or changes therein, force majeure events, acts of terrorism (including cyberterrorism or cyberattacks), civil unrest, riots, epidemics or pandemics (including COVID-19), or disease outbreak or changes in geopolitical conditions (including commencement, continuation or escalation of war, armed hostilities or national or international calamity) or any escalation or worsening relating to the foregoing; (c) any changes or developments in or affecting domestic or
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any foreign securities, equity, credit, real estate or financial and capital markets conditions, including interest rates and currency exchange rates; (d) any change generally affecting the real estate investment, real estate management or asset management industries; (e) the negotiation, execution, announcement, performance, consummation or existence of this Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement (including (i) any Proceeding threatened or initiated by any Person with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions and (ii) the impact thereof on the Fund, its Subsidiaries, the GP Entity of such Fund or the Acquired Company that is the Manager of such Fund, or any of their respective officers, employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners, lenders, financing sources, Governmental Authorities or others having business relationships with such Fund, its Subsidiaries and Portfolio investments, such GP Entity or such Acquired Company); provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to any representation or warranty set forth in Section 4.03 or Section 4.04 (or any condition to any partys obligation to consummate the Mergers relating to such representation and warranty); (f) the taking of any action (or the omission of any action) expressly required or prohibited by this Agreement; (g) any act of God or natural disaster; (h) any failure of such Fund to meet any internal or published projections, estimates or forecasts for any period, any changes in credit ratings and any changes in any analysts recommendations or ratings with respect to the Fund (provided that clause (h) shall not prevent a determination that any change or effect underlying such change in price or failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in a Fund Material Adverse Effect (to the extent such change or effect is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Fund Material Adverse Effect)); or (i) the identity of Parent or any of its Affiliates as the acquiror of the Company; provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (b), (c), (d) and (g), except to the extent that such matters disproportionately and adversely impact the Fund and its Subsidiaries and Portfolio Investments (taken as a whole) relative to other businesses in the real estate investment, real estate management or asset management industries, in which case, the incremental disproportionate and adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Fund Material Adverse Effect.
GAAP means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory, tax or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, legislature, court or tribunal, self-regulatory organization or stock exchange (including the NYSE).
Governmental Order means any order, judgment, injunction, decree, ruling, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
Governmental Permit means any approvals, authorizations, consents, clearances, waiting period expirations or terminations, licenses, permits, certificates, memberships, registrations, accreditations, bonds, franchises, exemption orders, Governmental Orders, or no-action letters of, or notifications to, or filings with, any Governmental Authority.
GP Entities means, collectively, each Person that (a) is the general partner or managing member (or equivalent) of any Fund and (b) each Person that is entitled to receive any Carried Interest from any Fund (excluding in the case of the foregoing clause (b), (i) any current and former employees of the Acquired Companies, (ii) any other current or former Company Service Providers, (iii) any Affiliates or Immediate Family of any Person in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) or (iv) any Person set forth on Section 1.01(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter).
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Hazardous Substance means any pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance, hazardous waste, medical waste, special waste, toxic substance, toxic chemical, any petroleum or petroleum-derived substance, waste or additive, asbestos, asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyl, per- or polyfluoroalkyl substance, radioactive compound, or other compound, element, material or substance (including products) that is listed, designated, defined, characterized or regulated under any Environmental Law.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute, rules or regulations thereto.
Immediate Family means, with respect to any natural person, (a) such persons spouse, parents, children, and siblings (including by means of adoption), (b) spouses of such persons children and siblings (including by means of adoption), and (c) estates, trusts, partnerships and other entities or investment vehicles of which a material portion of the interests therein are held directly or indirectly by, any of the foregoing persons.
Insurance Contracts means the insurance policies and contracts, and the assumed and ceded reinsurance agreements, if any, together with all binders, slips, certificates, endorsements and riders thereto, in each case that constitute a part of BIGRMs business issued or entered into by BIGRM prior to the Closing, whether or not in-force as of the Closing.
Intellectual Property Rights means all intellectual property rights in any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including: (i) rights in inventions, industrial designs, patents, patent applications, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, (ii) trademarks, trade names, service marks, trade dress, trade and corporate names, slogans, logos, internet domain names, social media identifiers, common law trademarks and service marks and all goodwill associated therewith (Trademarks), (iii) copyrights, and rights in software (including all object code, source code, firmware and embedded versions thereof and all documentation related thereto), technical database rights and moral rights, (iv) all registrations and applications of the foregoing and (v) trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information and rights therein including in processes (including investment-specific processes), customer and supplier lists, procedures and confidential business information.
Intervening Event means any Effect (other than an Acquisition Proposal) that is unknown to the Company Board or the Special Committee as of the date of this Agreement, or if known, the material consequences of which were not known by or reasonably foreseeable to, the Company Board or the Special Committee as of the date of this Agreement; provided that in no event shall the following Effects constitute an Intervening Event: (x) the receipt, existence or terms of an Acquisition Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof or (y) any change, in and of itself, in the price or trading volume of the Company Capital Stock or any other securities of the Company or any change in credit rating of the Company or the fact, in and of itself, that the Company meets or exceeds internal or published estimates, projections, forecasts or predictions for any period (provided that the underlying causes of such changes in clause (y) may constitute or be taken into account in determining whether there has been an Intervening Event).
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Investment Adviser Subsidiaries means each Subsidiary of the Company that is required to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act as of the date of this Agreement, including the Relying Investment Adviser Subsidiaries.
Investment Advisory Contract means any Contract pursuant to which any Acquired Company provides Investment Advisory Services to any Person.
Investment Advisory Services means any investment advisory, sub-advisory, investment management or similar services and any other services deemed to be investment advice or acting as an investment adviser, in each case, as such terms are interpreted under the Advisers Act.
Investment Company Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Key Individual means the Person listed on Exhibit A hereto.
Key Individual Agreements has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Knowledge means, (i) with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of each of Robert Morse, Jonathan Slager, Adam OFarrell, Katherine Elsnab, and Matthew Grant, and (ii) with respect to Parent and the Merger Subs, the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of David Sambur.
Law means any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws, acts, statutes, constitutions, treaties, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, decrees and Governmental Orders of a Governmental Authority, including common law.
Leased Real Property means real property leased, subleased or otherwise occupied by an Acquired Company, and excludes, for the avoidance of doubt, any real property leased, subleased or occupied by a Fund, any Subsidiary of a Fund or any Portfolio Investment.
Lien means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, security interest, claim, option, license, lease, condition, covenant, restriction, right of first refusal or offer, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other lien or encumbrance of any kind.
Look-Back Date means January 1, 2022.
Manager means the Company in its capacity as Manager of OpCo as described in the OpCo LLCA.
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Marketing Literature includes all explanatory memoranda, private placement memoranda, offering documents, marketing documents, advertisements, sales literature, pitch books, fact sheets, form due diligence questionnaires provided by or on behalf of the Acquired Companies, track records or other presentations of performance, road show presentations, scheme particulars, key features documents, wrappers and prospectuses relating to any Fund or to the services of the Acquired Companies, in each case that were prepared, produced, issued or distributed to prospective or current investors in any Fund or prospective or current Clients.
NCI Entities has the meaning set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter.
Non-Consenting Client means any Client in respect of which a Client Consent has not been obtained on or prior to the second (2nd) Business Day ending immediately prior to the Closing Date or does not remain in full force and in effect as of the Closing; provided that, notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, no consent or approval of any Fund shall be deemed to have been given for any purpose under this Agreement (and such Client shall be a Non-Consenting Client) if any Company Fund Material Event has occurred with respect to such Fund.
Non-Unitholder Stockholders means the holders of Company Class A Common Stock, other than (i) any holder that also holds OpCo Class A Common Units and their respective Affiliates, (ii) any director of the Company, (iii) any Person that the Company has determined to be an officer of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act, (iv) Parent, the Merger Subs, or any other Person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, the Merger Subs or any person of which any Merger Sub is a direct or indirect Subsidiary or (v) any immediate family member (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) or affiliate or associate (as defined in Section 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing.
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange or any successor exchange.
Off-the-Shelf Software means commercially available non-custom software that is (i) not incorporated into any products of any Acquired Company, and (ii) made generally available on standard terms involving annual payments of less than $150,000.
OpCo Class A Common Units means the voting, economic Class A Common Units of OpCo.
OpCo Class B Common Units means the voting, non-economic Class B Common Units of OpCo.
OpCo Credit Agreement means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 3, 2022, by and among OpCo, as borrower, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as administrative agent and L/C issuer, CIBC Inc. and Zions Bancorporation, N.A., as joint lead arrangers and certain lenders party thereto, as amended by that First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Joinder, dated as of January 31, 2023, and by that Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, and as further amended from time to time.
OpCo LLCA means the Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo, dated as of July 16, 2021.
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OpCo Units means, collectively, the OpCo Class A Common Units and the OpCo Class B Common Units.
Open Source Software means any software that is distributed as open source software, free software, software libre, public or under a similar licensing or distribution model, or any modification or derivative thereof, including any version of any software licensed under any GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), Mozilla Public License (MPL), Server Side Public License, the GNU Affero GPL, (AGPL), the Artistic License, the Netscape Public License, the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), the Sun Industry Standards License (SISL) or any license described by the Open Source Initiative as set forth on www.opensource.org.
Owned Real Property means all real property owned by an Acquired Company, and excludes, for the avoidance of doubt, any real property owned by a Fund, any Subsidiary of a Fund or any Portfolio Investment.
Parent Balance Sheet Date means September 30, 2024.
Parent Capital Stock means, Parent Common Stock and Parent Preferred Stock.
Parent Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter delivered by Parent and the Merger Subs to the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement.
Parent Facilitator Vehicle means, solely to the extent not included in the definition of Parent Fund, any blocker, splitter, feeder or other entity formed for the purpose of investing in a Parent Fund or any alternative investment vehicle, special purpose vehicle or other entity formed for the purpose of facilitating an investment in a Parent Portfolio Investment by a Parent Fund or, in lieu thereof, by the investors in a Parent Fund.
Parent Fund means any investment fund or other pooled investment vehicle (including any general or limited partnership, account, trust, limited liability company or other entity and whether or not dedicated to a single investor) or managed account or other investment arrangements (including any master or feeder funds, parallel vehicles, accounts or arrangements (including funds-of-one, separately managed accounts or co-investment vehicles formed for the purpose of investing alongside one or more pooled investment vehicles) or, where the context so requires, any collateralized loan obligations, private real estate investment vehicles, business development companies, blank check companies, co-investment vehicles or alternative investment vehicles) (a) for which Parent, or any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control of Parent or the Merger Subs, provides Investment Advisory Services, (b) that is sponsored or controlled by Parent, or any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control of Parent or the Merger Subs, (c) for which Parent, or any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control of Parent or the Merger Subs, acts as investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, general partner, managing member or manager, or (d) from which Parent, or any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control of Parent or the Merger Subs, receives or is entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, management fees, Carried Interest or other similar revenues of any kind; provided, a Parent Fund shall not include (i) any Portfolio Investment or other investment of a Parent Fund or (ii) any other Persons owned, directly or indirectly, by a Parent Fund (including any direct or indirect investment of or by a Parent Fund in collateralized loan obligations, private real estate investment vehicles, business development companies, blank check companies or otherwise, solely in its capacity as such).
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Parent Material Adverse Effect means any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), continuing results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay beyond the End Date the ability of Parent or either Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, nor shall any of the following (including the Effect of any of the following) be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Parent Material Adverse Effect under clause (i) above to the extent attributable to: (a) any change in Applicable Law, GAAP or any applicable accounting standards or any interpretation thereof following the date hereof; (b) general economic, political or business conditions or changes therein, force majeure events, acts of terrorism (including cyberterrorism or cyberattacks), civil unrest, riots, epidemics or pandemics (including COVID-19), or disease outbreak or changes in geopolitical conditions (including commencement, continuation or escalation of war, armed hostilities or national or international calamity) or any escalation or worsening relating to the foregoing; (c) any changes or developments in or affecting domestic or any foreign securities, equity, credit, real estate or financial and capital markets conditions, including interest rates and currency exchange rates; (d) any change generally affecting the asset management industry; (e) the negotiation, execution, announcement, performance, consummation or existence of this Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement (including (i) any Proceeding threatened or initiated by any Person with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions and (ii) the impact thereof on Parents officers, employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners, lenders, financing sources, Governmental Authorities or others having business relationships with Parent); provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to any representation or warranty set forth in Section 5.03 or Section 5.04 (or any condition to any partys obligation to consummate the Mergers relating to such representation and warranty); (f) the taking of any action (or the omission of any action) expressly required or prohibited by this Agreement; (g) any act of God or natural disaster; (h) any change in the price or trading volume of Parents securities or other financial instruments, in and of itself; (i) any failure of Parent to meet any internal or published projections, estimates or forecasts for any period, any changes in credit ratings and any changes in any analysts recommendations or ratings with respect to Parent (provided that clauses (h) and (i) shall not prevent a determination that any change or effect underlying such change in price or failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in a Parent Material Adverse Effect (to the extent such change or effect is not otherwise excluded from this definition of Parent Material Adverse Effect)); or (j) the identity of Parent or any of its Affiliates as the acquiror of the Company; provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (b), (c), (d) and (g), except to the extent that such matters disproportionately and adversely impact Parent and the Merger Subs (taken as a whole) relative to other businesses in the asset management industry, in which case, the incremental disproportionate and adverse impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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Parent Preferred Stock means the preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share of Parent.
Pass-Through Tax Return means any Tax Return for income Taxes filed by or with respect to OpCo for any tax periods that end on or before (or include) the Closing Date to the extent that the items reflected on such Tax Return are required to be reported on the Tax Returns of the members of OpCo.
Payoff Amount means the total amount required to be paid to fully satisfy all principal, interest, fees, prepayment premiums, termination costs, penalties, breakage costs and any other monetary obligations then due and payable under the Subject Indebtedness as of the anticipated Closing Date (and the daily accrual thereafter).
Payoff Letter means, with respect to any Subject Indebtedness, a customary payoff letter executed by the lenders (or their duly authorized Representative) of such Subject Indebtedness, which payoff letter shall (i) indicate the Payoff Amount, (ii) the state that upon receipt of the Payoff Amount under such payoff letter, the Subject Indebtedness and all related loan documents shall be terminated and (iii) provide that all Liens and guarantees in connection with the Subject Indebtedness relating to the assets and properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries securing the obligations under the Subject Indebtedness shall be automatically released and terminated upon payment of the Payoff Amount on the Closing Date.
Permitted Liens means (i) Liens for Taxes not yet delinquent or that are contested in good faith through appropriate Proceedings and for which adequate reserves (in accordance with GAAP consistently applied) have been established in the Company Financial Statements, (ii) Liens in favor of vendors, carriers, warehousemen, repairmen, mechanics, workmen, materialmen, construction or similar Liens or encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of business which are for amounts not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves (in accordance with GAAP consistently applied) have been established, (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security or foreign equivalents, (iv) zoning, building codes, and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of Leased Real Property or the activities conducted thereon that are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Leased Real Property and which are not violated by the current use and operation of such Leased Real Property, (v) with respect to Leased Real Property, (A) Liens that would be disclosed on a current and accurate title report, survey or a personal inspection of the property, (B) Liens encumbering the interest of the fee owner or any superior lessor or sublessor with respect to Leased Real Property, and (C) easements, rights-of-way, restrictive covenants, encroachments and any other non-monetary Liens which, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (A) through (C), would not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Acquired Companies at such Leased Real Property, (vi) Liens that are released on or prior to the Closing Date, (vii) Liens described in Section 1.01(d) to the Company Disclosure Letter, (viii) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property Rights entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (ix) any other non-monetary Liens (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that any Liens securing indebtedness for borrowed money or any obligations in respect thereof shall constitute monetary Liens) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere materially with the ordinary course of the business of the Acquired Companies.
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Person means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership (limited or general), limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or instrumentality or other entity of any kind.
Personal Information means any individually identifiable information or similar term or terminology that is protected under applicable privacy, data security or data breach notification Law.
Placement Agent Agreements means any agreement by and between any Acquired Company or Fund, on the one hand, and any placement agent, distributor or similar Person, on the other hand, related to the sale, distribution or marketing of interests in any Fund.
Plan Assets Regulation means the plan assets regulation of the Department of Labor, 29 C.F.R. Sec. 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA and as amended from time to time.
Portfolio Investment means any Person or asset in which any Fund or Parent Fund, as applicable, holds any direct or indirect investment or an option or commitment to make an investment, including through any Company Facilitator Vehicles or Parent Facilitator Vehicles, as applicable.
Pre-Closing Restructuring means the Pre-Closing Restructuring transactions contemplated by, and set forth on, Section 6.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Pre-Closing Tax Period means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date and the portion of any Straddle Period through the end of the Closing Date.
Proceeding means any claim, action, suit, litigation, audit, assessment, arbitration or inquiry, or any proceeding or investigation, in each case including any civil, criminal, administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding or investigation.
Profits Interest Award means any Company Benefit Plan that is intended to constitute profits interests within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 93-27 and Rev. Proc. 2001-43 promulgated by the IRS for federal income tax purposes and any phantom award intended to provide a Company Service Provider with similar economic participation rights.
Real Property Leases means the leases, subleases or other occupancy agreements demising or permitting the occupancy of the Leased Real Property (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto).
Registered IP means all Company IP that is registered, recorded, or filed with any Governmental Authority or a domain name registrar.
REIT Client means Bridge Investment Group Industrial Real Estate Income Trust, a Maryland statutory trust.
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Related Client means any Client (or, if applicable, an investor therein) that is (a) any Acquired Company, (b) any Representative of any Acquired Company, (c) any Affiliate of any Person described in the foregoing clause (b), (d) a Representative or Immediate Family member of any of the foregoing under clauses (b) and (c) (or any Affiliate of any of them) and (e) any trust in which any of the foregoing under clauses (a)-(d) is a holder of a beneficial interest.
Release means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, leaching, escaping, dumping, injection, deposit, discharge or disposing of any Hazardous Substance in, onto or through the environment.
Relying Investment Adviser Subsidiary means each Subsidiary of the Company that operates as a relying adviser under the umbrella registration of another Investment Adviser Subsidiary that is registered with the SEC and is a filing adviser under the Advisers Act.
Representatives means, with respect to any Person, (i) such Persons Affiliates and (ii) such Persons and each such Affiliates respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors, consultants and other authorized representatives.
Required Company Stockholder Approval means the affirmative vote to adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions including the Corporate Merger, by the holders representing at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote in accordance with the DGCL, voting together as a single class.
Revenue Run-Rate means, with respect to any Client as of a specified date, the aggregate annualized investment advisory, investment management and sub-advisory fees payable to any Acquired Company in respect of such Client as of such specified date, which shall be determined in the following manner: (i) if such fees are a specified amount under the terms of such Clients Investment Advisory Contract, the applicable annual fee amount contained in such Clients Investment Advisory Contract; and (ii) if such fees are determined by reference to assets under management, by multiplying (a) the Assets Under Management for such Client as of such specified date by (b) the applicable annual fee rate for such Client under the applicable Investment Advisory Contract at such specified date. For the purposes of the foregoing, applicable annual fee amount and applicable annual fee rate for each account shall (1) not include any performance-based incentive fees or similar incentive fees (including any Carried Interest), (2) be net of any sales and similar fees and any fee waivers, fee rebates, reimbursement obligations, expense waivers, fee offsets and similar reductions and (3) be net of any sub-advisory fees paid to a Person other than any Acquired Company.
Second A&R TRA means that second amended and restated tax receivable agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement by and among the Company, OpCo and the other requisite parties to the A&R TRA, a true and complete of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto.
Sanctioned Person means any Person who is the target of Sanctions, including by virtue of being (a) listed on any Sanctions-related list of designated or blocked persons; (b) a Governmental Authority of, resident in, or organized under the Laws of a country or territory that is the target of comprehensive Sanctions (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region and so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic in Ukraine) or a Governmental Authority of Venezuela; or (c) where relevant under applicable Sanctions, 50% or more owned or controlled by any of the foregoing.
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Sanctions means trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws, regulations, embargoes, restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced by the United States (including the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control), United Kingdom, European Union or any of its member states, the United Nations Security Council, or any other jurisdiction in which an Acquired Company operates.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto).
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute, rules or regulations thereto.
Sensitive Information means all Personal Information, material confidential information or proprietary information that is collected, maintained, stored, transmitted, used, disclosed or otherwise processed by or on behalf of any Acquired Company.
Side Letter means any Contract (other than governing documents for the applicable Fund) between a Fund and/or a GP Entity of such Fund, on the one hand, and any investor of the relevant Fund, on the other hand, that establishes rights under, or alters or supplements the terms of, any other Fund Documentation with respect to such investor and Fund, including all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto.
Specified Stockholders means Robert Morse, Jonathan Slager, Adam OFarrell and Dean Allara.
Sponsor Commitment means, with respect to any Fund, the general partner or sponsor capital commitment to such Fund.
Straddle Period means any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.
Subsidiary of a Person means any other Person that is directly or indirectly controlled by such Person. For purposes of this definition, (i) control, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests or by Contract or otherwise, and the terms controlling, under common control with and controlled by have correlative meanings to the foregoing, (ii) other than in the case of the definition of Non-Recourse Party, Section 8.02 (Effect of Termination), Section 6.06 (Confidentiality; Public Announcements) and Section 9.15 (No Recourse), in no event shall any Fund, Subsidiary of a Fund, Company Facilitator Vehicle, or any Portfolio Investment or other Person owned by any of the foregoing shall be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company and (iii) other than in the case of the definition of Non-Recourse Party, Section 8.02 (Effect of Termination), Section 6.06 (Confidentiality; Public Announcements) and Section 9.15 (No Recourse), in no event shall any Parent Fund, Subsidiary of a Parent Fund, Parent Facilitator Vehicle, or any Portfolio Investment of a Parent Fund or Parent Facilitator Vehicle or other Person owned by any of the foregoing shall deemed to be a Subsidiary of Parent or any other Subsidiary of Parent.
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Subsidiary Restructuring means the Subsidiary Restructuring transactions contemplated by, and set forth on, Section 6.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Superior Proposal means an Acquisition Proposal made by a Third Party that, if consummated, would result in such Third Party acquiring, directly or indirectly, (i) 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company, (ii) 50% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company Capital Stock, or (iii) the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (1) constituting 75% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (2) to which 75% or more of the Companys and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, revenues or earnings on a consolidated basis are attributable, which the Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and its outside legal advisors, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory, timing, closing conditionality and other terms and conditions of such proposal and this Agreement (including any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed and committed to in writing by Parent in response to such Acquisition Proposal or otherwise) and all other factors deemed relevant by the Special Committee, and that would result in a transaction that is more favorable to the Company and the Non-Unitholder Stockholders than the Transactions.
Tax means any and all U.S. federal, state or local or non-U.S. taxes, charges, fees, duties, imposts, levies, impositions or other assessments, each in the nature of a tax, including any net income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, license, registration, recording, documentary, gains, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, environmental or windfall profit, custom duty, estimated or other tax, together with any interest, penalty, or addition thereto.
Tax Return means any return, report, declaration, election, information return or other document (including schedules thereto, other attachments thereto or amendments thereof) filed or required to be filed with any taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax, or the administration of any Laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.
Third Party means any Person other than Parent, the Merger Subs and their respective Affiliates.
Track Record means the investment performance of the Funds.
Transfer Taxes means all direct and indirect transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, court, registration and other similar Taxes (including any real estate transfer Taxes), and all conveyance fees, recording charges and other similar fees and charges.
Treasury Regulations means the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code.
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WARN Act means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended.
Willful Breach means a material breach of this Agreement as a result of a deliberate action taken or deliberate failure to act that the breaching party intentionally takes (or fails to take) and actually knows would, or would reasonably be expected to, be or cause a breach of this Agreement.
Withholding Certificate means an IRS Form W-9 in accordance with Section 3.05(a).
(b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:
Term | Section | |
401(k) Plans | 6.10(d) | |
Adverse Recommendation Change | 6.02(d) | |
Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period | 6.02(e)(i) | |
Adviser Compliance Policies | 4.22(a) | |
Agreement | Preamble | |
Allocations | 6.16(h) | |
Alternative Acquisition Agreement | 6.02(a) | |
Antitrust Laws | 4.03 | |
Applicable Acquired Companies | 4.02(a) | |
BIGRM Financial Statements | 4.08(i) | |
BIGRM Policies | 4.31(d) | |
Book-Entry Share | 3.01(a)(ii) | |
Book-Entry Unit | 3.02(a)(ii) | |
Cancelled Shares | 3.01(c) | |
Cancelled Units | 3.02(c) | |
Capitalization Date | 4.05(a) | |
Certificate | 3.01(a)(ii) | |
Certificate of Merger | 2.02(a)(i) | |
Class A Corporate Merger Consideration | 3.01(a)(i) | |
Class B Corporate Merger Consideration | 3.01(b)(i) | |
Client Consent | 6.12(a) | |
Closing | 2.01 | |
Closing Date | 2.01 | |
COBRA | 4.18(f) | |
Company | Preamble | |
Company Benefit Plans | 4.18(a) | |
Company Board | Recitals | |
Company Board Recommendation | Recitals | |
Company Closing Certificate | 7.02(f) | |
Company Financial Statements | 4.08(a) | |
Company Fundamental Representations | 7.02(a)(i) | |
Company Licenses | 4.12(b) | |
Company Material Contract | 4.11(a)(xxi) |
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Term | Section | |
Company Material Debt Contract | 4.11(a)(x) | |
Company Officers Tax Certificate | 6.16(j)(iv) | |
Company Parties | 8.03(b) | |
Company SEC Documents | 4.08(a) | |
Company Stockholder Meeting | 6.04(c) | |
Company Transaction Notice | 6.12(b) | |
Consent Solicitation | 6.20(a) | |
Corporate Merger | Recitals | |
Corporate Merger Consideration | 3.01(a)(i) | |
D&O Indemnified Persons | 6.07(a) | |
D&O Insurance | 6.07(b) | |
Data Privacy and Security Requirements | 4.12(d) | |
Debt Offer | 6.20(a) | |
Debt Offer Documents | 6.20(a) | |
Debt Offers | 6.20(a) | |
Delaware Secretary of State | 2.02(a)(i) | |
DGCL | Recitals | |
DLLCA | Recitals | |
Effective Time | 2.02(a)(i) | |
End Date | 8.01(b) | |
Enforceability Exceptions | 4.02(a) | |
Exchange Agent | 3.03(a) | |
Exchange Fund | 3.03(a) | |
Excluded Benefits | 6.10(a) | |
Excluded Units | 3.02(f) | |
Final Allocation | 6.16(h) | |
Form A Filing | 6.03(a) | |
Inside Date | 2.01 | |
Insurance Filings | 4.31(e) | |
Intended Tax Treatment | 6.16(j)(i) | |
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus | 6.04(a) | |
Key Individual Agreements | Recitals | |
LLC Certificate of Merger | 2.02(b)(i) | |
LLC Merger | Recitals | |
LLC Merger Consideration | 3.02(a)(i) | |
LLC Merger Effective Time | 2.02(b)(i) | |
Member Returns | 6.16(c) | |
Merger Sub Inc | Preamble | |
Merger Sub LLC | Preamble | |
Merger Sub Stockholder Consent | Recitals | |
Merger Subs | Preamble | |
Mergers | Recitals | |
Non-Recourse Party | 9.15 | |
Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change | 6.02(e)(i) | |
Notice of Intervening Event | 6.02(e)(ii) |
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Term | Section | |
OpCo | Preamble | |
OpCo Class A Award | 3.02(d) | |
OpCo Representative | 6.16(b) | |
OpCo Tax Consideration | 6.16(h) | |
OpCo Unit Consideration | 3.02(d) | |
Other Required Filing | 6.04(d) | |
Parent | Preamble | |
Parent Closing Certificate | 7.03(c) | |
Parent Common Stock | Recitals | |
Parent Financial Statements | 5.07(b) | |
Parent Fundamental Representations | 7.03(a)(i) | |
Parent Officers Tax Certificate | 6.16(j)(iv) | |
Parent OpCo Stock Award | 3.02(d) | |
Parent Prospectus | 6.04(a) | |
Parent Restricted Stock Award | 3.06(b) | |
Parent Returns | 6.16(c) | |
Parent RSU Award | 3.06(a) | |
Parent SEC Documents | 5.07(a) | |
parties | Preamble | |
party | Preamble | |
Pre-Closing Returns | 6.16(c) | |
Premium Cap | 6.07(b) | |
Preparing Party | 6.16(c) | |
Proxy Date | 6.04(c) | |
Proxy Statement | 6.04(a) | |
Real Estate Loan Guaranty | 4.11(a)(x) | |
Refinancing Indebtedness | 6.01(a)(xv) | |
Remedy Actions | 6.03(c) | |
Restricted Stock Consideration | 3.06(b) | |
Reviewing Party | 6.16(c) | |
RSU Consideration | 3.06(a) | |
Special Committee | Recitals | |
Special Committee Recommendation | Recitals | |
Subject Indebtedness | 4.11(a)(x) | |
Surviving Corporation | 2.02(a)(i) | |
Surviving LLC | 2.02(b)(i) | |
Takeover Law | 4.28 | |
Tax Proceeding | 6.16(e) | |
Terminating Company Breach | 8.01(e) | |
Terminating Parent Breach | 8.01(f) | |
Trademarks | 1.01(a) | |
Transaction Committee | 6.03(d) | |
Transaction Litigation | 6.09 | |
Transactions | Recitals | |
Utah Department | 6.03(a) | |
Voting Agreement | Recitals |
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Section 1.02 Definitional and Interpretative Provisions.
(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms hereof, herein, hereby, hereto and derivative or words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (iv) the terms Article or Section refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation,; (vi) the word or shall be disjunctive but not exclusive; and (vii) references to written or in writing include in electronic form.
(b) The table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(c) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto (subject to the terms and conditions to the effectiveness of such amendments contained herein and therein).
(d) Words denoting natural Persons shall be deemed to include business entities and vice versa and references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.
(e) Terms defined in the text of this Agreement have such meaning throughout this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, and all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(f) Any Law defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented and (in the case of statutes) to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, including (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor Laws (provided that for purposes of any representations and warranties contained in this Agreement that are made as of a specific date or dates, references to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute, as amended, and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case, as of such date).
(g) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
(h) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, when calculating the period of time within which, or following which, any action is to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference day in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the last day of the period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next Business Day or if any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day.
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(i) The words to the extent shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply if.
(j) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.
(k) All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement.
(l) The word party shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed to mean a party to this Agreement. Any reference to a party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document contemplated hereby shall include such partys successors and permitted assigns.
(m) Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all references to dollars or $ shall refer to the lawful currency of the United States.
(n) Each reference to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be followed by the words (if any).
(o) Each reference to ordinary course of business shall be deemed to be followed by the words consistent with past practice or consistent with the then-current practices in similar circumstances of other companies generally in the industry in which the Company operates.
ARTICLE II.
THE TRANSACTION
Section 2.01 The Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions (the Closing) shall take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 12670 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130, at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain time) via the exchange of documents and signatures by electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission on (i) the date which is two (2) Business Days after the date on which all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 7.03 shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) or if the day in which the aforementioned satisfaction or waiver occurs is within five (5) Business Days prior to the first (1st) Business Day of the month immediately following such day, then the first (1st) Business Day of the month immediately following the calendar month in which such satisfaction or waiver occurs, in all cases, subject to the ongoing satisfaction and waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01,
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Section 7.02 and Section 7.03 at the Closing or (ii) such other time and place as Parent and the Company may mutually agree; provided that in no event shall Parent and the Merger Subs be obligated to consummate the Closing prior to the date that is six (6) months following the date of this Agreement without the prior written consent of Parent (such date in this proviso, the Inside Date). The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the Closing Date.
Section 2.02 The Mergers.
(a) The Corporate Merger.
(i) Contemporaneously with, or immediately after, the Closing, the parties shall cause the Corporate Merger to be consummated by filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the Delaware Secretary of State) a certificate of merger in customary form and substance (the Certificate of Merger) and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL in order to consummate the Corporate Merger. The Corporate Merger shall become effective at the time the Certificate of Merger has been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State or at such later effective time and date that is agreed to by the Company and Parent and specified therein (the Effective Time); provided, that the Effective Time shall occur contemporaneously with the LLC Merger Effective Time (as defined below). As a result of the Corporate Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub Inc. shall cease and the Company shall continue its existence as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company, in its capacity as the corporation surviving the Corporate Merger, is sometimes referred to in this Agreement as the Surviving Corporation.
(ii) The Corporate Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub Inc., and all of the obligations, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub Inc. shall become the obligations, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
(iii) At the Effective Time, (A) the certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended and restated in its entirety pursuant to the Corporate Merger to read as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto, and as so amended and restated shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and (B) the bylaws of the Company shall be amended and restated in their entirety to read as the bylaws of Merger Sub Inc. immediately prior to the Effective Time, in each case of clauses (A) and (B), until thereafter amended as provided therein or as provided by Applicable Law and consistent with the obligations set forth in Section 6.07.
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(iv) From and after the Effective Time, the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time (unless otherwise determined by Parent in its sole discretion) shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation and the directors of Merger Sub Inc. immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, to hold office in accordance with the DGCL and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their death, resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified in accordance with the DGCL and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) The LLC Merger.
(i) Contemporaneously with, or immediately after, the Closing, the parties shall cause the LLC Merger to be consummated by causing to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State a certificate of merger in customary form and substance (the LLC Certificate of Merger) and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DLLCA, and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DLLCA in order to consummate the LLC Merger. The LLC Merger shall become effective at the time the LLC Certificate of Merger has been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State or at such later effective time and date that is agreed to by the Company and Parent and specified therein (the LLC Merger Effective Time). As a result of the LLC Merger, the separate existence of Merger Sub LLC shall cease and OpCo shall continue its existence as the surviving limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent under the Laws of the State of Delaware. OpCo, in its capacity as the limited liability company surviving the LLC Merger, is sometimes referred to in this Agreement as the Surviving LLC.
(ii) The LLC Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement, the LLC Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the LLC Merger Effective Time, the Surviving LLC shall possess all rights, privileges, powers and franchises of OpCo and Merger Sub LLC, and all of the obligations, liabilities and duties of OpCo and Merger Sub LLC shall become the obligations, liabilities and duties of the Surviving LLC.
(iii) Following the LLC Merger Effective Time, (A) the certificate of formation of OpCo in effect immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time shall be the certificate of formation of the Surviving LLC, and (B) the OpCo LLCA shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit D attached hereto, in each case of clauses (A) and (B), until thereafter amended in accordance with the DLLCA and as provided in such operating agreement and as provided by Applicable Law and consistent with the obligations set forth in Section 6.07. From and after the LLC Merger Effective Time, the officers of OpCo immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time (unless otherwise determined by Parent in its sole discretion) shall be the officers of the Surviving LLC, each to hold office in accordance with the operating agreement of the Surviving LLC until their death, resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified in accordance with the operating agreement of the Surviving LLC, as the case may be.
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ARTICLE III.
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Section 3.01 Effect of Corporate Merger on Capital Stock.
(a) Conversion of Company Class A Common Stock.
(i) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Corporate Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or the Company or their respective stockholders, each share of Company Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (but excluding any Cancelled Shares) shall be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into and shall thereafter represent the right to receive from Parent that number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Class A Exchange Ratio and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article III and without interest (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.01(e), Class A Corporate Merger Consideration) payable to the holder thereof, without interest, in accordance with Section 3.03.
(ii) From and after the Effective Time, all of the shares of Company Class A Common Stock converted into the Class A Corporate Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article III shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of such a share of Company Class A Common Stock represented by a certificate (each, a Certificate) and each holder of such a non-certificated share of Company Class A Common Stock represented by book-entry (each, a Book-Entry Share), in each case, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in accordance with Section 3.03, the Class A Corporate Merger Consideration.
(b) Conversion of Company Class B Common Stock.
(i) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Corporate Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or the Company or their respective stockholders, each share of Company Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (but excluding any Cancelled Shares) shall be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into and shall thereafter represent the right to receive from Parent that number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Class B Exchange Ratio, and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article III and without interest (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.01(e), Class B Corporate Merger Consideration, and together with the Class A Corporate Merger Consideration, the Corporate Merger Consideration) payable to the holder thereof, without interest, in accordance with Section 3.03.
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(ii) From and after the Effective Time, all of the shares of Company Class B Common Stock converted into the Class B Corporate Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article III shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of such a share of Company Class B Common Stock represented by a Certificate and each holder of such a non-certificated share of Company Class B Common Stock represented by a Book-Entry Share, in each case, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in accordance with Section 3.03, the Class B Corporate Merger Consideration.
(c) Cancellation of Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock that are owned directly by Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or any of their Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time or held in treasury of the Company (the Cancelled Shares) shall, by virtue of the Corporate Merger, and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and retired without any conversion thereof and shall cease to exist and no payment shall be made in respect thereof.
(d) Conversion of Merger Sub Inc. Common Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Corporate Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, each issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub Inc. issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one (1) fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(e) Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock or Parent Capital Stock shall occur by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares (including as a result of any OpCo Class A Common Units being exchanged into shares of Company Class A Common Stock), or any stock dividend or stock distribution thereon with a record date during such period, the Corporate Merger Consideration, the Exchange Ratio, and any other similarly dependent items, as the case may be, shall be equitably adjusted to provide the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that, (i) nothing in this Section 3.01(e) shall be construed to permit any action that is otherwise prohibited or restricted by any other provision of this Agreement and (ii) cash dividends and grant of equity compensation not prohibited by the terms hereof shall not result in any adjustment to the Exchange Ratio.
Section 3.02 Effect of LLC Merger on OpCo Units.
(a) Conversion of OpCo Class A Common Units.
(i) At the LLC Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the LLC Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub LLC or OpCo or their respective members, each OpCo Class A Common Unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time (but excluding any Cancelled Units, any Excluded Units
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and any OpCo Class A Common Units that are exchanged into shares of Company Class A Common Stock as permitted by this Agreement and the OpCo LLCA) shall be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into and shall thereafter represent the right to receive from Parent that number of validly issued fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Class A Exchange Ratio and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article III and without interest (such shares, as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.02(g), the LLC Merger Consideration), payable to the holder thereof, without interest, in accordance with Section 3.03.
(ii) From and after the LLC Merger Effective Time, all of the OpCo Class A Common Units converted into the LLC Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article III, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of an OpCo Class A Common Unit represented by book-entry (each, a Book-Entry Unit), outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time, shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such OpCo Class A Common Unit, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Book-Entry Units in accordance with Section 3.03, the LLC Merger Consideration.
(b) Cancellation of OpCo Class B Common Units. At the LLC Merger Effective Time, all OpCo Class B Common Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time shall, by virtue of the LLC Merger, and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and retired without any conversion thereof and shall cease to exist and no payment shall be made in respect thereof.
(c) Cancellation of OpCo Units. At the LLC Merger Effective Time, all OpCo Units that are owned directly by Parent, Merger Sub LLC or any of their Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Units) or held in treasury of OpCo immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time (the Cancelled Units) shall, by virtue of the LLC Merger, and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and retired without any conversion thereof and shall cease to exist and no payment shall be made in respect thereof.
(d) Treatment of Unvested OpCo Class A Common Units. Effective as of immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time, automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof or the Acquired Companies, each award of OpCo Class A Common Units (OpCo Class A Award) that is outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time shall be converted into an award of restricted shares of Parent Common Stock (Parent OpCo Stock Award) (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock), subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such unvested OpCo Class A Award immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time, equal to (i) the Class A Exchange Ratio multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of OpCo Class A Common Units subject to such OpCo Class A Award immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time, and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article III and without interest (the OpCo Unit Consideration). Following the Effective Time, each unvested Parent OpCo Stock Award issued in respect of an OpCo Class A Award converted pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.02(d) shall be treated in accordance with Section 3.02(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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(e) Conversion of Merger Sub LLC Units. At the LLC Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the LLC Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, all issued and outstanding units of Merger Sub LLC issued and outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time shall be converted into a number of Class A Common Units of the Surviving LLC equal to the number of OpCo Class A Common Units (other than the Excluded Units) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Effective Time.
(f) Treatment of Company OpCo Class A Common Units. At the LLC Merger Effective Time, all OpCo Class A Common Units that are owned directly by the Company (the Excluded Units), shall be unaffected by the LLC Merger and shall remain outstanding as Class A Common Units of the Surviving LLC held by the Company.
(g) Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the LLC Merger Effective Time, any change in the outstanding units of OpCo or Parent Capital Stock shall occur by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, or combination, exchange or readjustment of units (including any OpCo Class A Common Units that are exchanged into shares of Company Class A Common Stock), or any unit dividend or unit distribution thereon with a record date during such period, the LLC Merger Consideration, the Exchange Ratio, and any other similarly dependent items, as the case may be, shall be equitably adjusted to provide the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement and the OpCo LLCA; provided, that (i) nothing in this Section 3.02(g) shall be construed to permit any action that is otherwise prohibited or restricted by any other provision of this Agreement and (ii) cash dividends and grant of equity compensation not prohibited by the terms hereof shall not result in any adjustment to the Exchange Ratio.
Section 3.03 Surrender and Payment.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, Parent shall appoint the Companys transfer agent or another nationally recognized financial institution (the identity and terms of appointment of which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company) to act as exchange agent in the Corporate Merger and the LLC Merger (the Exchange Agent) for the purpose of (i) exchanging each share of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time represented by a Certificate and each Book-Entry Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, in each case, other than the Cancelled Shares, and (ii) exchanging each OpCo Class A Common Unit (other than the Cancelled Units and the Excluded Units) outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time represented by a Book-Entry Unit outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, Parent shall (i) deposit or cause to be deposited with the Exchange Agent an aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Corporate Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock and the LLC Merger Consideration to be delivered in respect of the OpCo Class A Common Units pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) to the extent required, deposit or cause to be deposited with the Exchange Agent any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 3.03(h) (such consideration shall be referred to in this Agreement as the
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Exchange Fund). The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to written instructions by Parent, deliver the Parent Common Stock comprising the Corporate Merger Consideration and LLC Merger Consideration contemplated to be issued pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.02, and any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 3.03(h), out of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, and in any event not later than the second (2nd) Business Day following the Effective Time and the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, Parent will cause the Exchange Agent to send to each holder of record of (i) an outstanding share of Company Common Stock represented by a Certificate or an outstanding Book-Entry Share immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the Cancelled Shares) and (ii) an outstanding Book-Entry Unit immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time (other than the Cancelled Units and the Excluded Units) (x) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units, as applicable, to the Exchange Agent) in such form as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree, for use in effecting delivery of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and entitled to Corporate Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.02 and the OpCo Class A Common Units outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time and entitled to LLC Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.02 to the Exchange Agent, and (y) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates (or effective affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units, as applicable, in exchange for the Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration, as applicable, in such form as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree.
(c) Upon the surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units, as applicable, for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a letter of transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, including the Withholding Certificate from holders of OpCo Class A Common Units and such other documents as may be reasonably required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units represented by such Certificate as of immediately prior to the Effective Time or the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, or of such Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit immediately prior to the Effective Time or the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (i) the Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration, as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of this Article III, which shall represent, in the aggregate, the whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Section 3.03 and (ii) a check in the amount equal to any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares which such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 3.03, in each case, less any applicable withholding Taxes provided, that, the Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of a share of Company Common Stock or an OpCo Class A Common Unit that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company or OpCo, as applicable, payment of the appropriate amount of Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration may be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate, Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit so
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surrendered is registered, if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer (and accompanied by all documents reasonably required by the Exchange Agent and Parent) or such Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit shall be properly transferred. No interest shall be paid or accrue on any Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration payable upon surrender of any Certificate, Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate, Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit shall, after the Effective Time or LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, represent for all purposes only the right to receive such Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration, as applicable.
(d) If any payment is to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the applicable surrendered Certificate, Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Unit is registered, it shall be a condition of such payment that the Person requesting such payment shall pay, or cause to be paid, any Transfer Taxes required by reason of the making of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of the surrendered Certificate, Book-Entry Unit or Book-Entry Share or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Taxes have been paid or are not payable.
(e) After the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time or the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable. From and after the Effective Time and the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, the holders of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock represented by Certificates or Book-Entry Shares prior to the Effective Time and the holders of outstanding OpCo Class A Common Units represented by Book-Entry Units outstanding immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares of Company Common Stock and OpCo Class A Common Units, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by Applicable Law. If, after the Effective Time and the LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units are presented to the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving LLC or Parent, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article III.
(f) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units after the date which is one (1) year following the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent, or transferred as otherwise directed by Parent, upon demand. Any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units who has not exchanged his, her or its shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units in accordance with this Section 3.03 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Parent for delivery of the Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration in respect of such holders shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units. Parent shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Exchange Agent, in connection with the exchange of Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Book-Entry Units for the Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Surviving LLC shall be liable to any Person, including any holder of shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Class A Common Units or Company Stock Awards, including for any Corporate Merger Consideration, LLC Merger Consideration, OpCo Unit Consideration, RSU Consideration and Restricted Stock Consideration
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that is required to be delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any Corporate Merger Consideration or LLC Merger Consideration remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units three (3) years after the Effective Time or LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, (or such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any governmental body, agency, authority or entity) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of Parent free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
(g) All Corporate Merger Consideration, LLC Merger Consideration, OpCo Unit Consideration, RSU Consideration and Restricted Stock Consideration issued or paid upon conversion of the shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Class A Common Units or the Company Stock Awards, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Class A Common Units or Company Stock Awards, as the case may be.
(h) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no fractional shares of Parent Common Stock will be issued upon the conversion of shares of Company Common Stock or OpCo Class A Common Units pursuant to Article III. In lieu of any such fractional shares, each holder of such Company Common Stock Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Common Units who would otherwise be entitled to such fractional shares shall be entitled to an amount in cash, without interest, rounded down to the nearest cent, equal to the product of (a) the amount of the fractional share interest in a share of Parent Common Stock to which such holder would, but for this Section 3.03(h), be entitled under Section 3.01(a), Section 3.02(a), Section 3.02(d) and Section 3.06(b) and (b) an amount equal to $162.4043. No holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Opco Class A Common Units shall be entitled by virtue of the right to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock described in this Section 3.03(h) to any dividends, voting rights or any other rights in respect of any fractional share of Parent Common Stock. The payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock is not a separately bargained-for consideration but merely represents a mechanical rounding-off of the fractions in the exchange. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the consideration to be issued under this Article III shall be aggregated on a per holder basis when calculating the amount of cash to be paid under this Article III in respect of fractional shares.
Section 3.04 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, and, if required by Parent or the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will, if such holder has otherwise delivered a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Corporate Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such Certificate, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as contemplated by this Article III.
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Section 3.05 Withholding Rights.
(a) Each of Parent, Merger Sub Inc., Merger Sub LLC, the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving LLC, their respective Subsidiaries and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement, including consideration payable to any holder or former holder of Company Stock Awards, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment pursuant to the Code or under any provision of Tax Law (and to the extent any deduction or withholding is required, such deduction and withholding may be taken in Parent Capital Stock). Except with respect to amounts identified as compensatory payments and any deduction or withholding required by reason of failure by a holder to provide an IRS Form W-9 in accordance with Section 3.05(a), Parent and the Merger Subs shall provide notice to the Company or OpCo, as applicable, of the expected amount of any such deduction or withholding at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date and shall cooperate with the Company or OpCo, as applicable, to minimize or eliminate such deduction or withholding to the extent permitted by Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld and timely and properly paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority by Parent, the Merger Subs, the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving LLC, their respective Subsidiaries or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be, such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
(b) The letter of transmittal shall require that each holder of an OpCo Class A Common Unit as of immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time (other than the Cancelled Units and the Excluded Units) deliver an IRS Form W-9. The sole remedy in connection with a failure by a holder of an OpCo Class A Common Unit as of immediately prior to the LLC Merger Effective Time to deliver such IRS Form W-9 shall be for Parent to withhold payment in accordance with Section 3.05(a) with respect to the portion of the LLC Merger Consideration payable to the relevant former holder of OpCo Class A Common Units.
Section 3.06 Treatment of Company Stock Awards.
(a) Treatment of Company RSU Awards. Effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof or the Acquired Companies, each Company RSU Award that remains outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into a number of restricted stock units of Parent with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock (Parent RSU Award) (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock), subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, equal to (i) the Class A Exchange Ratio multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Company Class A Common Stock subject to such Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (the RSU Consideration). Following the Effective Time, each unvested Parent RSU Award issued in respect of a Company RSU Award converted pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.06(a) shall be treated in accordance with Section 3.06(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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(b) Treatment of Company Restricted Stock Awards. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, automatically and without any action on the part of the holders thereof or the Acquired Companies, each Company Restricted Stock Award (or portion thereof) that is outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an award of restricted shares of Parent Common Stock (Parent Restricted Stock Award) (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock), subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Company Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, equal to (i) the Class A Exchange Ratio multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Company Class A Common Stock subject to such Company Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, in each case, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article III and without interest (the Restricted Stock Consideration). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, outstanding and unvested Company Restricted Stock Awards that are held by non-employee directors of the Company Board shall become fully vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and shall be converted into the right to receive the Corporate Merger Consideration as provided in Section 3.01(a). Following the Effective Time, each unvested Parent Restricted Stock Award issued in respect of a Company Restricted Stock Award converted pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.06(b) shall be treated in accordance with Section 3.06(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(c) Termination of Company Stock Plan. As of the Effective Time, no further Company Stock Awards, shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Units, Profits Interest Award or other rights with respect to Company securities shall be granted or purchased, as applicable, pursuant to the Company Stock Plan and the Company Stock Plan shall be terminated. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will pass resolutions, the form and substance of which shall be subject to reasonable review and comment by Parent, approving, and take other actions as may be reasonably necessary or required to effect the conversion of RSU Awards, Company Restricted Stock Awards and OpCo Class A Awards upon the Effective Time, and to give effect to this Section 3.06 (including the satisfaction of the requirements of Rule 16b-3(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act). For the avoidance of doubt, except as modified by this Agreement, each Parent OpCo Stock Award, Parent RSU Award and Parent Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to Parents employees policies and guidelines.
ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except (i) as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter or (ii) as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents (other than (a) disclosures in the Risk Factors section of any Company SEC Documents and (b) any disclosure of risks included in any forward-looking statements disclaimer in any such Company SEC Documents, to the extent such statements are predictive, non-specific, cautionary or forward-looking in nature) filed by the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date hereof, the Company represents and warrants to Parent and the Merger Subs as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization.
(a) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and authority required to carry on its business as currently conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
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Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and, where such concept is recognized, is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. A true and complete copy of each of the Companys organizational documents in effect as of the date hereof is available in the Company SEC Documents. The Company is not in violation of its organizational documents in any material respect.
(b) Each of the Acquired Companies (other than the Company) (i) has been duly organized and is validly existing and, where such concept is recognized, in good standing under the Applicable Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (ii) is duly qualified to do business and, where such concept is recognized, is in good standing as a foreign entity in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business or the activities it is engaged makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) has all corporate or partnership power and authority required to carry on its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. A true and complete copy of the organizational documents of each of the material Acquired Companies has been made available to Parent prior to the date hereof. No Subsidiary of the Company is in violation of any of its organizational documents in any material respect.
Section 4.02 Authority.
(a) Each of the Company, OpCo and the Acquired Companies (solely to the extent such Acquired Company is party to an Ancillary Agreement and solely with respect to such Ancillary Agreement (the Applicable Acquired Companies)) have all requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as applicable, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which any such Applicable Acquired Company is or will be a party, to perform their obligations hereunder and thereunder and, subject to the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, to consummate the Transactions, including the Mergers. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.06, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Mergers, as applicable, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, respectively, action (including on the part of the Company Board and the Manager), subject to the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, and no other corporate, limited liability company or partnership proceedings on the part of any of the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements hereto or for the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies to consummate the Transactions (other than, with respect to the Corporate Merger, the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and with respect to the LLC Merger, the filing of the LLC Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State). Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and the Merger Subs of this Agreement and the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.06, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company,
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OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies party hereto and thereto and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies, enforceable against the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors rights and remedies generally and (ii) the remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any Proceeding therefor may be brought (collectively, the Enforceability Exceptions).
(b) The Special Committee has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders (including the Non-Unitholder Stockholders), and (ii) made the Special Committee Recommendation.
(c) The Company Board, upon the Special Committee Recommendation, has, by a unanimous vote of the directors present and voting, (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (including the Non-Unitholder Stockholders), (ii) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their adoption and (iv) subject to Section 6.02, made the Company Board Recommendation. Prior to the execution of the Voting Agreements, the Company Board (acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee to take such action) approved the Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Section 4.03 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation by the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies of the Transactions require no Governmental Permits other than (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger and the LLC Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business, (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act and any other applicable U.S. or foreign competition, antitrust, merger control or foreign investment Laws (together with the HSR Act, Antitrust Laws), (iii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable U.S. state or federal securities, takeover or blue sky Laws, (iv) compliance with and filings or notifications listed in Section 4.03 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (v) such other items required solely by reason of the participation of Parent and the Merger Subs in the Transactions, (vi) compliance with any applicable rules of NYSE, and (vii) such other consents, filings, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.04 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth on Section 4.04 of the Company Disclosure Letter, or any Client Consent in connection with the Transactions, and assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.06, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation by the Company, OpCo and the Applicable Acquired Companies of the Transactions does not and will not (i) contravene, conflict with or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) of the Company, OpCo, the Applicable Acquired Companies, or any Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof or any of their respective Affiliates (ii) assuming that the Governmental Permits referred to in Section 4.03 have been obtained or made, any applicable waiting periods referred to therein have terminated or expired and any condition precedent to any such consent has been satisfied or waived, and subject to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Approval, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any Applicable Law, (iii) assuming that the Governmental Permits referred to in Section 4.03 have been obtained or made, any applicable waiting periods referred to therein have terminated or expired and any condition precedent to any such Governmental Permit has been satisfied or waived, and subject to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Approval, violate, require any consent or filing by any Person under, constitute a default, or constitute an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, under, trigger liability under, or cause or permit the termination, cancellation, acceleration or other change of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit to which any of the Acquired Companies or any Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof (as applicable) is entitled under any Contract to which any Acquired Company or any Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof (as applicable) is bound, (iv) give rise to any right of first refusal, preemptive right, tag-along right, transfer right or other similar right of any other party to a Contract to which any Acquired Company is bound or (v) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any properties or assets of the Acquired Companies or any Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof, except in the case of clauses (ii)-(v) above, any such violation, breach, default, right, termination, amendment, acceleration, cancellation, or loss that would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the applicable Fund.
Section 4.05 Capitalization; Subsidiaries.
(a) As of the close of business on February 21, 2025 (the Capitalization Date), the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: (i) 500,000,000 shares of Company Class A Common Stock, of which 44,707,839 shares are issued and outstanding (inclusive of 9,360,336 shares of Company Class A Common Stock subject to Company Restricted Stock Awards), (ii) 231,857,899 shares of Company Class B Common Stock, of which 79,142,364 shares are issued and outstanding and (iii) 20,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock, of which 0 shares are issued and outstanding.
(b) As of the close of business on the Capitalization Date, there are (i) 141,130,360 OpCo Class A Common Units issued and outstanding (of which 44,707,839 are Excluded Units) and (ii) 97,463,981 OpCo Class B Common Units issued and outstanding.
(c) As of the Capitalization Date, the Company has outstanding Company RSU Awards covering an aggregate of 140,110 shares of Company Class A Common Stock. As of the Capitalization Date, the Company has reserved 5,713,196 shares of Company Class A Common Stock under the Company Stock Plan for issuance on vesting or other conversion to Company Class A Common Stock of Company Stock Awards under the Company Stock Plan. All issued and outstanding share capital or share of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in,
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each Subsidiary of the Company that is held, directly or indirectly, by the Company and all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the OpCo LLCA and the Company Stock Plan will be, when issued in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.05(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the OpCo LLCA and the Company Stock Plan are free of preemptive rights, and there are no subscription rights, options, warrants, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights, calls, contracts or other commitments that obligate the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to issue (other than to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) any share capital or shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests of any Subsidiary of the Company, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security, instrument or agreement, any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights (to Persons other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) with respect to any securities of any Subsidiary of the Company. Section 4.05(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains, as of the Capitalization Date, a complete and correct list of each outstanding Company Stock Award and Profit Interest Award, including, as applicable, (i) the holder, (ii) date of grant, (iii) the applicable vesting schedule, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Award as of the date of this Agreement, and (iv) the distribution hurdle and threshold, if applicable.
(d) Except as provided in Section 4.05(a) and for changes since the Capitalization Date resulting from the vesting or other conversion or exchange of OpCo Class A Common Units into or for shares of Company Class A Common Stock (in accordance with the OpCo LLCA) or Company Stock Awards (in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plan and award agreements thereunder), as of the date hereof there are no (i) authorized, issued or outstanding Equity Instruments, (ii) other obligations of the Company to grant, extend or enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company and (iii) other obligations by the Company to make any payments based on the price of value of the Company Common Stock or OpCo Units.
(e) Section 4.05(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof: (i) the name of each Acquired Company (other than the Company) together with the type of entity and jurisdiction of formation or organization, as applicable, of each such Acquired Company, (ii) a true, correct and complete list of the authorized, issued and outstanding Equity Instruments (by class or series, if applicable) of each NCI Entity, together with the record owners thereof, (iii) a true, correct and complete list of the authorized, issued and outstanding Equity Instruments (by class or series, if applicable) of each Acquired Company (other than the Company, OpCo or any NCI Entity), together with the record owners thereof, (iv) if applicable, the amount of the capital commitment or similar obligation of each such owner to such Acquired Company, including the portion thereof that has been contributed or funded through December 31, 2024, and (v) the U.S. federal income tax classification of each Acquired Company (other than the Company) that is a U.S. entity.
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(f) All outstanding Equity Instruments of the Acquired Companies are validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the applicable governing documents) and non- assessable (subject to Applicable Law). Other than with respect to OpCo or as provided in Section 4.05(e), all outstanding Equity Instruments of the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned, directly or indirectly, by OpCo, and such Equity Instruments are free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Except as set forth on Section 4.05(f)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as provided in Section 4.05(a), or other than pursuant to this Agreement or the issuance of shares of Company Class A Common Stock in exchange for OpCo Class A Common Units in accordance with the OpCo LLCA, no Subsidiary of the Company has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments, rights agreements or other agreements calling for it to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold any of its Equity Instruments or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or representing the right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise receive any such equity security or obligating such Subsidiary to grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments, rights agreements or other similar agreements (except, in each case, to or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). Except as set forth on Section 4.05(f)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter or other than pursuant to this Agreement or the issuance of shares of Company Class A Common Stock in exchange for OpCo Class A Common Units in accordance with the OpCo LLCA or as provided in Section 4.05(e), there are no outstanding contractual obligations of any Subsidiary of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or other Equity Instruments.
Section 4.06 Vote Required. The Required Company Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of the Company Capital Stock prior to the Effective Time, or any holder of any other security of the Company or OpCo, necessary to adopt this Agreement and approve the consummation of the Mergers and the other Transactions. An affirmative vote by the Specified Stockholders at the Company Stockholder Meeting will satisfy the Required Company Stockholder Approval, which will be sufficient to approve this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, in accordance with the DGCL and DLLCA and the Companys and OpCos organizational documents.
Section 4.07 Holding Company. The Company is a holding company and does not have any material liabilities (other than liabilities arising under the A&R TRA), own any material assets (other than cash and cash equivalents and the Equity Instruments of its Subsidiaries) or engage in any operations or business (other than the ownership of capital stock of its Subsidiaries and all activities incidental thereto) other than as required for compliance with this Agreement, the A&R TRA and other than non-material activities, liabilities or assets that are incidental to holding such Equity Instruments.
Section 4.08 Company SEC Documents; Company Financial Statements; Disclosure Controls.
(a) Since the Look-Back Date, the Company has timely filed with or furnished to (as applicable) the SEC all reports, schedules, forms, statements, prospectuses and other documents required to be filed or furnished prior to the date hereof by it with the SEC (such forms, documents and reports as have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, collectively, the Company SEC Documents). As of its respective filing date, or, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, each Company SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case
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may be, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Document, and none of the Company SEC Documents at the time it was filed (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date hereof, on the date of such amended or superseded filing) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading (or, in the case of a Company SEC Document that is a registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed pursuant to the Securities Act, as of the date such registration statement or amendment became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading). As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding comments from the SEC with respect to the Company SEC Documents. The consolidated financial statements (including all related notes or schedules) of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents (collectively, the Company Financial Statements), as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (x) as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto or (y) as permitted by Regulation S-X of the SEC) and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein (subject, in the case of unaudited interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments, and to the absence of notes and to any other adjustments described therein, including in any notes thereto). Since the latest Company Financial Statements, there have been no material changes in the accounting policies of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates, or policies with respect to reserves for uncollectable accounts receivable or excess or obsolete inventory) that would be required to be disclosed in the Companys financial statements in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and no revaluation of the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries assets.
(b) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act) as required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Companys disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded and reported on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Companys filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(c) The Company is a controlled company as defined in Rule 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
(d) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are applicable to the Company. With respect to each Company SEC Document, each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company has made all certifications required by Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act
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and Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to such Company SEC Documents. The Companys management, with the participation of the Companys principal executive and financial officers, has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal controls over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the year ended December 31, 2023, and such assessment concluded that such internal controls were effective using the framework specified in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE.
(e) The Companys internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. The Company maintains books and records that fairly reflect, in all material respects, the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Companies and the Company maintains a proper and effective system of accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Company in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; and (iv) the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the Companys financial statements are prevented and timely detected. Since the Look-Back Date, neither the Company nor the Companys auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the system of internal controls over financial reporting that has not been subsequently remediated and (ii) any fraud which involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
(f) Since the Look-Back Date, neither the Acquired Companies nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries, has received any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, that (i) any Acquired Company has engaged in illegal or fraudulent accounting practices, (ii) there are any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of the internal controls of the Acquired Companies which have materially and adversely affected the ability of the Acquired Companies (taken as a whole) to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (iii) there is any fraud, whether or not material, involving management or other employees who has a significant role in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that was reported to the Company Board or management of the Company.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of the other Acquired Companies is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract (including any Contract or arrangement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among any Acquired Company, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC)), where the purpose of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company in the Companys published financial statements or any Company SEC Documents.
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(h) The minute books of the Company are accurate and complete in all material respects, except for minutes which are in draft form and are being finalized in accordance with the Companys customary practice, and contain records of all corporate action taken by the Companys shareholders, the Company Board and committees of the Company Board, respectively, since the Look-Back Date and no material corporate action has been taken since such date for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books, other than as may be set forth in minutes which are in draft form and are being finalized in accordance with the Companys customary practice. A true, correct and complete copy of such minute books have been made available to Parent, other than those records which involve documents or information relating to the evaluation or negotiation of this Agreement or the Transactions or any similar transaction.
(i) The Company has made available to Parent prior to the date hereof true, complete and correct copies of the following financial statements of BIGRM, together with the exhibits, schedules and notes thereto (collectively, the BIGRM Financial Statements): (i) the annual statutory financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023; and (ii) the unaudited quarterly statutory financial statements for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024. Subject to the notes thereto, the BIGRM Financial Statements (A) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved; and (B) present fairly, in all material respects, the statutory financial position and the statutory results of operations, capital and surplus of BIGRM, as of the respective dates and for the respective periods referred to in the BIGRM Financial Statements.
Section 4.09 Absence of Certain Changes. From and after the Company Balance Sheet Date, except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, a Company Material Adverse Effect has not occurred (and, solely for purposes of Section 7.02(a)(iii), with respect to clause (ii) of the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect, is continuing). Between the Company Balance Sheet Date and the date of this Agreement, except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (i) the business of the Acquired Companies has been conducted, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business and (ii) no Acquired Company has taken or agreed, committed or arranged to take any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute of breach of Section 6.01(a) had the restrictions thereunder been in effect since the Company Balance Sheet Date.
Section 4.10 No Undisclosed Liabilities. There is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim against an Acquired Company of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and obligations (a) reflected, disclosed and adequately reserved for on the Company Balance Sheet (or the notes thereto), (b) that have arisen since the Company Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of the operation of businesses of the Acquired Companies, none of which is a liability for breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, violation of Law or that relates to any cause of action, claim or lawsuit, (c) that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (d) incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions or (e) disclosed in Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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Section 4.11 Company Material Contracts.
(a) Section 4.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true, correct and complete list of each Contract to which any Acquired Company (or, with respect to any Contract described in clauses (ii) through (viii), (x) or (xv) below, any Fund) is a party, and which falls within any of the following categories:
(i) any limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, articles of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent governing documentation of any material Acquired Company (including all such documents of any non-wholly-owned Acquired Company), other than any Fund Documentation;
(ii) any Investment Advisory Contract;
(iii) any Fund Documentation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Side Letter, but excluding any Marketing Literature);
(iv) (a) any Contract in which a broker, finder or similar intermediary is entitled to any brokers, finders or similar fee or other commission with respect to any Investment Advisory Contract, or (b) any Placement Agent Agreements that would reasonably be expected to require an Acquired Company to make future payments in excess of $750,000 in the aggregate or $150,000 annually;
(v) any Contract relating to the payment of any board, transition, monitoring or similar fees with respect to a Company Fund that would result in a management fee offset with respect to such Company Fund;
(vi) other than any Fund Documentation (excluding for purposes of this clause (vi), Side Letters) and Investment Advisory Contracts, any Contract that caps fees, shares fees with a third party, off-sets fees or waives fees with respect to any management fees or Carried Interest payable or allocable to any Acquired Company or Fund;
(vii) any Contract that restricts or purports to limit (A) the manner in which, or the localities in which, the business of the Acquired Companies may be conducted or (B) the ability of the Acquired Companies to acquire any Person, operate or compete in any market, geographical area or with any Person or provide any type of service, use or develop any type of product or solicit, hire, engage, retain or employ any other Persons current or former customers or employees, including any non-competition, non-solicitation, no hire, or exclusive dealing agreement or arrangement, and any similar agreement which restricts any Acquired Company from soliciting, hiring, engaging, retaining or employing any other Persons current or former employees;
(viii) other than any Fund Documentation or Investment Advisory Contract, any joint venture or partnership agreement that is material to the operation of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole;
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(ix) any Contract (other than any Fund Documentation and Investment Advisory Contracts) that involves annual future expenditures or annual receipts by an Acquired Company of more than $500,000;
(x) except with respect to indebtedness between or among the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (x) any Contract relating to (A) indebtedness of an Acquired Company for borrowed money or evidenced by promissory notes or debt securities (including any commitments, whether drawn or undrawn, in respect of each of the foregoing) (each, a Company Material Debt Contract), (B) any financial guaranty of payment or performance (including any non-recourse carveout guaranty, completion guaranty, carry guaranty or environmental indemnity) provided by an Acquired Company or Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof in connection with any commercial real estate financing (any such guaranty, a Real Estate Loan Guaranty) (which Real Estate Loan Guaranties are listed in the Company Disclosure Letter by reference to the relevant guarantor next to the name of the guarantied Company Material Debt Contract, but for which the full Contract name may not be listed), (C) any other financial guaranty or guaranty of payment or performance provided by an Acquired Company or Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof, or (D) any indebtedness of a Fund or Portfolio Investment thereof for borrowed money or evidenced by promissory notes or debt securities (including any commitments, whether drawn or undrawn, in respect of each of the foregoing), in each case of clauses (A) and (C) in excess of $500,000 individually and (y) any Company Material Debt Contract that includes any change of control or similar provision that could result in a default, event of default or mandatory prepayment event or could give rights (including termination rights) to the other party or parties thereto in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (such Contracts under this clause (y), collectively, Subject Indebtedness);
(xi) any Contract relating to an acquisition, divestiture, merger or similar transaction (A) entered into since the Look-Back Date that provides for aggregate consideration under such Contract in excess of $1,000,000 or (B) that has continuing indemnification, guarantee, earn-out or other contingent payment obligations of an Acquired Company;
(xii) any material lease, sublease or other Contract with respect to the Leased Real Property;
(xiii) any Contract other than those exclusively among the Company and its Subsidiaries, exclusively among a Fund and its Subsidiaries, ordinary course compensation arrangements (including related to carried interest awards) between or among any Acquired Company or any Fund, on the one hand, and any directors, executive officers (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) or any director, officer or employee of any Acquired Company, any Fund, any Portfolio Investment or any beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of Company Capital Stock, or any Affiliate of the foregoing, on the other hand;
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(xiv) any Contract (which for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any Fund Documentation) that by its terms limits the payment of dividends or other distributions to stockholders by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or prohibits the issuance of any guarantee by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;
(xv) any Contract that contains a clawback or similar undertaking by an Acquired Company or Fund requiring the reimbursement or refund of any fees or other amounts;
(xvi) any Contract that is any currency, interest rate or other hedge, swap or other derivative Contract;
(xvii) any Contract under which an Acquired Company is obligated, directly or indirectly, to make any capital contribution, co-investment, provision of seed capital or other investment in any Person, or invest in any investment product, other than any Fund Documentation;
(xviii) (A) any material Contract or license to which any Acquired Company is a party with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights, including any in-bound licenses, out-bound licenses and cross-licenses and, to the extent not included in the foregoing clause (A), (B) any material Contract pursuant to which (i) an Acquired Company licenses, acquires or is otherwise permitted to use the Intellectual Property Rights of any third party or (ii) pursuant to which a third party licenses or is otherwise permitted to use any Company IP, but in each of (A) and (B), excluding (1) non-disclosure agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that do not include licenses to Intellectual Property Rights; (2) non-exclusive inbound licenses for Off-the-Shelf Software, (3) employee invention assignment agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business on the Acquired Companies standard form, and (4) any non-exclusive license entered into in the ordinary course of business that is merely incidental to the transaction contemplated in such license, the commercial purpose of which is primarily for something other than such license;
(xix) any contract with any temporary employment agency, leasing agency, labor contractor or professional employer organization;
(xx) any contract for the employment of any individual on a full time basis providing for annual base salary in excess of $225,000 per annum and that cannot be terminated without penalty or liability to any Acquired Company or Fund; or
(xxi) any other material contract (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act).
Each Contract of the type described in this Section 4.11(a), other than this Agreement, is referred to herein as a Company Material Contract. True, correct and complete copies of each Company Material Contract (including any amendments thereto), as of the date of this Agreement, have been made available by the Company to Parent.
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(b) As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) each Company Material Contract is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Bridge Entity party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, of the other party or parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; (ii) each Company Material Contract is in full force and effect, except to the extent any Company Material Contract expires or terminates in accordance with its terms; (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Acquired Companies nor any Fund has received notice of the existence of any event or condition which constitutes, or, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a violation or default on the part of the Bridge Entities under any Company Material Contract, except where such violation or default would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no events or conditions that constitute, or, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute a default on the part of any counterparty under such Company Material Contract, except where such default would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (v) each Acquired Company and each Fund has in all material respects performed all obligations required to be performed by it under each Company Material Contract and is not in breach of or default under such Company Material Contract, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Section 4.11(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) no Acquired Company nor any Fund has paid or been obligated to pay any amount, or performed or been obligated to perform any other affirmative obligation (except for compliance with ongoing financial reporting obligations), under any Real Estate Loan Guaranty, (ii) no call or demand for the payment of any amounts or performance of any affirmative obligation has been made on an Acquired Company or any Fund under any Real Estate Loan Guaranty, and (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no events or conditions that would reasonably be expected to result in the payment by an Acquired Company or any Fund of, or an obligation on the part of an Acquired Company or any Fund to pay, any amount, or the performance by an Acquired Company or any Fund of, or an obligation on the part of an Acquired Company or any Fund to perform, any other affirmative obligation (except for compliance with ongoing financial reporting obligations), in each case under any of the Real Estate Loan Guaranties.
Section 4.12 Compliance with Applicable Laws; Company Licenses; Data Privacy & Security.
(a) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.06, except with respect to matters set forth on Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Acquired Companies and the Funds are, as of the date of this Agreement, and have been since the Look-Back Date, in compliance with all Applicable Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance with such Laws would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole or the applicable Fund. The Acquired Companies and the Funds have not since the Look-Back Date received from any Governmental Authority any written, or to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any noncompliance with any such Laws, except for any such noncompliance that would not, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole or the applicable Fund. Except with respect to matters set forth on Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, since the Look-Back Date, none of the Acquired
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Companies and Funds or, to the extent related to the business of the Acquired Companies or any Fund, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective officers, managers, directors, members, partners or employees (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, limited partners, non-managing members or similar participants in any Fund) have been the subject of any investigations or disciplinary Proceedings or Governmental Orders arising under Applicable Law, including under applicable securities Laws, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, engaged in conduct that would, or would reasonably be expected to, (x) give rise to an affirmative answer to any of the questions in Item 11, Part 1 or Item 9, Part 2A of the Form ADV of any Investment Adviser Subsidiary or (y) lead to a disqualification pursuant to Section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Advisers Act (or its equivalent under any Applicable Law) to serve as an investment adviser or as an associated Person of a registered investment adviser.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Acquired Companies and Funds hold all Governmental Permits, including franchises and ordinances issued or granted to the Acquired Companies by a Governmental Authority (the Company Licenses) that are required for the Acquired Companies and Funds (as applicable) to conduct their business and operations, as presently conducted, except where the failure to hold Company Licenses would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the applicable Fund.
(c) Each Company License is valid and in full force and effect and has not, since the Look-Back Date, been suspended, revoked, cancelled or adversely modified, except where the failure thereof to be in full force and effect, or the suspension, revocation, cancellation or modification thereof, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no Proceedings pending or threatened in writing that would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation or termination of any Company License, and since the Look-Back Date, there has not been any event, condition or circumstance that would preclude any Company License from being renewed in the ordinary course (to the extent that such Company License is renewable by its terms), except for where any such revocation or termination of a Company License or the failure to be renewed would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.12(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, in connection with their collection, storage, transfer and/or use of any Personal Information, since the Look-Back Date, the Acquired Companies have complied with applicable requirements under Applicable Laws relating to the collection, use, transfer, disclosure and other processing of Personal Information, privacy policies publicly published by the Acquired Companies, and the requirements of any Contract to which an Acquired Company is a party to the extent relating to the processing of Personal Information (collectively, Data Privacy and Security Requirements), except where the failure to be in compliance with such Data Privacy and Security Requirements would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Acquired Companies have commercially reasonable physical, technical, organizational and administrative security measures and policies in place designed to protect all Sensitive Information they collect from and against unauthorized access, use and/or disclosure. None of the Acquired Companies have received written communication from any Governmental Authority that alleges that such Acquired Company is not in compliance with any Data Privacy and Security Requirement, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There have been no instances of unauthorized use of or access to Sensitive Information except for such instances that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(e) No Acquired Company, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, or employees or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any agent or representative thereof (acting in such capacity), has in the past five (5) years offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money or any other thing of value to any Person (i) with the intention of inducing improper conduct on the part of the recipient in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) acceptance of which would violate Anti-Corruption Laws, or (iii) to secure an undue or improper advantage for any Acquired Company in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law.
(f) No Acquired Company, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, or employees or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any agent or representative thereof, since April 24, 2019, (i) has been or is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has (acting for or on behalf of any Acquired Company) transacted business with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person in violation of applicable Sanctions or otherwise violated applicable Sanctions, or (iii) has violated any applicable Ex-Im Law.
(g) Each Acquired Company has, in the last five (5) years, (i) maintained or been subject to an anti-money laundering compliance program that meets the requirements of any applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and (ii) has not otherwise violated any applicable Anti-Money Laundering Law.
(h) Except with respect to matters set forth on Section 4.12(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Acquired Company has been, in the last five (5) years, the subject of any voluntary disclosure, investigation, prosecution or enforcement action by any Governmental Authority related to any actual or alleged violations of Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions, Ex-Im Laws or other Laws, or relevant policies, procedures, and internal controls related to the foregoing. Any material correspondence relating to any investigation, examination or inquiry by any Governmental Authority provided to or by any Acquired Company or any Fund since the Look-Back Date, are listed in Section 4.12(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter. True and correct copies of all such material correspondence have been delivered to Parent, together with all written responses thereto.
Section 4.13 Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 4.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Proceedings at Law or in equity or, to the Knowledge of the Company, investigations before or by any Governmental Authority against an Acquired Company that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the applicable Fund. There is no unsatisfied Governmental Order or any open injunction binding upon an Acquired Company which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.14 Real Property.
(a) Section 4.14(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, complete and correct list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all of the Owned Real Property. An Acquired Company has good and valid title to the Owned Real Property, free and clear of all Liens other than any Permitted Liens. Except as set forth on Section 4.14(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Acquired Company has leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person (other than a lease, license or grant to another Acquired Company or to a Subsidiary of an Acquired Company) the right to use or occupy any of the Owned Real Property.
(b) Section 4.14(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, complete and correct list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all Leased Real Property and the Real Property Leases with respect thereto. The Company has made available to Parent a true, correct and complete copy of each Real Property Lease. Except as set forth on Section 4.14(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter or except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Real Property Leases are in full force and effect and an Acquired Company has a valid and enforceable leasehold estate in all Leased Real Property, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and free and clear of all Liens other than any Permitted Liens, (ii) there does not exist any default under any of the Real Property Leases by the Acquired Company party thereto or, to the Knowledge of the Company, by any other party thereto and no event has occurred or circumstance exists that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default under any of the Real Property Leases by the Acquired Company party thereto or, to the Knowledge of the Company, by any other party thereto, and (iii) no Acquired Company has subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person (other than a sublease, license or grant to another Acquired Company in accordance with the applicable Real Property Lease) the right to use or occupy any of the Leased Real Property. The Leased Real Property constitutes all real property used in the business of the Acquired Companies as currently conducted (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, asset-level properties owned or used by the Funds).
Section 4.15 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of all Registered IP and all material unregistered Trademarks included in the Company IP, listing as applicable, (A) the name of the applicant or registrant and current owner, (B) the date of application or issuance, (C) the jurisdiction where the application or registration is located, (D) the application or registration number, and (E) with respect to domain names included in Registered IP, Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of registered domain names owned by the Acquired Companies. The Acquired Companies exclusively own all right, title and interest to and in the Company IP free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and have the right to use all other Intellectual Property Rights used in the conduct the business of the Acquired Companies as currently conducted and as conducted since the Look-Back Date to the date of this Agreement, except where the failure to so own or have the right to use the applicable Intellectual Property Right would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Registered IP is subject to any pending challenge received by any Acquired Company relating to the invalidity or unenforceability of such Registered IP (excluding ordinary course office actions at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office or similar Governmental Authorities).
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(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, no Acquired Company infringes or misappropriates, and the conduct of the business of the Acquired Companies does not infringe or misappropriate, any Intellectual Property Right of any other Person. No Proceeding is pending or, since the Look-Back Date to the date of this Agreement and to the Knowledge of the Company, has been threatened against any Acquired Company alleging any infringement or misappropriation by such Acquired Company of any Intellectual Property Rights of another Person, except for any infringement, misappropriation or Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing or misappropriating any Company IP.
(c) The Acquired Companies have taken reasonable measures to protect, safeguard and maintain each item of material Company IP, including taking commercially reasonable security measures to protect the confidentiality of any trade secrets and other material confidential information included in the Company IP or otherwise used or held for use in the conduct of the business of the Acquired Companies. The Acquired Companies require employees, contractors, and third parties with access to trade secrets or other material confidential or proprietary information included in the Company IP or used or held for use in the conduct of the business of the Acquired Companies to enter into an enforceable written standard form confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement with the applicable Acquired Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is in violation or breach of any such confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements.
(d) Each Acquired Company is in material compliance with their obligations under all licenses for Open Source Software, as applicable. No Open Source Software has been used or distributed by or on behalf of the Acquired Companies in such a manner as would require any of the Acquired Companies to (i) license, distribute, or make available any source code for any proprietary software owned by the Acquired Companies, or to permit any other Person to perform such actions, (ii) permit any Company IP to be licensed under terms permitting reverse engineering or (iii) be restricted or limited from charging for distribution of the Acquired Companies products or services, in each case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) The Company IT Assets are sufficient for the needs of the Company business as currently conducted and as conducted since the Look-Back Date. The Acquired Companies have taken commercially reasonable steps designed to prevent the introduction of bugs, disabling codes, spyware, trojan horses, worms and other malicious code into the Company IT Assets. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company IT Assets do not contain any such bugs, disabling codes, spyware, trojan horses, worms and other malicious code and since the Look-Back Date to the date of this Agreement, have not suffered any material outage or other failure. Since the Look-Back Date to the date of this Agreement, there have not been any unauthorized intrusions or breaches of security with respect to the Company IT Assets or losses or impairment of data contained therein or related software installed thereon except for any intrusions, breaches, losses or impairments which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Acquired Companies have implemented commercially reasonable backup and disaster recovery technology processes.
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Section 4.16 Insurance Coverage. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the applicable Fund: (a) the Acquired Companies and each Fund own or hold policies of insurance with financially sound and reputable insurers, or are self-insured, in amounts providing reasonably adequate coverage against all risks customarily insured against by companies in similar lines of business as the Company and its Subsidiaries or the applicable Fund (as applicable), (b) all insurance policies maintained by the Acquired Companies and the Funds are in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid in full in accordance with the respective terms of such policies, (c) no insurance claim has been disputed or denied by the applicable insurer, no Acquired Company nor any Fund is in breach or default of any of its insurance policies, and no Acquired Company nor any Fund has taken any action or failed to take any action which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default or permit termination or material and adverse modification of any of such policies and (d) other than in connection with ordinary course renewals, no Acquired Company nor any Fund has received any written notice of termination, cancellation, or non-renewal with respect to any such policy. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Acquired Companies nor any Fund has any reason to believe that they will not be able to (i) renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct their business as now conducted.
Section 4.17 Tax Matters.
(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(i) all Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to an Acquired Company have been timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all respects;
(ii) all Taxes payable by or with respect to each Acquired Company (whether or not shown to be due and payable on any such Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid to the appropriate Governmental Authority;
(iii) all material withholding Tax requirements imposed on or with respect to an Acquired Company been satisfied in full;
(iv) no agreements, consents, extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations (or extensions of time to file) have been entered into, given or requested with respect to any Taxes or Tax Returns of any Acquired Company (other than extension of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business);
(v) no deficiency for any amount of Taxes has been asserted in writing or assessed by any Governmental Authority against any Acquired Company, except for deficiencies that have been satisfied by payment, settled, withdrawn or otherwise resolved;
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(vi) as of the date hereof, there are no audits or examinations by any Governmental Authority ongoing or pending with respect to any Taxes of any Acquired Company;
(vii) no Acquired Company has been informed in writing by any jurisdiction in which it currently does not file Tax Returns that such jurisdiction believes that such Acquired Company or any of its Subsidiaries was required to file any Tax Return in such jurisdiction;
(viii) no Acquired Company (A) is a party to any Tax-allocation, Tax-sharing, Tax-indemnity or similar agreement (not including, for the avoidance of doubt (i) an agreement or arrangement solely between or among the Acquired Companies, (ii) any customary commercial Contract not primarily related to Taxes and entered into in the ordinary course of business or (iii) the A&R TRA, the OpCo LLCA (in respect of a potential imputed underpayment within the meaning of Code Section 6225) or any other customary partnership indemnification provisions in any partnership or limited liability company agreement of any Acquired Company) or (B) has requested or is subject to any IRS private letter ruling or closing agreement (within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code) or any comparable ruling from or agreement with any other Governmental Authority;
(ix) no Acquired Company (A) has been a member of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company) or (B) has any liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law), as a transferee or successor or by contract, in each case other than pursuant to the A&R TRA, the OpCo LLCA (in respect of a potential imputed underpayment within the meaning of Code Section 6225) or any other customary partnership indemnification provisions in any partnership or limited liability company agreement of any Acquired Company;
(x) there are no Liens for Taxes upon any property or assets of any Acquired Company, except for Permitted Liens;
(xi) no Acquired Company has participated in any listed transaction within the meaning of U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or under a similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Tax Law);
(xii) none of the Acquired Companies have, since the Look-Back Date, been a party to any transaction intended to qualify under Section 355 of the Code (or under so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code); and
(xiii) no Acquired Company will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii)closing agreement as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or
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similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date, (iii) intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law), (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date or (v) deferred revenue or prepaid or deposit amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) The Company is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(c) OpCo is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(d) No Acquired Company is aware of the existence of any fact, or has taken or agreed to take any action, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Corporate Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the representations and warranties included in this Section 4.17, in Section 4.05(e), Section 4.18 and Section 4.20(r) shall constitute the only representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement with respect to Tax matters.
Section 4.18 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 4.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a current, correct and complete list of each material (i) employee benefit plan as that term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA but whether or not subject to ERISA, (ii) employment, consulting, pension, retirement, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock option, profits interest, carried interest, phantom profits interest or phantom carried interest, change in control, retention, restrictive covenant, equity or equity-based compensation, stock purchase, employee stock ownership, loan, severance pay, bonus, commission or other incentive plans, programs, policies or agreements and (iii) medical, vision, dental, vacation, or other welfare plans, or life insurance plans, in each case, established, maintained or contributed to by any of the Acquired Companies, or required to be contributed to by any of the Acquired Companies for the benefit of any current or former Company Service Providers and/or their dependents or for which any of the Acquired Companies has any direct or indirect liability (collectively, and without regard to materiality, the Company Benefit Plans). The Company has made available to Parent or filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof copies of each Company Benefit Plan set forth on Section 4.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b) With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan set forth on Section 4.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has made available to Parent or filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof, a correct and current copy (or, to the extent no such copy exists, an accurate description) thereof and, to the extent applicable: (i) the most recent documents constituting the Company Benefit Plan and all amendments thereto; (ii) any related trust agreement or other funding instrument; (iii) the two most recently filed IRS Form 5500s and accompanying schedules and attachments thereto; (iv) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter, if applicable; (v) the most recent summary plan description and summary of all material modifications; (vi) a summary of any proposed amendments or changes anticipated to be made to
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the Company Benefit Plans at any time within the twelve (12) months immediately following the date of this Agreement; (vii) for the three (3) most recent years, any material, non-routine correspondence with the IRS, the United States Department of Labor, or the SEC and any other Governmental Authority regarding the operation or the administration of any Company Benefit Plan; (viii) nondiscrimination testing results for the last two (2) plan years; and (ix) Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for the last two plan years.
(c) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, (i) each Company Benefit Plan is now and has been established, maintained, funded and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms, and in compliance in all material respects with Applicable Laws, and has been duly registered to the extent relevant if required by Applicable Laws; (ii) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, threatened material actions, audits, investigations, claims or lawsuits against or relating to any Company Benefit Plan or any trust or fiduciary thereof (other than routine benefits claims) and, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, no fact or event exists that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such action, audit, investigation, claim or lawsuit; and (iii) all material payments required to be made by the Acquired Companies under any Company Benefit Plan or by Applicable Laws have been timely made or properly accrued in accordance with the provisions of each Company Benefit Plan and Applicable Laws.
(d) Each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code either has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS as to its qualified status or may rely upon a favorable prototype opinion letter from the IRS for a prototype plan, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no fact or event has occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Benefit Plan, and each Company Benefit Plan (and any related trust or other funding vehicle) has been maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms, ERISA, the Code and other Applicable Laws.
(e) No Company Benefit Plan is currently subject, or has ever been subject, to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412, 420 or 4971 of the Code or is otherwise a defined benefit plan (including any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
(f) No Company Benefit Plan provides for health, medical or other welfare benefits coverage after retirement, other than (i) health care continuation coverage required by Section 4980B of the Code (COBRA) or other Applicable Law or (ii) coverage through the end of the calendar month in which a termination of employment occurs.
(g) No Company Benefit Plan, or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, any trustee or administrator thereof, any Company Service Provider or any fiduciary has engaged in any material breach of fiduciary responsibility or any prohibited transaction (as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) to which Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code applies and which could subject any Company Benefit Plan or trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with any Company Benefit Plan, to a material Tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code.
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(h) Each nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as such term is defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been maintained in all material respects in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder, as applicable.
(i) Except as set forth in Section 4.18(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution by the Company of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions will (either alone or upon occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any Company Service Provider under any Company Benefit Plan; (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any funding or payment (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of any compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan; (iii) entitle any Company Service Provider to any other material compensation or benefit including any bonus, equity or equity-based, nonqualified deferred compensation, severance, termination, retention, transaction, change in control or similar pay or benefits; (iv) limit or restrict the right of the Acquired Companies (or, after the Closing, Parent) to merge, amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan; (v) result in any liability or obligation pursuant to any Company Benefit Plan or (vi) result in the payment (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) of any amount that could, individually or in combination with any other payment, constitute an excess parachute payment (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code). None of the Acquired Companies is a party to or has any obligation under any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise to compensate, gross-up or indemnify any person for Taxes, including those payable pursuant to Section 409A or 4999 of the Code.
(j) None of the Acquired Companies is the subject of any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, threatened material Proceeding alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practice under any Law. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, threatened labor strike, dispute, walkout, work stoppage, slowdown or lockout with respect to employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement, no collective bargaining agreement is currently being negotiated and there are no labor unions or other organizations representing, or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, purporting to represent or attempting to represent, any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(l) Each Acquired Company is in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relating to employment and employment practices, including Laws relating to discrimination, harassment, terms and conditions of employment, termination of employment, hours of work, employee whistle-blowing, immigration, employee privacy, the payment of wages or overtime wages and classification of employees, consultants and independent contractors.
(m) None of the Acquired Companies have received any written notice from any national, state, local or foreign agency or Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment laws of an intention to conduct an investigation of any of the Acquired Companies and, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, no such investigation is in progress. No Acquired Company is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any Governmental Authority relating to employees or employment practices.
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(n) The Company has provided Parent a complete and correct list of each current employee of each of the Acquired Companies, indicating such employees title or position, full-time, part-time or temporary status, hire date, employing entity, work location, classification as exempt or non-exempt, whether active or on leave (and, if on leave, the nature of the leave and the expected return date), hourly rate of pay or annual base salary, and the aggregate cash bonus or other incentive-based cash compensation (x) earned for 2024 and (y) if applicable, good faith estimate of such target compensation for 2025.
(o) Since the Look-Back Date, (i) no material written allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct, discrimination or retaliation have been made against any executive officer or employee of the Company with a title of vice president or above and (ii) there are no Proceedings or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, investigations by any Governmental Authority or proceedings before any Governmental Authority, pending or, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, threatened, related to any allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct, discrimination or retaliation by any executive officer or employee with a title of vice president or above of the Company.
(p) None of the Acquired Companies have incurred any material liability or obligation under the WARN Act that remains unsatisfied. Within the last three (3) months, there has not been any plant closing or mass layoff, or term of similar import under any applicable similar Law with respect to any Company Service Provider.
(q) As of the date hereof, no executive officer or, to the Knowledge of the Company, employee of the Company with a title of Managing Director or above has given written notice to the Acquired Companies that such employee will terminate his or her employment or service. To the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, no current Company Service Provider is in material violation of any term of any employment contract, non-disclosure agreement, non-competition agreement or other restrictive covenant agreement in effect as of the date hereof.
Section 4.19 Environmental Matters. The Bridge Entities are and at all times have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except for any such instance of non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Bridge Entities hold and have filed timely application to renew all Governmental Permits required under applicable Environmental Laws to permit the Bridge Entities to operate their assets in the manner in which they are now operated and maintained and to conduct the business of the Bridge Entities as currently conducted, except where the absence of any such Governmental Permit would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no written claims or notices of violation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against any of the Bridge Entities alleging violations of or liability under any Environmental Law, except for any such claim or notice that would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There has been no Release or threatened Release at, on, under or from, and no Hazardous Substance is present at, on or under, any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Bridge Entity, or any other location, that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.20 Funds; Other Clients.
(a) Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth: (i) as of the Base Date with respect to each Client, a true, correct and complete list of all Investment Advisory Contracts with such Client, together with (A) the fee schedule in effect with respect to such Client (including any applicable management fee waivers or discounts, the Carried Interest rate and hurdle rate, and the management, advisory or similar fee rate for such Client and, if different, each investor therein, including pursuant to any Side Letter) and (B) the aggregate dollar amount of Base Date Assets Under Management with respect to such Client, (ii) a calculation of the Base Revenue Run Rate, in each case, calculated in a manner consistent with the applicable Investment Advisory Contracts and Fund Documentation and (iii) a calculation of the Revenue Run-Rate of all Clients as of the Base Date. The fee rates and Base Revenue Run-Rate set forth in Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter reflect each Contract pursuant to which any Acquired Company has undertaken or agreed to cap, waive, defer, off-set, reimburse or otherwise reduce any management fees, Carried Interest or other amounts payable by or with respect to any Client, including any early-closer management fee or similar fee discounts set forth in any limited partnership agreement of any Fund.
(b) Section 4.20(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement (excluding any separate managed accounts (and the Company has provided Parent the Investment Advisory Contract relating to each such separate managed account)), a true, correct and complete list of each of the following for each Fund, (i) the name and jurisdiction of organization or formation of such Fund, (ii) the Acquired Company that is the GP Entity of such Fund, (iii) the aggregate capital commitments, the capital contributions and the uncalled capital commitments of each Fund, (iv) the commitment or investment period of such Fund, (v) the Sponsor Commitment for such Fund, (vi) net asset value of the funded amount of the Sponsor Commitment and (vii) the dollar amount of the unfunded Sponsor Commitment for such Fund. Since the Look-Back Date, all Sponsor Commitments have been funded in the ordinary course of business. No Person other than the Acquired Companies or any current or former Company Service Providers or their respective Immediate Family is entitled or obligated to directly or indirectly fund any portion of the Sponsor Commitment to any Fund, other than pursuant to any cashless contribution or fee waiver provisions in accordance with the applicable Fund Documentation. Each direct member or limited partner (and each individual that controls any entity that is a direct member or limited partner) of any Acquired Company that has a right to receive Carried Interest distributions from any Fund has executed a Contract (including by executing the operating agreement of any GP Entity, if applicable) which requires such individual to return Carried Interest distributions in an amount up to all of such individuals proportionate share of any clawback obligation with respect to such Funds.
(c) Other than with respect to the Clients set forth on Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Acquired Company provides Investment Advisory Services to any other Person. Each Fund has entered into a written Investment Advisory Contract (which may, for the avoidance of doubt, be Fund Documentation) whereby one or more Acquired Companies, as applicable, serves as investment adviser, investment manager, investment sub-adviser, general partner, managing member, manager or in any capacity similar to any of the foregoing to such Fund or is managed by one or more Acquired Companies. Each such Investment Advisory Contract is in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
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be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies (taken as a whole) or would have a Fund Material Adverse Effect on such Fund. Except as set forth Section 4.20(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter (and to the Knowledge of the Company with respect to any sub-advisory Clients), other than the Acquired Companies, no Person acts as the investment adviser, investment manager, investment sub-adviser, general partner, managing member, manager, sponsor or in any similar capacity with respect to any Fund or, with respect to any other Client, the assets or mandate that are the subject of the applicable Investment Advisory Contract. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Fund is required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such representation or warranty is made with respect to any Fund as to any period prior to the commencement of such Funds management by the Company, OpCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.20(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Acquired Companies and their respective equity holders are currently entitled to receive all Carried Interest, management fees and other similar fees payable in respect of each of the Funds, as set forth in the Fund Documentation. No member of the Acquired Companies has elected to defer the receipt of any management fees, promote or Carried Interest or otherwise has utilized a management fee offset or cashless funding mechanism with respect to any Fund (excluding any reduced or fee- or carry-free investments in a Fund by current or former Company Service Providers or their Immediate Family).
(e) Each Fund is duly organized, formed, validly existing and, with respect to entities in jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite corporate, trust, company or partnership power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as currently conducted, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Fund or have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each such Fund is qualified, licensed or registered to do business in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so qualified, licensed or registered under Applicable Law, except where failure to be so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Fund or have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Fund has all requisite organizational power and authority, and possesses all rights, licenses, permits, orders, certificates and authorizations and approvals necessary to entitle it to use its name, to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted under and pursuant to all Applicable Law, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Fund or have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the Look-Back Date (or the inception of such Fund if later), the shares, units or interests, as applicable, of each Fund have been issued and sold pursuant to and in compliance with Applicable Law including, with respect to any Fund offered or sold outside the United States, the registration and licensing requirements of any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Fund or have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such representation or warranty is made with respect to any Fund as to any period prior to the commencement of such Funds management by the Company, OpCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
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(f) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Fund in question or have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Fund currently is, and has since the Look-Back Date (or its inception, if later), been operated in compliance with (i) Applicable Law and (ii) any applicable Governmental Order or order, judgment or decree of any self-regulatory organization.
(g) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Fund in question, the Marketing Literatures or other applicable offering documents of the Funds (as each such document is amended, restated or supplemented from time to time), as of their respective dates, when taken as a whole and read in conjunction with the applicable Fund Documentation, (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in any material respect, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time they were delivered to prospective investors, not misleading; provided that any description in such offering documents and materials of the substantive provisions of the governing documents of the applicable Fund is qualified in its entirety by, and is subject to, the terms and provisions of the governing documents of the applicable Fund and (ii) complied in all material respect with all Applicable Law as of the date that any such compliance was required with respect to such Laws.
(h) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Fund in question or have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no liabilities or obligations of any Fund of any kind whatsoever of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a consolidated balance sheet prepared of such Fund in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, except (i) for each Fund, liabilities or obligations disclosed and provided for in the balance sheet of such Fund or referred to in the notes thereto contained in the most recent report (x) distributed by the Fund to its shareholders or other interest holders or (y) as applicable, filed with a non-US Governmental Authority or self-regulatory organization, in each case prior to the date hereof and provided or made available to Parent, or (ii) for each Fund, liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Funds applicable report referenced in clause (i) above, (iii) as are incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions, or (iv) which have been discharged or paid, or for which arrangements have been made to discharge or pay any such liabilities or obligations, prior to the date of this Agreement.
(i) Other than as set forth on Section 4.20(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Fund in question if determined in favor of such Governmental Authority, there are no subpoenas, Proceedings or investigations (excluding any routine audits, exams or sweep exams with respect to any Fund conducted by any administrative or self-regulatory agency) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing, before any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory organization, or before any arbitrator of any nature, brought by or against any of the Funds involving or relating to the Funds or the assets, properties or rights of any of the Funds.
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(j) Other than with respect to the Clients set forth on Section 4.20(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Fund is an entity or account the assets of which are deemed plan assets pursuant to the Plan Assets Regulation or any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws, rules or regulations applicable to any investor that is a governmental plan (within the meaning of Section 3(32) of ERISA) that are substantially similar to the Plan Assets Regulation. No Acquired Company has agreed in writing to treat any Fund that is not otherwise subject to the Plan Assets Regulation as though it were subject to the Plan Assets Regulation.
(k) Each Investment Adviser Subsidiary has rendered Investment Advisory Services pursuant to the applicable existing Investment Advisory Contracts in material compliance with the Advisers Act, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(l) (i) No resolution or vote to undertake a Company Fund Material Event has been passed, (ii) no Fund has received written (or to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, oral) notice requesting or demanding a meeting of investors at which such resolution would be proposed, (iii) there exists no event, occurrence, condition or act that, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition would reasonably be expected to give rise to any Company Fund Material Event (other than any no-fault termination or removal right), (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no action has been taken by any Person to effect any Company Fund Material Event and (v) no commitment period with respect to any Fund is suspended or has been terminated early upon the vote of such Funds investors or as otherwise provided under such Funds Fund Documentation.
(m) There are no outstanding general partner give back or clawback or similar obligations (as provided for in the Fund Documentation), and since the Look-Back Date no such obligations have arisen (and to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, no such obligations are currently pending or reasonably expected to arise), with respect to any Fund pursuant to any Fund Documentation.
(n) Each member of the Acquired Companies and Fund maintains all documentation necessary to form the basis for, or demonstrate the calculation of, performance figures appearing in Fund Documentation or Marketing Literature as required by Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act.
(o) The Acquired Companies have made available to Parent all material Fund Documentation in effect as of the date hereof (excluding with respect to special purpose vehicles). No member of the Acquired Companies nor, to the Knowledge of the Acquired Companies, any investor of any Fund is or has been in non-compliance with any Fund Documentation (including any Side Letters), except where such non-compliance would not, have a Fund Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Fund in question.
(p) Except as set forth on Section 4.20(p)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Track Record has been calculated and maintained in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Advisers Act and is true and correct in all material respects and can be substantiated with backup documentation relating thereto (including, without limitation, with respect to all gross and net calculations therein) to the extent required by Applicable Law in a manner that constitutes Predecessor Performance (as defined in Rule 206(4)-1(e)(12) under the Advisers Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.20(p)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any member of the Acquired Companies has granted any other Person a license or right to use the Track Record or other assets supporting the Track Record.
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(q) Section 4.20(q) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list, as of the date set forth therein, of the (i) dollar amount of the accrued Carried Interest with respect to each Fund, (ii) percentage of the Companys rights and interests in the Carried Interest with respect to each Fund and (iii) the Companys share of any such accrued Carried Interest balance. All Carried Interest owned by the Company is held, directly or indirectly, through the relevant member of the Acquired Companies.
(r) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) for all taxable years since its inception date, each Fund has qualified for its intended Tax classification or treatment, as reported on its most recent applicable Tax Return, and has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements related to such intended Tax classification or treatment, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify for such intended Tax classification or treatment, (ii) each Fund has timely filed (or caused to be timely filed) all Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account any applicable extensions or waivers) with any Tax authority and has timely paid (or caused to be paid) all Taxes shown as due on such Tax Returns, (iii) there is currently no audit by any Governmental Authority of any Tax Return of any Fund pending or threatened in writing, (iv) each Fund has complied with all applicable Tax withholding and information reporting requirements, and (v) there are no outstanding waivers or comparable consents given by any Fund regarding the application of the statute of limitations with respect to Taxes (other than any such waivers or consents granted in the ordinary course of business).
Section 4.21 Regulatory Matters.
(a) Each of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries, including the Relying Investment Adviser Subsidiaries, is duly registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and, except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole, with all other applicable Governmental Authorities as an investment adviser to the extent required by Applicable Law, and will maintain such registration unless such Investment Adviser Subsidiary determines in its reasonable discretion that it is no longer required to be so registered and the failure to maintain such registration would not reasonably be expected to cause a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each such registration is in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, except for the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries registration, and any Affiliates thereof deemed to rely on the registration of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries consistent with SEC staff guidance, no Subsidiaries of the Company or any of their respective officers, managers, directors or employees is, or required to be, registered or appointed as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative with the SEC or any other applicable Governmental Authority under Applicable Law.
(b) The Company has made available to Parent a copy (current as of the date of this Agreement) of each Investment Adviser Subsidiarys Form ADV Parts 1, 2A and 2B, Form PF, and any other regulatory filings as filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or delivered to any Fund (or its investors), as applicable, since the Look-Back Date. As of the date of each filing, amendment or delivery, as applicable, and except as would not reasonably be
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expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each such regulatory filing was timely filed and, to the Knowledge of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, at the time it was filed, and during the period of its authorized use, complied in all material respects with Applicable Law, was accurate and correct in all material respects.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 4.21(a) and Section 4.31(a), as part of the Acquired Companies business or operations, none of the Acquired Companies or, to the extent related to the business of the Acquired Companies, officers, managers, members, partners, directors or employees thereof is, or since the Look-Back Date has been, required to be registered, licensed or qualified (i) in any jurisdiction or with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority as an investment advisor, bank, trust company, real estate broker, insurance company, insurance broker, broker-dealer, broker-dealer agent, registered representative, sales person, transfer agent or lobbyist or (ii) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator (as defined in the CEA) or a commodity trading advisor (as defined in the CEA), or is or has been subject to any liability or disability by reason of any failure to be so registered, licensed or qualified. With respect to the Acquired Companies and each Fund, as applicable, all required notice of exemptions have been timely filed and affirmed on an annual basis with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Each employee of a Acquired Company who is required to be registered with any Governmental Authority to perform his or her job functions is, and, to the extent required by Applicable Law, since the Look-Back Date (or, if later, the date on which such employee commenced employment with the Acquired Companies), has been, duly registered as such and such registration is in full force and effect, except where the failure to be so registered or to have such registration in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole.
(d) No exemptive orders, no-action letters or similar exemptions or regulatory relief have been obtained by any of the Acquired Companies or Funds as of the date hereof, nor are any requests by any of the Acquired Companies or Funds pending therefor with respect to any Acquired Company or Fund or any officer, director, member, owner or employee of any Acquired Company or Fund (in each case, in connection with the business of such Acquired Company or Fund).
(e) Since the Look-Back Date, there have not been any material client or investor complaints pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against any Acquired Company or Fund.
Section 4.22 Compliance Procedures.
(a) The Investment Adviser Subsidiaries have adopted (and since the Look-Back Date, or their formation date if later, have maintained at all times to the extent required by Applicable Law) (i) a written code of ethics, as required by Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, (ii) a written policy regarding insider trading and the protection of material non-public information, (iii) anti-money laundering and customer identification programs in compliance with Applicable Law, (iv) policies and procedures for the allocation of investments purchased for its clients, (v) policies and procedures with respect to custody of client assets and (vi) other policies and procedures pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act (all of the foregoing policies and
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procedures being referred to collectively as Adviser Compliance Policies). The Company has designated and approved a chief compliance officer for the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act and has made available to Parent prior to the date hereof each annual report of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act since the Look-Back Date. True, correct and complete copies of the Adviser Compliance Policies have been made available to Parent. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Investment Adviser Subsidiary and Fund is and at all times since the Look-Back Date has been in compliance in all material respects with the Adviser Compliance Policies and all Applicable Laws and there have been no material violations of such Adviser Compliance Policies by an Investment Adviser Subsidiary or their employees or associated persons since the Look-Back Date, except for such violations as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of the Persons associated with the Company as specified in Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act are subject to any of the disqualifying events listed in such rule or any Proceeding or event that would reasonably be expected to result in the Company or such Person becoming subject to any such disqualifying event.
(c) To the Knowledge of the Company, each Investment Adviser Subsidiary has been in compliance with Rule 206(4)-2 under the Advisers Act and any other Applicable Law with respect to the custody of client funds since the Look-Back Date, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Each Investment Adviser Subsidiary has in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure its compliance with Rule 206(4)-5 under the Advisers Act. To the Knowledge of the Company, since the Look-Back Date, no Acquired Company or any of its covered associates (as defined in Rule 206(4)-5 under the Advisers Act) has violated such policies and procedures or has used any funds for or made any campaign or political contributions (whether directly or indirectly, and whether monetary, in-kind or in any other form) in violation of Rule 206(4)-5 of the Advisers Act or any other Applicable Law or that would reasonably be expected to result in (i) any Acquired Company not to being able to receive management fees or Carried Interest from or in respect of any investor in any Fund for any period of time, (ii) any investor in any Fund having the right to withdraw from any Fund or (iii) any Investment Adviser Subsidiary being precluded from providing Investment Advisory Services for compensation to any investor that is a government entity as defined in Rule 206(4)-5.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, the books and records of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries are complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with all applicable requirements of the Advisers Act and any other Applicable Law, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole. At the Closing, all of the material books and records of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries will be fully accessible by and in the possession or control of the Investment Adviser Subsidiaries.
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Section 4.23 Disclosure Documents.
(a) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.08, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) (i) at the date first mailed to the Companys stockholders and at the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) when filed by the Company with the SEC will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and any other applicable federal securities Laws, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to (i) statements made or incorporated by reference therein relating to Parent and its Affiliates, including the Merger Subs, based on information supplied by Parent or the Merger Subs for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or (ii) any financial projections or forward-looking statements.
(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto shall, at the time the Registration Statement or any such amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except, that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by Parent or Merger Subs for inclusion or incorporation therein.
Section 4.24 TRA Amendment. The Second A&R TRA is binding on all parties to the A&R TRA as of immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement. The Company has delivered or made available to Parent a true and complete copy of the Second A&R TRA.
Section 4.25 No Brokers. Except as set forth on Section 4.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no financial advisor, investment banker, broker, finder or agent that has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Company, OpCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries who will be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or commission from the Company, OpCo or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of all agreements under which such fee, commission, or other like payment is payable and all indemnification and other agreements under which any such fee or commission is payable.
Section 4.26 Fairness Opinion. The Special Committee has received the opinion of its outside financial advisor, Lazard Frères & Co., to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and conditions set forth in such opinion, the Class A Corporate Merger Consideration to be paid to the Non-Unitholder Stockholders in the Transactions is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders of Company Class A Common Stock.
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Section 4.27 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, from the Look-Back Date through the date of this Agreement, there have been no agreements, arrangements or understandings between any Acquired Company, or any Fund or any Portfolio Investment thereof, on the one hand, and any Affiliate thereof, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among the Company and its Subsidiaries or a Fund and its respective Subsidiaries, ordinary course of business employee agreements and similar employee arrangements otherwise set forth on the Company Disclosure Letter), that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 4.28 Antitakeover Statutes. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.06, the Company has taken all actions necessary so that no fair price, moratorium, control share acquisition, business combination, interested shareholder or other anti-takeover statute or Law (each, together with Section 203 of the DGCL, a Takeover Law) is or shall be applicable to this Agreement, the Voting Agreements or the Transactions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has adopted or is subject to a stockholder rights agreement, rights plan, poison pill or other similar agreement.
Section 4.29 Ownership of Parent Capital Stock.
(a) The Company and its Affiliates do not beneficially own (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) any shares of common stock of Parent or other securities of Parent or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire common stock or other securities of, or any other economic interest (through derivative securities or otherwise) in, Parent except pursuant to this Agreement. None of the Company nor any of their respective affiliates or associates (as each is defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) is, or has been at any time with the last three (3) years, an interested stockholder of Parent (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL).
Section 4.30 No Additional Representations or Warranties.
(a) Except as provided in Article V or in any certificate to be delivered by Parent in connection with this Agreement, the Company and OpCo acknowledge and agree that neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives makes and neither the Company, nor OpCo nor any of their Subsidiaries has relied upon or otherwise been induced by, any other representation or warranty, whether or not express or implied, by or on behalf of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, any of their respective Representatives or any other Person or with respect to any other information provided or made available to the Company, OpCo or any of their respective Representatives by or on behalf of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person in connection with the Transactions or otherwise.
(b) Except as provided in this Article IV or in any certificate to be delivered by the Company or an Applicable Acquired Company in connection with this Agreement, none of the Company, OpCo or any other Person on behalf of the Company or OpCo makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, OpCo, any of their respective Subsidiaries, or with respect to their respective businesses, operations, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, or any estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information or business and strategic plan information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries provided to Parent, the Merger Subs or their respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions, including the accuracy, completeness or timeliness thereof.
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Section 4.31 Insurance Business.
(a) BIGRM is (i) duly licensed or authorized as a captive insurance company in Utah and (ii) duly licensed, authorized or otherwise eligible to transact the business of insurance in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed, authorized or otherwise eligible in order to conduct its business as currently conducted, except in the case of clause (ii) where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Since the Look-Back Date, the Insurance Contracts have been marketed, sold, issued, maintained and administered in compliance, in all material respects, with Applicable Laws (including any such Applicable Law regulating advertisements, requiring mandatory disclosure of policy information, prohibiting the use of unfair methods of competition and deceptive acts or practices). Since the Look-Back Date, all benefits due and payable by or on behalf of BIGRM on Insurance Contracts in force on such dates have in all material respects been paid, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Insurance Contracts under which they arose, and such payments were not materially delinquent and were paid without material fines or penalties (excluding interest), except for such claims for which BIGRM believed there was a reasonable basis to contest payment and is taking such action.
(c) Except as required by the insurance Laws of general applicability and the insurance permits maintained by BIGRM, there are no written agreements, memoranda of understanding, commitment letters or similar undertakings binding on BIGRM, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, or any orders or directives by, or supervisory letters or cease-and-desist orders from, any Governmental Authority, nor has BIGRM adopted any board resolution at the request of any Governmental Authority, in each case specifically with respect to BIGRM, which restricts materially the conduct of the business of BIGRM or in any manner related to its capital adequacy, credit or risk management policies or management.
(d) All forms of insurance policies, binders, slips, certificates and other agreements of insurance, whether individual or group (including all applications, supplements, endorsements, riders and ancillary documents in connection therewith) of BIGRM (the BIGRM Policies) in effect as of the date of this Agreement and to the extent required under Applicable Law have been filed with or submitted to and approved or not objected to by the relevant Governmental Authority within the period provided for objection, as applicable.
(e) BIGRM has filed all material reports, statements, registrations, filings or submissions required to be filed with the Utah Insurance Department since the Look-Back Date (Insurance Filings), and all such Insurance Filings were true, complete and correct in all material respects when filed. As of the date hereof, no material deficiencies have been asserted by the Utah Insurance Department with respect to such Insurance Filings that have not been remedied. Except as set forth in Section 4.31(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, BIGRM is not, as of the date hereof, subject to any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened financial or market conduct examination by the Utah Insurance Department.
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(f) The insurance policy reserves of BIGRM for claims, losses (including incurred but not reported losses), loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums contained in the BIGRM Financial Statements: (i) were determined in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted actuarial standards consistently applied (except as otherwise noted in such statutory financial statements or the notes thereto), and (ii) satisfied the requirements of all Applicable Laws in all material respects (except as otherwise noted in such statutory financial statements or notes thereto). Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article IV (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter) or any certificate to be delivered by the Company in connection with this Agreement, Parent and Merger Subs acknowledge that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, in respect of (A) the adequacy or sufficiency of reserves of any Acquired Company, or (B) the effect of the adequacy or sufficiency of reserves of any Acquired Company on any line item, asset, liability or equity amount on any financial or other document.
(g) BIGRM is not a party to any reinsurance or retrocessional agreement or treaty, whether ceded or assumed.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND THE MERGER SUBS
Except (i) as set forth in the Parent Disclosure Letter or (ii) as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents (other than (a) disclosures in the Risk Factors section of any Parent SEC Documents and (b) any disclosure of risks included in any forward-looking statements disclaimer in any such Parent SEC Documents, to the extent such statements are predictive, non-specific, cautionary or forward-looking in nature) filed by Parent at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date hereof, Parent and the Merger Subs each represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
Section 5.01 Organization. Parent and the Merger Subs are each a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation and has all corporate or limited liability company power and authority required to carry on its business as currently conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets properties, except where the failure to have such power and authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent and the Merger Subs is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and, where such concept is recognized, is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. A true and complete copy of Parents organizational documents in effect as of the date hereof are available in the Parent SEC Documents. Parent is not in violation of its organizational documents in any material respect.
Section 5.02 Authority.
(a) Each of Parent and the Merger Subs has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions, including the Mergers. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.29, the execution, delivery and performance by each of Parent and the Merger Subs of this Agreement have been duly and
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validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Parent and the Merger Subs (subject, with respect to Merger Sub Inc., to the receipt of the Merger Sub Stockholder Consent), and no other corporate or limited liability company proceedings on the part of Parent and the Merger Subs are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or for each of Parent and the Merger Subs to consummate the Transactions (other than, with respect to the Corporate Merger, the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and with respect to the LLC Merger, the filing of the LLC Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State). Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the accuracy of the representations and warranties in Section 4.29, this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and the Merger Subs and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and the Merger Subs, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
(b) The board of directors or similar governing body of each of Parent and Merger Sub Inc., and the sole member of Merger Sub LLC have unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Parent, the Merger Subs and their respective stockholders or members, as applicable, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement and the Transactions, (iii) in the case of the board of directors of Merger Sub Inc., recommended that the sole stockholder of Merger Sub Inc. adopt this Agreement, and (iv) in the case of the board of directors of Parent, determined that the issuance of Parent Common Stock and the issuance of the Parent RSU Awards and Parent Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to this Agreement and the other Transactions is fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and Parents stockholders. Parent, acting in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub Inc., will immediately after execution and delivery hereof by each of the parties hereto approve and adopt this Agreement by consent pursuant to and in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
(c) No vote of, or consent by, the holders of any equity interests of Parent is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions or otherwise required by Parents organizational documents, Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by each of Parent and the Merger Subs of this Agreement and the consummation by Parent and the Merger Subs of the Transactions require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority other than (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger and the LLC Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State, (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of Antitrust Laws, (iii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable U.S. state or federal securities, takeover or blue sky Laws, (iv) compliance with any applicable rules of NYSE, (v) compliance with and filings or notifications listed in Section 4.03 of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (vi) such other consents, filings, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.04 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each of Parent and the Merger Subs of this Agreement, the consummation by each of Parent or the Merger Subs of the Transactions, and the compliance by each of Parent or the Merger Subs with any of the provisions of this Agreement does not and will not (i) contravene, conflict with or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) of Parent or the Merger Subs, (ii) assuming the Governmental Permits referred to in Section 5.03 have been obtained or made, any applicable waiting periods referred to therein have terminated or expired and any condition precedent to any such Governmental Permit has been satisfied or waived, contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any Applicable Law, or (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any properties or assets of Parent or its Subsidiaries, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such violation, breach, default, right, termination, amendment, acceleration, cancellation or loss that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.05 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no pending or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened Proceedings at Law or in equity or, to the Knowledge of Parent, investigations before or by any Governmental Authority against Parent or its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. There is no unsatisfied Governmental Order or any open injunction binding upon Parent or its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.06 Ownership of Company Stock and OpCo Units. Parent and the Merger Subs and their respective Subsidiaries do not beneficially own (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) any shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Units or other securities of the Company or OpCo or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire Company Common Stock, OpCo Units or other securities of, or any other economic interest (through derivative securities or otherwise) in, the Company or OpCo except pursuant to this Agreement. None of Parent, any Merger Sub or any of their respective affiliates or associates (as each is defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) is, or has been at any time with the last three (3) years, an interested stockholder of the Company (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL).
Section 5.07 Parent SEC Documents; Parent Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Since the Look-Back Date, Parent has timely filed with or furnished (as applicable) to the SEC all reports, schedules, forms, statements, prospectuses and other documents required to be filed or furnished prior to the date hereof by Parent with the SEC (such forms, documents and reports as have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, collectively, the Parent SEC Documents). As of its respective filing date, or, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, each Parent SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC Document, and none of the Parent SEC Documents at the time it was filed (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date hereof, on the date of such amended or superseded filing) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading (or, in the case of a Parent SEC Document that is a registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed
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pursuant to the Securities Act, as of the date such registration statement or amendment became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading). As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding comments from the SEC with respect to the Parent SEC Documents.
(b) Since the Look-Back Date, the consolidated financial statements (including all related notes or schedules) of Parent included or incorporated by reference in the Parent SEC Documents (collectively, the Parent Financial Statements), as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC or other rules and regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (x) as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto or (y) as permitted by Regulation S-X of the SEC) and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders equity of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein (subject, in the case of unaudited interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments, and to the absence of notes and to any other adjustments described therein, including in any notes thereto).
(c) There is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim against Parent or its Subsidiaries of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and obligations (a) reflected, disclosed and adequately reserved for in the consolidated statements of financial condition of Parent as of Parent Balance Sheet Date (or the notes thereto), (b) that have arisen since the Parent Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of the operation of businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries, none of which is a liability for breach of warranty, tort, infringement, violation of Law or that relates to any cause of action, claim or lawsuit, (c) that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, or (d) incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions.
Section 5.08 Disclosure Documents
(a) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.23, the registration statement on Form S-4 of Parent (and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) (the Registration Statement) to be filed by the Company with the SEC (i) at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein not misleading and (ii) when filed by Parent with the SEC will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and any other applicable federal securities Laws, except that no representation or warranty is made by Parent or either Merger Sub with respect to (x) statements made or incorporated by reference therein relating to the Acquired Companies or their Affiliates, based on information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or (y) any financial projections or forward-looking statements.
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(b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall, at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto is first mailed to the Companys stockholders and at the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except, that no representation or warranty is made by Parent with respect to statements made therein based on information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation therein.
Section 5.09 Ownership of the Merger Subs; No Prior Activities. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of or units in the Merger Subs are, and immediately prior to the Effective Time and the LLC Merger Effective Time will be, held of record and owned directly by Parent. The Merger Subs were formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the Transactions. Except for obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its formation and the Transactions, the Merger Subs have not and will not prior to the Effective Time and LLC Mergers Effective Time have engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person other than those relating to the Transactions.
Section 5.10 Investment Intention. Parent is acquiring through the Transactions the shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation and the units of the Surviving LLC for its own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view to the distribution (as such term is used in Section 2(11) of the Securities Act) thereof. Parent understands that the shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation and the units of the Surviving LLC have not been registered under the Securities Act or any blue sky Laws and cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act, any applicable blue sky Laws or pursuant to an exemption from any such registration.
Section 5.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Parent and each Merger Sub are, as of the date of this Agreement, and have been since the Look-Back Date, in compliance with all Applicable Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance with such Laws would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.12 Parent Capitalization. As of the Capitalization Date, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of: 90,000,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and 10,000,000,000 shares of Parent Preferred Stock. All shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Mergers will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and all of the Parent RSU Awards and Parent Restricted Stock Awards to be issued pursuant to Section 3.06 of this Agreement in connection with the Mergers will be duly authorized and validly issued, in each case when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and free of preemptive rights, and there are no subscription rights, options, warrants, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights.
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Section 5.13 Tax Matters.
(a) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of the existence of any fact, or has taken or agreed to take any action, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Corporate Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(b) Parent is not an investment company within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F) of the Code.
Section 5.14 Absence of Certain Changes. From and after the Parent Balance Sheet Date, except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, a Parent Material Adverse Effect has not occurred (and, solely for purposes of Section 7.03(a)(iii), with respect to clause (ii) of the definition of Parent Material Adverse Effect, is continuing).
Section 5.15 No Additional Representations or Warranties.
(a) Except as provided in Article IV or in any certificate to be delivered by the Company or any Applicable Acquired Company in connection with this Agreement, Parent and each Merger Sub acknowledge and agree that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Representatives makes, and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has relied upon or otherwise been induced by, any other representation or warranty, whether or not express or implied, by or on behalf of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of their respective Representatives or any other Person or with respect to any other information provided or made available to Parent, each Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives by or on behalf of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person in connection with the Transactions or otherwise.
(b) Except as provided in this Article V or in any certificate to be delivered by Parent or either Merger Sub in connection with this Agreement, neither Parent nor any other Person on behalf of Parent or the Merger Subs makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to any member of the Apollo Group or any of its respective Subsidiaries, or with respect to their respective businesses, operations, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects, or any estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information or business and strategic plan information regarding the Apollo Group provided to the Company, OpCo or their respective Affiliates in connection with the Transactions, including the accuracy, completeness or timeliness thereof.
ARTICLE VI.
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
Section 6.01 Conduct of the Company Pending the Mergers.
(a) The Company agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01, except (i) as set forth in Section 6.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) as required by Applicable Law, (iii) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company will, and will cause each other Acquired Company to, (A) conduct its operations in the ordinary course of
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business, (B) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve the Acquired Companies present business, relationships (including with Clients, suppliers and other Persons), business organizations and assets (including goodwill) and (C) use reasonable best efforts to keep available the services of the key employees of the Acquired Companies. Without limiting the foregoing, and as an extension thereof, except (i) as set forth in Section 6.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) as required by Applicable Law, (iii) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, that with respect to Section 6.01(a)(vii)(E), if Parent does not reply to requests for consent within four (4) Business Days, Parents consent shall be deemed to have been given), the Company shall not, and shall cause the Acquired Companies not to, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01:
(i) adopt any amendments to the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements or other organizational documents of any Acquired Company or any Fund;
(ii) issue, sell, split, combine, subdivide, reclassify or grant options or rights to purchase or receive, pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale, combination, subdivision, reclassification or grant of options or rights to purchase or pledge, any Company Capital Stock or any OpCo Units or any other equity of any other Acquired Company, other than (x) shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exchange of OpCo Class A Common Units in accordance with the OpCo LLCA or in connection with the vesting and/or settlement of Company Stock Awards outstanding as of the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plan and award agreement thereunder or (y) in connection with the vesting and/or conversion of any Equity Instruments with respect to any other Acquired Company as required by the provisions of the governing agreements of such Acquired Company;
(iii) make, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (other than tax distributions required to be made pursuant to the OpCo LLCA which are consistent with past practice and dividends or distributions to stockholders of the Company, in each case, in accordance with the tax distribution policy set forth on Section 6.01(a)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter);
(iv) (A) subject to Section 6.12, except in the ordinary course of business, enter into (including renewals or extensions of any Company Material Contract), modify, terminate (excluding any expiration or renewal in accordance with its terms) or waive compliance with any Company Material Contract or (B) enter into or modify any Real Estate Loan Guaranty;
(v) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease, license, pledge, abandon, allow to lapse or fall into the public domain or otherwise dispose of any material assets or properties (whether tangible or intangible), except (A) with respect to tangible assets, in the ordinary course of business, (B) tangible assets or properties that are no longer used in the business of the Acquired Companies or otherwise obsolete, or (C) non-exclusive licenses of Company IP granted in the ordinary course of business;
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(vi) acquire any interest in real property or materially amend or waive or voluntarily terminate any Real Property Lease that constitutes a Company Material Contract, or enter into, extend (other than extensions pursuant to existing renewal options) or fail to exercise any renewal option under any Real Property Lease that constitutes a Company Material Contract;
(vii) except (x) as required by Applicable Law or the terms of this Agreement, or (y) as expressly required by the terms of a Company Benefit Plan in existence as of the date hereof: (A) grant any retention, change in control, severance, or similar compensation or benefits in respect of, or accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for, any Company Service Provider, (B) establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining agreement, (C) adopt, amend or terminate or increase the coverage of benefits available under any material Company Benefit Plan (or other compensation or benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a material Company Benefit Plan if in effect on the date of this Agreement), (D) increase the compensation or benefits payable to any Company Service Provider, (E) hire or promote any Person with an annual base salary in excess of $225,000, other than (x) a replacement employee in accordance with the hiring plan provided to Parent by the Company prior to the date hereof or (y) to replace an employee who departs following the date hereof, provided with respect to clause (y), any such replacement shall be for the same position and shall not provide for compensation or benefits that exceed the compensation of benefits previously provided to the applicable departing employee, (F) terminate the employment or service of any employee with an annual base salary in excess of $225,000, other than for cause, (G) grant any, or amend the terms of any outstanding Company Stock Award, Profits Interest Award or Carried Interest or (H) forgive any loans to any Company Service Provider;
(viii) acquire the assets, business or properties, including Equity Instruments, of another Person, other than (x) assets acquired in the ordinary course of business, and (y) with respect to any current or former Company Service Providers or their Immediate Family, Equity Instruments in a Subsidiary in accordance with the terms and provisions of the governing agreements of the applicable Acquired Companies;
(ix) other than the Corporate Merger and LLC Merger contemplated hereby, merge, combine or consolidate any Acquired Company with any Person or adopt a plan, agreement or resolutions providing for a complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of any Acquired Company;
(x) make any material capital contributions, material loans or material advances of money to any Person other than for (A) transactions among the Acquired Companies, (B) required under any Fund Documentation to fund Sponsor Commitment, (C) advances to directors, officers or employees of the Acquired Companies for expenses or (D) extensions of credit to customers and Clients, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
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(xi) (A) make, change or rescind any income or other material Tax election, (B) change any material accounting or Tax reporting, periods, methods, principles or policies, (C) file any amended income Tax Return or any other amended Tax Return if such amendment to such other Tax Return would reasonably be expected to result in a material Tax liability, (D) settle or compromise any material Tax liability or claim relating to a material amount of Taxes, (E) enter into any material closing agreement relating to any Tax, (F) agree to an extension of a statute of limitations in respect of any material Taxes (other than in the ordinary course of business or an automatically granted extension to file Tax Returns) or (G) surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability;
(xii) (A) launch any new Fund or other new investment product, (B) voluntarily wind up, terminate or dissolve any Fund other than in the ordinary course of business or (C) voluntarily terminate any Investment Advisory Contract in respect of any Fund;
(xiii) enter into any new line of business or abandon or discontinue any existing line of business;
(xiv) change financial accounting policies or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material items for financial accounting purposes, except as required by GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or SEC rule, Applicable Law or policy;
(xv) incur, assume, issue or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, except (A) in the ordinary course of business and in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $10,000,000, (B) any indebtedness for borrowed money between or among the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (C) guarantees or credit support provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, as in effect on the date of this Agreement for indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent such indebtedness is in existence on the date of this Agreement, (D) short term borrowings under the OpCo Credit Agreement in the ordinary course of business that are repaid prior to the Closing, (E) borrowings under the OpCo Credit Agreement in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $20,000,000, and (F) refinancings, replacements or amendments (such refinancings, replacements and/or amendments, Refinancing Indebtedness) on market standard terms (as determined by the Company and Parent acting reasonably) of indebtedness set forth on Section 6.01(a)(xv) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided, that (i) the principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness so refinanced, replaced or amended and (ii) no Refinancing Indebtedness or indebtedness incurred under clause (A) above shall contain (x) any change of control or similar provision that could result in a default, event of default or mandatory prepayment event or could give rights (including termination rights) to the other party or parties thereto in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (y) any penalty, premium, make-whole, fee or other amount payable as a result of, or in connection with, the prepayment, repayment or redemption of such Refinancing Indebtedness or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (z) any other provision that could interfere with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, further, that the foregoing
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restriction shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, restrict the incurrence, assumption, issuance or guarantee of any indebtedness to the extent such actions are taken by any Fund (or at any Portfolio Investment or other Subsidiary of any Fund) and do not involve any incurrence, assumption, issuance or guarantee of indebtedness for borrowed money by any Acquired Company (other than the approval of such action by such Fund by its general partner);
(xvi) commence, settle, release or forgive any Proceeding (including any Proceeding involving any Fund, but excluding any ordinary course Proceedings involving any Portfolio Investments or Subsidiaries of any Fund) that (A) requires aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000, (B) requires any payments after the Closing, (C) does not include a complete release of claims, (D) includes an admission of wrongdoing with respect to the Acquired Companies or their Affiliates, (E) is with any Governmental Authority or (F) results in the imposition of any restrictions upon any Acquired Company or any Funds business (other than customary confidentiality obligations), in each case other than any Proceeding related to Transaction Litigation, which shall be governed by Section 6.09;
(xvii) except as required pursuant to the terms of any Contract to which an Acquired Company is party as of the date of this Agreement, (A) accelerate (or reduce) or take any action that would accelerate (or reduce) the payment or receipt of any management fees or other amounts payable by a Client to any Acquired Company, excluding any reduction as a result of the direct or indirect disposition of any investments in the ordinary course by any Client, (B) settle, waive, forgive any amount owed to the Company, except in the ordinary course of business, or (C) grant any material refunds, credits, rebates, allowances to customers;
(xviii) enter into any agreement that (i) limits, curtails or restricts the kinds of businesses or activities which may be undertaken by any Acquired Company or (ii) would, in accordance with its terms, bind or impose obligations on Parent or any of its Affiliates or any vehicle managed, sponsored or controlled by any of the foregoing (other than any Acquired Company) following the Closing, in each case, other than (x) customary confidentiality agreements or (y) to the extent that any such limitations, restrictions or obligations only bind or impose obligations on a Portfolio Investment and not on any Acquired Company;
(xix) [reserved];
(xx) with respect to the Acquired Companies, commit to, authorize or enter into any agreement in respect of, any capital expenditure (or series of commitments to make such capital expenditures), other than (x) capital expenditures in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per month in the aggregate and (y) as required under any Fund Documentation in connection with such Funds Sponsor Commitment;
(xxi) enter into any new line of insurance business or discontinue any line of insurance business in BIGRM; or
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(xxii) enter into any agreement, or otherwise become obligated, to do (or provide authorization for) any action prohibited under this Section 6.01(a).
(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, any right to control or direct the operations of the Acquired Companies prior to the Closing. Prior to the Closing, each of the Company and Parent shall exercise, consistent with the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over their respective businesses.
(c) Parent agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01, except (i) as required by Applicable Law, (ii) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or (iii) with the prior written consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), each of Parent and each Merger Sub shall not:
(i) amend Parents or either Merger Subs certificate of incorporation, bylaws or operating agreements in a manner (A) that would be disproportionate and materially adverse to the rights of the holders of Company Common Stock and OpCo Class A Units (after giving effect to the Mergers and who have the right to receive the Corporate Merger Consideration and LLC Merger Consideration) relative to the other holders of Parent Common Stock or (B) would prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and the Merger Subs to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions;
(ii) other than the Corporate Merger and LLC Merger contemplated hereby, adopt a plan of voluntary complete or partial liquidation or dissolution with respect to the Merger Subs; or
(iii) enter into any agreement, or otherwise become committed, to do (or provide authorization for) any action prohibited under this Section 6.01(c).
(d) Promptly following the date of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall jointly establish a committee which shall include at least two appointed representatives from each of Parent and the Company (the Transaction Committee).
(i) The Transaction Committee shall meet (which meeting may be digital and need not be in person) on a weekly basis until the Closing Date at a time agreed by the committee (or as otherwise mutually agreed by the members of the Transaction Committee). The Transaction Committee shall provide a forum to discuss (to the extent helpful but subject always to, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement) matters arising pursuant to this Agreement, including (1) in relation to the pre-Closing conduct of the Acquired Companies, the provisions set out in Section 6.01, and (2) the co-ordination and facilitation of the parties compliance with their undertakings in relation to obtaining all third-party Consents, and more generally, ensuring the preservation of the Companys investor base.
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(ii) The Transaction Committee shall serve as a mere discussion forum and shall not have any decision-making powers to resolve any matters on behalf of the parties hereto; provided, however, that (i) Parent will designate at least two individuals (and notify the Company in writing of such individuals) to the Transaction Committee from either of whom the Company may seek approval to undertake any actions not otherwise permitted to be taken under Section 6.01 of this Agreement, and will ensure that such persons (or substitute(s) therefor notified to the Company in accordance with Section 9.01) will attend the Transaction Committee meetings and respond, on behalf of the Parent, to the Companys requests in an expeditious manner but in any event, no later than three Business Days from delivery of the Companys request by email to such designees or as contemplated by Section 9.01.
(iii) Except as set out otherwise in this Agreement, the Transaction Committee shall determine how it shall conduct its proceedings to review, discuss and consider the matters set out in Section 6.01(b) and such determinations may be amended or supplemented by the Transaction Committee from time to time.
Section 6.02 No Solicitation.
(a) Except as permitted by this Section 6.02, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01, the Company shall not, and shall (x) cause its Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers and employees not to and (y) use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and its Subsidiaries other Representatives not to, (i) solicit, initiate, seek or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry, discussion, offer or request that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with, or furnish any information relating to the Acquired Companies to, knowingly cooperate in any way with, or afford access to the books or records or officers of the Acquired Companies to any Third Party, in each case, with respect to an Acquisition Proposal; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to (A) grant a waiver of any standstill or similar agreement or obligation of any Third Party with respect to the Acquired Companies solely to the extent necessary to allow such Third Party to submit an Acquisition Proposal on a confidential basis in accordance with this Agreement, (B) notify such Third Party that the provisions of this Section 6.02 prohibit any such discussions or negotiations or (C) seek to clarify and understand the terms and conditions of any inquiry, proposal or offer made by any Third Party solely to determine whether such inquiry, proposal or offer constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse, recommend or enter into, or publicly propose to approve, endorse, recommend or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement or other agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement in accordance with Section 6.02 (an Alternative Acquisition Agreement), or (iv) resolve, agree, authorize or commit to do any of the foregoing.
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(b) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall, and shall (x) cause its Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers to and (y) use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and its Subsidiaries other Representatives to, (i) immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing solicitation, discussion or negotiation with any Third Party with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) deliver a written notice to each Person that entered into a confidentiality agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal within the 180 days preceding the date of this Agreement requesting the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to any Person pursuant to such confidentiality agreement within such 180-day period, and (iii) terminate or cause to be terminated any Third Partys and its Affiliates and Representatives access to any data room or other depository of information maintained by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries for purposes of facilitating an Acquisition Proposal.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if, solely during the period prior to adoption of this Agreement by the Required Company Stockholder Approval, (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal from a Third Party which did not result from a material breach of this Section 6.02 and (ii) the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial and outside legal advisors, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal, then the Company and its Representatives may (x) enter into an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement with such Third Party and/or its Affiliates and Representatives and furnish non-public information, and afford access to the books or records or officers of the Acquired Companies, to such Third Party and its Affiliates and Representatives and (y) engage in discussions and negotiations with such Third Party and its Affiliates and Representatives with respect to the Acquisition Proposal; provided, that any non-public information concerning the Acquired Companies made available to any Third Party shall, to the extent not previously made available to Parent, be made available to Parent substantially concurrently with it being made available to such Third Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 6.02 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Representatives may, in any event (without the Special Committee having to make the determination in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence), in response to a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal from a Third Party which did not result from a material breach of this Section 6.02, contact such Third Party solely to (i) determine whether such person intends to provide any documents (or additional documents) containing the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) seek to clarify and understand the terms and conditions of any Acquisition Proposal made by such Third Party solely to determine whether such Acquisition Proposal constitutes, or is reasonably expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal.
(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.02(d) or Section 6.02(e), neither the Company Board nor the Special Committee shall (i) withhold, withdraw, modify, or propose publicly to withhold, withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company Board Recommendation; (ii) fail to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement; (iii) approve, declare advisable or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, declare advisable or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal made or received after the date hereof, (iv) subject to Section 6.02(g), if an Acquisition Proposal has been structured as or a tender offer or exchange offer that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal for any outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock is commenced, fail to publicly reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation and recommend against acceptance of such Acquisition Proposal, tender offer or exchange offer by its
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stockholders within ten (10) Business Days after commencement (any of the actions described in clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 6.02(d) an Adverse Recommendation Change); or (v) cause or permit the Company to enter into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, at any time prior to the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) shall be permitted, subject to compliance with Section 6.02(e), (x) to cause the Company to, and the Company shall be permitted to, terminate this Agreement to concurrently enter into a definitive Alternative Acquisition Agreement and/or (y) to effect any Adverse Recommendation Change. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.02(d) shall be deemed to prohibit, and no Adverse Recommendation Change shall be deemed to have occurred in connection with, any of the actions permitted by Section 6.02(g).
(e) The Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) shall not be entitled to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change or cause the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(h) unless:
(i) (A) the Company has provided, at least four (4) Business Days (as it may be extended or continued, the Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period) in advance, written notice (a Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change) to Parent that the Company intends to take such action (it being understood that the delivery of a Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change and any amendment or update thereto, the determination to so deliver such notice, amendment or update and the Special Committees making of any non-public recommendation to the Company Board with respect thereto will not, by itself, constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change), which notice includes written notice of the material terms of the Superior Proposal and a copy of the most current version of the written agreement relating to such Superior Proposal which enabled the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) to make the determination that the Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal, (B) during the Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period following the time of Parents receipt of the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, be reasonably available to negotiate with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transactions so that such Superior Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal or, in the case of any Adverse Recommendation Change that is not related to a Superior Proposal, as would permit the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee), (consistent with its fiduciary duties under Applicable Law) to not make an Adverse Recommendation Change; and (C) following the end of the Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period described in the preceding clause (B), the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial and outside legal advisors, taking into account any changes to this Agreement and the Transactions offered in a written offer by Parent in response to the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change or otherwise, that the Superior Proposal giving rise to the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change continues to constitute a Superior Proposal or, as applicable, in
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the case of any Adverse Recommendation Change that is not related to a Superior Proposal, that the failure to make such Adverse Recommendation Change would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under Applicable Law (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or modification of such Superior Proposal shall require a new Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change with a new Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period of four (4) Business Days); or
(ii) (A) an Intervening Event has occurred; (B) the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) has determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial and outside legal advisors, that the failure to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under Applicable Law; (C) the Company has provided, at least four (4) Business Days written notice (a Notice of Intervening Event) to Parent that the Company intends to take such action (it being understood that the delivery of a Notice of Intervening Event and any amendment or update thereto and the determination to so deliver such notice, amendment or update will not, by itself, constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change), which notice includes reasonably detailed information describing the Intervening Event; (D) during the Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period following the time of Parents receipt of the Notice of Intervening Event, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, be reasonably available to negotiate with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transactions in response to such Intervening Event; and (E) following the end of such Adverse Recommendation Change Notice Period, the Special Committee (or the Company Board, acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial and outside legal advisors, taking into account any changes to this Agreement and the Transactions offered in writing by Parent in response to the Notice of Intervening Event, that the failure to make such Adverse Recommendation Change would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under Applicable Law.
(f) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time or the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 8.01, (i) as promptly as practicable (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal or any request for information or inquiry that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall provide Parent with written notice of the material terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and the identity of the party making such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry, and (ii) the Company shall provide Parent as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours) with written notice setting forth such information as is necessary to keep Parent reasonably informed of any material oral or written communications regarding, and the status and material details (including amendments or proposed amendments) of any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and if in writing unredacted copies of all writings or media (whether or not electronic) containing any terms or conditions of any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Acquisitions Agreements.
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(g) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company, the Company Board or the Special Committee, directly or indirectly through its Representatives, from (i) taking and disclosing to the Companys stockholders a position with respect to a tender or exchange offer by a Third Party pursuant to Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to the Companys stockholders) or from issuing a stop, look and listen statement pending disclosure of its position thereunder; provided, that any such disclosure does not otherwise constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change, or (ii) making any other communication to the Companys stockholders if (in the case of this clause (ii)) the Special Committee has determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial and outside legal advisors, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the directors fiduciary duties under Applicable Law; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company, the Company Board, the Special Committee or their respective Representatives make any Adverse Recommendation Change other than in accordance with Section 6.02(e).
Section 6.03 Governmental Consents and Filings.
(a) Subject to Section 6.03(c), the parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, use their reasonable best efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under Applicable Laws, including Antitrust Laws, or otherwise to consummate and make effective the Transactions as promptly as practicable, (ii) obtain from Governmental Authorities all Governmental Permits required to be obtained by the parties, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, including those required to be obtained under the Applicable Laws set forth on Section 6.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and avoid any Proceeding by any Governmental Authority (including in connection with Antitrust Laws), in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, and (iii) (A) as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) Business Days after the date hereof, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any other submissions, with respect to this Agreement required or advisable under the HSR Act, (B) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, and in any event within twenty (20) Business Days after the date hereof, file, or cause to be filed with the Utah Insurance Department (the Utah Department), a Form A application for approval of acquisition of control of BIGRM by Parent, together with all required exhibits, information, affidavits, and certificates (other than biographical affidavits, fingerprints and financial information regarding any Persons which shall be filed within thirty (30) Business Days after the date hereof), that are required to be filed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the Form A Filing), and (C) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, and in any event within twenty (20) Business Days after the date hereof, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any other submissions, with respect to this Agreement required or advisable under any other Applicable Law. The Company and Parent shall furnish to each other all information required for any application or other filing under any Applicable Law in connection with the Transactions. Parent shall provide OpCo with (i) a draft of the Form A Filing (and each amendment or supplement thereto) and allow OpCo the opportunity to review the draft form and to consult with Parent on, and consider in good faith, any issues arising as a result of OpCos review prior to the submission by Parent to the Utah Department of the Form A Filing; provided, however, the Form A Filing shall not contain any amendments or modifications to the business plan of BIGRM that has been previously filed with the Department or any other changes that are not reasonably necessary to memorialize the Parents control of BIGRM after the Closing, in each case to the extent such amendment, modifications or changes would reasonably
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be expected to delay the Utah Departments approval of the Transactions as applicable to BIGRM, (ii) copies of the Form A Filing and each amendment or supplement thereto in final form promptly following the submission thereof to the Utah Department and (iii) a copy of all written communications regarding the Form A Filing between Parent and the Utah Department; provided, however, in each case, Parent shall not be required to provide OpCo with any personally identifiable information or personal financial information in respect of any individual or any information or materials that are legally privileged or competitively sensitive.
(b) Subject to Section 6.03(c), without limiting the generality of anything contained in this Section 6.03, each party hereto shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to: (i) give the other parties prompt notice of the making or commencement of any Proceeding by a Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions; (ii) keep the other parties promptly informed as to the status of any such Proceeding; (iii) as promptly as practicable (and in any event within one (1) Business Day after receipt of any written communication) inform the other parties of any material written communication to or from any Governmental Authority regarding the Transactions; (iv) respond as promptly as practicable to any additional requests for information, documents or testimony received from any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions or filings contemplated by Section 6.03(a) (in each case to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and the applicable Governmental Authority); provided, that information required to be provided pursuant to this section may be redacted (1) as necessary to comply with Applicable Law, and (2) as necessary to address reasonable privilege concerns; provided, further, that (x) a party may reasonably designate any competitively or commercially sensitive material provided to another party under this section as Outside Counsel Only, (y) each party shall not be required to provide information regarding any individual beneficial owner of such party, of a Fund or a Parent Fund to the other parties, and (z) information required to be provided under this Section 6.03 shall not include information regarding Persons other than Parent and its Subsidiaries unless such information is readily available to Parent and not confidential personal information of a natural person (or family or trust of a natural person) (provided that, Parent shall send a request to such natural person or such natural persons family or trust for such information); and (v) use reasonable best efforts to (A) obtain all Governmental Permits that are necessary, proper or advisable under any Applicable Laws, including Antitrust Laws, to consummate the Transactions and (B) defend any Proceeding challenging the Transactions, including seeking to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Governmental Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and that could delay, restrict, prevent or prohibit consummation of the Transactions; provided no party hereto shall commence (including any appeals) any Proceeding with respect thereto without the other partys consent. Each party hereto will, and will cause its Affiliates to, consult and cooperate with the other parties and consider in good faith the views of the other parties in connection with any filing, analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions. In addition, except as prohibited by any Governmental Authority or by Applicable Law, in connection with any such Proceeding, each party hereto will permit Representatives of the other parties to be present at each meeting or conference relating to obtaining Governmental Permits or any such Proceeding and to have access to and be consulted in connection with any document, opinion or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Authority in connection with obtaining Governmental Permits or any such Proceeding.
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(c) In furtherance of the agreements set forth in this Section 6.03, Parent shall, if necessary to avoid, prevent, eliminate or remove the actual or threatened commencement of any Proceeding in any forum by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or the issuance of any Governmental Order that would (or to obtain the agreement or consent of any Governmental Authority to the Transactions the absence of which would) delay, enjoin, prevent, restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Transactions, offer, propose, negotiate, agree to, commit to and effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, (i) the sale, transfer, divestiture, license or other disposition of any assets, businesses, commercial relationships or interests of the Acquired Companies, (ii) conduct of business restrictions, or limitations on freedom of action, with respect to any assets, businesses, commercial relationships or interests of the Acquired Companies, (iii) the amendment of any business venture or other arrangement of the Acquired Companies, and (iv) any other remedy, condition, commitment or undertaking of any kind with respect to any assets, businesses, commercial relationships or interests of the Acquired Companies (the actions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), the Remedy Actions), provided, however, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.03 or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing shall require or be construed to require (a) Parent to (and without the prior written consent of Parent, no Acquired Company shall) (1) take any Remedy Action that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole, or (2) divest any portfolio investment or portfolio investment of any account, fund or other investment vehicle sponsored or managed by them or take any other action with respect to such portfolio investments, in each case to the extent such action would be a breach of fiduciary duties to its clients with respect to investment activities; or (b) any member of the Apollo Group (other than, for the avoidance of doubt the Acquired Companies) to take any action of the type described in the definition of Remedy Action (replacing references to the Acquired Companies with the Apollo Group).
(d) This Section 6.03 shall not apply to the obtaining of Client Consents, which shall be governed exclusively by Section 6.12.
(e) Parent shall be solely responsible for and pay all filing fees incurred by any party in connection with obtaining Governmental Permits in connection with the Transactions; provided that any consents or approvals of the type described in Section 6.12 shall not be subject to this Section 6.03(e).
(f) Parent shall not between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, directly or indirectly, acquire, purchase, lease or license (or agree to acquire, purchase, lease or license), by merging with or into or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division or part thereof, or any securities or collection of assets, with the specific intention to: (i) cause a delay in obtaining, or materially increase the risk of not obtaining, any Governmental Permit in connection with the Transactions or (ii) restrict, prevent, prohibit, impede, interfere with or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions.
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Section 6.04 Proxy Statement and Registration Statement.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable (but in any event no later than forty (40) calendar days following the date of this Agreement), Parent shall file or cause to be filed with the SEC the Registration Statement and the Company and Parent shall jointly prepare (i) the prospectus of Parent included in the Registration Statement for the issuance of the Parent Common Stock (the Parent Prospectus) and (ii) the proxy statement of the Company for the Company Stockholder Meeting (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the Proxy Statement and, together with the Parent Prospectus, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus). Each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act, and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be cleared by the SEC and its staff under the Exchange Act, as promptly as practicable after such filing, and to keep the Registration Statement effective so long as necessary to consummate the Mergers. Unless an Adverse Recommendation Change has been made in accordance with Section 6.02, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall include the Special Committee Recommendation and the Company Board Recommendation in any iteration of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed in preliminary or definitive form. Each party shall (i) promptly notify the other parties upon the receipt (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours of such receipt) of any comments from the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) or any request from the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) for amendments or supplements to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as applicable, and shall promptly provide the other parties (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours of such receipt) with copies of all correspondence between such first party and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC (or the staff of the SEC), on the other hand. If a party receives comments from the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) on the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as applicable, each of the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments of the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as applicable. Parent shall advise the Company, promptly after the receipt of notice thereof, of the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of qualification of the shares of Parent Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. Parent shall take any other action required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, NYSE rules and regulations, any applicable foreign or state securities or blue sky Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in the Mergers (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified), and the Company shall furnish to Parent all information concerning the Company and the Companys stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions. The Company and Parent shall prepare the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and Parent shall prepare the Registration Statement, in each case, in compliance as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Without limiting any other provision herein, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement will contain such information and disclosure reasonably requested by Parent or the Company so that the Registration Statement conforms in form and substance to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus conforms in form and substance to the requirements of the Exchange Act.
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No filing of or mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement (or, in each case, any amendment or supplement thereto) or response to any comments of the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) with respect thereto shall be made by, in the case of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Company or its Affiliates without the prior written (email being sufficient) approval of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and in the case of the Registration Statement, Parent without the prior written (email being sufficient) approval of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and each of the Company and Parent shall provide the other with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon; provided, however, that the Company may amend or supplement the Proxy Statement without the prior written consent of Parent in the event of an Adverse Recommendation Change.
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall, as promptly as possible (and in any event no later than twenty (20) calendar days following the date of this Agreement), furnish to the other all reasonably required information concerning Parent and the Merger Subs, on the one hand, or the Acquired Companies and its Affiliates, on the other hand, as applicable, as may be reasonably requested by the Company or Parent, as applicable, in connection with the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, including such information that is required by the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or other Applicable Law to be set forth in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, and shall otherwise assist and cooperate with the other party in the preparation of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, or the Registration Statement, as applicable and the resolution of comments from the SEC (or the staff of the SEC). If the SEC (or the staff of the SEC) comments on the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, Parent or the Company, as applicable, shall, to the extent applicable and upon a good-faith and reasonable request of the Company or Parent, as applicable, confirm and/or supplement the information relating to Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC, on the one hand, and the Acquired Companies and its Affiliates, on the other hand, in each case supplied by Parent or the Company, as applicable, for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, in each case, sufficiently in advance of the mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus be included therein. None of the Company, Parent or their respective Representatives shall agree to participate in any material or substantive meeting or conference (including by telephone) with the SEC, or any member of the staff thereof, in respect of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, or the Registration Statement, as applicable unless, to the extent reasonably practicable, it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent permitted by the SEC, allows the other party to participate.
(c) In accordance with the Companys organizational documents, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to, in consultation with Parent, (x) establish a record date for and give notice of a meeting of its stockholders, which record date shall be prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, for the purpose of voting upon the adoption of this Agreement (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the Company Stockholder Meeting), (y) commence a broker search (and any additional broker searches, if necessary) pursuant to Section 14a-13 of the Exchange Act and (z) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective, and, in any event, within five (5) Business Days after the Registration Statement is declared effective, file the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in definitive
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form with the SEC and mail to the holders of Company Common Stock as of the record date for notice established for the Company Stockholder Meeting the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (such date, the Proxy Date). The Company shall duly call, convene and hold the Company Stockholder Meeting as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Proxy Date; provided, however, that the Company may postpone, recess or adjourn the Company Stockholder Meeting: (i) with the consent of Parent, (ii) for the absence of a quorum (in which case the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such quorum as promptly as practicable) or (iii) if, after consultation with Parent, the Company believes in good faith that such postponement, recess or adjournment is reasonably necessary to (A) solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Approval, or (B) allow reasonable additional time for the filing and distribution of any supplemental or amended disclosure which the Special Committee or the Company Board, acting upon direction from the Special Committee, has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) is necessary under Applicable Laws or fiduciary duty and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated to and reviewed by the Companys stockholders prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting; provided, further, that, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), without the written consent of Parent, in no event shall the Company Stockholder Meeting be (I) postponed more than a total of three (3) times, (II) held on a date later than the earlier of (x) twenty (20) Business Days after the date for which the Company Stockholder Meeting was originally scheduled prior to such postponement or adjournment (in the case of clause (iii)(B) excluding any postponements or adjournments required by applicable Law or fiduciary duty) and (y) three (3) Business Days before the End Date or (III) postponed if such doing so would require the setting of a new record date. If the Company Stockholder Meeting is postponed, the Company shall convene or reconvene, as applicable, the Company Stockholder Meeting at the earliest practicable date on which the Company Board reasonably expects to have sufficient affirmative votes to obtain the Required Company Stockholder Approval. Unless the Special Committee or the Company Board, acting upon direction from the Special Committee, shall have effected an Adverse Recommendation Change in accordance with Section 6.02, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to hold the Company Stockholder Meeting if this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII. Without the prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required by applicable Law, the matters contemplated by this Agreement shall be the only matters (other than matters of procedure and matters required by Applicable Law to be voted on by the Companys stockholders in connections therewith) that the Company shall propose to be voted on by the Companys stockholders at the Company Stockholder Meeting and, except as may be required by Applicable Law or Governmental Order, the Company shall not hold or convene any meeting of stockholders prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting. The Company shall provide reasonable updates to Parent with respect to the proxy solicitation for the Company Stockholder Meeting (including interim results) as reasonably requested by Parent.
(d) If the Company or Parent, as applicable, determines that it is required to file any document other than the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement, as applicable, with the SEC in connection with the Mergers or other Transactions pursuant to Applicable Law (such document, as amended or supplemented, an Other Required Filing), then the Company or Parent, as applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare and file such Other Required Filing to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements
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of the Exchange Act and other Applicable Law. Except in connection with an Adverse Recommendation Change or thereafter, the Company shall not file any Other Required Filing with the SEC without the written approval of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and the Company shall provide Parent and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon, and the Company shall give good faith consideration to all reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested by Parent or its counsel. Parent shall not file any Other Required Filing with the SEC without the written approval of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and Parent shall provide the Company and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon, and Parent shall give good faith consideration to all reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested by the Company or its counsel; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be required to provide the Company with an opportunity to review and comment on any portion of any Other Required Filing being filed by Parent which solely reflects information which is substantially similar to information that has been previously disclosed in other Parent SEC Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Registration Statement).
(e) If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event, circumstance or information relating to the Company or Parent or any of the Companys or Parents Subsidiaries, or their respective officers or directors, or relating to any information supplied by Parent or the Company for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, is discovered by the Company or Parent, respectively, which, pursuant to the Exchange Act, is required to be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to such document, such party shall promptly inform the other parties hereto and, subject to Section 6.04(d), an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Applicable Law, disseminated to the Companys stockholders. Each party agrees to correct any information provided by it for use in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement which shall have become false or misleading.
Section 6.05 Access to Information. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and its Representatives reasonable access (upon reasonable advance written notice), during normal business hours, in such manner as to not unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of the Acquired Companies, to their respective properties, books and records, and shall furnish such Representatives with existing financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the Acquired Companies as such Representatives may reasonably request in writing, in each case, for the purpose of consummating the Transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that (a) nothing herein shall require the Acquired Companies to disclose any information to Parent or its Representatives if such disclosure would, in the reasonable judgment of the Companys outside legal counsel, violate Applicable Law or the provisions of any Contract (including any confidentiality agreement or similar agreement or arrangement) to which any Acquired Company is a party as of the date hereof or cause the loss of any attorney-client or other legal privilege or similar protection; and (b) the Acquired Companies shall only be required to afford Parent access to the Leased Real Property and shall not be required to afford Parent access to any properties owned by any Fund or managed by the Acquired Companies; provided, further that, the Company shall cooperate with Parent to establish an
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appropriate confidentiality procedure or other work-around to provide Parent with the broadest access to information practicable under the circumstances, in each case in a manner that preserves such compliance with Applicable Law, with provisions of any such Contract or such privilege. The Companies shall have the right to have one or more Representatives present at all times during any visits, examinations, discussions or contacts contemplated by this Section 6.05. All information obtained by Parent, the Merger Subs and their respective Representatives shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement. No investigation or access permitted pursuant to this Section 6.05 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company hereunder. Parent will use its reasonable best efforts to minimize any disruption to the respective business of the Acquired Companies that may result from requests for access under this Section 6.05 and, the Company may satisfy its obligations set forth above by electronic means if physical access is not reasonably feasible, would not be permitted under Applicable Law as a result of COVID-19 or would jeopardize the health and safety of any Company Service Provider.
Section 6.06 Confidentiality; Public Announcements. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 6.02(g) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall limit the rights of the Company, the Company Board or the Special Committee under Section 6.02), prior to the Effective Time, so long as an Adverse Recommendation Change has not occurred, the parties shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or public announcement with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions, and none of the parties or their Affiliates shall issue any such press release or public announcement prior to obtaining the other parties consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except that no such consent shall be necessary to the extent disclosure may be required by Applicable Law, Governmental Order or applicable stock exchange rule or any listing agreement of any party hereto; provided, that the other party has been given reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such required disclosure. The Company may, without Parents or Merger Subs consent, communicate to its and its Subsidiaries employees, customers, Clients, suppliers and consultants in a manner consistent with a communication previously agreed to by Parent and the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth therein or herein, the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing. Nothing in this Section 6.06 shall limit the ability of any party hereto to make additional disclosures that are consistent in all but de minimis respects with the prior public disclosures regarding the Transactions.
Section 6.07 Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
(a) The parties agree that to the fullest extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, from and after the Effective Time, all rights to indemnification, exculpation and advancement of expenses now existing under the organizational documents, and all indemnification agreements set forth on Section 6.07 of the Company Disclosure Letter, of the Acquired Companies in favor of any individual who, at the Effective Time, is entitled to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses thereunder (collectively, the D&O Indemnified Persons) with respect to their activities as such prior to the Effective Time, as provided in such organizational documents and indemnification agreements, shall survive the Effective Time and continue in full force and effect for a period of six (6) years from the Closing Date; provided that, in the event any claim or claims are asserted or made within such survival period, all such rights to indemnification in respect of any claim or claims shall continue until the final disposition of such claim or claims. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall cause the Acquired Companies (A) to maintain for a
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period of not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time provisions in their respective organizational documents concerning the indemnification and exculpation of (and provisions relating to expense advancement to) the D&O Indemnified Persons at any time prior to the Closing that are no less favorable to those Persons than the organizational documents of the Acquired Companies, as applicable, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement (and made available to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement) and (B) not to amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions in any respect that would materially adversely affect the rights of those Persons thereunder, in each case, except as required by Applicable Law. From and after the Effective Time, (i) the Company agrees that, as the Surviving Corporation, it shall, and (ii) OpCo agrees that, as the Surviving LLC, it shall, in each case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) (as applicable), indemnify and hold harmless (and advance funds in respect of each of the foregoing or any related expenses) each D&O Indemnified Person against any costs or expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities or amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of, related to or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, manager or officer of any Acquired Company and arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted by the organizational documents of the Acquired Companies, as applicable, in effect as of the date of this Agreement (and made available to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement) and subject to Applicable Law; provided that any such Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advance if it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such person is not entitled to indemnification under Applicable Law.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cause coverage to be extended under the current directors and officers liability insurance policies and fiduciary liability insurance policies (including errors and omissions policies) (collectively, the D&O Insurance) by obtaining at or prior to the Closing Date a prepaid, non-cancelable six (6)-year tail policy (containing terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage) with respect to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time provided, that, in no event shall the total cost of such tail policy exceed an amount equal to three hundred percent (300%) of the average aggregate annual premium paid by the Acquired Companies since 2021 for their D&O Insurance policies and fiduciary liability insurance policies (including errors and omissions policies) (the Premium Cap); provided, further, that if the amount of such tail policy exceeds the Premium Cap, the Company shall obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding the Premium Cap. If any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding is asserted or made against those Persons who are currently covered by the Acquired Companies directors and officers liability insurance policies and fiduciary liability insurance policies (including errors and omissions policies) on or prior to the sixth (6th) year anniversary of the Effective Time, any insurance required to be maintained under this Section 6.07 shall be continued in respect of such claim until the final disposition thereof. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent with respect to the insurance requirements set forth in this Section 6.07.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 6.07 shall survive the consummation of the Corporate Merger and the LLC Merger and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on all successors and assigns of Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the Surviving LLC. In the event that Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Surviving LLC or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, consummates any division transaction or conversion or consummates a transfer or conveyance of properties and assets to any Person, in each case, which would reasonably be expected to render the Surviving Corporation or the Surviving LLC, as applicable, to be unable to fulfill its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.07, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Surviving LLC, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.07. The provisions of this Section 6.07 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each D&O Indemnified Person and his or her heirs and executors.
Section 6.08 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board (or an appropriate committee thereof) shall take such actions as are required to cause the disposition of Company Common Stock, Company Stock Awards or other securities in connection with the Transactions by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
Section 6.09 Stockholder Litigation. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall notify Parent promptly of the commencement of any Proceeding brought or threatened in writing against the Acquired Companies or any of their respective directors or executive officers relating to the transactions contemplated hereby (the Transaction Litigation) and shall promptly advise Parent of any material developments with respect to, and keep Parent reasonably informed with respect to, the status thereof. The Company shall be entitled to direct and control the defense of any such Transaction Litigation; provided, however, Parent may reasonably participate (but not control) (subject to a customary joint defense agreement) in the defense and any negotiations or settlement discussions of any Transaction Litigation at its own expense and the Company shall give reasonable consideration to Parents advice with respect to such Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not, and shall cause its Representatives not to, settle or agree to any undertakings or approve or otherwise agree to any waiver that may be sought in connection with any Transaction Litigation without Parents prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). Each of the parties shall cooperate and cause their respective Subsidiaries to, as applicable, cooperate and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to cooperate, in the defense of any litigation contemplated by this Section 6.09.
Section 6.10 Employee Matters.
(a) From and after the Effective Time and for a period ending twelve (12) months following the Effective Time, Parent shall provide or cause its Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Corporation, to provide to each Continuing Employee who remains employed with Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent with (i) base salary or wage rate, as applicable, that is not less than the base salary or wage rate (as applicable) provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) target cash incentive compensation opportunities that
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are substantially comparable to those in effect prior to the Effective Time, including, for 2025, mid and end of year cash bonus payments as in effect prior to the Effective Time at target levels provided, however, with respect to compensation opportunities relating to fiscal year 2026 and thereafter, such cash incentive compensation payable for 2026 may be settled pursuant to Parents customary incentive compensation program (which includes cash and restricted stock units), (iii) health and welfare benefits (excluding any equity-based compensation, nonqualified deferred compensation, defined benefit pension, post-employment or retiree health or welfare, change in control, severance or retention benefits (collectively, the Excluded Benefits)) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those provided to the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (iv) severance benefits that are no less favorable than the severance benefits set forth in Section 6.10(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (v) tax-qualified defined contribution retirement benefits that are at least substantially comparable to those provided to Parents other similarly situated employees.
(b) With respect to benefit plans maintained by Parent or any of Parents Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Corporation (including any vacation and paid time-off but excluding the Excluded Benefits), for all purposes, including determining eligibility to participate, level of benefits (but not for benefit accruals or participation eligibility under any defined benefit pension plan or plan providing post-retirement medical or other similar benefits) and vesting, each Continuing Employees service with any Acquired Company, as reflected in the Companys records, shall be treated as service with Parent or any Subsidiaries of Parent, including the Surviving Corporation, but solely to the extent that service was credited to such Continuing Employee for such purposes under a comparable Company Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that such service need not be recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in any duplication of benefits.
(c) Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to, or shall cause Parents Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation) to use reasonable best efforts to, waive, or cause to be waived, any pre-existing condition limitations, exclusions, evidence of insurability, actively-at-work requirements and waiting periods under any welfare benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of Parents Subsidiaries in which Continuing Employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to participate from and after the Effective Time, except to the extent that such pre-existing condition limitations, exclusions, actively-at-work requirements and waiting periods would not have been satisfied or waived under the comparable Company Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time. Parent shall, or shall cause Parents Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Corporation, to use reasonable best efforts to recognize, or cause to be recognized, the dollar amount of all co-payments, deductibles and similar expenses incurred by each Continuing Employee (and his or her eligible dependents) during the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs for purposes of satisfying such years deductible and co-payment limitations under the relevant welfare benefit plans in which such Continuing Employees (and dependents) will be eligible to participate from and after the Effective Time.
(d) Without limiting Section 6.10(a), following the Effective Time, Parent will use reasonable best efforts to implement or cause the Surviving Corporation or its Affiliates to implement the employee compensation matters set forth on Section 6.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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(e) If requested by Parent in writing delivered to the Company not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall, or shall cause the Acquired Companies to, (i) take any actions necessary to terminate the Acquired Companies 401(k) plans (the 401(k) Plans), with such termination to be effective as of the day prior to the Closing Date and contingent upon the occurrence of the Effective Time and (ii) no later than two days prior to the Closing Date, provide Parent with evidence that the 401(k) Plans have been terminated pursuant to resolutions of the board of directors of the Acquired Companies (effective as of the day immediately preceding the Closing Date), the form and substance of which shall be subject to reasonable review and comment by Parent.
(f) The provisions of this Section 6.10 are solely for the benefit of the parties to this Agreement, and no Continuing Employee (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof) shall be regarded for any purpose as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement, and no provision of this Section 6.10 shall create such rights in any such Persons. Nothing herein shall (i) guarantee employment for any period of time or preclude the ability of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, to terminate the employment of any Continuing Employee at any time and for any reason; (ii) require Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, to continue any Company Benefit Plans, or other employee benefit plans or arrangements or prevent the amendment, modification or termination thereof after the Effective Time; or (iii) amend any Company Benefit Plans. Nothing in this Section 6.10 shall limit any rights of any Company Service Provider pursuant to an employment or other agreement.
Section 6.11 Third Party Consents. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain any consents or provide any notices required in connection with the Transactions under the Contracts reasonably requested by Parent (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the agreements set forth on Section 6.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter); provided that (a) neither the Acquired Companies nor the Apollo Group, and their respective Affiliates, shall be obligated or permitted to pay any consideration or grant any concession in value to a Third Party to whom such consent is requested and, (b) for the avoidance of doubt, the obtaining of any such consent shall not be a condition to Closing.
Section 6.12 Client Consents.
(a) The Company shall, and shall cause the other Acquired Companies to, use reasonable best efforts to obtain, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, the consent of each Client, including, as applicable, the consent of any applicable requisite percentage of the board of directors, advisory committee, investment committee, or investors of such Client, to (i) the deemed assignment (within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act) of such Clients Investment Advisory Contract, (ii) the Transactions (to the extent required by any applicable Contract with such Client in addition to the preceding clause (i) and set forth opposite such Clients name on Section 6.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (iii) the Fund Documentation Amendments, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), in the manner contemplated by Section 6.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (iv) with respect to new Clients with Investment Advisory Contracts entered into after the date hereof, the deemed assignment (within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act) of such Clients Investment Advisory Contract in accordance with such Clients Investment Advisory Contract and Applicable Law (each such
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consent set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iv), a Client Consent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Company and Parent acknowledge that, in the event that after using reasonable best efforts to obtain the applicable Client Consent with respect to any Fund Documentation Amendment, the Company does not receive the requisite Client Consent with respect to such Fund Documentation Amendment, the Company shall not be required to continue seeking consent from such Client for such Fund Documentation Amendment if such efforts would reasonably be expected to prevent such Clients Client Consent with respect to the Transactions or materially delay the Closing.
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within twenty (20) Business Days, following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall send, or cause to be sent, a written notice, in a form to be mutually agreed by Parent and the Company (a Company Transaction Notice) with (i) such additional disclosure as shall be provided by Parent (with such additional disclosure being subject to the Companys prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)) and (ii) the Fund Documentation Amendments, as applicable, to each Client or, in the case of any Client that is a Fund, from whom consent of the limited partners or other investors of such Fund is required, the limited partners or other investors of such Fund. The Company shall provide to Parent for review and approval in advance of distribution (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), copies of any substantive notices or other materials to be distributed by any Acquired Company to any Client (or any director, advisory committee member or investor therein), in connection with obtaining any Client Consent, in each case, other than materials that are substantively similar to the Company Transaction Notice or prior materials already approved by Parent. In connection with the Client Consents with respect to the Fund Documentation Amendments, each of the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, cooperate with each other in good faith and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective reasonable best efforts to mutually agree to the form of Fund Documentation Amendments with respect to each Client (and the parties agree Parent shall prepare and propose the initial drafts of the Fund Documentation Amendments for review by and discussion with the Company) and, subject to clause (a) above, take such other action as such other party may reasonably require in order to effectuate the Fund Documentation Amendments and obtain the consent of the Clients with respect to the Fund Documentation Amendments applicable to such Client. The form of the Fund Documentation Amendments shall address only the matters set forth on Section 6.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided that the Company shall consider in good faith any additional Fund Documentation Amendments reasonably proposed by Parent, and shall seek the consent of the applicable Clients for such additional Fund Documentation Amendment(s) unless the Company reasonably determines, following consultation with Parent, that such additional Fund Documentation Amendment(s) would be expected to (i) prevent such Clients Client Consent with respect to the Transactions or (ii) materially delay the Closing.
(c) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01, the Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed of the status of obtaining the Client Consents and shall, upon Parents request, without duplication of Section 6.12(b), provide to Parent copies of any material written communications with any Client (including the directors, advisory committee members and investors thereof), other than any informal inquiries or similar immaterial communications, with
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respect to the Transactions and the Client Consent process (including the receipt of written notice from any director, advisory committee member or investor in any Client that such director, advisory committee member or investor is not providing or conditioning its consent to the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement). Following the mailing or initial distribution of the Company Transaction Notices, the Company shall provide Parent a weekly update regarding the status of the Client Consents, and shall provide, on a weekly basis, copies of all executed Client Consent documents.
(d) Parent shall reasonably cooperate with the Acquired Companies as may be reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the seeking of the Client Consents (including by providing any information relating to the Transaction or Parents operation of the Acquired Companies following the Closing, in each case as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the foregoing with respect to Parent or its Affiliates, including any customary due diligence or other information reasonably requested by any Client relating to the Parent or its Affiliates). Except as consented to by the Company in writing (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and except for any contact or communication initiated by any Client (or investor therein), any officer, director, managing member or general partner of any Client (or investor therein) or any advisory committee or similar body with respect to any Client, Parent shall not, and Parent shall cause its officers, directors, employees and other agents and representatives not to, communicate with any Client (or investors therein), any officer, director, managing member or general partner of any Client (or investors therein) or any advisory committee or similar body with respect to any Client in connection with the Transactions, including for the purpose of soliciting Client Consents. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall restrict any contact or communication by Parent or any of its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee or other agent or representative of any of them in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the Transactions. Each of Parent and the Company shall not, and the Company and Parent shall cause their respective officers, directors, employees and other agents and representatives not to, request any Client (or investor therein), any officer, director, managing member or general partner of any Client (or investor therein) or any advisory committee or similar body with respect to any Client to withhold, withdraw or revoke a Client Consent.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not, and shall cause each other Acquired Company, and its and their respective Representatives, not to, (i) make any payment to, or grant any other economic concession (including any obligation of any Acquired Company, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates to make any payment or assume or incur any other obligation or liability) to, any Client or the board of directors or trustees or investors thereof, (ii) reduce (or offer to reduce), cap, waive, reimburse or otherwise modify any fee payable by (or in respect of) any Client (other than as required by and in accordance with any existing Contract with such Client), or (iii) other than in the case of a de minimis amendment or modification that would not reasonably be expected to adversely impact the economic value of the applicable Client relationship, amend or modify (or offer to amend or modify) an Investment Advisory Contract or any Fund Documentation (other than as set forth in the Fund Documentation Amendments).
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(f) For any new Client with whom an Investment Advisory Contract is entered into after the date hereof, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to ensure that such new Investment Advisory Contract will not by its terms terminate (or give rise to a termination right) as a result of the consummation of the Transactions and shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the written consent of the applicable Client to the Transactions, including the assignment (or deemed assignment under the Investment Advisers Act) of such Investment Advisory Contract as a result of the consummation of the Transactions.
Section 6.13 Notices of Certain Events. The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of written notice or other communication received by such party from any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such party to obtain such consent would be reasonably likely to cause any condition set forth in Article VII to be unsatisfied. Parent shall give the Company prompt written notice of any Proceedings commenced or, to Parents Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, which relate to this Agreement or the Transactions.
Section 6.14 Stock Exchange Delisting and Listing. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Companys securities to be de-listed from NYSE and de-registered under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable following the Effective Time in compliance with Applicable Law. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Mergers to be approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective Time.
Section 6.15 The Merger Subs. Parent will take all actions necessary to (a) cause each Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Corporate Merger and the LLC Merger, as the case may be, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and (b) ensure that, prior to the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, the Merger Subs shall not conduct any business, or incur or guarantee any indebtedness or make any investments, other than as specifically contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.16 Tax Matters.
(a) OpCo Closing of the Books. The parties shall give effect to the LLC Merger and the conversion of the OpCo Class A Common Units to the LLC Merger Consideration pursuant to this Agreement as of the Closing Date and shall cause OpCo (and any of OpCos Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to allocate all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit for the taxable year of such Acquired Company in which the Closing Date occurs to its applicable members in accordance with (as applicable) Section 706 of the Code based on a closing of the books as of the close of business on the Closing Date.
(b) OpCo Representative. Adam OFarrell is hereby constituted and appointed as agent and attorney-in-fact for and on behalf of each limited partner of OpCo, solely for purposes of this Section 6.16 (the OpCo Representative). The OpCo Representative will not be liable for any act done or omitted under this Agreement as the OpCo Representative while acting in good faith, and any act taken or omitted to be taken pursuant to the advice of counsel will be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
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(c) Pre-Closing Pass-Through Tax Returns. From and after the Closing, the OpCo Representative shall cause KPMG to prepare, at OpCos expense, and Parent shall timely file (or cause to be timely filed) (taking into account all valid extensions of time to file) all Pass-Through Tax Returns that relate solely to taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date (the Member Returns). Parent will prepare (or cause to be prepared), and timely file (or cause to be timely filed) (taking into account all valid extensions of time to file), all Pass-Through Tax Returns that relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period other than any Member Returns (the Parent Returns, and together with the Member Returns, the Pre-Closing Returns). All Pre-Closing Returns shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the past practice of OpCo, the Intended Tax Treatment and the Final Allocation, except as provided by Applicable Law or as provided herein. The party required to prepare any Pre-Closing Returns pursuant to this Section 6.16(c) (the Preparing Party) shall provide a copy of such Pre-Closing Returns to the other party (the Reviewing Party) at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the due date of such Pre-Closing Return for such Reviewing Partys review and comment, and shall consider in good faith any reasonable comments of such Reviewing Party with respect to such Pre-Closing Returns that are provided by such Reviewing Party to the Preparing Party at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the due date for filing such Pre-Closing Returns (taking into account all valid extensions of time to file). Parent and the OpCo Representative shall use good faith efforts to resolve any dispute regarding the preparation of any Pre-Closing Returns.
(d) Post-Closing Actions. From and after the Closing, except (A) as contemplated by this Agreement or (B) with the express written consent of the OpCo Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates (including the Company and OpCo following the Closing) shall, with respect to OpCo (i) take any action on the Closing Date after the Closing other than in the ordinary course of business and as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) amend any Pass-Through Tax Return with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (iii) make, change or revoke any Tax election with respect to a Pass-Through Tax Return that has retroactive effect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or (iv) extend or waive, or cause to be extended or waived, any statutory period of limitations or other period for the assessment of any Tax or deficiency related to a Pre-Closing Tax Period in respect of Pass-Through Tax Returns (other than with respect to automatic extensions reasonably made in the ordinary course of business), in each case of clauses (ii) through (iv) to the extent doing so could reasonably be expected to result in increased income Taxes to the holders of OpCo Units (other than the Company).
(e) Pass-Through Tax Contests. In the event of any audit, inquiry, examination, assessment, adjustment, proceeding or similar event with respect to any Pass-Through Tax Return that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period (a Tax Proceeding), Parent shall control and shall be entitled to amend any Tax Returns in connection with such Tax Proceeding; provided that if Parent determines in its reasonable discretion that a Tax Proceeding is reasonably likely to result in a material Tax liability to any holder of OpCo Units, (i) the OpCo Representative shall have the right (but not the duty) to participate in the defense of such Tax Proceeding and to employ counsel, solely at such holders expense, separate from the counsel employed by Parent or its Affiliates and (ii) neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates shall enter into any settlement of or otherwise compromise such Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of the OpCo Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
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(f) Push-Out Election. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Parent and its Affiliates agree to not cause OpCo to make a push out election described in Section 6226(a) of the Code (or similar provision of state or local Tax Law) with respect to any Tax Proceeding that could result in an imputed underpayment of OpCo for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.
(g) Cooperation. Parent and its Affiliates (including the Company and OpCo after the Closing) shall cooperate as and to the extent reasonably requested by the OpCo Representative in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns and in connection with any Proceedings relating to Taxes of or with respect to OpCo. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the OpCo Representatives request) the provision of records and information that are reasonably relevant to any such audit or other proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.
(h) OpCo Tax Allocations. The parties agree to allocate the LLC Merger Consideration (and all other relevant items, including OpCos liabilities, that are properly taken into account in determining consideration for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) (the OpCo Tax Consideration) among the assets of OpCo and any of OpCos Subsidiaries that is treated as (i) a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that has a Section 754 election in effect for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date, in accordance with Section 751, 755 and 1060 of the Code (and any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law, as appropriate) (the Allocations). OpCo shall prepare a first draft of the Allocations and such draft Allocations shall be delivered by OpCo to the OpCo Representative, within thirty (30) days after Closing. The OpCo Representative will propose to OpCo any changes to such Allocations in writing within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of such draft Allocations to the OpCo Representative in accordance with the preceding sentence, and the parties will use reasonable best efforts to agree upon a final binding Allocations (the Final Allocation) within thirty (30) days after the date of any requested changes by the OpCo Representative. In the event that the parties cannot agree on any disputed items or amounts in order to determine the allocation of the applicable OpCo Tax Consideration, following such thirty (30) day period, the OpCo Representative and OpCo will select an independent accounting or financial consulting firm of recognized national standing who shall act as an expert and not an arbiter, to resolve such dispute. Parent, OpCo, the Company, the holders of OpCo Units, and their respective Affiliates shall report and file Tax Returns (including, to the extent applicable, Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 or 8308, as applicable), consistent with the Final Allocation; provided, however, that neither party shall be unreasonably impeded in its ability and discretion to negotiate, compromise and/or settle any Tax audit, claim or similar proceedings in connection with the Final Allocation.
(i) 754 Election. The parties agree that OpCo (and any of OpCos Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall have a valid election under Section 754 of the Code in effect for the taxable year of OpCo (or such Subsidiary) that includes the Closing Date. The parties agree to use reasonable best efforts to cause any other Person in which OpCo owns a direct or indirect equity interest (other than a Subsidiary) that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have a valid election under Section 754 of the Code in effect for the taxable year of such Person that includes the Closing Date. For purposes of this Section 6.16(i), Subsidiary means any Person as to which OpCo (i) owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls, more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests of such Person or (ii) is the sole general partner interest, or managing member or similar interest, of such Person.
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(j) Intended Tax Treatment.
(i) The parties shall treat, for U.S. federal, state and other relevant income Tax purposes: (A) the Corporate Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, (B) the LLC Merger as a sale of the OpCo Class A Common Units in a transaction described in Section 741 of the Code (and any similar applicable state or local provisions of Tax Law), (C) the tax year of OpCo as not closing as a result of the LLC Merger and (D) OpCo as not terminating pursuant to Section 708 of the Code (clauses (A) through (D), the Intended Tax Treatment). None of the parties nor any of their Affiliates shall take any position for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (and applicable state and local Tax purposes) on any applicable Tax Return or in any applicable Tax contest or audit or in any communication (whether written or unwritten) with any applicable Governmental Authority inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment unless required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law).
(ii) This Agreement shall constitute, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §§ 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) with respect to the Corporate Merger.
(iii) Each of the parties will (and will cause its respective Subsidiaries to) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Corporate Merger to qualify, and will not take or knowingly fail to take (and will cause its Subsidiaries not to take or knowingly fail to take) any actions that would, or would reasonably be expected to, prevent or impede the Corporate Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Each of the parties will notify the other parties promptly after becoming aware of any reason to believe that the Corporate Merger may not qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(iv) Each of the parties shall reasonably cooperate and use its reasonable best efforts in connection with the issuance of any tax opinions by their respective tax counsel in connection with the preparation, filing and delivery of the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus with respect to the qualification of the Corporate Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In connection with the issuance of any such tax opinion by either parties tax counsel, (i) the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver to the relevant counsel a duly authorized and executed officers certificate, dated as of the Closing Date (and, if requested, dated as of such additional dates as may be necessary in connection with the preparation, filing and delivery of the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus), containing such customary representations as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render such opinion (the Company Officers Tax Certificate), and (ii) Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver to the
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relevant counsel a duly authorized and executed officers certificate, dated as of the Closing Date (and, if requested, dated as of such additional dates as may be necessary in connection with the preparation, filing and delivery of the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus), containing such customary representations as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render such opinion (the Parent Officers Tax Certificate), and Parent and the Company shall provide such other information as reasonably requested by the relevant counsel for purposes of rendering such opinion (or any opinions to be filed in connection with the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus).
(v) Each party acknowledges and agrees that its obligations to effect the Transactions are not subject to the receipt by the Company of a tax opinion with respect to the Intended Tax Treatment.
(k) Tax Sharing Agreements. All Tax sharing agreements or similar agreements (other than the Second A&R TRA) with respect to or involving OpCo or any Acquired Company, on the one hand, and any holder of OpCo Units (other than the Company) or any of their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, shall be terminated as of the Closing, and, after the Closing, OpCo or applicable Acquired Company shall not be bound thereby or have any liability thereunder.
Section 6.17 Merger Sub Stockholder Consent. Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub Inc., execute and deliver to Merger Sub Inc. and the Company a written consent approving the adoption of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions in accordance with the DGCL.
Section 6.18 Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees that, upon the reasonable request of any other party from time to time and without further cost or expense to the other, it shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments and take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the Transactions or to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in (x) the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any asset acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of or in connection with the Corporate Merger, or (y) the Surviving LLC any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any asset acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving LLC as a result of or in connection with the LLC Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub Inc., any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub Inc., any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Corporate Merger. At and after the LLC Merger Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving LLC shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of OpCo or Merger Sub LLC, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of OpCo or Merger Sub LLC, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving LLC any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Surviving LLC acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving LLC as a result of, or in connection with, the LLC Merger.
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Section 6.19 Credit Facilities Prepayment. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to deliver to Parent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (with drafts being delivered in advance as reasonably requested by Parent) (a) copies of Payoff Letters (subject to the delivery of funds as arranged by Parent) with respect to the Subject Indebtedness in form reasonably satisfactory to Parent and (b) all documentation relating to the release of all related Liens and guarantees with respect to the Subject Indebtedness (including any mortgage releases and termination statements on Form UCC-3 or other releases); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to obtain any Payoff Letters that are not conditioned on, and subject to, the occurrence of the Closing.
Section 6.20 Treatment of Company Indebtedness.
(a) Parent and/or each Merger Sub will be permitted to commence and conduct one or more offers to purchase the Existing Notes, including any offer to prepay in accordance with Section 8.7 of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, any tender offer or any exchange offer of the Existing Notes, and any consent solicitations (each, a Consent Solicitation) to obtain any amendments to the Existing Note Purchase Agreements, in each case, as identified by Parent to the Company in writing prior to, on or after the date of this Agreement (any such offer to purchase, tender offer or Consent Solicitation, each, a Debt Offer and collectively, the Debt Offers), with respect to any or all of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes identified by Parent to the Company in writing prior to, on or after the date hereof on terms that are acceptable to Parent; provided that Parent shall (1) prepare all necessary and appropriate documentation in connection with the Debt Offer (collectively, the Debt Offer Documents), (2) provide the Company a reasonable period of time in advance of Parent or either Merger Sub commencing the applicable Debt Offer to allow the Company and its counsel the opportunity to review and comment on the related Debt Offer Documents, (3) give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made or input provided by the Company and its legal counsel, and (4) reasonably consult with the Company regarding the timing and commencement of any Debt Offer and any applicable deadlines. The closing (or, in the case of any Consent Solicitation, operativeness) of the Debt Offers shall be expressly conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing; provided, that the consummation of a Debt Offer with respect to any series of Existing Notes shall not be a condition to the Closing and the Debt Offers shall be funded by amounts provided by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries (including any premium or similar payment required in connection with such Debt Offers). The Debt Offers shall be conducted in compliance with any applicable provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement and with applicable Law, and the Company shall not be required to cooperate with respect to any Debt Offer that is not, in the good faith determination of the Company, in compliance with the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement and applicable Laws. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives to, in each case, use their reasonable best efforts, at Parents sole expense, to provide customary cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with any Debt Offer; provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The dealer manager, solicitation agent, information agent, depositary or other agent retained in connection with any Debt Offer will be selected by Parent, retained by Parent, and their fees and out-of-pocket expenses will be paid directly by Parent. To the extent that the provisions of any Applicable Law conflict with this Section 6.20, Parent and the Company shall comply with the Applicable Law and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Agreement by such compliance.
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(b) In connection with any Consent Solicitation, subject to the receipt of any requisite consents, the Company and OpCo, as applicable, shall execute an amendment to the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement governing the applicable series of Existing Notes identified by Parent to the Company in writing prior to, on or after the date hereof in accordance with the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement amending the terms and provisions of such Existing Note Purchase Agreement as described in the Debt Offer Documents as reasonably requested by Parent, which amendment shall become operative no earlier than the Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Representatives have any obligation to authorize, adopt or execute any amendments or other agreement that would become operative prior to the Effective Time. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives to, in each case, use reasonable best efforts to provide all customary cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the execution of the amendments; provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. If reasonably requested by Parent, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its legal counsel to provide all customary legal opinions required by the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 6.20(b) to the extent such legal opinions are required to be delivered prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company or its legal counsel be required to give an opinion as to compliance of a Debt Offer with an applicable Law or, if applicable, the provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, if in the reasonable opinion of the Companys legal counsel, the Debt Offer does not comply with such applicable Law or the provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, as the case may be, or to give an opinion with respect to financing by Parent.
(c) If and as requested by Parent, in lieu of or in addition to Parent commencing or closing a Debt Offer for any series of Existing Notes, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent permitted by such series of Existing Notes and the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, to (A) issue a notice of prepayment for all or a portion of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such series of Existing Notes, pursuant to the prepayment provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, and (B) take any other actions prior to, at or after the Effective Time reasonably requested by Parent to facilitate the prepayment of such series of Existing Notes pursuant to the prepayment provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement and the other provisions of such Existing Note Purchase Agreement applicable thereto and the release of any Liens on the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries arising in connection with such prepayment, provided that (1) any such prepayment shall be funded by Parent (including any premium or similar payment required in connection with such prepayment) whether or not the Transactions are consummated, (2) consummation of any such prepayment shall not be a condition to Closing, and (3) such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. If reasonably requested by Parent, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its legal counsel to provide all customary legal opinions required by the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement in connection with
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the transactions contemplated by this Section 6.20(c) to the extent such legal opinions are required to be delivered prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company or its legal counsel be required to give an opinion as to compliance of a prepayment for all or a portion of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of any series of Existing Notes with an applicable Law or, if applicable, the provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, if in the reasonable opinion of the Companys legal counsel, such prepayment does not comply with such applicable Law or the provisions of the applicable Existing Note Purchase Agreement, as the case may be.
(d) At Parents request, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives to, in each case, use their reasonable best efforts, at Parents sole expense, to give notice of this Agreement to the Applicable Rating Agency (as defined in the Existing Note Purchase Agreements) designated by Parent and to provide customary cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with a review of the applicable rating in respect of the Company by such Applicable Rating Agency, including as required by Section 8.7 of the Existing Note Purchase Agreements.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 6.20, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to (i) take or permit the taking of any action pursuant to Section 6.20(a), Section 6.20(b) or Section 6.20(c) that (A) would cause any representation or warranty in this Agreement to be breached by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) would require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (1) pay any commitment or other similar fee prior to the Effective Time or incur any other expense, liability or obligation in connection with any Debt Offer (in the case of any other such expense, liability or obligation, that is not, subject to the limitations contained therein, subject to reimbursement) or (2) agree to provide any indemnity, (C) would reasonably be expected to cause any director, officer or employee or stockholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to incur any personal liability, (D) would cause any condition to the completion of the Merger set forth in Article VII to fail to be satisfied by the Effective Time or otherwise result in a breach of this Agreement by the Company, (E) would result in a violation or breach of, or a default under, any Company Material Contract, the organizational documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any applicable Law, or (F) would unreasonably interfere with the ongoing business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) provide access to or disclose information that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reasonably determines could jeopardize any attorney-client privilege of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (provided that the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such privilege concerns); or (iii) except as provided in Section 6.20(a), Section 6.20(b) or Section 6.20(c), furnish or cause to be furnished any certificates, legal opinions, negative assurance letters or comfort letters in connection with any Debt Offer or execute any other instruments or agreements in connection therewith.
(f) Parent shall promptly reimburse the Company upon its written request for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the cooperation provided for in this Section 6.20 and reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all liabilities and losses suffered or incurred by them in connection with the transactions (other than in the event of Fraud or with respect to information provided by the Acquired Companies and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives) contemplated by this Section 6.20.
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Section 6.21 Company Restructuring. Each of Parent, the Company and Opco shall take all actions set forth on Section 6.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter to effectuate the Subsidiary Restructuring and the Pre-Closing Restructuring.
Section 6.22 SEC Correspondence. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall provide Parent with (i) true, correct and complete copies of all material written correspondence and (ii) written summaries of all material oral communications, in each case, between the SEC and the Acquired Companies or any of its Affiliates to the extent such correspondence and communications relate to any investigation, examination or inquiry by the SEC of the Investment Advisers Subsidiaries or the Funds (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) following any receipt or delivery, as applicable, of such correspondence and communications.
ARTICLE VII.
CONDITIONS TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTION
Section 7.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligations of each party to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction (or written waiver by all parties, if permissible under Applicable Law, except with respect to Section 7.01(a) which shall not be waivable) at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:
(a) Required Approvals. The Required Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) Regulatory Approvals. (i) All waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the Transactions under the HSR Act, and any commitment to, or agreement with, any Governmental Authority to delay the consummation of, or not to consummate before a certain date, the Transactions, shall have expired or been terminated and (ii) the Governmental Permits required to be obtained under the Applicable Laws set forth on Section 7.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect without, in the case of the conditions to Parents and Merger Subs obligations to consummate the Mergers, the imposition of any requirement described in clauses (a) or (b) of the proviso to Section 6.03(c).
(c) No Injunction. The consummation of the Transactions shall not be enjoined, prohibited, prevented or made illegal by any Governmental Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or other Applicable Law.
(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall not be the subject of any stop order or pending or threatened in writing Proceedings seeking a stop order.
(e) NYSE Listing. The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Mergers shall have been authorized for listing on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance.
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Section 7.02 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and the Merger Subs. The obligations of Parent and the Merger Subs to consummate the Corporate Merger and the LLC Merger are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Parent, if permissible under Applicable Law), at or prior to the Closing, of the following further conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) Each of the representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4.01(a), and Section 4.02, Section 4.05(c) (other than as set forth in Section 7.02(a)(ii)), Section 4.05(d), Section 4.05(e)(iii), Section 4.05(f), the first sentence of Section 4.20(a) and Section 4.25 (collectively, the Company Fundamental Representations) (without giving effect to any reference to any Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date;
(ii) each of the representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4.05(a), Section 4.05(b), the first two sentences of Section 4.05(c) and Section 4.05(e)(ii) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date hereof and as of Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of such date;
(iii) each of the representations and warranties made by the Company in the first sentence of Section 4.09 shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing; and
(i) each of the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement (other than the Company Fundamental Representations and the representations and warranties set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above) shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any references to any Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, in each case, (A) except for representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such date, and (B) except where the failure to be so true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Covenants. Each of the covenants and obligations that the Company, OpCo or any other Acquired Company is required to comply with or to perform at or prior to the Closing shall have been complied with and performed in all material respects.
(c) TRA Amendment. The Second A&R TRA shall not have been amended or otherwise modified, and, subject to the subsequent Closing, the Second A&R TRA shall be in full force and effect and binding on each party to the A&R TRA as of immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with its terms.
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(d) Closing Revenue Run-Rate. The Closing Revenue Run-Rate shall not be less than 85% of the Base Revenue Run-Rate.
(e) Pre-Closing Restructuring. The Pre-Closing Restructuring shall have been completed.
(f) Company Closing Certificate. Parent shall have received a certificate dated as of the Closing Date and executed on behalf of the Company by its Representative (the Company Closing Certificate) to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b), Section 7.02(c), Section 7.02(d) and Section 7.02(e) have been satisfied.
Section 7.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the Corporate Merger and the LLC Merger are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company, if permissible under Applicable Law), at or prior to the Closing, of the following further conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) Each of the representations and warranties made by Parent and the Merger Subs in the first sentence of Section 5.01, Section 5.02, and Section 5.12 (collectively, the Parent Fundamental Representations) (without giving effect to any reference to any Parent Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects;
(ii) Each of the representations and warranties made by Parent and the Merger Subs in Section 5.13 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, other than to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct as of the Closing (A) is a result of a change in Applicable Law after the date of this Agreement or (B) solely with respect to the representation in Section 5.13(a), does not cause the Corporate Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;
(iii) each of the representations and warranties made by Parent in Section 5.14 shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing; and
(iv) each of the representations and warranties made by Parent and the Merger Subs in this Agreement (other than the Parent Fundamental Representations and the representations and warranties set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above) shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any references to any Parent Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, in each case, (A) except for representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such date and (B) except where the failure to be so true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Covenants. Each of the covenants and obligations that Parent or the Merger Subs are required to comply with or to perform at or prior to the Closing shall have been complied with and performed in all material respects.
(c) Parent Closing Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate dated as of the Closing Date and executed on behalf of Parent by its Representative and to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) have been satisfied (the Parent Closing Certificate).
Section 7.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither Parent nor the Merger Subs may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 to be satisfied if such failure was primarily caused by the failure of Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC to perform any of their respective material obligations under this Agreement. The Company may not rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 to be satisfied if such failure was primarily caused by the failure of the Acquired Companies to perform their respective material obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII.
TERMINATION
Section 8.01 Termination. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated and the Corporate Merger, the LLC Merger and the other Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, notwithstanding receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, only as follows:
(a) by mutual written agreement of the Company (acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) and Parent;
(b) by either the Company (acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) or Parent, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 5:00 p.m. (Mountain time) on the twelve (12) month anniversary following the date hereof (the End Date), whether such date is before or after the date of the receipt of Required Company Stockholder Approval; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(b) may not be exercised by any party whose failure to perform any covenant or obligation under this Agreement has been the principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to have occurred on or before the End Date;
(c) by either the Company (acting upon the direction of the Special Committee) or Parent, if any Governmental Authority shall have issued, entered, enacted, promulgated or enforced a Governmental Order or other Applicable Law permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting, preventing or making illegal the consummation of the Transactions, and such Governmental Order or other Applicable Law, if applicable, shall have become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(c) may not be exercised by any party whose failure to perform any covenant or obligation under this Agreement has been the principal cause of, or resulted in, such Governmental Order or other Applicable Law;
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(d) by either the Company or Parent if (i) the Company Stockholder Meeting (including any adjournments or postponements thereof to the extent permitted under this Agreement) shall have been held and completed and the Companys stockholders shall have voted on a proposal to adopt this Agreement and (ii) this Agreement shall not have been adopted at such meeting (and shall not have been adopted at any adjournment or postponement thereof) by the Required Company Stockholder Approval;
(e) by Parent, (i) if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 7.02(a) and Section 7.02(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a Terminating Company Breach), (ii) Parent shall have delivered written notice to the Company of such Terminating Company Breach, and (iii) such Terminating Company Breach is not capable of cure prior to the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to the End Date or at least thirty (30) days shall have elapsed since the date of delivery of such written notice to the Company and the Company has not commenced curing such Terminating Company Breach; provided, however, that Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(e) if Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC is then in breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement in any material respect;
(f) by the Company (acting upon the direction of the Special Committee), (i) if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions specified in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a Terminating Parent Breach), (ii) the Company shall have delivered written notice to Parent of such Terminating Parent Breach, and (iii) such Terminating Parent Breach is not capable of cure prior to the date that is three (3) Business Days prior to the End Date or at least thirty (30) days shall have elapsed since the date of delivery of such written notice to Parent and Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC has not commenced curing such Terminating Parent Breach; provided, however, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(f) if the Company is then in breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement in any material respect;
(g) by Parent, if, prior to receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, an Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred; provided that Parents right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(g) shall expire at 5:00 p.m. (Mountain time) on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the date on which such Adverse Recommendation Change occurs; or
(h) by the Company (acting upon the direction of the Special Committee), at any time prior to the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, if (i) the Company has received a Superior Proposal after the date of this Agreement, (ii) the Company concurrently enters into, an Alternative Acquisition Agreement to consummate the alternative transaction contemplated by such Superior Proposal, (iii) simultaneously with, and as a condition to, any such termination the Company pays or causes to be paid to Parent (or its designee) the Company Termination Fee and (iv) the Company has complied with Section 6.02 with respect to such Superior Proposal.
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(i) The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01 (other than pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) shall give a notice of such termination to the other party setting forth the basis on which such party is terminating this Agreement.
Section 8.02 Effect of Termination. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 8.02 and Section 8.03, in the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors, stockholders, partners or other equityholders or any Representative of any of the foregoing other than liability of the Company (subject to Section 8.03), Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC, as the case may be, for any Willful Breach of this Agreement or Fraud occurring prior to such termination. In determining losses or damages recoverable upon termination by a party hereto for the other partys breach, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that such losses and damages shall not be limited to reimbursement of expenses or out-of-pocket costs, and shall include monetary damages based on the benefit of the bargain and economic benefits lost by such party (taking into consideration relevant matters, including other opportunities and, in the case of the Company and OpCo, the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, OpCo Units and Company Stock Awards, the total amount payable to such holders under this Agreement and lost premium), which shall be deemed to be damages payable to the Company or OpCo, as applicable; provided, that any such damages in respect of any economic benefits or premium lost by (x) the holders of shares of Company Common Stock or Company Stock Awards shall solely be recoverable and enforceable by and owed to the Company and (y) the holders of OpCo Units shall solely be recoverable and enforceable by and owed to OpCo (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be enforceable by such holders). The provisions of Section 6.06, Section 6.20 (solely as it relates to Parents expense reimbursement and indemnification obligations), Section 8.02, Section 8.03, Article IX and the Confidentiality Agreement, shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
Section 8.03 Termination Fee.
(a) Company Termination Fee. If, but only if, this Agreement is terminated:
(i) (x) by Parent or the Company pursuant to such Section 8.01(b), Section 8.01(d) or Section 8.01(e) and (y) (A) following the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the termination of this Agreement (or solely with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 8.01(d), prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting), an Acquisition Proposal has been made to the Company or its stockholders (solely with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or Section 8.01(e)) or has been publicly announced or becomes publicly known and not withdrawn prior to the Company Stockholder Meeting (solely with respect to a termination pursuant to Section 8.01(d)), and (B) within twelve (12) months of the termination of this Agreement, (x) the Company enters into any definitive agreement for the consummation of any Acquisition Proposal and such Acquisition Proposal is subsequently consummated (which may be consummated after such twelve (12) month period) or (y) any Acquisition Proposal is consummated, then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Company Termination Fee no later than three (3) Business Days after the first to occur of the events referred to in the foregoing clause (B) (provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 8.03(a)(i), the references to twenty percent (20%) in the definition of Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be references to fifty percent (50%));
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(ii) by Parent pursuant to Section 8.01(g), then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Company Termination Fee within three (3) Business Days following such termination; or
(iii) by the Company pursuant to Section 8.01(h), then the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent the Company Termination Fee simultaneously with, and as a condition to, the effectiveness of any such termination.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event this Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason at a time when Parent would have had the right to terminate this Agreement and receive the Company Termination Fee in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, Parent shall be entitled to receipt of any Company Termination Fee that would have been (or would have subsequently become) payable had Parent terminated this Agreement at such time in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, other than with respect to a Willful Breach or Fraud, but subject to Section 9.02, Parents right to receive from the Company the Company Termination Fee shall, in circumstances in which the Company Termination Fee is received by Parent, constitute the sole and exclusive remedy of Parent, the Merger Subs and any other Affiliate against (i) the Company, (ii) OpCo and (iii) any of the Companys or OpCos former, current and future Affiliates, assignees, stockholders, partners, other equityholders, controlling Persons and any Representatives of any of the foregoing (the Persons described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the Company Parties) for any breach, loss or damage suffered as a result of the failure of the Transactions to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder or otherwise, and upon payment of the Company Termination Fee and such other amounts, if any, referenced in Section 8.03(d), no Person shall have any rights or claims against the Company Parties under this Agreement or otherwise, whether at Law or equity, in Contract, in tort or otherwise, and the Company Parties shall not have any other liability relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions. Nothing in this Section 8.03(b) shall in any way expand or be deemed or construed to expand the circumstances in which the Company, OpCo or any other Acquired Company may be liable under this Agreement or the Transactions. For the avoidance of doubt, while Parent or Merger Subs may pursue a grant of specific performance of the type contemplated by Section 9.02, under no circumstances shall Parent or any Merger Sub be permitted or entitled to receive both a grant of specific performance of the type contemplated by Section 9.02 and monetary damages.
(c) Each of the parties acknowledge and agree that the agreements contained in Section 8.02 and Section 8.03 are an integral part of the Transactions, and that, without these agreements, each party would not enter into this Agreement. The parties acknowledge and agree that the Company Termination Fee is not a penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate Parent, Merger Sub Inc. and Merger Sub LLC in the circumstances in which such fee is payable for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Mergers. The parties acknowledge and hereby agree that in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Company Termination Fee on more than one occasion.
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(d) Any amounts payable pursuant to Section 8.03(a) or this Section 8.03(d) shall be paid by wire transfer of same day funds in accordance with this Section 8.03 to an account designated by Parent at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date such amount is to be paid. If the Company fails to pay when due any amount payable under Section 8.03(a) and in order to collect such amount, Parent commences a Proceeding that results in a Governmental Order against the Company for the Company Termination Fee the Company shall reimburse Parent for all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with such Proceeding, together with interest on the amount due at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date that such payment was required to be made through the date that such payment was actually received, or a lesser rate that is the maximum permitted by Applicable Law (calculated daily on the basis of a year of 365 days and the actual number of days elapsed, without compounding).
ARTICLE IX.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the U.S. mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email (solely if receipt via email is confirmed via return email from the primary recipient acknowledging receipt), addressed as follows:
if to Parent, Merger Sub Inc. or Merger Sub LLC, to:
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
9 West 57th Street, 43rd Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attention: David Sambur; Neil Mehta
Email: *
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Ross Fieldston; Joseph Glatt; David Hepp; Ian Hazlett
Email: *
*
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if to the Company, to:
Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc.
111 E. Sego Lily Drive, Suite 400
Salt Lake City, UT 84070
Attention: Robert Morse; Matthew Grant
Email: *
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Latham & Watkins LLP
12670 High Bluff Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
Attention: Craig Garner; Kevin Reyes; Owen Alexander; Jason Morelli
Email: *
*
and
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Two Manhattan West, 375 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Attention: G.J. Ligelis Jr.
Email: *
or to such other address, or electronic mail address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.01; provided that any notice received by electronic mail or otherwise at the addressees location on any Business Day after 5:00 P.M. (addressees local time) or on any day that is not a Business Day shall be deemed to have been received at 9:00 A.M. (addressees local time) on the next Business Day; provided, further, that notice of any change to the address or any of the other details specified in or pursuant to this Section 9.01 shall not be deemed to have been received until, and shall be deemed to have been received upon, the later of the date specified in such notice or the date that is five (5) Business Days after such notice would otherwise be deemed to have been received pursuant to this Section 9.01.
Section 9.02 Remedies Cumulative; Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur, and that the parties would not have any adequate remedy at law, in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate the Transactions). It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. Each party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity. Any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent
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breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction. The parties further agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy.
Section 9.03 Expenses. Except as set forth in Section 6.03, Section 6.20 (solely as it relates to Parents expense reimbursement and indemnification obligations), Section 8.03(d) and this Section 9.03, each party hereto shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions whether or not such Transactions shall be consummated, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided, however, that except as set forth in Section 3.03(d), Parent, Company and OpCo shall each bear and timely pay all Transfer Taxes incurred in connection with the consummation of the Transactions to the extent such Transfer Taxes are imposed on Parent, Company, or OpCo, as applicable, and the party responsible under Applicable Law for filing Tax Returns with respect to such Transfer Taxes shall prepare and timely file, at its expense, all Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to such Transfer Taxes. The OpCo Representative shall cooperate with Parent and OpCo in their preparation of any such Tax Returns or other documentation with respect to such Transfer Taxes (including any claim for exemption of exclusion from the application or imposition thereof), including by supplying any information in its possession that is reasonably necessary to complete such Tax Returns and the payment of any such Transfer Taxes.
Section 9.04 No Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties and covenants and agreements (to the extent such covenant or agreement contemplates or requires performance prior to the Closing) in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto by any Person, other than the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.30 and Section 5.15, shall terminate at the Effective Time or LLC Merger Effective Time, as applicable, or, except as provided in Section 8.02, upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, as the case may be, except that this Section 9.03 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time, the LLC Merger Effective Time or after termination of this Agreement, including those contained in Section 6.07, Section 6.10 and Section 6.20 (solely as it relates to Parents expense reimbursement obligations).
Section 9.05 Amendments and Waivers.
(a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the Effective Time or LLC Merger Effective Time if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement or, in the case of a waiver, by each party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided, however, that no amendment or waiver shall be made subsequent to receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval which requires further approval of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the DGCL without such further stockholder approval.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Applicable Law.
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Section 9.06 Disclosure Letter References. The parties hereto agree that any reference in a particular Section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter, as the case may be, shall only be deemed to be an exception to (or, as applicable, a disclosure for purposes of) (a) the representations and warranties (or covenants, as applicable) of the relevant party that are contained in the corresponding Section or subsection of this Agreement and (b) any other representations and warranties (or covenant, as applicable) of such party that are contained in this Agreement, but only if the relevance of that reference as an exception to (or a disclosure for purposes of) such representations and warranties (or covenants, as applicable) would be reasonably apparent on its face to an individual who has read that reference and such representations and warranties (or covenants, as applicable). The listing of any matter on a partys Disclosure Letter shall not be deemed to constitute an admission by such party, or to otherwise imply, that any such matter is material, is required to be disclosed by such party under this Agreement or falls within relevant minimum thresholds or materiality standards set forth in this Agreement. No disclosure in a partys Disclosure Letter relating to any possible breach or violation by such party of any Contract or Applicable Law shall be construed as an admission or indication that any such breach or violation exists or has actually occurred. In no event shall the listing of any matter in a partys Disclosure Letter be deemed or interpreted to expand the scope of such partys representations, warranties and/or covenants set forth in this Agreement.
Section 9.07 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure solely to the benefit of and be enforceable by each party hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. 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; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the past, present and future Company Service Providers (and their successors, heirs and Representatives) are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 6.07, and (ii) from and after the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time, the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, holders of OpCo Units converted into the right to receive LLC Merger Consideration and holders of Company Stock Awards as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and LLC Merger Effective Time shall be intended third-party beneficiaries solely for the purpose of receiving the consideration that such holder is entitled to pursuant Section 3.01, Section 3.02 or Section 3.06 as applicable.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto by merger, consolidation, division, operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.07(b) shall be null and void.
Section 9.08 Governing Law. This Agreement and all Proceedings (whether based on Contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of, or related to this Agreement, the Transactions, or the actions of Parent, Merger Sub Inc., Merger Sub LLC or the Company or OpCo in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
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Section 9.09 Jurisdiction.
(a) Each of the parties hereto hereby expressly, irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any Federal court of the United States of America sitting in Delaware, and any appellate court from any appeal thereof, in any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements delivered in connection herewith or the Transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to commence any such Proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such Proceeding may be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such Federal court and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such Proceeding in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such Proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Applicable Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process outside the territorial jurisdiction of the courts referred to in this Section 9.09 in any such Proceeding by mailing copies thereof by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to its address as specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01. However, nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process on any other party in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.
Section 9.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.10.
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Section 9.11 Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto. Until and unless each party has received a counterpart hereof signed by the other parties hereto, this Agreement shall have no effect and no party shall have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any other oral or written agreement or other communication). The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by electronic transmission in .PDF format or by facsimile shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 9.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and each of the documents, instruments and agreements delivered in connection with the Transactions, including each of the Exhibits, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter, constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, are not intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder.
Section 9.13 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions 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 a mutually acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 9.14 Obligations of Merger Subs. Whenever this Agreement requires Merger Sub Inc. and Merger Sub LLC to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause Merger Sub Inc. and Merger Sub LLC, as applicable, to take such action.
Section 9.15 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement or any document or instrument delivered in connection herewith, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, each party covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Persons other than the other parties hereto have any liabilities, obligations, commitments (whether known or unknown or whether contingent or otherwise) hereunder, and no party has any right of recovery under this Agreement, or any claim based on such liabilities, obligations, commitments against, and no personal liability shall attach to, the former, current or future equityholders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, members, managers or general or limited partners of any of the other parties hereto or any former, current or future stockholder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, general or limited partner, member, manager, affiliate or agent of any of the foregoing (collectively, with respect to each other party but not including such other party, each, a Non-Recourse Party), through the other parties hereto or otherwise, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim by or on behalf of such other parties against any Non-Recourse Party, by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, by virtue of any statute,
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regulation or Law, or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Non-Recourse Party shall be responsible or liable for any multiple, consequential, indirect, special, statutory, exemplary or punitive damages or lost profits, opportunity costs, loss of business reputation, diminution in value or damages based upon a multiple of earnings or similar financial measure which may be alleged as a result of this Agreement or the Transactions, or the termination or abandonment of any of the foregoing.
Section 9.16 Exercise of Discretion. For all purposes hereunder, the Company (prior to the Effective Time) and the Company Board, as applicable, shall act, including with respect to any amendment, consent, permission or waiver or the making of any determination, only as directed by the Special Committee.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date first written above.
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Whitney Chatterjee | |
Name: Whitney Chatterjee | ||
Title: Chief Legal Officer | ||
ASPEN PUBCO MERGER SUB 1, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Whitney Chatterjee | |
Name: Whitney Chatterjee | ||
Title: Vice President | ||
ASPEN SECOND MERGER SUB, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Whitney Chatterjee | |
Name: Whitney Chatterjee | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
BRIDGE INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Slager | |
Name: | Jonathan Slager | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
BRIDGE INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Slager | |
Name: | Jonathan Slager | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
OPCO REPRESENTATIVE | ||
By: | /s/ Adam OFarrell | |
Name: Adam OFarrell |
[Signature to Agreement and Plan of Merger]