Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2021, by and among Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., Gregory Beard, as Agent, and Q Power LLC
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Version
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
by and among
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.,
CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN,
and
Agent
DATED AS OF APRIL 1, 2021
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 1, 2021, is hereby entered into by and among Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent”), the TRA Holders and the Agent.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent is the managing member of Stronghold Digital Mining Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (“OpCo LLC”), and holds, directly or indirectly, limited liability company interests in OpCo LLC;
WHEREAS, OpCo LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, if any, that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for each Taxable Year in which a Redemption occurs, which election is expected to result, with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer Group, in an adjustment to the Tax basis of the assets owned by OpCo LLC and such Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, Q Power currently holds (and its permitted transferees may hold) Common Units and may transfer all or a portion of such Common Units in one or more subsequent Redemptions (as defined herein), and, as a result of such Redemptions, the Corporate Taxpayer Group is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreement among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the Tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer Group as a result of the Redemptions;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings.
“Accrued Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer Group, and (ii) without duplication, OpCo LLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo LLC and allocable to any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group; provided that the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.
“Agent” means:
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| (i) | for so long as Q Power or any of its Affiliates is a TRA Holder, and for so long as it is willing to serve in such capacity, Sponsor Agent, and |
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| (ii) | at any time clause (i) is not applicable, such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6(b). |
“Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) of this Agreement.
“Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, (i) the sum of the following amounts for each state and local jurisdiction in which OpCo LLC (or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) or the Corporate Taxpayer Group files an income or franchise Tax Return for the relevant Taxable Year: (A) the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s income and franchise Tax apportionment factor(s) for such applicable state or local jurisdiction, multiplied by (B) the highest corporate income and franchise Tax rate(s) for such state or local jurisdiction, reduced by (ii) the product of (A) the highest marginal U.S. federal income Tax rate applicable to the Corporate Taxpayer Group for the relevant Taxable Year (determined based on the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability for the relevant Taxable Year) and (B) the aggregate rate calculated under clause (i).
“Attributable” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Basis Adjustment” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of a Redemption and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Redemption (as calculated under Section 2.1 of this Agreement), including, but not limited to: (i) under Section 743(b) of the Code (in situations where, following a Redemption, OpCo LLC remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) and (ii) under Sections 732(b) and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Redemptions, OpCo LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income Tax purposes). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from a Redemption of Common Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Common Units prior to such Redemption, and, further, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.
“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent.
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Call Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(n) of the OpCo LLC Agreement.
“Change of Control” means, other than a New Parent Transaction, the occurrence of any of the following events or series of events after the date hereof:
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| (i) | any Person (excluding (A) a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and (B) Q Power and its Affiliates) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Corporate Taxpayer Parent’s then outstanding voting securities; |
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| (ii) | there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or |
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| (iii) | the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent immediately prior to such sale. |
“Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Common Shares” means shares of Class A common stock of the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent.
“Common Units” has the meaning set forth in the OpCo LLC Agreement.
“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Corporate Taxpayer Group” means (a) the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and any Subsidiary of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent, other than OpCo LLC and any Subsidiary of OpCo LLC,
whether or not the Corporate Taxpayer Parent or any such Subsidiary is a member of any affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, and (b) where required by context, any member of such group.
“Corporate Taxpayer Parent” means (a) initially, the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent, (b) if a New Parent Transaction occurs, the New Parent, (c) if any entity becomes a direct or indirect successor to any of the foregoing (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise), such successor.
“Corporate Taxpayer Return” means any U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent (including the U.S. federal income Tax Returns of any consolidated group of which Corporate Taxpayer Parent is or becomes a member, as further described in Section 7.12(a) of this Agreement) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.
“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.
“Default Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 550 basis points.
“Determination” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.
“Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a) of this Agreement.
“Early Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice, or the date on which the Early Termination Notice is deemed to have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 or Section 4.3, for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.
“Early Termination Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b) of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).
“Expert” means a nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement that is mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the Agent.
“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer Group, and (ii) without duplication, OpCo LLC, but in the case of clause (ii), only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo LLC and allocable to any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group (using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income Tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return), but, in each case, without taking into account (A) any Basis Adjustments, (B) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year, and (C) any Subsequent TRA Benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, or any Subsequent TRA Benefits. Furthermore, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.
“Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code, and the principles of any similar provisions of state or local law, with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s payment obligations under this Agreement.
“Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“LIBOR” means during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the one-year LIBOR rate reported, on the date two (2) calendar days prior to the first day of such period, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBOR01” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence: (i) if the Corporate Taxpayer Parent reasonably determines, in good faith consultation with the Agent, on or prior to the relevant date of determination that the relevant London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits has been discontinued or such rate has ceased to be published permanently or indefinitely, then “LIBOR” for the relevant interest period shall be deemed to refer to a substitute or successor rate that the Corporate Taxpayer Parent reasonably determines, in good faith consultation with the Agent, after consulting an investment bank of national standing in the United States and other reasonable sources, to be (a) the industry-accepted successor rate to the relevant London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits or (b) if no such industry-accepted successor rate exists, the most comparable substitute or successor rate to the relevant London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits; and (ii) if the Corporate Taxpayer Parent has determined a substitute or successor rate in accordance with the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer Parent may reasonably determine, in good faith consultation with the Agent, after consulting an investment bank of national standing in the United States and other reasonable sources, any relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor rate, including any adjustment factor it reasonably determines, in good faith consultation with the Agent, is needed to make such substitute or successor rate comparable to the relevant London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits, in a manner that is consistent with industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor rate. In the event that the Agent disagrees with any
determination by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent set forth in this paragraph, and such disagreement is not resolved within thirty (30) days of submission by the Agent of notice of such disagreement to the Corporate Taxpayer Parent, such disagreement shall be deemed a “Reconciliation Dispute,” and shall be subject to the Reconciliation Procedures set forth in Section 7.10 hereof.
“Majority TRA Holders” means, at the time of any determination, TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer Group) if the Corporate Taxpayer Group had exercised its right of Early Termination on such date.
“Market Value” means the closing price of the Common Shares on the applicable Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Common Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided, that if the closing price is not reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the applicable Redemption Date, then the Market Value means the closing price of the Common Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Common Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided, further that if the Common Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” means the cash consideration paid for Common Shares, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Common Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith.
“Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
“Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“New Parent” means, with respect to any New Parent Transaction, the new ultimate parent entity.
“New Parent Transaction” means, in connection with an underwritten public offering under the Securities Act or a transaction with a “special purpose acquisition company” or other “blank check” vehicle listed for trading on a securities exchange and formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more businesses, a transaction in which the prior Corporate Taxpayer Parent directly or indirectly becomes a Subsidiary (or by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise, combines with a Subsidiary) of an entity taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.
“OpCo LLC” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“OpCo LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo LLC dated April 1, 2021, as amended from time to time.
“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.
“Q Power” means Q Power, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability and (ii) the State and Local Tax Benefit. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.
“Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability and (ii) the State and Local Tax Detriment. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.
“Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.
“Reconciliation Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.
“Redemption” means any transfer (or deemed transfer or other transaction affecting adjusted Tax basis for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) in respect of any Common Units or Reference Assets resulting from a transfer by a TRA Holder, or by a permitted transferee of such TRA Holder (pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement), to OpCo LLC or to the Corporate Taxpayer Group pursuant to the Redemption Right or the Call Right, as applicable.
“Redemption Date” means each date on which a Redemption occurs.
“Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to the term “Redemption Notice” in the OpCo LLC Agreement.
“Redemption Right” means the redemption right of holders of Common Units set forth in Section 3.6(a) of the OpCo LLC Agreement.
“Reference Asset” means, with respect to any Redemption, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held or acquired by OpCo LLC (or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) at the time of such Redemption. A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.
“Resolution of Disputes Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.
“Schedule” means any of the following: (i) a Tax Attribute Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule, (iii) the Early Termination Schedule or (iv) an Amended Schedule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute.
“Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“Sponsor Agent” means Gregory A. Beard or such other Person designated as such by Q Power.
“State and Local Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Benefit, each of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.
“State and Local Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Detriment, each of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.
“Subsequent TRA” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement) entered into by any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group pursuant to which any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to Tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other Tax attributes to which any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group becomes entitled as a result of a transaction (other than any Redemption) after the date of this Agreement.
“Subsequent TRA Benefits” means any Tax benefits resulting from increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other Tax attributes with respect to which any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group is obligated to make payments under a Subsequent TRA.
“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.
“Tax Attribute Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
“Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Tax Benefit Payment Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.
“Tax Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.
“Tax Receivable Agreements” means this Agreement and any Subsequent TRA.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.
“Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer Group as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the date hereof.
“Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, including franchise taxes, and any interest, penalties or additions thereto.
“Taxing Authority” means the IRS and any federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.
“TRA Holder” means Q Power and its respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6(a).
“Transferor” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(b) of this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant Taxable Year.
“Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that:
(i)in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer Group will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments (assuming, to the extent applicable, in calculating such deductions that the election under Section 168(k)(7) of the Code is made with respect to any actual or deemed Basis Adjustment arising from a Redemption made in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date or deemed to be made on the Early Termination Date pursuant to clause (v) of this definition), and Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available;
(ii)any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date will be utilized by the Corporate Taxpayer Group ratably in each Taxable Year over the five Taxable Years beginning with the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date (provided that, in any year that the Corporate Taxpayer Group is prevented from fully utilizing net operating losses
pursuant to Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision, the amount utilized for purposes of this provision shall not exceed the amount that would otherwise be utilizable under Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision);
(iii)the U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise Tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date except to the extent any change to such Tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;
(iv)any Reference Asset that is not subject to amortization, depreciation or other cost recovery deduction to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of in a fully taxable transaction for U.S. federal income Tax purposes on the fifth anniversary of the Early Termination Date for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Reference Asset; provided, that in the event of a Change of Control which includes a taxable sale of such Reference Asset (including the sale of all of the equity interests in an entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity that directly or indirectly owns such Reference Asset), such Reference Asset shall be deemed disposed of at the time of the Change of Control; and
(v)if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Common Units that have not been transferred in a Redemption, then all Common Units shall be deemed to be transferred pursuant to the Redemption Right effective on the Early Termination Date.
Section 1.2Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. 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. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.
ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS
Section 2.1Tax Attribute Schedules. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return for each Taxable Year, the Corporate Taxpayer Parent
shall deliver to each Agent a schedule (the “Tax Attribute Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each applicable TRA Holder, (i) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Redemptions effected by or attributable to such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (ii) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.
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| Section 2.2 | Tax Benefit Payment Schedules. |
(a)Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of a Corporate Taxpayer Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, a member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall deliver to each Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment with respect to such Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is Attributable to each TRA Holder, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporate Taxpayer Group intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “Tax Benefit Payment Schedule”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Actual Tax Liability, (iv) a copy of such Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, and (v) any other work papers reasonably requested by any Agent. In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall allow each Agent reasonable access at no cost to its appropriate representatives in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Payment Schedule. The Tax Benefit Payment Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).
(b)For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryovers or carrybacks of any U.S. federal income Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest or any Subsequent TRA Benefits shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest or any Subsequent TRA Benefits and another portion that is not so attributable, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology. The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement attributable to Basis Adjustments (to the extent permitted by law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Common Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer Group in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.
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| Section 2.3 | Procedure; Amendments. |
(a)An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all Agents have received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) any Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days
after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”) made in good faith or (ii) each Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date waivers from all Agents have been received by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent. If the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and the Agents, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and the Agents shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes Procedures under Section 7.9, as applicable.
(b)The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer Parent (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agents, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporate Taxpayer Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust a Tax Attribute Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporate Taxpayer Parent shall provide an Amended Schedule to each Agent within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence and an Amended Schedule referenced in clause (vi) of the preceding sentence to each Agent in connection with the due date for delivery of the Tax Attribute Schedule for the following year. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a), the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.
Section 2.4Section 754 Election. The Corporate Taxpayer Parent shall cause OpCo LLC to (i) ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, OpCo LLC and any of its eligible Subsidiaries will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, any entity in which OpCo LLC holds a direct or indirect interest that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes that does not meet the definition of “Subsidiary” herein, will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).
ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS
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| Section 3.1 | Payments. |
(a)Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule delivered to the Agents becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a), the applicable member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment in respect of such TRA Holder determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) for such Taxable Year. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the applicable member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, or as otherwise agreed by such member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.
(b)A “Tax Benefit Payment” in respect of a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Holder and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto. The “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over the sum of (i) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) and (ii) the total amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made under the corresponding provision of any Subsequent TRA; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. Subject to Section 3.3, the portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year that is “Attributable” to a TRA Holder is the portion of such Net Tax Benefit that is derived from (i) any Basis Adjustment that was attributable, at the time of the relevant Redemption (determined without regard to any dilutive or antidilutive effect of any contribution to or distribution from OpCo after the date of an applicable Redemption), to the Common Units acquired or deemed acquired by a member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group in a Redemption undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder or (ii) any Imputed Interest with respect to Tax Benefit Payments made to such TRA Holder. The “Accrued Amount” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Common Units in a Redemption, unless otherwise required by law.
(c)Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless a TRA Holder elects for the provisions of this Section 3.1(c) not to apply to any Redemption, by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer Group in writing on or before the due date for providing the Redemption Notice with respect to such Redemption, the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to be made to such TRA Holder, with respect to the related Redemption shall be limited to (i) 50%, or such other percentage such TRA Holder elects to apply by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer Group in writing on or before the due date for providing the Redemption Notice with respect to such Redemption, of (ii) the amount equal to the sum of (A) any cash, excluding any Tax Benefit Payments, received
by such TRA Holder in such Redemption and (B) the aggregate Market Value of the Common Shares received by such TRA Holder in such Redemption, provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that such amount shall not include any Imputed Interest with respect to such Redemption. An election made by a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) may not be revoked.
Section 3.2No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under the Tax Receivable Agreements. It is also intended that the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the Persons to whom payments are due pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreements. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.
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| Section 3.3 | Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits with Other Tax Receivable Agreements. |
(a)Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s Tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer Group does not have sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year to fully utilize available deductions and other attributes:
(i)the limitation on the Tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall first be allocated among the Tax Receivable Agreements as follows: (A) first among any Subsequent TRAs (and then among all Persons eligible for payments thereunder in the manner set forth in such Subsequent TRAs) and (B) then, to the extent of any remaining limitation on the Tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer Group after the application of clause (A), to this Agreement (and then among all TRA Holders as set forth in Section 3.3(a)(ii) below) (for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.3(a)(i), it is intended that in calculating the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s Tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, any available taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer Group be first allocated to this Agreement and any remaining available taxable income will then be allocated to any Subsequent TRA); and
(ii)if any part of the limitation on the Tax benefit is allocated to this Agreement, such allocated limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer Group had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation; provided that if any portion of the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year results from the carryback of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year from a later Taxable Year (for the avoidance of doubt, carrybacks of losses and other Tax items from more than one later Taxable Year shall be used in the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations), no part of the limitation shall be allocated to the Tax benefits set forth on the Schedule prior to its amendment to reflect the carryback and any limitation shall instead be applied to the Tax benefits carried back and such limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in the Taxable Year in which such carried back losses or other Tax items arose under this
Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer Group had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation.
(b)After taking into account Section 3.3(a), if for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer Group does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) the Corporate Taxpayer Group will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each Person to whom a payment is due under this Agreement (provided that, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full), and (ii) after fulfilling the obligations set forth in clause (i) of this Section 3.3(b), the Corporate Taxpayer Group will then pay all amounts due under any Subsequent TRA in respect of such Taxable Year (provided that, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full).
(c)To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer Group makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.3(b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporate Taxpayer Group will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a) or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), as applicable (in each case, taking into account Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.3(b) or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
Section 4.1Early Termination at Election of the Corporate Taxpayer Group. The Corporate Taxpayer Group may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(b) (such termination, an “Early Termination”); provided that the Corporate Taxpayer Group may withdraw any notice of exercise of its termination rights under this Section 4.1 prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid. Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment by the Corporate Taxpayer Group, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and, except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment, any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date. Upon payment of all amounts provided for in this Section 4.1, this Agreement shall terminate.
Section 4.2Early Termination upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the effective date of a Change of Control, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (b) of this Section 4.2, payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the effective date of a Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date”.
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| Section 4.3 | Breach of Agreement. |
(a)In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer Group breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment within three (3) months of the date when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then if the Majority TRA Holders so elect, such breach shall be treated as an Early Termination. Upon such election, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and shall be immediately due and payable, and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (ii) of this Section 4.3(a), any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer Group breaches this Agreement, if the Majority TRA Holders do not elect to treat such breach as an Early Termination pursuant to this Section 4.3(a), the TRA Holders shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.
(b)The parties agree that the failure of the Corporate Taxpayer Group to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment treated as an Early Termination Payment, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer Group fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer Group has insufficient funds available to make, or to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer Group is contractually constrained from making, such payment in the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s sole judgment exercised in good faith; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer Group does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any credit agreement to which OpCo LLC or
any Subsidiary of OpCo LLC is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided further that it shall be a breach of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 4.3(a) shall apply as of the original due date of the Tax Benefit Payment, if the Corporate Taxpayer Group makes any distribution of cash or other property (other than Common Shares) to its stockholders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable but unpaid. The Corporate Taxpayer Group shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain sufficient available funds for the purpose of making Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid entering into loan agreements that could be reasonably anticipated to materially delay or restrict the timing of any Tax Benefit Payments payable under this Agreement.
Section 4.4Early Termination Notice. If the Corporate Taxpayer Group chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall deliver to each Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a), the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall deliver (i) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “Early Termination Schedule”) and (ii) any other work papers related to the calculation of the Early Termination Payment reasonably requested by any Agent, in each case, as soon as reasonably practicable following the occurrence of such event or delivery of the Early Termination Notice, as applicable. In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall allow each Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer Group in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all Agents have received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) any Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (y) each Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date waivers from all Agents have been received by the Corporate Taxpayer Group (the “Early Termination Effective Date”). If the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the Agents, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer Group of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the Agents shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes Procedures under Section 7.9, as applicable.
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| Section 4.5 | Payment upon Early Termination. |
(a)Subject to its right to withdraw any notice of Early Termination pursuant to Section 4.1, within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the TRA Holder.
(b)A TRA Holder’s “Early Termination Payment” as of the Early Termination Date shall equal, with respect to each TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Agreed Rate as of the
Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer Group to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.
ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS
Section 5.1Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment, any payment pursuant to Section 4.2 resulting from a Change of Control or any payment pursuant to Section 5.2 shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer Group (such obligations, “Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer Group that are not Senior Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer Group fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment or other payment under this Agreement when due is governed by Section 4.3(b). To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders and the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.
Section 5.2Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer Group. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(b), at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.
ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION
Section 6.1Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s and OpCo LLC’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the OpCo LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer Group and OpCo LLC, and any of its Subsidiaries, including preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall notify each Agent of, and keep each Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “Tax Proceeding”) of the Corporate Taxpayer Group or OpCo LLC or any of its Subsidiaries by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, and shall provide each Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer Group, OpCo LLC or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding;
provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall not settle or otherwise resolve any part of a Tax Proceeding described in the previous clause that relates to a Basis Adjustment or the deduction of Imputed Interest (and, in each case, that is reasonably expected to have a material effect on the TRA Holders’ rights under this Agreement) without the written consent of the relevant Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided further, that the Corporate Taxpayer Group and OpCo LLC shall not be required to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that is inconsistent with any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement.
Section 6.2Consistency. Unless there is a Determination to the contrary, the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of the TRA Holders agree to report, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to report, for all purposes, including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment), but, for financial reporting purposes, only in respect of items that are not explicitly characterized as “deemed” or in a similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, in a manner consistent with the description of any Tax characterization herein (including as set forth in Section 2.2(b) and Section 3.1(b) and any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.3). If the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporate Taxpayer Parent and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes Procedures under Section 7.9, as applicable.
Section 6.3Cooperation. Each TRA Holder shall (i) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer Group in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer Group may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any Tax Proceeding, (ii) make itself available to the Corporate Taxpayer Group and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer Group or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. The Corporate Taxpayer Group shall reimburse each TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3. The Sponsor Agent shall promptly deliver to Q Power all material information (including the Tax Attribute Schedule and Tax Benefit Payment Schedule) received by the Sponsor Agent hereunder in its capacity as an Agent.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing, in English and by personal delivery (if signed for receipt), by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, transmitted via facsimile transmission or transmitted via electronic mail (following appropriate confirmation of receipt by return email, including an automated confirmation of receipt) and shall be deemed to have been made and the receiving party charged with notice, when received except that if received
after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a Business Day or if received on a day that is not a Business Day, such notice, request or communication will not be effective until the next succeeding Business Day. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent or its Corporate Taxpayer Group, to:
Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc.
2151 Lisbon Road
Kennerdell, Pennsylvania 16374
Attention: Gregory A. Beard
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent) to:
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attn: Caroline Blitzer Phillips
Email: ***@***
If to the Sponsor Agent, to:
Gregory A. Beard
c/o Q Power, LLC
2151 Lisbon Road
Kennerdell, Pennsylvania 16374
Attention: Gregory A. Beard
If to a TRA Holder, other than an Agent, that is or was a partner in OpCo LLC, to:
The address set forth in the records of OpCo LLC.
Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.
Section 7.2Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or otherwise (including an electronically executed signature page) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 7.3Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3.
Section 7.4Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
Section 7.5Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
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| Section 7.6 | Successors; Assignment. |
(a)No TRA Holder may assign this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that (i) to the extent Common Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the OpCo LLC Agreement, the transferring TRA Holder shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Common Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Common Units without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer Group; (ii) Q Power and any of its Affiliates shall have the right to assign its rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, and (iii) the right to receive any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once a Redemption has occurred, arise with respect to the Common Units transferred in such Redemption, may be assigned to any Person or Persons without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, provided further, that, in the case of both clause (i) and clause (ii), such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer Group, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement, and, in the case of clause (iii), any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer Group, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.13 and acknowledging specifically the terms of Section 7.6(c) and Section 7.11. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Common Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Common Units the rights of such TRA Holder under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Common Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments, if any, due hereunder with respect to, including any Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Redemption of, such Common Units.
(b)Any Person designated as an Agent, other than the Sponsor Agent, may not be changed without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer Group and the Majority TRA Holders (for this purpose, calculated by excluding Q Power and any of its Affiliates).
(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6, no assignee described in Section 7.6(a)(iii) shall have any rights under this Agreement except for the right to enforce its right to receive payments under this Agreement.
(d)Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporate Taxpayer Group shall cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, by written agreement, to expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer Group would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, if a New Parent Transaction occurs or any entity becomes a direct or indirect successor to any Corporate Taxpayer Parent, the New Parent or successor and all new Subsidiaries thereof in the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, agreeing to become the Corporate Taxpayer Parent or a member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, as appropriate, for all purposes of this Agreement.
Section 7.7Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent, the Majority TRA Holders and, for so long as Q Power or any of its Affiliates hold an interest herein, Q Power; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the relevant Agent, in the case of provisions relating to such Agent, or in the case of any other provision, by the party against whom such waiver is to be effective.
Section 7.8Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
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| Section 7.9 | Resolution of Disputes. |
(a)Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.10, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.9 and Section 7.10) (each a “Dispute”) shall be governed by this Section 7.9 (the “Resolution of Disputes Procedures”). The parties hereto shall attempt in good faith to resolve all Disputes by negotiation. If a Dispute between the parties hereto cannot be resolved in such manner, such Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American
Arbitration Association. If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the American Arbitration Association shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter, and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement. The arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute. The award shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal. Judgment upon any award may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction over a party or any of its assets.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.9(a), the Corporate Taxpayer Group may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this Section 7.9(b), each Agent and each TRA Holder (i) expressly consents to the application of Section 7.9(c) to any such action or proceeding, (i) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Corporate Taxpayer Parent (or a member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group) as agent of such party for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such party in writing of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding.
(c)EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION of any federal court of the District of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS Section 7.9 OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award. The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this Section 7.9(c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.
(d)The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in Section 7.9(c) and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.
Section 7.10Reconciliation. In the event that any Agent and the Corporate Taxpayer Group are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the Schedules described in Section 2.3, Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 (but not, for the avoidance
doubt, with respect to any legal interpretation with respect to such provisions or Schedules) within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer Group and such Agent agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer Group or such Agent or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association. The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Tax Attribute Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any Tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days, or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer Group, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Taxpayer Group except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporate Taxpayer Group and such Agent shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts such Agent’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall reimburse such Agent for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding or (i) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer Group’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case such Agent shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer Group for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.10 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer Group, the Agents, and the TRA Holders and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.
Section 7.11Withholding. The Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of its Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of its Affiliates is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of its Affiliates, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder. In connection with any withholding for Taxes, the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of its Affiliates shall make commercially reasonably efforts to (i) minimize or eliminate any withholding Tax imposed on any amounts payable hereunder to a TRA Holder and (ii) cooperate with any TRA Holder with respect to such TRA Holder’s efforts to obtain necessary and available information for such TRA Holder to make filings, applications or elections to obtain any exemption, exclusion, credit or refund associated with taxation (including withholding Tax)
on any amounts payable by the Corporate Taxpayer Group and each of its Affiliates to such TRA Holder.
Section 7.12Admission of a member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.
(a)If any member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, then the (i) provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (i) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.
(b)If the Corporate Taxpayer Group (or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder), OpCo LLC or any of OpCo LLC’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (a “Transferor”) directly or indirectly transfers, or is deemed to transfer, directly or indirectly, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, one or more Reference Assets to (i) a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) with which the Transferor does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code or (ii) a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes) in a transaction that is wholly or partially exempt from Tax, in each case, the Transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such Reference Assets in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer. The consideration deemed to be received by the Transferor shall be equal to the gross fair market value of the transferred Reference Assets, plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any Reference Asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest. For purposes of this Section 7.12(b), a transfer of an interest in an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes shall be treated as a transfer of the Transferor’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.
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| Section 7.13 | Confidentiality. |
(a)Each Agent, each TRA Holder and each of such TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer Parent is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer Group and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporate Taxpayer Group and its Affiliates and successors, concerning OpCo LLC and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, learned by any Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any Agent may reasonably disclose information received by it in the ordinary course of such Agent’s duties as Agent to the TRA Holders for which it is Agent. This Section 7.13 shall not
apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer Group or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of an Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (i) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing such TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing such TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of such TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with such TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, financing, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to such TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) or its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates, auditors, accountants, employees, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of such TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.13, (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporate Taxpayer Group prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporate Taxpayer Group), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder or its direct or indirect owners to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer Group, OpCo LLC, the Agents, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the Agents or any TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.
(b)If an Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.13, the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.13 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer Group or the TRA Holders and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.
Section 7.14No More Favorable Terms. No member of the Corporate Taxpayer Group shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer Group is obligated to pay amounts with respect to Tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other Tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer Group becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) if such agreement provides terms that are more favorable to the counterparty under such agreement than those provided to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided, however,
that the Corporate Taxpayer Group may enter into such an agreement if this Agreement is amended to make such more favorable terms available to the TRA Holders.
Section 7.15Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement (a) could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Redemption that as of the date of this Agreement would be treated as capital gain to instead be treated as ordinary income or to be otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates for U.S. federal income Tax purposes or (b) would have other material adverse Tax consequences to such TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then, in either case, at the election of such TRA Holder and to the extent specified by such TRA Holder, but solely with respect to such TRA Holder, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect, (ii) shall not apply to a Redemption by such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.
Section 7.16Independent Nature of TRA Holders’ Rights and Obligations. The rights and obligations of each TRA Holder are independent of the rights and obligations of any other TRA Holder. Solely by virtue of entering into this Agreement, no TRA Holder shall be responsible for the performance of the obligations of any other TRA Holder, nor shall any TRA Holder have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other TRA Holder. The obligations of each TRA Holder are solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable solely by, the Corporate Taxpayer Group. The decision of each TRA Holder to enter into this Agreement has been made by such TRA Holder independently of any other TRA Holder, except to the extent such TRA Holders are Affiliates or are otherwise under common Control. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing (other than the OpCo LLC Agreement), and no action taken by any TRA Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Corporate Taxpayer Group acknowledges that the TRA Holders are not acting in concert or as a group and will not assert any such claim with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Initial Corporate Taxpayer Parent, the Agent, and the TRA Holder have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| INITIAL corporate taxpayer PARENT: | ||||
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| Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||||
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| By: |
| /s/ Gregory A. Beard | ||
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| Name: |
| Gregory A. Beard |
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| Title: |
| Chief Executive Officer and President |
| AGENT: | ||||
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| Gregory A. Beard | ||||
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| /s/ Gregory A. Beard | ||||
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| TRA HOLDER: | ||||
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| Q Power, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||||
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| By: |
| /s/ Gregory A. Beard | ||
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| Name: |
| Gregory A. Beard |
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| Title: |
| Authorized Person |
