Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 25, 2018 (June 25, 2018)
i3 Verticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
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Delaware | | 001-38532 | | 82-4052852 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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40 Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 415 Nashville, TN | | 37215 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
(615) 465-4487
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d- 2(b)) |
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¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e- 4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company. x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
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Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Initial Public Offering
On June 25, 2018, i3 Verticals, Inc. (the “Company”) closed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 7,647,500 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), including the underwriters exercising their overallotment option in full, at an offering price of $13.00 per share, pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-225214), as amended (the “Registration Statement”). In connection therewith and effective upon the closing of the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements:
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• | a Tax Receivable Agreement, dated June 25, 2018, by and among the Company, i3 Verticals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and subsidiary of the Company (“i3 Verticals, LLC”), and each of the Continuing Equity Owners (as defined in the Registration Statement); |
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• | a Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 25, 2018, by and among the Company and certain Continuing Equity Owners; and |
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• | the Limited Liability Company Agreement of i3 Verticals, LLC, dated June 25, 2018, by and among i3 Verticals, LLC and its Members (as defined therein). |
The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described therein. The foregoing summaries are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the full text of each of the Tax Receivable Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, which were previously filed as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3 to the Registration Statement and are incorporated herein by reference, and the Limited Liability Company Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with and effective upon the closing of the IPO, on June 25, 2018, the Company entered into that certain Plan Administration Agreement (the “Plan Administration Agreement”) with i3 Verticals, LLC. The Plan Administration Agreement provides that the Company will administer i3 Verticals, LLC’s Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, including all awards issued and outstanding thereunder. The foregoing summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Plan Administration Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Joinder Agreement
On June 19, 2018, the Company entered into that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Joinder Agreement (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”), together with i3 Verticals, LLC, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A. The Credit Agreement Amendment amends i3 Verticals, LLC’s Credit Agreement, dated October 30, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement Amendment joined the Company as a guarantor under the Credit Agreement and made various conforming changes to the Credit Agreement to reflect that, following the IPO, the Company became the parent company of i3 Verticals, LLC. The foregoing summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Credit Agreement Amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.5, and incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
In connection with the reorganization transactions described in the Registration Statement and immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO, the Company issued to the existing holders of i3 Verticals, LLC’s existing Class A units, common units (including common units issued upon the exercise of existing warrants held by existing warrant holders of i3 Verticals, LLC) and Class P units an aggregate 824,861 shares of Class A Common Stock and an aggregate 17,597,222 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”). Also in connection with the reorganization transactions described in the Registration Statement, the Company issued 619,542 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to a voluntary private conversion of certain subordinated notes by certain related and unrelated creditors of i3 Verticals, LLC, wherein certain eligible holders of Junior Subordinated Notes elected to convert approximately $8.1 million in aggregate indebtedness into Class A Common Stock. The issuances of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock described in this Item 3.02 were
made in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as a transaction by an issuer not involving any public offering. No underwriters were involved in the issuance and sale of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock described in this Item 3.02.
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Item 3.03. | Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth in Item 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 5.03. | Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
On June 25, 2018, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), became effective. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are substantially the same as the descriptions set forth in the Registration Statement, and incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit No. | | Description |
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| | First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Joinder Agreement, dated June 19, 2018, by and among i3 Verticals, LLC, i3 Verticals, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A. |
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* Filed herewith.
† Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 25, 2018
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i3 VERTICALS, INC. |
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By: | /s/ Clay Whitson |
Name: | Clay Whitson |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
i3 VERTICALS, INC.
i3 Verticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:
1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 17, 2018 (the “Original Certificate”) under the same name.
2. The Corporation is filing this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates, integrates and further amends the Original Certificate, and which was duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
3. The text of the Original Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in full as follows:
ARTICLE I.
The name of the Corporation is i3 Verticals, Inc.
ARTICLE II.
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19904. The name of its registered agent at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.
ARTICLE III.
The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by it is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV.
Section 4.1 Authorized Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is two hundred million (200,000,000), consisting of:
(a) One hundred fifty million (150,000,000) shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”);
(b) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Class B common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and
(c) Ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, the authority to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, exchange rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking and purchase fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, restrictions on the issuance of shares of such series, the dissolution preferences and the rights in respect to any distribution of assets of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting any such series, and the designation thereof, or any of them and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series so created (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation), subsequent to the issue of that series but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
Section 4.3 Number of Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of any holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a separate vote of any such holders of Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
Section 4.4 Common Stock. The powers, preferences and rights of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law,
(i) Each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.
(ii) Each share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.
(iii) Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock of the Corporation.
(b) Dividends and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock to the extent not prohibited by law, at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock, except that the Corporation may declare and pay a dividend to the holders of Class B Common Stock consisting of additional shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire Class B Common Stock) and cash payments in lieu of issuing fractional shares of Class B Common Stock.
(c) Liquidation Rights. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after making provisions for preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder; provided, that the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive $0.0001 per share, and upon receiving such amount, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any other assets or funds of the Corporation. A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person or Persons (as defined below), or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.4(c).
(d) Class B Common Stock.
(i) Shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, the Existing Owners (as defined below), their respective successors and assigns as well as their respective transferees in accordance with Section 4.5 (including all subsequent successors, assigns and Permitted Transferees (as defined below)) (the Existing Owners together with such persons, collectively, the “Permitted Class B Owners”). As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “Existing Owner” means each of the holders of Common Units (as defined below) of i3 Verticals, LLC, or any successor entities thereto, as set forth on the records of i3 Verticals, LLC as of the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which shall be provided to any stockholder of the Corporation following a request therefor.
(ii) The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all necessary and appropriate action (including undertaking action within its power in its capacity as Manager (as defined in the LLC Agreement) of i3 Verticals, LLC) to ensure that the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued by the Corporation at any time to any Permitted Class B Owner shall be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (other than Common Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights) held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner in accordance with Article VI, as applicable. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Permitted Class B Owner shall have the right to acquire from the Corporation (for a purchase price equal to the aggregate par value thereof) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Common Units then owned by such Permitted Class B Owner (excluding Common Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights). As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “Common Unit” means a membership interest in i3 Verticals, LLC, authorized and issued under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of i3 Verticals, LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “LLC Agreement”), and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in such LLC Agreement.
(iii) From and after the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), additional shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, the Permitted Class B Owners in accordance with Article VI and the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock following any such issuance registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (other than Common Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights) held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner under the LLC Agreement as set forth in Section 4.4(d)(ii).
(iv) In the event that (1) the Corporation is a constituent entity to, or otherwise undergoes, a merger, consolidation or other business transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the shares of capital stock of such surviving or resulting entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as the ownership of voting securities immediately prior to such event, or (2) there is any tender or exchange offer by any third party to acquire shares of Class B Common Stock and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock tender or exchange any such shares of Class B Common Stock, then, in each case, immediately before the consummation of any such action or transaction, the Corporation shall redeem, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Class B Common Stock for a per share cash amount equal to the par value of a share of Class B Common Stock.
Section 4.5 Transfer of Class B Common Stock.
(a) A holder of Class B Common Stock may surrender shares of Class B Common Stock to the Corporation for no consideration at any time. Following the surrender of any shares of Class B Common Stock to the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation (other than to a Permitted Class B Owner).
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.5(a), a holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer or assign shares of Class B Common Stock (or any legal or beneficial interest in such shares) to any transferee or assignee only to the extent permitted by the LLC Agreement (a “Permitted Transfer” and a holder of Class B Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted Transfer, a “Permitted Transferee”) and only if such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such transferee in compliance with the LLC Agreement. The transfer restrictions described in this Section 4.5(b) are referred to as the “Restrictions”.
(c) Any purported transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a Person shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, purportedly become or attempt to become, the purported owner (“Purported Owner”) of shares of Class B Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in and to such shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Restricted Shares”), and the purported transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation, the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) or the Secretary of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors and each Restricted Share shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, automatically, without any further action on the part of the Corporation, the holder thereof, or any other party, lose all voting rights as set forth herein and become a non-voting share.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing Restrictions, in the event that any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock shall cease to be held by a holder of Common Units, such share shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such share and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation (other than to a Permitted Class B Owner). Notwithstanding the foregoing Restrictions, in the event that any holder of the Class B Common Stock no longer holds an interest in the Common Units, such shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation (other than to a Permitted Class B Owner).
(e) Upon a determination by the Board of Directors that a Person has attempted or may attempt to transfer or to acquire Restricted Shares in violation of the Restrictions, the Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation, as applicable, to not record the Purported Owner
as the record owner of the Restricted Shares, and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such transfer or acquisition.
(f) The Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.5 for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock would violate the Restrictions and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.5. Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with its Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by any prospective transferee and, upon written request, shall be mailed to holders of shares of Class B Common Stock.
(g) The Board of Directors shall have all powers necessary to implement the Restrictions, including without limitation the power to waive such Restrictions or prohibit the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock on the books and records of the Corporation in violation thereof.
Section 4.6 Certificates. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Corporation may determine):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).
Section 4.7 Fractions. The Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Common Stock. Subject to the Restrictions, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to transfer fractions thereof and the Corporation shall, and shall cause the Transfer Agent to, facilitate any such transfers, including by issuing certificates or making book entries representing any such fractional shares. For all purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all references to Common Stock or any share thereof (whether in the singular or plural) shall be deemed to include references to any fraction of a share of Common Stock.
Section 4.8 Amendment. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.
ARTICLE V.
The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares or other securities at least as many shares or other securities equal to the sum of (i) the number of Common Units held by the holders of Common Units (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) plus (ii) the number of Common Units issuable by i3 Verticals, LLC in connection with the exercise or conversion of any equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by i3 Verticals, LLC that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units.
ARTICLE VI.
Section 6.1 Common Units and Common Stock Ratio. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division, subdivision, combination or recapitalization, with respect to:
(a) the shares of Class A Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) treasury stock or (ii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent such securities have been converted, exercised or exchanged for Class A Common Stock and the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of i3 Verticals, LLC).
(b) the shares of Class B Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units (other than Common Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights) owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners.
Section 6.2 Common Units and Common Stock Ratio upon a Stock Split. The Corporation shall not undertake or authorize any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of (i) the Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock; or (ii) the Class B Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times, subject to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units (other than Common Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or rights) owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners,
unless, such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners.
Section 6.3 Common Units and Class A Common Stock Ratio upon a Sale or Repurchase. The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A Common Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery or repurchase the Corporation takes or authorizes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) treasury stock or (ii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent such securities have been converted, exercised or exchanged for Class A Common Stock and the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of i3 Verticals, LLC). The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem shares of Preferred Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery, repurchase or redemption the Corporation takes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in i3 Verticals, LLC which (in the good faith determination by the Board of Directors) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent in all respects to the outstanding Preferred Stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed.
Section 6.4 Common Units and Class A Common Stock Ratio upon a Merger. Unless otherwise consented to in writing by a majority of the Permitted Class B Owners and the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock voting as a separate class, the Corporation shall not consolidate, merge or combine, or consummate any other transaction, and shall take all actions within its power to prohibit i3 Verticals, LLC from entering into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction (in each case, other than an action or transaction for which an adjustment is provided in one of the preceding paragraphs of this Article VI or in Article IV) in which Common Units or shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property (a “Transaction”), unless in connection with any such Transaction each share of Class A Common Stock and each Common Unit that is redeemable by the holder thereof pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement for, at the option of the Corporation, a share of Class A Common Stock or a cash payment, respectively, shall be entitled to be exchanged for or converted into (without duplication of any corresponding share of Class A Common Stock which the Corporation may elect to issue upon a redemption of such Common Unit by the holder thereof) the same kind and amount of stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each Common Unit and each share of Class A Common Stock is exchanged or converted (such stock or securities, cash and/or property shall be referred to herein as the “Consideration”), to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between (x) the Consideration issuable in such Transaction in exchange
for or conversion of one share of Class A Common Stock and (y) the Consideration issuable in such Transaction in exchange for or conversion of one Common Unit.
ARTICLE VII.
The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).
ARTICLE VIII.
Section 8.1 Ballot. Elections of the directors comprising the Board of Directors (each such director, in such capacity, a “Director”) need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.
Section 8.2 Number and Terms of the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors shall consist of between three and fifteen (15) Directors and be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. Each Director will be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting following such Director’s election.
Section 8.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the separate rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority in voting power of the Directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon. Any Director so chosen shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next election of Directors and shall remain in office until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
Section 8.4 Quorum and Vote Required for Action. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes; provided that in no event shall a quorum be less than one-third of the total number of authorized directorships. Except as otherwise required by law, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 8.5 Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of Directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX.
Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any action required or permitted to be
taken by stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
ARTICLE X.
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided that any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation following the Effective Time that gives holders of the Class B Common Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for Class A Common Stock other than on a one-to-one basis or (iii) any other economic rights shall be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any Person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other Persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XI.
To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no Director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article XI shall adversely affect any right or protection of a Director or of any officer, employee or agent of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.
ARTICLE XII.
Section 12.1 Corporate Opportunity. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and in accordance with Section 122(17) of the DGCL, (a) the Corporation hereby renounces all interest and expectancy that it otherwise would be entitled to have in, and all rights to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that from time to time may be presented to (i) any Director, (ii) any stockholder, officer or agent of the Corporation, or (iii) any Affiliate of any Person identified in the preceding clause (i) or (ii) and any investment fund managed by any of the foregoing, but in each case excluding any such Person in its capacity as an employee or executive officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries; (b) no stockholder and no Director, in each case, that is not an employee or executive officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, will have any duty to refrain from (i) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries from time to time is engaged or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation, its Affiliates or
any of its subsidiaries; and (c) if any stockholder or any Director, in each case, that is not an employee or executive officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such stockholder or such Director or any of their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such stockholder or Director shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such stockholder or Director may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other Person. The preceding sentences of this Article XII shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Section 12.2 Corporate Opportunity. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless (a) the Corporation or its subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (b) the Corporation or its subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (c) the Corporation or its subsidiaries have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (d) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries are then engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business.
Section 12.3 Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII.
Section 12.4 Liability. No stockholder and no Director will be liable to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or stockholders for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) solely by reason of any activities or omissions of the types expressly permitted by this Article XII.
ARTICLE XIII.
Section 13.1 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL and the restrictions and limitations set forth therein.
Section 13.2 Interested Stockholder Transactions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined below) with any Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:
(i) prior to such time the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;
(ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, such stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Voting Stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the Voting Stock outstanding (but not the outstanding Voting Stock owned by such stockholder) those shares owned (1) by Persons (as defined below) who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (2) employee stock plans of the Corporation in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
(iii) at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such stockholder.
(b) The restrictions contained in this Section 13.2 shall not apply if:
(i) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (1) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder; and (2) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an Interested Stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or
(ii) the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (1) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this subparagraph (b)(ii) of Section 13.2; (2) is with or by a Person who either was not an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or who became an Interested Stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors; and (3) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any Person becoming an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required); (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent (50%) or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock (as defined below) of the Corporation; or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all Interested Stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this subparagraph (b)(ii) of Section 13.2.
(c) As used in this Section 13.2 only, and unless otherwise provided by the express terms of this Section 13.2, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as set forth in this paragraph (c):
(i) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person;
(ii) “Associate”, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means: (1) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of Voting Stock; (2) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (3) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person;
(iii) “Business Combination” means:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation (other than a merger effected pursuant to Section 253 or Section 267 of the DGCL) or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with (1) the Interested Stockholder, or (2) with any Person if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation paragraph (a) of this Section 13.2 is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock of the Corporation;
(C) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any Stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the Interested Stockholder, except: (1) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became such; (2) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g), 253 or 267 of the DGCL; (3) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of Stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the Interested Stockholder became such; (4) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Stock made on the same terms to all holders of such Stock; or (5) any issuance or transfer of Stock by the Corporation; provided however, that in no case under items (3) through (5) of this subparagraph (c)(iii)(C) of Section 13.2 shall there be an increase in the Interested Stockholder’s proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the Voting Stock of the Corporation;
(D) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the Stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of Stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Stockholder; or
(E) any receipt by the Interested Stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subparagraphs(c)(iii)(A) through (D) of Section 13.2) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
(iv) “Control”, including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise. A Person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary; notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such Person holds Voting Stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section 13.2, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity;
(v) “Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (A) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation, or (B) is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13.2 to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (x) Greg Daily or any of his Affiliates or Associates or (y) any Person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that, for purposes of this clause (y), such Person shall be an Interested Stockholder if thereafter such Person acquires additional shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further action by the Corporation not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person;
(vi) “Owner”, including the terms “own” and “owned”, when used with respect to any Stock, means a Person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates beneficially owns such Stock, directly or indirectly; or has (A) the right to acquire such Stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of Stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered Stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any Stock because of such Person’s right to vote such Stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such Stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons; or has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in (B) of this paragraph (c)(vi) of Section 13.2), or disposing of such Stock with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such Stock; provided, that, for the purpose of determining whether a Person is an Interested Stockholder, the Voting Stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include Stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of this definition of “owned” but shall not include any other unissued Stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
(vii) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity;
(viii) “Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest; and
(ix) “Voting Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, Stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of Voting Stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of or voting power conferred by such Voting Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed on this 25th day of June, 2018.
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i3 VERTICALS, INC. |
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By: | /s/ Gregory Daily |
Name: | Gregory Daily |
Title | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
i3 VERTICALS, INC.
Dated as of June 25, 2018
CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 |
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Section 1.01 | Place of Meetings | 1 |
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Section 1.02 | Annual Meetings | 1 |
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Section 1.03 | Special Meetings | 1 |
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Section 1.04 | Notice of Meetings | 1 |
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Section 1.05 | Adjournments | 1 |
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Section 1.06 | Quorum | 2 |
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Section 1.07 | Organization | 2 |
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Section 1.08 | Voting; Proxies | 2 |
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Section 1.09 | Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record. | 3 |
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Section 1.10 | List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 4 |
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Section 1.11 | Inspectors of Election | 4 |
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Section 1.12 | Conduct of Meetings | 5 |
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Section 1.13 | Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations. | 6 |
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Section 1.14 | Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement | 10 |
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ARTICLE II. BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 11 |
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Section 2.01 | Number; Tenure; Qualifications | 11 |
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Section 2.02 | Election; Resignation; Vacancies | 11 |
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Section 2.03 | Regular Meetings | 11 |
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Section 2.04 | Special Meetings | 11 |
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Section 2.05 | Telephonic Meetings Permitted | 11 |
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Section 2.06 | Quorum; Vote Required for Action | 12 |
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Section 2.07 | Organization | 12 |
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Section 2.08 | Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors | 12 |
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Section 2.09 | Compensation of Directors | 12 |
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Section 2.10 | Chairperson | 12 |
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ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES | 13 |
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Section 3.01 | Committees | 13 |
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Section 3.02 | Committee Rules | 13 |
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ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS | 13 |
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Section 4.01 | Officers | 13 |
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Section 4.02 | Removal, Resignation and Vacancies | 14 |
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Section 4.03 | Chief Executive Officer | 14 |
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Section 4.04 | Chief Financial Officer | 14 |
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Section 4.05 | Chief Operating Officer | 14 |
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Section 4.06 | General Counsel | 14 |
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Section 4.07 | President | 15 |
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Section 4.08 | Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President | 15 |
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Section 4.09 | Treasurer | 15 |
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Section 4.10 | Controller | 15 |
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Section 4.11 | Secretary | 15 |
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Section 4.12 | Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities | 16 |
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Section 4.13 | Additional Matters | 16 |
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ARTICLE V. STOCK | 17 |
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Section 5.01 | Certificates | 17 |
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Section 5.02 | Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates | 17 |
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ARTICLE VI. INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 17 |
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Section 6.01 | Right to Indemnification | 17 |
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Section 6.02 | Advancement of Expenses | 17 |
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Section 6.03 | Claims | 18 |
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Section 6.04 | Non-exclusivity of Rights | 18 |
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Section 6.05 | Amendment or Repeal | 18 |
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Section 6.06 | Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses | 19 |
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Section 6.07 | Nature of Rights | 19 |
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Section 6.08 | Insurance | 19 |
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ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS | 19 |
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Section 7.01 | Fiscal Year | 19 |
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Section 7.02 | Seal | 19 |
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Section 7.03 | Manner of Notice. | 19 |
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Section 7.04 | Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees | 20 |
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Section 7.05 | Form of Records | 20 |
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Section 7.06 | Amendment of Bylaws | 20 |
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ARTICLE I.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.01 Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders of i3 Verticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”; and such stockholders, the “Stockholders”), may be held at any place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”). In the absence of such designation, meetings of Stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of Stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication authorized by and in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).
Section 1.02 Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of Stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. Any other business as may be properly brought before the annual meeting may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 1.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of Stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by the chairperson of the Board of Directors (the “Chairperson”), a majority of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. Special meetings validly called in accordance with this Section 1.03 of these amended and restated bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors as of May 7, 2018 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, these “Bylaws”) may be held at such date and time as specified in the applicable notice. Business transacted at any special meeting of Stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Chairperson or Board of Directors.
Section 1.04 Notice of Meetings. Whenever Stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which Stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation effective as of June 25, 2018 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each Stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 1.05 Adjournments. Any meeting of Stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time by the chairperson of the meeting (or by the Stockholders in accordance
with Section 1.06) to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which Stockholders or proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting as provided in Section 1.09(a) of these Bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each Stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 1.06 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of Stockholders the presence or participation in person or by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the Stockholders entitled to vote thereon, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.05 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. Shares of Stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote shares of Stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
Section 1.07 Organization. Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson or by such other officer or director of the Corporation as designated by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.08 Voting; Proxies. (a) Each Stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of Stockholders shall be entitled to the number of votes, if any, for each share of Stock held of record by such Stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question that is set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or provided by law. Voting at meetings of Stockholders need not be by
written ballot. In all director elections, the nominee for election as director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), these Bylaws or any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, at each meeting of Stockholders at which a quorum is present, all other corporate actions to be taken by vote of the Stockholders shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter, and where a separate vote by a class or series is present, such act shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the Stock of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter.
(b) Each Stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders or express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if not prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation) may authorize another person or persons to act for such Stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A Stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person (or by means of remote communication, if applicable) or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.
Section 1.09 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of Stock or for the purpose of
any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining Stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
(c) Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining Stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation (or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded) in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
Section 1.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of Stockholders, a complete list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the Stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each Stockholder as of the record date (or such other date). Such list shall be open to the examination of any Stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any Stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any Stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the Stockholders entitled to examine the list of Stockholders required by this Section 1.10 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Stockholders.
Section 1.11 Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of Stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may
be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of Stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of Stock outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of Stock represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of Stock represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of Stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
Section 1.12 Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the Stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting designated in accordance with Section 1.07 of these Bylaws. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of Stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of Stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of Stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of Stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 1.13 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the Stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of Stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a majority of the independent directors thereof or (C) by any Stockholder who was a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13.
(ii) For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder pursuant to Section 1.13(a)(i)(C) of these Bylaws, the Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for Stockholder action. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, in each case, notice by the Stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. For purposes of the first annual meeting held following the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering, the anniversary date shall be deemed to be February 28, 2017. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, such Stockholder’s notice must:
(A) as to each person whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director of the Corporation, set forth (I) as to each proposed nominee (1) such person’s name, age, business address and, if known, residence address, (2) such person’s principal occupation or employment, (3) the class and series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned, beneficially or of record, by such person, (4) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among (x) the Stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made and the respective affiliates and associates of, or others acting in concert with, such Stockholder and such beneficial owner, on the one hand, and (y) each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with such nominee(s), on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K if the Stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith were the “registrant” for purposes of such Item and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (II) all other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (III) such person’s written consent to serving as a director of the Corporation if elected;
(B) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.14 of these Bylaws (which shall be provided to a Stockholder promptly following a request therefor);
(C) as to any other business that the Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and
(D) as to the Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, set forth (I) the name and address of such Stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of Stock which are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such Stockholder and such beneficial owner, (III) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such Stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (IV) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of Stock, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit from share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (V) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which the Stockholder and/or beneficial owner has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (VI) a representation that the Stockholder is a holder of record of Stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person (or by means of remote communication, if applicable) or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (VII) a representation whether the Stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy
to holders of at least the percentage of outstanding Stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from Stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (VIII) any other information relating to such Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 1.13(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a Stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination for election as a director of the Corporation if the Stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act and such Stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. A Stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.13(a)(ii), and his or her nominees and business proposals shall be disregarded, if the Stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Stockholder’s nominee or business proposal in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.13(a)(ii).
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 1.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 1.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.13 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except to the extent required by law, special meetings of Stockholders may be called only in accordance with Section 1.03 of these Bylaws. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of Stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a majority of the independent directors thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Stockholder who is a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.13 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of Stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any
such Stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the Stockholder delivers a notice that includes all of the information required by Section 1.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.14 of these Bylaws and any other information, documents, affidavits, or certifications required by the Corporation) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement for which notice has been given, of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Stockholders to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.13 (including whether the Stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such Stockholder’s representation as required by Section 1.13(a)(ii)(D)(VI) of these Bylaws) and (B) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.13, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, unless otherwise required by law or except as otherwise determined by the chairperson of the meeting, if the Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Stockholders to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.13, to be considered a qualified representative of the Stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Stockholder to act for such Stockholder as proxy at the meeting of Stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Stockholders.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.13, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.13, a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.13; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.13 (including clause (a)(i)(C) hereof and clause (b) hereof), and compliance with clauses (a)(i)(C) and (b) of this Section 1.13 shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to make nominations or submit other business at a Stockholder meeting (other than business brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 1.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights (x) of Stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (y) of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.13 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director or any proposal submitted by a stockholder.
Section 1.14 Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, the candidate for nomination must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 1.13 of these Bylaws), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (i) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (iii) will, if elected as a director of the Corporation, comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director of the Corporation (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary shall provide to such candidate for
nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect) and (iv) intends, if elected as a director of the Corporation, to serve the full term of the directorship.
ARTICLE II.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.01 Number; Tenure; Qualifications. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall consist of between three (3) and fifteen (15) Directors and be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. Each director shall hold office until such time as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be Stockholders.
Section 2.02 Election; Resignation; Vacancies. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of Stockholders by such Stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Any director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority in voting power of the directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon. Any director so chosen shall be appointed for a term expiring at the next election of directors and shall remain in office until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
Section 2.03 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, if any, within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine; provided, that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination.
Section 2.04 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the directors then in office. Notice to directors of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice may be given in person, by mail or by e-mail, telephone, telecopier or other means of electronic transmission. If the notice is delivered in person, by e-mail, telephone, telecopier or other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 2.05 Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meetings of the Board of Directors thereof by means of conference telephone or
other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.06 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes; provided that in no event shall a quorum be less than one-third of the total number of authorized directorships. Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.07 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson, or in his or her absence by the person whom the Chairperson shall designate, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson chosen at the meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.08 Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee in accordance with applicable law. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action shall be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.
Section 2.09 Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary or other compensation as a director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings. Any director of the Corporation may decline any or all such compensation payable to such director in his or her discretion.
Section 2.10 Chairperson. The Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, from time to time appoint one or more vice chairpersons (each, a “Vice Chairperson”) each of whom as such shall report directly to the Chairperson.
ARTICLE III.
COMMITTEES
Section 3.01 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of any committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee (or resolution of the committee designating the subcommittee, if applicable), a majority of the directors then serving on a committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee or subcommittee. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson of such committee or a majority of the members of such committee.
Section 3.02 Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Officers. The officers of the Corporation may consist of a chief executive officer (the “Chief Executive Officer”), a chief financial officer (the “Chief Financial Officer”), a chief operating officer (the “Chief Operating Officer”), a general counsel (“General Counsel”), a president (the “President”), one or more executive vice presidents (each, a “Executive Vice President”), one or more senior vice presidents (each, a “Senior Vice President”), a Secretary (the “Secretary”), a treasurer (the “Treasurer”), a controller (the “Controller”) and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, each of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these Bylaws or as determined by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall be chosen by
the Board of Directors and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and until such person’s successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until such person’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, from time to time may determine not to appoint one or more of the officers identified in the first sentence of this Section 4.01 or to leave such officer position vacant. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.02 Removal, Resignation and Vacancies. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party. Any officer may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party. If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may appoint a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Section 4.03 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy, and shall report directly to the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4.04 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.05 Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief operating officer and shall be responsible for the management and control of the operations of the Corporation. The Chief Operating Officer shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.06 General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be the principal legal officer of the Corporation and exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the general counsel and shall be responsible for the general direction of and supervision over the legal affairs of the Corporation and advising the Board of Directors and the officers of the Corporation on all legal matters. The General Counsel shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
The General Counsel shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.07 President. The President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.08 Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President. Each Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by his or her superior officer or the Chief Executive Officer. Each Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.13 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel and/or the President may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents of the Corporation and/or assistant vice presidents of the Corporation (each, an “Assistant Vice President”).
Section 4.09 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall report to the Chief Financial Officer and, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.13 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel and/or the President may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more assistant treasurers of the Corporation (each, an “Assistant Treasurer”).
Section 4.10 Controller. The Controller shall report to the Chief Financial Officer and, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.11 Secretary. The powers and duties of the Secretary are: (i) to act as Secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, of the committees of the Board of Directors and of the Stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (ii) to see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (iii) to act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of Stock and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (iv) to have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and
other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (v) to perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.13 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and/or the President may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more assistant secretaries of the Corporation (each, an “Assistant Secretary”).
Section 4.12 Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson, any Vice Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to (a) cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper and (b) exercise the rights of the Corporation in its capacity as a general partner of a partnership or in its capacity as a managing member of a limited liability company as to which the Corporation, in such capacity, is entitled to exercise pursuant to the applicable partnership agreement or limited liability company operating agreement, including without limitation to take or refrain from taking any action, or to consent in writing, in each case in the name of the Corporation as such general partner or managing member, to any action by such partnership or limited liability company, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of taking such actions or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper. Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, any of the rights set forth in this Section 4.12 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel.
Section 4.13 Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel and the President shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. A person designated as an Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary shall not be deemed to be an officer of the Corporation for the purposes of Article VI of these Bylaws unless the Board of Directors has adopted a resolution approving such
person in such capacity as an officer of the Corporation (including by means of direct appointment by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4.01 of these Bylaws).
ARTICLE V.
STOCK
Section 5.01 Certificates. The shares of Stock shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of Stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of Stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Each such certificate shall be signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the DGCL.
Section 5.02 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate for shares of Stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
ARTICLE VI.
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
Section 6.01 Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended), any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (any such action, suit or proceeding, a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of the Corporation or, while a director or officer (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plan, against all liability and loss suffered (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) and expenses reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.03 of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.02 Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered
Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
Section 6.03 Claims. If a claim for indemnification under this Article VI (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law. In (i) any suit brought by the Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not a suit brought by that Covered Person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Covered Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its Stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances because the Covered Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its Stockholders) that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Covered Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Covered Person, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 6.04 Non-exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquires under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of Stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 6.05 Amendment or Repeal. Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these Bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
Section 6.06 Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
Section 6.07 Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon Covered Persons in this Article VI shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director or executive officer and shall inure to the benefit of the Covered Person’s heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 6.08 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 7.02 Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.03 Manner of Notice.
(a) Notice by Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the Stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the Stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given (a) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the Stockholder has consented to receive notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the Stockholder has consented to receive notice; (c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the Stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting
and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the Stockholder.
An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
For the purposes of these Bylaws, an “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, 1 or more electronic networks or databases (including 1 or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
(b) Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to Stockholders who share an address if consented to by the Stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the Stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any Stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 7.03, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
Section 7.04 Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 7.05 Form of Records. Without limiting the provisions of Section 224 of the DGCL, any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.
Section 7.06 Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, only by the affirmative vote of (a) directors constituting a majority of the
total number of authorized directorships or (b) Stockholders representing at least a majority of the votes eligible to be cast by the Stockholders entitled to vote thereon.
Exhibit
i3 VERTICALS, LLC
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
Dated as of June 25, 2018
THE COMPANY INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| | | |
| | PAGE |
| | |
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | |
ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS | |
2.01 |
| Formation of Company | |
2.02 |
| Limited Liability Company Agreement | |
2.03 |
| Name | |
2.04 |
| Purpose | |
2.05 |
| Principal Office; Registered Office | |
2.06 |
| Term | |
2.07 |
| No State-Law Partnership | |
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION | |
3.01 |
| Members. | |
3.02 |
| Units. | |
3.03 |
| The Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units; Member Distribution. | |
3.04 |
| Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units. | |
3.05 |
| Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock | |
3.06 |
| Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units. | |
3.07 |
| Negative Capital Accounts | |
3.08 |
| No Withdrawal | |
3.09 |
| Loans From Members | |
3.10 |
| Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans. | |
3.11 |
| Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan | |
3.12 |
| Class P Vesting Provisions | |
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS | |
4.01 |
| Distributions. | |
ARTICLE V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS | |
5.01 |
| Capital Accounts. | |
5.02 |
| Allocations | |
5.03 |
| Regulatory Allocations. | |
5.04 |
| Final Allocations | |
5.05 |
| Tax Allocations. | |
5.06 |
| Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member | |
ARTICLE VI. MANAGEMENT | |
6.01 |
| Authority of Manager. | |
6.02 |
| Actions of the Manager | |
|
| | | |
6.03 |
| Resignation; No Removal | |
6.04 |
| Vacancies | |
6.05 |
| Transactions Between Company and Manager | |
6.06 |
| Reimbursement for Expenses | |
6.07 |
| Delegation of Authority | |
6.08 |
| Limitation of Liability of Manager. | |
6.09 |
| Investment Company Act | |
6.10 |
| Outside Activities of the Manager | |
ARTICLE VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER | |
7.01 |
| Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members. | |
7.02 |
| Lack of Authority | |
7.03 |
| No Right of Partition | |
7.04 |
| Indemnification. | |
7.05 |
| Members Right to Act | |
7.06 |
| Inspection Rights | |
ARTICLE VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | |
8.01 |
| Records and Accounting | |
8.02 |
| Fiscal Year | |
ARTICLE IX. TAX MATTERS | |
9.01 |
| Preparation of Tax Returns | |
9.02 |
| Tax Elections | |
9.03 |
| Tax Controversies | |
ARTICLE X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS | |
10.01 |
| Transfers by Members | |
10.02 |
| Permitted Transfers | |
10.03 |
| Restricted Units Legend | |
10.04 |
| Transfer | |
10.05 |
| Assignee’s Rights. | |
10.06 |
| Assignor’s Rights and Obligations | |
10.07 |
| Overriding Provisions. | |
ARTICLE XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS | |
11.01 |
| Redemption Right of a Member. | |
11.02 |
| Contribution of the Corporation | |
11.03 |
| Exchange Right of the Corporation. | |
11.04 |
| Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation | |
11.05 |
| Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right | |
11.06 |
| Tax Treatment | |
ARTICLE XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS | |
|
| | | |
12.01 |
| Substituted Members | |
12.02 |
| Additional Members | |
ARTICLE XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS | |
13.01 |
| Withdrawal and Resignation of Members | |
ARTICLE XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | |
14.01 |
| Dissolution | |
14.02 |
| Winding up and Termination | |
14.03 |
| Deferment; Distribution in Kind | |
14.04 |
| Cancellation of Certificate | |
14.05 |
| Reasonable Time for Winding Up | |
14.06 |
| Return of Capital | |
ARTICLE XV. VALUATION | |
15.01 |
| Determination | |
15.02 |
| Dispute Resolution | |
ARTICLE XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS | |
16.01 |
| Power of Attorney. | |
16.02 |
| Confidentiality. | |
16.03 |
| Amendments | |
16.04 |
| Plan of Reorganization | |
16.05 |
| Title to Company Assets | |
16.06 |
| Addresses and Notices | |
16.07 |
| Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries | |
16.08 |
| Creditors | |
16.09 |
| Waiver | |
16.10 |
| Counterparts | |
16.11 |
| Applicable Law | |
16.12 |
| Severability | |
16.13 |
| Further Action | |
16.14 |
| Delivery by Electronic Transmission | |
16.15 |
| Right of Offset | |
16.16 |
| Entire Agreement | |
16.17 |
| Remedies | |
16.18 |
| Descriptive Headings; Interpretation | |
| | |
Exhibits
Exhibit A – Form of Joinder Agreement
i3 VERTICALS, LLC
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
This LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of the Effective Time (as defined below), is entered into by and among i3 Verticals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and its Members (as defined herein).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms have the respective meanings ascribed to them in Section 1.1;
WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company with the name “Charge Payment, LLC”, pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act by the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 18-201 of the Delaware Act on September 7, 2012;
WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of September 7, 2012, which was amended and restated in its entirety by the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of December 24, 2012, which was amended and restated in its entirety by the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2013, which was amended and restated by the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2014, as amended by the (i) First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of November 14, 2014 and the (ii) Second Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of June 30, 2016 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “Initial LLC Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Pre-IPO Members (as later defined), prior to the effective time of the Initial Recapitalization (as later defined), held Class A Units, Common Units and/or Class P Units (each as defined in Article I of the Initial LLC Agreement, and, respectively, the “Original Class A Units”, the “Original Common Units” and the “Original Class P Units”, and collectively, the “Original Units”) of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Pre-IPO Members desired to have i3 Verticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), effect an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Class A Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, in order to effect an up-C structure in connection with the IPO, the board of directors and sole stockholder of the Corporation previously approved, and holders of at least 75% of the outstanding Original Class A Units previously approved, a plan of reorganization (“Plan of Reorganization”) by and between the Company and the Corporation which contemplated the
following steps in order of effectiveness: (i) the Company amended and restated the Initial LLC Agreement pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (the “Fourth A&R LLC Agreement”) to effect (x) a recapitalization of the Company and the associated conversion of the Original Units into either Class A Common Units (bifurcated into Series A1 which is the voting component of the Class A Common Unit, and Series A2 which is the economic component of the Class A Common Unit) or Class B Common Units (the “Initial Recapitalization”), (y) the addition of the Corporation as a Member of the Company and its designation as sole Manager of the Company and (z) the rights and obligations of the Members of the Company that are enumerated and agreed upon in the terms of the Fourth A&R LLC Agreement, effective as of the effective time of the Initial Recapitalization; (ii) a merger (“Merger”) by and among the Company, the Corporation and i3 Verticals Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub”), whereby Merger Sub was merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company, pursuant to which (x) the Corporation amended and restated the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation to, among other things, provide for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as described in the Plan of Reorganization, (y) Class A, Series A1 Common Units were converted into newly issued Corporation Class B common stock and Class A, Series A2 Common Units were converted into newly issued Common Units in the Company on a one-for-one basis, and the holders of such newly issued Common Units were entitled to enter into a Tax Receivables Agreement (as later defined) with the Corporation, (z) Class B Common Units were converted into Class A Common Stock in the Corporation based on a conversion ratio that provides an equitable adjustment to reflect the full value of the Class B Common Units; (iii) this Agreement was adopted by operation of the Merger as the surviving entity’s limited liability company agreement to amend and restate the Fourth A&R LLC Agreement in order to replace references to Class A Common Units with Common Units and to remove all references to Class B Common Units; and (iv) the Corporation acquired newly issued Common Units from the Company in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds (as later defined) payable to the Company upon consummation of the IPO and acquired existing Common Units from Member in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to such Member upon consummation of the IPO;
WHEREAS, a list of Members as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the Initial Recapitalization is on file with the Company and is available at the Company’s principal executive office;
WHEREAS, except for the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below), the Corporation will sell shares of its Class A Common Stock to public investors in the IPO and will use the net proceeds received from the IPO (the “IPO Net Proceeds”) to purchase (a) newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and (b) Common Units from Member pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation may issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds (the “Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds”) shall be used by the Corporation to purchase additional newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.
“Additional Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02.
“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:
(a) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and
(b) increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to minimum gain).
“Admission Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06.
“Affiliate” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Affiliated”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Assignee” means a Person to whom a Company Interest has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to Article XII.
“Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to a Member, an amount equal to the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by the estimated or actual taxable income of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member pursuant to Article V for the period to which the Assumed Tax Liability relates as determined for federal income tax purposes to the extent not previously taken into account in determining the Assumed Tax Liability of such Member, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided that, in the case of the Corporation, such Assumed Tax Liability (i) shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code and (ii) shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet its tax obligations, including its obligations
pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, for the relevant taxable year; provided further that, in the case of each Member, such Assumed Tax Liability shall not take into account any Code Section 704(c) allocations (including “reverse” 704(c) allocations) to the Member.. Each Member’s Tax Distribution shall be further reduced by such Member’s share of tax credits and tax withholding payments made to taxing authorities on behalf of such Member.
“Base Rate” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.
“Black-Out Period” means any “black-out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Redeeming Member is subject (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Stock), which period restricts the ability of such Redeeming Member to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeeming Member in connection with a Share Settlement.
“Book Value” means, with respect to any Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banks located in New York City, New York generally are authorized or required by Law to close.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Member in accordance with Section 5.01.
“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member (or such Member’s predecessor) contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to Article III hereof.
“Cash Settlement” means immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the Redeemed Units Equivalent.
“CCSD I” means Claritas Capital Specialty Debt Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“CCSD II” means CCSD II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Certificate” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as amended, restated and amended and restated from time to time.
“Class A Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Class B Common Stock” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Unit” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of the Members and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.
“Common Unit Redemption Price” means the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock (or any class of stock into which it has been converted) on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the five (5) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Manager (through its board of directors, including a majority of the independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Stock Exchange)) shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.
“Common Unitholder” means a Member who is the registered holder of Common Units.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company Interest” means the ownership interest of a Member in the Company, consisting of (i) such Member’s interest in Profits, Losses and Distributions, (ii) such Member’s right to vote or grant or withhold consents with respect to Company matters as provided herein or in the Delaware Act and (iii) such Member’s other rights and privileges as provided herein or in the Delaware Act.
“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.02.
“Contribution Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).
“Corporate Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“Corporate Incentive Award Plan” means the i3 Verticals, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.
“Credit Agreements” means any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a borrower, as such instruments or agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancing or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation, for as long as the payee or creditor to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
“Direct Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(a).
“Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06.
“Distributable Cash” means, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a), the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Company for such purposes in accordance with the Credit Agreements (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of any of the Credit Agreements).
“Distribution” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Distribute”) means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however, that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Members or any exchange of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units or (b) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.
“Distribution Tax Rate” means the tax rate determined in the sole discretion of the Manager.
“Effective Time means the effective time of the Merger.
“Equity Plan” means any stock or equity purchase plan, restricted stock or equity plan or other similar equity compensation plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation.
“Equity Securities” means (a) Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
“Event of Withdrawal” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or termination of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338 or (iii) merger, severance, or
allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).
“Exchange Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(b).
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset, its fair market value determined according to Article XV.
“Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.
“Fiscal Year” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Fourth A&R LLC Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Governmental Entity” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing or (d) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.
“Harbert” means Harbert Mezzanine Partners III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(a).
“Initial LLC Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Initial Recapitalization” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“IPO Common Unit Purchase” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).
“IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement” means that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and between the Corporation and Member as specified therein.
“IPO Common Unit Subscription” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).
“IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement” means that certain Common Unit Subscription Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and between the Corporation and the Company.
“IPO Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Joinder” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“Law” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the United States, any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof (including common law).
“Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.02.
“LLC Employee” means an employee of, or other service provider (including, without limitation, any management member whether or not treated as an employee for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax) to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case acting in such capacity.
“Losses” means items of Company loss or deduction determined according to Section 5.01(b).
“Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.
“Market Price” means, with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock as of a specified date, the last sale price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in shares of Class A Common Stock selected by the Corporate Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Corporate Board.
“Member” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members named on the Schedule of Members, (b) the Corporation and (c) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with Article XII, but in each case only
so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units, each in its capacity as a member of the Company.
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 25, 2018, by and among the Company, Merger Sub, and the Corporation.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Minimum Gain” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).
“Net Loss” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Fiscal Year over Profits for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04).
“Net Profit” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Fiscal Year over Losses for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04).
“Officer” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).
“Optionee” means a Person to whom a stock option is granted under any Stock Option Plan.
“Original Class A Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Original Common Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Original Class P Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Original Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Other Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04.
“Over-Allotment Option” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.
“Percentage Interest” means, as among an individual class of Units and with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing such Member’s Units of such class by the total Units of all Members of such class at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Member shall be calculated to the 4th decimal place.
“Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.
“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.
“Person” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.
“Pre-IPO Members” means those parties that executed the Initial LLC Agreement or thereafter were admitted to the Company as a member as provided in the Initial LLC Agreement.
“Pro rata,” “pro rata portion,” “according to their interests,” “ratably,” “proportionately,” “proportional,” “in proportion to,” “based on the number of Units held,” “based upon the percentage of Units held,” “based upon the number of Units outstanding,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.
“Profits” means items of Company income and gain determined according to Section 5.01(b).
“Pubco Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a).
“Redeemed Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Redeemed Units Equivalent” means the following consideration: (a) the product of (i) the applicable number of Redeemed Units, times (ii) the Common Unit Redemption Price, and (b) TRA Rights applicable to such number of Redeemed Units.
“Redeeming Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Redemption Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Redemption Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and among the Corporation, certain of the Members as of the Effective Time and certain other persons whose signatures are affixed thereto (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement).
“Reorganization Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.04.
“Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c).
“Restricted Taxable Year” means the Taxable Year of the Company ending December 31, 2018, unless the Manager determines otherwise, and (ii) any Taxable Year during which the Manager determines the Company does not satisfy the private placement safe harbor of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h).
“Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74.
“Schedule of Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.
“Section 16 Officer” means “officer” as set forth in Rule 16a-1 under the Securities Exchange of Act of 1934, as amended.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.
“Share Settlement” means the following consideration: (a) a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units, and (b) TRA Rights applicable to such number of Redeemed Units.
“Stock Exchange” means the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
“Stock Option Plan” means any stock option plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or by the Corporation.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 12.01.
“Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
“Tax Distribution Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
“Tax Matters Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.
“Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and among the Corporation and the Members as of the Effective Time (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor to or assign of any party to such agreement) and attached hereto as Exhibit B.
“Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.02.
“TRA Rights” means additional cash consideration to be paid to a Member in exchange for Redeemed Units pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).
“Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units.
“Treasury Regulations” means the tax regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.
“Underlying Class A Shares” means all shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon redemption of Common Units, assuming all such Common Units are redeemed for Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.
“Unit” means a Company Interest of a Member or a permitted Assignee in the Company representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of all Members and Assignees as may be established by the Manager from time to time in accordance with Section 3.02; provided, however, that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement, and the Company Interest represented by such class or group of Units shall be determined in accordance with such relative rights, powers and duties.
“Unitholder” means a Common Unitholder and any Member who is the registered holder of any other class of Units, if any.
“Value” means (a) for any Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exercise of a stock option under such Stock Option Plan and (b)
for any Equity Plan, other than a Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the Vesting Date.
“Vesting Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c)(ii).
ARTICLE II.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
2.01 Formation of Company. The Company was formed on September 7, 2012 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.
2.02 Limited Liability Company Agreement. This Agreement was adopted by operation of the Merger to amend and restate the Fourth A&R LLC Agreement. This Agreement governs the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act. The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.06 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act.
2.03 Name. The name of the Company shall be “i3 Verticals, LLC.” The Manager, in its sole discretion, may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members and, to the extent practicable, to all of the holders of any Equity Securities then outstanding. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.
2.04 Purpose. The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.05 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be at 40 Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 415, Nashville, Tennessee 37215 or such other place as the Manager may from time to time designate. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware 19904, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be National Registered Agents, Inc. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.
2.06 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.
2.07 No State-Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes, other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.07, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be
treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.
ARTICLE III.
MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION
3.01 Members.
(a) At the Effective Time, by operation of the Merger: (i) each Class A, Series A1 common unit of the Company was converted into the right to receive one share of Class B Common Stock of the Corporation, the holders thereof ceased to be Members of the Company with respect to such Class A, Series A1 common units and the voting rights associated with the Class A, Series A1 common units have been vested in the Corporation as the Manager pursuant to Sections 6.03 and 6.04 hereof; (ii) each Class A, Series A2 common unit of the Company was converted into one Common Unit of the Company and the holders thereof continued to be Members of the Common with respect to such Common Units; and (iii) each Class B common unit of the Company was converted into the right to receive Class A Common Stock of the Corporation based on a conversion ratio of 1.15 shares of Class A Common Stock per one Class B common unit of the Company, and the holders thereof ceased to be Members of the Company with respect to such Class B common units. In connection with Section 2.2(b)(iii) of the Merger Agreement, the Corporation is hereby issued for no additional consideration such number of Common Units of the Company as is required to establish a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation issued by the Corporation and the number of Common Units of the Company owned by the Corporation.
(b) The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member; (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member; (iii) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that have been made by the Members with respect to their Units and (iv) the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Members with respect to their Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “Schedule of Members”). The applicable Schedule of Members in effect as of the Effective Time is on file with the Company and is available at the Company’s principal executive office. The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by the Delaware Act.
(c) No Member shall be required or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.01 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to (i) loan any money or property to the Company, (ii) borrow any money or property from the Company or (iii) make any additional Capital Contributions.
3.02 Units.
(a) Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. At the Effective Time, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units.
(b) Subject to Section 3.04(a), the Manager may (i) issue additional Common Units at any time in its sole discretion and (ii) create one or more classes or series of Units or preferred Units solely to the extent such new class or series of Units or preferred Units are substantially equivalent to a class of common stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation; provided, that as long as there are any Members (other than the Corporation) (i) no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the allocations and distributions they would have received, and the other rights and benefits to which they would have been entitled, in respect of their Company Interest if such new class or series of Units had not been created and (ii) no such new class or series of Units may be issued, in each case, except to the extent (and solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the aggregate distributions that would be made in respect of such new class or series of Units if the Company were liquidated immediately after the issuance of such new class or series of Units.
(c) To the extent permitted pursuant to Section 3.04(a) or Section 3.10, as applicable, the Manager may amend this Agreement, without the consent of any Member or any other Person, in connection with the creation and issuance of such classes or series of Units, subject to Sections 16.03(b) and Section 16.03(d) hereof.
3.03 The Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units; Member Distribution.
(a) Reserved.
(b) The Corporation’s Common Unit Agreements. Following the Effective Time, the Corporation will acquire (i) 6,266,583 newly issued Common Units in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to the Company upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement with the Company (the “IPO Common Unit Subscription”) and (ii) 383,417 existing Common Units from a Member in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to such Member upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement with such Member (the “IPO Common Unit Purchase”). In addition, to the extent the underwriters in the IPO exercise the Over-Allotment Option in whole or in part, upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation will contribute the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for a number of newly issued Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in such exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement, and such issuance of additional Common Units shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall be admitted as a Member with respect to all Common Units it holds from time to time.
3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.
(a) The Company shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) treasury stock or (ii) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options or rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the Company). In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems the Corporation’s preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the Company which (in the good faith determination of the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. The Company shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, Common Unit distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.04(a).
(b) The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Common Units, and/or establish other classes of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.02, this Section 3.04, Section 3.10 and Section 3.11. Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Common Units authorized under this Agreement, and/or establish other classes of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 16.03, the Manager shall amend this Agreement as necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Common Units and admission of additional Members under this Section 3.04 without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any Member.
3.05 Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock. If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Corporation for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.
3.06 Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units.
(a) Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The Manager agrees that it shall not elect to treat any Unit as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless thereafter all Units then outstanding are represented by one or more certificates.
(b) If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.
(c) Upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.
3.07 Negative Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).
3.08 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
3.09 Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c), the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.
3.10 Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans.
(a) Options Granted to Persons other than LLC Employees. If, at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granting shares of Class A Common Stock to a Person other than an LLC Employee is duly exercised:
(i) The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Corporation by such exercising Person in connection with the exercise of such stock option.
(ii) Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to Section 3.10(a)(i), the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made and in consideration of additional Common Units, an amount equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then being issued by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option.
(iii) The Corporation shall receive in exchange for such Capital Contributions (as deemed made under Section 3.10(a)(ii)), a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which such option was exercised.
(b) Options Granted to LLC Employees. If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granting shares of Class A Common Stock to an LLC Employee is duly exercised:
(i) The Corporation shall sell to the Optionee, and the Optionee shall purchase from the Corporation, for a cash price per share equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of the exercise, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the exercise price payable by the Optionee in connection with the exercise of such stock option divided by (y) the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of such exercise.
(ii) The Corporation shall sell to the Company (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Corporation shall sell to such Subsidiary), and the Company (or such Subsidiary, as applicable) shall purchase from the Corporation, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the excess of (x) the number of shares of Class A
Common Stock for which such stock option was exercised over (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(i) hereof. The purchase price per share of Class A Common Stock for such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of exercise of such stock option.
(iii) The Company shall transfer to the Optionee (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary shall transfer to the Optionee) at no additional cost to such LLC Employee and as additional compensation (and not a distribution) to such LLC Employee, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock described in Section 3.10(b)(ii).
(iv) The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to all proceeds received (from whatever source, but excluding any payment in respect of payroll taxes or other withholdings) by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option. The Corporation shall receive for such Capital Contribution, a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which such stock option was exercised.
(c) Restricted Stock Granted to LLC Employees. If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Equity Plan (other than a Stock Option Plan), any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued to an LLC Employee (including any shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture in the event such LLC Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company or any Subsidiary) in consideration for services performed for the Company or any Subsidiary:
(i) The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as are to be issued to such LLC Employee in accordance with the Equity Plan;
(ii) On the date (such date, the “Vesting Date”) that the Value of such shares is includible in the taxable income of such LLC Employee, the following events will be deemed to have occurred for federal income tax purposes: (1) the Corporation shall be deemed to have sold such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or if such LLC Employee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, to such Subsidiary) for a purchase price equal to the Value of such shares of Class A Common Stock, (2) the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be deemed to have delivered such shares of Class A Common Stock to such LLC Employee, (3) the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed the purchase price for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company as a Capital Contribution and (4) in the case where such LLC Employee is an employee of a Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of the Subsidiary; and
(iii) The Company shall issue to the Corporation on the date such shares of Class A Common Stock are issued to the LLC Employee in accordance with the Equity Plan a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued under Section 3.10(c)(i). If any such shares of Class A Common Stock so issued by the Corporation in connection with any Equity Plan are subject to vesting or forfeiture provisions, then the Common
Units that are issued to the Corporation in connection therewith in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.10(c)(iii) shall be subject to vesting or forfeiture on the same basis; if any such shares of Class A Common Stock vest or are forfeited, then an equal number of Common Units issued by the Company in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.10(c)(iii) shall automatically vest or be forfeited. Any cash or property held by either the Company or the Corporation or on either’s behalf in respect of dividends paid on restricted Class A Common Stock that fail to vest shall be returned to the Company upon the forfeiture of such restricted Class A Common Stock.
(d) Future Stock Incentive Plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating stock incentive plans for the benefit of employees, directors or other business associates of the Corporation, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates. The Members acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such plan is adopted, modified or terminated by the Corporation, amendments to this Section 3.10 may become necessary or advisable and that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 16.03, the Manager shall make such amendments without the requirement of any further consent or acknowledgement of any Member.
(e) Anti-dilution Adjustments. For all purposes of this Section 3.10, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the corresponding number of Common Units shall be determined after giving effect to all anti-dilution or similar adjustments that are applicable, as of the date of exercise or vesting, to the option, warrant, restricted stock or other equity interest that is being exercised or becomes vested under the applicable Stock Option Plan or other Equity Plan and applicable award or grant documentation.
3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III, all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.
3.12 Class P Vesting Provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, any vesting conditions or related terms that attached to Original Class P Units prior to the Initial Recapitalization shall continue in effect with respect to the applicable Common Units held by such Member.
ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS
4.01 Distributions.
(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions. To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of
Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts, at such time and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate. All Distributions made under this Section 4.01 shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(vi)) as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however, that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions (which may be non-pro rata) as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 14.02; provided, further, that notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Delaware Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(a), the Manager shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, it is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation to meet its obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)).
(b) Tax Distributions.
(i) On or about each date (a “Tax Distribution Date”) that is five (5) Business Days prior to each due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of an individual calendar year taxpayer (without regard to extensions) (or, if earlier, the due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of the Corporation, as determined without regard to extensions), the Company shall be required to make a Distribution to each Member of cash in an amount equal to the excess of such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability, if any, for such taxable period over the Distributions previously made to such Member pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) with respect to such taxable period (the “Tax Distributions”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, in its discretion, make such Tax Distributions on a quarterly basis, and any date on which such Tax Distributions are made will be considered a Tax Distribution Date for purposes hereof.
(ii) To the extent a Member otherwise would be entitled to receive less than its Percentage Interest of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) on any given date, the Tax Distributions to such Member shall be increased to ensure that all Distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) are made pro rata in accordance with such Member’s Percentage Interest. If, on a Tax Distribution Date, there are insufficient funds on hand to distribute to the Members the full amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall be made to the Members to the extent of available funds as follows: first, as such Distributions would have been made if the first sentence of this Section 4.01(b)(ii) did not apply, and then to the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests, and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions as soon as funds
become available sufficient to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled.
(iii) In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any taxable year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for which no election is made pursuant to Section 6226 thereof), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant taxable years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section 4.01(a) and this Section 4.01(b) in the relevant taxable years sufficient to cover such shortfall.
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b), if any, shall be made to a Member (or its predecessor in interest) only to the extent all previous Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(a) with respect to the Fiscal Year are less than the Distributions such Member (and its predecessor in interest) otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 4.01(b).
(v) If the cumulative amount of actual federal, state and local income tax liabilities payable by the Corporation, plus the cumulative amount of payments made by the Corporation under the Tax Receivable Agreement, through the end of any particular Tax Distribution Date or calendar year exceeds the sum of the cumulative amount of Tax Distributions, distributions under Section 4.01(a) and Corporation Excess Tax Distributions (as defined below) made to the Corporation through the end of such Tax Distribution Date or calendar year, the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, but subject to the Delaware Act and any restrictions contained in any agreement to which the Company is bound, make additional tax distributions to the Corporation in an amount equal to such excess (a “Corporation Excess Tax Distribution”). Any such Corporation Excess Tax Distribution shall be treated as an advance against and, thus, shall reduce (without duplication), any future distributions that would otherwise be made to the Corporation pursuant to Sections 4.01(a) and (b).
(vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a final accounting for tax distributions under the Initial LLC Agreement in respect of the taxable income of the Company for the portion of the Fiscal Year of the Company that ends on the closing date of the IPO shall be made by the Company following the closing date of the IPO and, based on such final accounting, the Company shall make a tax distribution to the Pre-IPO Members (or in the case of any Pre-IPO Member that no longer exists, the successor of such Pre-IPO Member) in accordance with the applicable terms of the Initial LLC Agreement to the extent of any shortfall in the amount of tax distributions the Pre-IPO Members received prior to the closing date of the IPO with respect to taxable income of the Company for such portion of such Fiscal Year that will be allocated to the Pre-IPO Members pursuant to Section 706 of the Code. For the avoidance
of doubt, the amount of the Tax Distribution to be made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(vi) shall be calculated pursuant to the Initial LLC Agreement.
(c) Unvested Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the portion of any distribution that would otherwise be made with respect to any unvested Unit pursuant to Section 4.01(a) shall be held in reserve by the Company (the “Reserve Amount”) (but treated as distributed for purposes of this Agreement) until such unvested Unit either (i) vests in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement governing the issuance of such Unit, in which case the Reserve Amount attributable to the vested portion of such Unit shall be distributed to the Member holding such Unit at the applicable time, or (ii) is cancelled, forfeited, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Company (or its designee), in which case the Reserve Amount attributable to such Unit shall be distributed among the Members pursuant to Section 4.01(a), subject to any holdback terms of this Section 4.01(c) with respect to any other outstanding unvested Units. For the avoidance of doubt, holders of unvested Units shall be entitled to distributions pursuant to Section 4.01(b).
ARTICLE V.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS
5.01 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulations and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of Company property.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however, that:
(i) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(ii) If the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.
(iii) Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.
(iv) Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).
(v) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).
5.02 Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03 and Section 5.04, Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
5.03 Regulatory Allocations.
(a) Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4).
(b) Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03(a), if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(c) If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Sections 5.03(a) and 5.03(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(d) If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The
Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.03(d).
(e) Profits and Losses described in Section 5.01(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).
(f) The allocations set forth in Section 5.03(a) through and including Section 5.03(e) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero.
5.04 Final Allocations. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.03, the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.
5.05 Tax Allocations.
(a) The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.
(b) Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted
basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using such methods as determined by the Company from time to time..
(c) If the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b), including adjustments to the Book Value of any Company asset in connection with the execution of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using such methods as determined by the Company from time to time.
(d) Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).
(e) For purposes of determining a Member’s share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be determined pursuant to any proper method, as reasonably determined by the Manager.
(f) Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.05 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
5.06 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member. If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal income taxes as a result of Company obligations pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as payroll taxes, withholding taxes, benefits or professional association fees and the like required to be made or made voluntarily by the Company on behalf of any Member based upon such Member’s status as an employee of the Company), then such Person shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Member agrees that any Cash Settlement such Member is entitled to receive pursuant to Article XI may be offset by an amount equal to such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06 and that such Member shall be treated as receiving the full amount of such Cash Settlement and paying to the Company an amount equal to such obligation. A Member’s obligation to make payments to the Company under this Section 5.06 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company. In the event that the Company has been terminated prior to the date such payment is due, such Member shall make such payment to the Manager (or its designee), which shall distribute such funds in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.06, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate
per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any Laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled.
ARTICLE VI.
MANAGEMENT
6.01 Authority of Manager.
(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “Manager”) and (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware Act. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Delaware Act with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.04.
(b) The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “Officer” and collectively, the “Officers”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section 6.07 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Company’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis. The existing Officers of the Company as of the Effective Time shall remain in their respective positions and shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Manager. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Manager.
(c) The Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity or the conversion or redomestication of the Company, in each case for the avoidance of doubt, without the prior consent of any Member or any other Person being required.
6.02 Actions of the Manager. The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.07.
6.03 Resignation; No Removal. The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.
6.04 Vacancies. Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation (or, if the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.
6.05 Transactions Between Company and Manager. The Members hereby approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager, the Company and their respective Affiliates entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance with the Initial LLC Agreement or that the Corporate Board has approved in connection with the IPO as of the date of this Agreement, including the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement.
6.06 Reimbursement for Expenses. The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the IPO, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and therefore the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including without limitation all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including without limitation public reporting obligations, proxy statements, director compensation, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence. For the avoidance of doubt, the Manager shall not be reimbursed for any federal, state or local taxes imposed on the Manager or any Subsidiary of the Manager (other than taxes paid by the Manager on behalf of the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company but only if the taxes paid were the legal liability of the Company and/or any Subsidiary of the Company). In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in the IPO (or in any subsequent public offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in the IPO (or in such subsequent public offering, as applicable) after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “Discount”), (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the
Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.
6.07 Delegation of Authority. The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.
6.08 Limitation of Liability of Manager.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates or Manager’s officers, employees or other agents shall be liable to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole manager of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith). The Manager shall be entitled to rely upon the advice of a Member, liquidating trustee, an Officer or employee of the Company, a committee of the Company, legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, and any act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person bound by this Agreement.
(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity.
(c) Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, other Members or any other Person.
(d) Whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or duty otherwise, existing at Law or in equity, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates and shall be deemed approved by all Members.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that, at Law or in equity, the Manager in its capacity as such has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to any Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duty to act in a manner in which the Manager subjectively believes either is necessary or appropriate to further the best interests of the Corporation or is not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, in any proceeding brought by the Company, any Member or any other Person challenging any act or omission of the Manager for failure to comply with the preceding sentence, the Company, such Member or such other Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such act or omission by the Manager did not satisfy the contractual standard set forth in the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that, at Law or in equity, any director, officer or record or beneficial owner of stock of the Manager has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement
6.09 Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.
6.10 Outside Activities of the Manager. The Manager shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business or operations, other than in connection with (a) the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Common Units, (b) the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Manager as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and listed on a securities exchange, (d) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests of the Corporation or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (e) financing or refinancing of any type related to the Corporation or the Company, its Subsidiaries or their assets or activities, (f) treasury and treasury management, (g) stock repurchases, (h) the declaration and payment of dividends with respect to any class of securities and (i) such activities as are incidental to the foregoing; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, the net proceeds of any financing raised by the Manager pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Company, whether as Capital Contributions, loans or otherwise, as appropriate; provided, further, that the Manager may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the Manager takes commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such assets are otherwise vested in the Company or its Subsidiaries, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise or, if it is not commercially reasonable to vest such economic interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Members shall negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to reflect such activities and the direct ownership of assets by the Manager. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Manager from executing any guarantee of indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER
7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.
(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company and neither any Member nor the Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debts, obligations, contracts or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or the Manager (except to the extent and under the circumstances set forth in any non-waivable provision of the Delaware Act). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Delaware Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members or the Manager for liabilities of the Company.
(b) In accordance with the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Articles IV or XIV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Delaware Act. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the
Delaware Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person, unless such distribution was made by the Company to its Members in clerical error. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (but subject, without limitation, to Section 6.08 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at Law or in equity, any Member (other than the Manager in its capacity as such) (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, member, partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.
7.02 Lack of Authority. No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer or delegate thereof, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.
7.03 No Right of Partition. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Company property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.
7.04 Indemnification.
(a) Subject to Section 5.06, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each, an “Indemnified Person”) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement, only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnified Person (or one or more of such Indemnified Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Indemnified Person is or was serving as the Manager, or a director or Section 16 Officer of the Manager, or a Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, General Counsel or Secretary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a manager, officer, director, principal or member of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company; provided further, that except as provided in Section 7.04(b) with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement, the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnified Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnified Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Manager. Reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
(b) If a claim under Section 7.04(a) is not paid in full by the Company within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnified Person may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnified Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnified Person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Indemnified Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth herein. In any suit brought by the Indemnified Person to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section 7.04 or otherwise shall be on the Company.
(c) The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Indemnified Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.
(d) If this Section 7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.
(e) Any repeal or modification of this Section 7.04 shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any individual existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions prior to such repeal or modification.
(f) This Section 7.04 shall not limit the right of the Company, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnified Persons when and as authorized by appropriate action by the Manager or otherwise.
7.05 Members Right to Act. For matters that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Members holding a majority of the Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Members. Any Member entitled to vote at a meeting of Members or to express consent or dissent to Company action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for it by proxy. An electronic mail, telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Member shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section 7.05(a). No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven (11) months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest. Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Company shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.
(b) The actions by the Members permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Members holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the other Members entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Members entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of this Agreement or the Delaware Act, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a Person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the Person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting need be specified in any written waiver or any waiver by electronic transmission of notice unless so required by this Agreement or the Delaware Act. The actions by the Members entitled to
vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Members entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent (without the requirement of prior notice), so long as such consent is signed by Members having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Members entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Members at a meeting thereof. Consents of Members may also be given by electronic transmission.
7.06 Inspection Rights. The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives to examine the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the principal office of the Company or such other location as the Manager shall reasonably approve during reasonable business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s Company Interest; provided, that Manager has a right to keep confidential from the Members certain information in accordance with Section 18-305 of the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
8.01 Records and Accounting. The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles IV and V and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.
8.02 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on September 30 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.
ARTICLE IX.
TAX MATTERS
9.01 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. On or before April 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Company’s outside tax accountants. In addition, no later than (i) March 30 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, the Company shall provide to each Person that was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year a statement showing an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and such
Member’s estimated allocations of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and (ii) July 31 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, a statement showing such Member’s final state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and a completed IRS Schedule K-1. The Company shall notify the Members upon receipt of any notice of any material income tax examination of the Company by federal, state or local authorities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, the Manager shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including without limitation the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Company Interests of its Members.
9.02 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02. The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election and shall make a new election pursuant to Section 754 to the extent necessary following any “termination” of the Company or the Subsidiary under Section 708 of the Code. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.
9.03 Tax Controversies. Subject to the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations, the Manager shall be the “Partnership Representative” under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions and any comparable provision of state or local tax law or successor or subsequent related provision of U.S. federal law. The Partnership Representative shall be authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, to take any and all actions that it is permitted to take when acting in that capacity and to expend Company funds for professional services and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees, at the Company’s expense (i) to reasonably cooperate with the Company and the Partnership Representative and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company or the Partnership Representative with respect to the conduct of such proceedings and (ii) to provide to the Company or the Partnership Representative any information in its reasonable possession that could reasonably be requested help mitigate any Tax due by the Company or the Members. Promptly following the written request of the Partnership Representative, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, reimburse and indemnify the Partnership Representative for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable legal and accounting fees, claims, liabilities, losses and damages incurred by the Partnership Representative in its capacity as such (and not in its capacity as a Member generally) in connection with any administrative or judicial proceeding (i) with respect to the tax liability of the Company and/or (ii) with respect to the tax liability of the Members in connection with the operations or activities of the Company. The Members consent to the election set forth in section 6226(a) of the Code and agree to take any action, and to furnish the Company and the Partnership Representative with any information reasonably necessary, to give effect to such election if the Partnership Representative decides to make such election. To the extent that the Persons that were Members during the period to which any adjustment relates remain the same in substantially the same proportions and there is
available cash, any imputed underpayment imposed on the Company pursuant to section 6232 of the Code (and any related interest, penalties or other additions to tax) that the Partnership Representative reasonably determines is attributable to one or more Members shall be treated as a Tax Distribution to such Member or Members. In all other circumstances, the Manager may determine, in its reasonable discretion, whether to require current or former Members to promptly pay to the Company (pro rata in proportion to their respective shares of such underpayment) by wire transfer within fifteen (15) days following the receipt of Company’s request for payment, all or a portion of any such imputed underpayment (and any related interest, penalties or other additions to tax) that the Partnership Representative reasonably determines is attributable to one or more current or former Members. No such payment shall be treated as a Capital Contribution. Any failure by a Member to pay such amount shall result in a subsequent corresponding withholding from Distributions or (including Tax Distributions) otherwise payable to such Member and the amount of any such withholding shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to have been distributed to such Member with respect to such Member’s Units at the time such amount was withheld. Any payment obligation of any former Member under this Section 9.03 shall also be an obligation of any third-party transferee or assignee of such former member. Each Member and former Member shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each other Member from its respective share (as determined by the Partnership Representative) of any imputed underpayment imposed on the Company pursuant to section 6232. All payment obligations set forth in this Section 9.03 shall survive dissolution and liquidation of the Company until the expiration of the longest applicable statute of limitations (including extensions and waivers) with respect to the matter for which a party would be entitled to be paid. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.03, the Partnership Representative shall keep the Members reasonably informed in a timely manner of any examinations or proceedings regarding Company tax matters.
ARTICLE X.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS
10.01 Transfers by Members. No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 10.02, or (b) approved in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or a merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state Law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).
10.02 Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any of the following (each, a “Permitted Transfer” and each transferee, a “Permitted Transferee”): (i)(A) a Transfer pursuant to a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or (B) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a Transfer by any
Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants hold (and continue to hold while such trusts or other entities hold Units) 50% or more of such entity’s beneficial interests, (iii) a Transfer pursuant to the Laws of descent and distribution and (iv) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliated investment fund of such Member (which may include special purpose investment vehicles wholly owned by one or more Affiliated investment funds but shall not include portfolio companies); provided, however, that (x) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (y) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed Permitted Transferee. In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units by any Member that is authorized to hold Class B Common Stock in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02, such Member (or any subsequent Permitted Transferee of such Member) shall be required to also transfer an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock corresponding to the proportion of such Member’s (or subsequent Permitted Transferee’s) Common Units that were transferred in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee.
10.03 Restricted Units Legend. The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED ON JUNE 25, 2018, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF i3 VERTICALS, LLC, AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND i3 VERTICALS, LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY i3 VERTICALS, LLC TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”
The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.
10.04 Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units, the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate to which the transferor was a party (collectively, the “Other Agreements”) by executing and delivering to the Company counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.
10.05 Assignee’s Rights.
(a) The Transfer of a Company Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other Company items shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the Transferor, and Distributions made on or after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.
(b) Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XII, the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that, without relieving the Transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.06, such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein that a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Company Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Company Interest).
10.06 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Company Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06, duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.08 and 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “Admission Date”), (i) such assigning Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Company Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.
10.07 Overriding Provisions.
(a) Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Agreement shall not become a Member, shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the Members and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.01 and Article XI and Article XII), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:
(i) result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;
(ii) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;
(iii) in the reasonable determination of the Manager, be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any Credit Agreement which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company or the Manager;
(iv) be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority of age under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);
(v) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code; or
(vi) result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).
ARTICLE XI.
REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS
11.01 Redemption Right of a Member.
(a) Each Member (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “Redemption”) its Common Units (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Common Units that are subject to vesting conditions or subject to Transfer limitations pursuant
to this Agreement or any other agreement that would restrict such Redemption) in whole or in part (the “Redemption Right”) at any time and from time to time, but only out of funds legally available therefor, following the waiver or expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of the Corporation that may be applicable to such Member. A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (each, a “Redeeming Member”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to the Company with a copy to the Corporation. The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “Redeemed Units”) that the Redeeming Member intends to have the Company redeem and a date, not less than seven (7) Business Days nor more than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of such Redemption Notice (unless and to the extent that the Manager in its sole discretion agrees in writing to waive such time periods), on which exercise of the Redemption Right shall be completed (the “Redemption Date”); provided that the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member may change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided, further, that a Redemption may be conditioned (including as to timing) by the Redeeming Member on (i) the Corporation and/or the Redeeming Member having entered into a valid and binding agreement with a third party for the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption (whether in a tender or exchange offer, private sale or otherwise) and such agreement is subject to customary closing conditions for agreements of this kind and the delivery of the Class A Common Stock by the Corporation or the Redeeming Member, as applicable, to such third party, (ii) the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event in which the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable or convertible into cash or other securities or property and/or (iii) the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption; provided further, that in the event the Redemption Date occurs in a Restricted Taxable Year, the Redemption Date must be a date not less than sixty (60) days after delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice. Subject to Section 11.03 and unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c) or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(b) or (d), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date):
(i) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units to the Company, and (y) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to the Corporation to the extent applicable;
(ii) the Company shall (x) accept the Redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section 11.01(b) and (z) if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 11.01(a) and the Redeemed Units; and
(iii) the Corporation shall cancel for no consideration the shares of Class B Common Stock (and the Corporation shall take all actions necessary to retire such shares transferred to the Corporation and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation) upon a transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock that were Transferred pursuant to Section 11.01(a)(i)(y) above.
(b) In exercising its Redemption Right, a Redeeming Member shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, be entitled to receive the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement; provided that the Company shall have the option as provided in Section 11.02 and subject to Section 11.01(e) to select whether the redemption payment is made by means of a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement. Within three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Redemption Notice, the Company shall give written notice (the “Contribution Notice”) to the Corporation (with a copy to the Redeeming Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Company does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Company shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method (subject to the limitations set forth above).
(c) In the event the Company elects the Cash Settlement in connection with a Redemption, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) within three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Contribution Notice. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, the Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.01 arising from the Redemption Notice.
(d) In the event the Company elects a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption if any of the following conditions exists:
(i) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective;
(ii) the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption;
(iii) the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption;
(iv) the Corporation shall have disclosed in good faith to such Redeeming Member any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which results in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure);
(v) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC;
(vi) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded;
(vii) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption;
(viii) the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Redeeming Member to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; or
(ix) the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period;
If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(d), the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing).
(e) The number of shares of Class A Common Stock or the Redeemed Units Equivalent that a Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) (whether through a Share Settlement or Cash Settlement) shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however, that if a Redeeming Member causes the Company to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeeming Member transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Company prior to such date; provided, further, however, that a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive any and all Tax Distributions that such Redeeming Member otherwise would have received in respect of income allocated to such Member for the portion of any Fiscal Year irrespective of whether such Tax Distribution(s) are declared or made after the Redemption Date.
(f) In the case of a Share Settlement, in the event of a reclassification or other similar transaction as a result of which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then in exercising its Redemption Right a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security that the Redeeming Member would have received if such Redemption Right had been exercised and the Redemption Date had occurred immediately prior to the record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the Corporation or the Company shall determine that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h), the Corporation or the Company may impose such restrictions on any exercise of Redemption Rights as the Corporation or the Company may determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Redemption Rights shall be permitted to be exercised (and, if attempted, shall be void ab initio) if, in the good faith determination of the Corporation or of the Company, such an exercise of Redemption Rights would pose a material risk that the Company would be a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.
11.02 Contribution of the Corporation. In connection with the exercise of a Redeeming Member’s Redemption Rights under Section 11.01(a), the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b), including any cash (whether as additional consideration or interest) to be paid pursuant to any TRA Rights of a Redeeming Member. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c), or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(b) or (d), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date), (i) the Corporation shall make its Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement) required under this Section 11.02, and (ii) in the event of a Share Settlement, the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any Discounts) from the sale by the Corporation of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to be redeemed with such Cash Settlement, which in no event shall exceed the amount paid by the Company to the Redeeming Member as Cash Settlement (exclusive of the TRA Rights associated therewith); provided that (i) the Discount shall be an expense of the Company as described in Section 6.06 and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, if the Cash Settlement (excluding the TRA Rights) to which the Redeeming Member is entitled exceeds the amount that is contributed to the Company by the Corporation, the Company shall still be required to pay the Redeeming Member the full amount of the Cash Settlement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Redemption using cash and/or Class A Common Stock contributed to the Company by the Corporation shall be treated as a direct purchase of Common Units by the Corporation from the applicable Redeeming Member pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code, and the Company shall have no obligation to issue additional Common Units to the Corporation on account of any cash consideration attributable to TRA Rights. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.
11.03 Exchange Right of the Corporation.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI (save for the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) regarding the Company’s option to select the Share
Settlement or the Cash Settlement, and without limitation on the rights of the Members under Section 11.01, including the right to revoke a Redemption Notice), the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (subject to the limitations set forth on such discretion in Section 11.01(b)), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and such consideration between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “Direct Exchange”). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 11.03, the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.
(b) The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date, deliver written notice (an “Exchange Election Notice”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided, that such election is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) and does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided, that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03, a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice and as follows:
(i) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units and (y) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units, to the extent applicable, in each case, to the Corporation;
(ii) the Corporation shall (x) pay to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section 11.01(b) and (y) cancel for no consideration the shares of Class B Common Stock (and the Corporation shall take all actions necessary to retire such shares transferred to the Corporation and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation) upon a transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock that were Transferred pursuant to Section 11.03(c)(i)(y) above; and
(iii) the Company shall (x) register the Corporation as the owner of the Redeemed Units and (y) if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to Section 11.03(c)(i)(x) and the Redeemed Units, and issue to the Corporation a certificate for the number of Redeemed Units.
11.04 Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation. At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such
Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to Share Settlements; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation) or the delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available for such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation.
11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right. This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Members and the Redeeming Member (to the extent of such Redeeming Member’s remaining interest in the Company). No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve such Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement.
11.06 Tax Treatment. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Redeeming Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.
ARTICLE XII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
12.01 Substituted Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with a Permitted Transfer of a Company Interest hereunder, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.
12.02 Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not a Member as of the Effective Time may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) a duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as may reasonably be requested by the Manager). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.
ARTICLE XIII.
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS
13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.06, no Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV. Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV, but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV, shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06, such Member shall cease to be a Member.
ARTICLE XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
14.01 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) the decision of the Manager together with holders of a majority of the Common Units entitled to vote then outstanding to dissolve the Company (excluding for purposes of such calculation the Corporation and all Common Units held directly or indirectly by it);
(b) a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801(4) of the Delaware Act, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant thereto; or
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not in and of itself cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
14.02 Winding up and Termination. Subject to Section 14.05, on dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “liquidator”). The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:
(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public
accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;
(b) the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine) all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company; and
(c) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Article IV by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company is completed (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the completion of the liquidation).
The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below constitutes a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.
14.03 Deferment; Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XV.
14.04 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company. The Company shall
continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04.
14.05 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.
14.06 Return of Capital. The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).
ARTICLE XV.
VALUATION
15.01 Determination. “Fair Market Value” of a specific Company asset will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing, unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 14.02, the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.
15.02 Dispute Resolution. If any Member or Members dispute the accuracy of any determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with Section 15.01, and the Manager and such Member(s) are unable to agree on the determination of the Fair Market Value of any asset of the Company, the Manager and such Member(s) shall each select a nationally recognized investment banking firm experienced in valuing securities of closely-held companies such as the Company in the Company’s industry (the “Appraisers”), who shall each determine the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.01. The Appraisers shall be instructed to give written notice of their determination of the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) within thirty (30) days of their appointment as Appraisers. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is higher than Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser by 10% or more, and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the original Appraisers shall designate a third Appraiser meeting the same criteria used to select the original two, and the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the Fair Market Values determined by all three Appraisers, unless the Manager and such Member(s) otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is within 10% of the Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser (but not identical), and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the Manager shall select the Fair Market Value of one of the Appraisers. The fees and expenses of the Appraisers shall be borne by the Company.
ARTICLE XVI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
16.01 Power of Attorney.
(a) Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his, her or its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, substitution or withdrawal of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII; and
(ii) sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Company Interest and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.
16.02 Confidentiality.
(a) Each of the Members agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes all information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries in the possession of or furnished to any Member, including but not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of such Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to such Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Member in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer
or Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company or of the Corporation, or any other officer designated by the Manager; (d) is disclosed to such Member or their representatives by a third party not to the knowledge of such Member in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information or (e) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or their respective representatives without use or reference to the Confidential Information.
(b) Each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such disclosing party is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential, solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement; provided that the disclosing party shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 16.02 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 16.02(a) or (b), each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such party is legally compelled (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Common Units held by such Member, or a prospective merger partner of such Member (provided, that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 16.02 by any such Persons), or (iv) to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable Law. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 16.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Corporation to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.
16.03 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified upon the consent of the Manager and a majority of the Common Units entitled to vote then outstanding (excluding for purposes of such all Common Units held directly or indirectly by the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:
(a) to this Section 16.03 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members;
(b) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter;
(c) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which would (A) reduce the amounts distributable to a Member pursuant to Articles IV and XIV in a manner that is not pro rata with respect to all Members, (B) increase the liabilities to the Company of such Member hereunder, (C) otherwise materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of a holder of Units in a manner materially different than any other holder of Units of the same class or series (other than amendments, modifications and waivers necessary to implement the provisions of Article XII) or (D) materially and adversely affect the rights of any Member under Article XI, shall be effective against such affected Member or holder of Units, as the case may be, without the prior written consent of such Member or holder of Units, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Manager may make any amendment (i) of an administrative nature that is necessary in order to implement the substantive provisions hereof, without the consent of any other Member; provided, that any such amendment does not adversely change the rights of the Members hereunder in any respect, or (ii) to reflect any changes to the Class A Common Stock.
16.04 Plan of Reorganization. Notwithstanding anything in the Delaware Act or this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the execution and delivery by the Company of that certain Plan of Reorganization, dated as of June 25, 2018, by and between the Corporation and the Company (the “Reorganization Agreement”) is hereby adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects; (b) the Company is hereby authorized and empowered, and any officer of the Company acting for and on behalf of the Company is hereby authorized and empowered to cause the Company, to perform the obligations of the Company under the Reorganization Agreement, including, without limitation, taking any and all actions, and entering into any transactions and documents relating thereto, contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, and all actions heretofore taken, and transactions and documents relating thereto heretofore entered into, contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement are hereby adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects; (c) no vote, consent or approval of any Member shall be required to authorize or perform such actions, transactions or documents; and (d) each such action, transaction and document is hereby deemed to be approved by all of the Members.
16.05 Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Company assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member
16.06 Addresses and Notices. Any notice, request, demand or instruction specified or permitted by this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company or by electronic mail at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Member at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such
address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally or sent by telecopier (provided confirmation of transmission is received), three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service or if sent by electronic mail, upon confirmed receipt. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof signed by the Person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated at which such notice is required to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
To the Company:
i3 Verticals, LLC
40 Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 415
Nashville, Tennessee 37215
Attn: Paul Maple, General Counsel
E-mail: pmaple@i3verticals.com
with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800
Nashville, Tennessee 37201
Attn: J. Page Davidson and Jay H. Knight
E-mail: pdavidson@bassberry.com; jknight@bassberry.com
16.07 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
16.08 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.
16.09 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
16.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.
16.11 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 16.05 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the application of this sentence is waived by the Manager, acting in its sole discretion, any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to (i) a breach of the Initial LLC Agreement or (ii) a breach of duty to any person by the Members or the directors or officers of the Company alleged to have occurred before the Effective Time, in each case shall be governed by, and shall be asserted and resolved exclusively in accordance with, Section 13.7 and Section 13.11 of the Initial LLC Agreement as in effect immediately before the Effective Time. Section 13.7 and 13.11 of the Initial LLC Agreement (and each provision referenced therein that is necessary to apply such sections), is incorporated herein by reference.
16.12 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
16.13 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
16.14 Delivery by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and
respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
16.15 Right of Offset. Whenever the Company is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth therein) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 16.16.
16.16 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Initial LLC Agreement with any member of the board of directors at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Fourth A&R LLC Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Time and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.
16.17 Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.
16.18 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context,
references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.
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i3 VERTICALS, LLC |
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By: | /s/ Gregory Daily |
Name: | Gregory Daily |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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i3 VERTICALS, INC. |
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By: | /s/ Gregory Daily |
Name: | Gregory Daily |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
The undersigned, being the Secretary of i3 Verticals, LLC, does hereby certify that this Limited Liability Company Agreement of i3 Verticals, LLC was adopted by operation of the Merger in accordance with the Delaware Act.
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By: | /s/ Paul Maple |
Name: | Paul Maple |
Title: | Secretary |
[Signature Page to Limited Liability Company Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of ___________, 20____ (this “Joinder”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”) by and among i3 Verticals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), i3 Verticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the Manager of the Company (the “Corporation”), and each of the other Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.
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1. | Joinder to the LLC Agreement. Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the LLC Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the LLC Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof. |
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2. | Incorporation by Reference. All terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full. |
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3. | Address. All notices under the LLC Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to: |
[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
E-mail:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.
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[NAME OF NEW MEMBER] |
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By: | | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:
i3 VERTICALS, LLC
By: i3 VERTICALS, INC.,
its Manager
Exhibit
PLAN ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
This PLAN ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 25, 2018, and effective as of the Effective Date (as defined below), is hereby entered into by and between i3 Verticals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”), and i3 Verticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Corporation”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the board of directors of LLC currently administers the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan of i3 Verticals, LLC, dated November 29, 2016, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated October 31, 2017, and as further amended by that certain Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, dated June 25, 2018 (collectively, the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, Corporation has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to affect an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Class A common stock of Corporation (“Class A Common Stock”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, LLC will effect certain recapitalization transactions, including a merger by and among LLC, Corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporation (the “Merger”), whereby holders of Class P units of LLC (“Class P Units”) awarded pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan will receive either Class A Common Stock or common units of LLC following the Merger (“Common Units”); provided, that any vesting conditions or related terms that attached to Class P Units prior to the Merger will continue in effect with respect to any securities issued to such holders of Class P Units as a result of such conversion in the Merger;
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, Corporation shall become the sole manager of LLC and LLC shall cease to have a board of directors; and
WHEREAS, in order to manage the Plan’s vesting and other related terms as they relate to the Class A Common Stock or Common Units issued by Corporation or LLC, respectively, on and following the Effective Date, LLC desires for Corporation (on behalf of itself and/or as sole manager of LLC, as the case may be) to administer the Plan, and Corporation desires to become an administrator of the Plan, shall accept such rights, privileges, title and interests of the Plan and shall assume the liabilities and obligations of the Plan.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
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a. | Effective as of the date the Registration Statement is declared effective (the “Effective Date”) by the SEC, Corporation shall administer the Plan, including all awards outstanding thereunder, and Corporation shall constitute the Committee (as defined in the Plan), either on behalf of itself or as the sole manager of LLC, as the case may be. If the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC, this Agreement shall be void ab initio. |
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b. | Effective as of the Effective Date, Corporation shall accept such rights, privileges, title and interests of the Plan and shall assume the liabilities and obligations of the Plan. |
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2. | Participants. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Plan shall continue to be maintained for the benefit of Participants (as defined in the Plan) and Participants shall remain the sole persons eligible to participate in the Plan. |
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3. | Further Actions. Each party hereto covenants and agrees to make, execute, acknowledge and deliver such further documents and instruments and to use its reasonable efforts to take such other action as may be reasonably requested by any party hereto to more effectively consummate or perfect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
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a. | This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such state or any other jurisdiction. |
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b. | If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated 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 a determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to affect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible. |
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c. | This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of LLC and Corporation and their respective successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon LLC and Corporation and their respective successors and assigns. |
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d. | This Agreement is not intended to, nor shall it, create any rights in or confer any benefits upon any person other than the parties to this Agreement. |
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e. | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
[Signature Page Follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Plan Administration Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
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i3 VERTICALS, LLC |
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By: | /s/ Gregory S. Daily |
| Name: Gregory S. Daily |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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i3 VERTICALS, INC. |
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By: | /s/ Gregory S. Daily |
| Name: Gregory S. Daily |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Plan Administration Agreement
Exhibit
Exhibit 10.5
EXECUTION VERSION
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 19, 2018 is entered into by and among I3 VERTICALS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), I3 VERTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“HoldCo”), the Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders party hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and L/C Issuer.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and L/C Issuer, entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 30, 2017 (as amended, modified, supplemented or extended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that HoldCo intends to conduct a Qualifying IPO and undergo an Up-C Restructuring;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Up-C Restructuring, Holdco is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 6.13 of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend the Credit Agreement as contemplated hereby; and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to amend the Credit Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Introductory Paragraph and Recitals. The above introductory paragraph and recitals of this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein (including in the recitals hereof) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.
3. Amendments to Credit Agreement.
(a) The definition of “Change of Control” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the final period in clause (b) with the text “; or” and (ii) adding a new clause (c) to read as follows:
(c) at any time upon or after the consummation of a Qualifying IPO of HoldCo after an Up-C Restructuring, HoldCo shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, 100% of the aggregate Voting Stock of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis.
(b) The definition of “Consolidated Capital Expenditures” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(c) The definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “the Borrower” in the first line therein with the text “HoldCo” and (ii) replacing the text “the Borrower’s” in the proviso to clause (vii) with the text “HoldCo’s”.
(d) The definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(e) The definition of “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(f) The definition of “Consolidated Interest Charges” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(g) The definition of “Consolidated Net Income” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo” and (ii) replacing the text “the Borrower’s” with the text “HoldCo’s”.
(h) The definition of “Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(i) The definition of “Consolidated Total Assets” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(j) The definition of “Equity Issuance” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(k) The definition of “ERISA Affiliate” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(l) The definition of “ERISA Event” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(m) The definition of “Guarantors” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) adding the text “HoldCo, (b)” immediately following the text “collectively, (a)”, (ii) replacing the text “(b)” with the text “(c)”, (iii) replacing the text “(c)” with the text “(d)”, and (iv) replacing the text “(d)” with the text “(e)”.
(n) The definition of “Material Adverse Effect” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(o) The definition of “Multiemployer Plan” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(p) The definition of “Multiple Employer Plan” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(q) The definition of “Pension Plan” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(r) The definition of “Plan” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(s) The definition of “Pro Forma Basis” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(t) The definition of “Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(u) The definition of “Subsidiary” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(v) The following definitions are hereby added to Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order to read as follows:
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, which certification shall be substantially similar in form and substance to the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“First Amendment” means that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Joinder Agreement dated as of June 19, 2018 and effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date by and among the Borrower, HoldCo, the other Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent.
“First Amendment Effective Date” means the date on which all conditions precedent to the First Amendment have been met.
(w) Section 2.10(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “financial statements of the Borrower” with the text “financial statements of HoldCo”, (ii) replacing the text “the Borrower or the Lenders” with the text “HoldCo or the Lenders” and (iii) replacing the text “with respect to the Borrower” with the text “with respect to HoldCo”.
(x) Section 5.05 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower and its Subsidiaries” with the text “HoldCo and its Subsidiaries”.
(y) Section 5.15 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the text “As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.” immediately following the final period therein.
(z) Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo” and (ii) replacing the text “the Borrower’s” with the text “HoldCo’s”.
(aa) Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo” and (ii) replacing the text “the Borrower’s” with the text “HoldCo’s”.
(bb) Section 7.02(k) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(cc) Section 7.03(g) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(dd) Section 7.05(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower has delivered” with the text “the Loan Parties have delivered”.
(ee) Section 7.06(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(ff) Section 7.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing each instance of the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(gg) The following is hereby added to the Credit Agreement as a new Section 7.18 to read as follows:
7.18 Restrictions on HoldCo.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, HoldCo shall not (a) hold any material property other than cash and Cash Equivalents and the Equity Interests of the Borrower, (b) have any material liabilities other than (i) obligations under the Loan Documents, its Organization Documents and contracts and agreements (including with respect to indemnities) with officers, directors, consultants and employees of HoldCo relating to their employment, services or directorships, (ii) tax liabilities in the ordinary course of business or incurred as a member of the consolidated group of HoldCo and its Subsidiaries, and (iii) corporate, administrative and operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (c) engage in any business other than (i) maintaining its existence and activities related thereto, (ii) owning the Equity Interests of the Borrower and activities incidental or related thereto, (iii) performing its obligations under the Loan Documents and contracts and agreements (including with respect to indemnities) with officers, directors, consultants and employees of HoldCo relating to their employment, services or directorships and (iv) activities in the ordinary course reasonably related to the foregoing.
(hh) Section 8.01(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
(ii) Section 11.02(a)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Borrower” with the text “HoldCo”.
4. Joinder Agreement.
(a) HoldCo hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, HoldCo will be deemed to be a party to the Credit Agreement and a “Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement, and shall have all of the obligations of a Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Credit Agreement. HoldCo hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions applicable to the Guarantors contained in the Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this Section 4(a), HoldCo hereby jointly and severally together with the other Guarantors, guarantees to each Lender and the Administrative Agent, as provided in Article X of the Credit Agreement, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof.
(b) HoldCo hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, HoldCo will be deemed to be a party to the Security Agreement, and shall have all the obligations of an “Obligor” (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement) thereunder as if it had executed the Security Agreement. HoldCo hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Security Agreement. Without limiting generality of the foregoing terms of this Section 4(b), HoldCo hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in Section 1 of the Security Agreement), a continuing security interest in, and a right of set off against any and all right, title and interest of HoldCo in and to the Collateral (as such term is defined in Section 2 of the Security Agreement) of HoldCo. HoldCo hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in Section 1 of the Security Agreement), that:
(i) HoldCo’s chief executive office, tax payer identification number, organization identification number, and chief place of business are (and for the prior four months have been) located at the locations set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto and HoldCo keeps its books and records at such locations.
(ii) The location of all owned and leased real property of HoldCo is as shown on Schedule 2 attached hereto.
(iii) HoldCo’s legal name and jurisdiction of organization is as shown in this Agreement and HoldCo has not in the past four (4) months changed its name, been party to a merger, consolidation or other change in structure or used any tradename except as set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto.
(iv) The patents, copyrights, and trademarks listed on Schedule 4 attached hereto constitute all of the registrations and applications for the patents, copyrights and trademarks owned by HoldCo.
(v) The deposit accounts and investment accounts listed on Schedule 5 attached hereto constitute all of the deposit accounts and investment accounts owned by HoldCo.
(vi) Schedule 6 attached hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list of (i) any Pledged Equity owned by HoldCo that is required to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement and (ii) any Instruments, Documents and Tangible Chattel Paper constituting Collateral owned by HoldCo that are
required to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) of the Security Agreement.
(c) The address of HoldCo for purposes of all notices and other communications is the same address for all Loan Parties as provided on Schedule 11.02 to the Credit Agreement.
(d) HoldCo hereby waives acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the guaranty by HoldCo under Article X of the Credit Agreement upon the execution of this Agreement by HoldCo.
5. Conditions Precedent. This Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (the “First Amendment Effective Date”):
(a) receipt by the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this Agreement duly executed by the Borrower, HoldCo, the Guarantors, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent;
(b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of the Organization Documents of HoldCo, certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the State of Delaware, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of HoldCo to be true and correct as of the First Amendment Effective Date;
(c) receipt by the Administrative Agent of such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of HoldCo as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which HoldCo is a party;
(d) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a favorable opinion of counsel to HoldCo, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date;
(e) prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, receipt by the Administrative Agent and each Lender that so requests of a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower;
(f) the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization by and between i3 Verticals, Inc. and i3 Verticals, LLC; and
(f) receipt by the Administrative Agent of all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses (and all filing and recording fees and taxes) required to be paid on or before the First Amendment Effective Date, including the reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be deemed to be, and is, a Loan Document.
(b) Effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date, all references to the Credit Agreement in each of the Loan Documents shall hereafter mean the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement.
(c) HoldCo and each of the other Loan Parties hereby (i) acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (ii) ratifies and affirms its obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) agrees that (A) its obligations under each of the Loan Documents to which it is party shall remain in full force and effect according to their terms and (B) this Agreement and all documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge its obligations under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents and (iv) affirms the Liens created and granted in the Loan Documents in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations and agrees that this Agreement does not adversely affect or impair such Liens and security interests in any manner.
(d) HoldCo and each of the other Loan Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that as of the First Amendment Effective Date after giving effect to this Agreement (i) such Loan Party has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, (ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Parties and constitutes such Loan Party’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (B) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (iii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Loan Party of this Agreement and (iv) the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in Section 5 of the Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is expressly qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date to the same extent as though made on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is expressly qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) on and as of such earlier date.
(e) The Administrative Agent hereby consents to (i) the limited liability company agreement of the Borrower to be dated on or about June 25, 2018, (ii) that certain Tax Receivable Agreement to be dated on or about June 25, 2018 by and among the Borrower, HoldCo and the members identified therein, (iii) that certain Plan of Reorganization by and between the Borrower and HoldCo to be dated on or about June 25, 2018 and (iv) that certain Registration Rights Agreement to be dated on or about June 25, 2018 by and among HoldCo and the members identified therein, in each case in the same form as the versions provided to the Administrative Agent as of the date hereof (with such changes as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent).
(f) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopy or other secure electronic format (.pdf) shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an executed original shall be delivered.
(g) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[Signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
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BORROWER: | I3 VERTICALS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
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GUARANTORS: | I3 VERTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
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| I3 VERTICALS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
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| CP-PS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
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| CP-DBS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
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| I3-RS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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| By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
| Name: | Scott Meriwether |
| Title: | Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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I3-EZPAY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-LL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-PBS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-INFIN, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-BP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-AXIA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-RANDALL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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I3-CSC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-TS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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FAIRWAY PAYMENTS, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-SDCR, INC., a Delaware corporation |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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SAN DIEGO CASH REGISTER COMPANY, INC., a California corporation |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-CS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
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I3-EMS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: | /s/ Scott Meriwether |
Name: | Scott Meriwether |
Title: | Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., |
| as Administrative Agent |
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| By: | /s/ Christine Trotter |
| Name: | Christine Trotter |
| Title: | Assistant Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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LENDERS: | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., |
| as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swingline Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Ryan Maples |
| Name: | Ryan Maples |
| Title: | Sr. Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| FIFTH THIRD BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Ross H. Florey |
| Name: | Ross H. Florey |
| Title: | Vice President, RM |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Brian Buck |
| Name: | Brian Buck |
| Title: | Managing Director |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| REGIONS BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Kyle Husted |
| Name: | Kyle Husted |
| Title: | Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| FIRST BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ John M. Sharp |
| Name: | John M. Sharp |
| Title: | Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| PINNACLE BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ William H. Diehl |
| Name: | William H. Diehl |
| Title: | Senior Vice President |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| CAPSTAR BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Brad Greer |
| Name: | Brad Greer |
| Title: | EVP |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| FRANKLIN SYNERGY BANK, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ David Forshee |
| Name: | David Forshee |
| Title: | SVP |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
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| TENNESSEE BANK & TRUST, |
| as a Lender |
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| By: | /s/ Todd Norman |
| Name: | Todd Norman |
| Title: | SVP |
I3 VERTICALS, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT
Schedule 1
Chief Executive Office, Tax Identification Number, Organization Identification Number
and Chief Place of Business of HoldCo
Schedule 2
Owned and Leased Real Property
Schedule 3
Tradenames
Schedule 4
Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks
Schedule 5
Deposit and Investment Accounts
Schedule 6
Pledged Equity; Instruments; Documents; Tangible Chattel Paper
SMYRNA READY MIX CONCRETE, LLC
SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND WAIVER