Maravai Lifesciences Holdings, Inc 8-K, filed Nov 25, 2020
Maravai Lifesciences Holdings, Inc. (MRVI)
About this 8-K
Maravai Lifesciences Holdings, Inc filed this 8-K on November 25, 2020, reporting on events of November 19, 2020.
Items reported
- Item 1.01: Entered into a material agreement
- Item 3.02: Unregistered sale of equity
- Item 3.03: Change to shareholders' rights
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 5.03: Charter or bylaw amendment, or fiscal year change
- Item 8.01: Other events
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 19, 2020
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-39725 | 85-2786970 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200 San Diego, California |
92121 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
(858) 546-0004
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading |
Name of each exchange | ||
| Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value | MRVI | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Global Select Market) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| ☒ | Emerging growth company |
| ☐ | If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On November 19, 2020, Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) priced the initial public offering (“IPO”) of its Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), at an offering price of $27.00 per share (the “IPO Price”), pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249733), as amended (the “Registration Statement”). On November 19, 2020, in connection with the pricing of the IPO, the Company and Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (the “Representatives”), as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to offer and sell 60,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock at the IPO Price. The Underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 9,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company, which was exercised by the Underwriters in whole. The offering closed and the shares were delivered on November 24, 2020 (the “Closing Date”).
The Company made certain customary representations, warranties and covenants and agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against (or contribute to the payment of) certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
This description of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
In connection with the consummation of the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements, previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:
| • | a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2020, by and among the Company and the other signatories party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference; |
| • | a Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among the Company and the other signatories party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein; |
| • | an Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among the Company and the other signatories party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein; |
| • | a Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, dated as of November 19, 2020, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein; |
| • | a Director Nomination Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2020, by and among the Company and the other signatories party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein; |
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 Statements and as described therein.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
In connection with the consummation of the IPO, the Company issued to the existing holder of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC’s common membership units 160,974,129 shares of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”). The description in Item 5.03 below of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference. The issuance of the Class B Common Stock described in this paragraph was made in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 3.03. Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
The description in Item 5.03 below of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On November 19, 2020, Anat Ashkenazi, Sean Cunningham, Benjamin Daverman, Susannah Gray, Robert B. Hance, Jessica Hopfield, Gregory T. Lucier, Luke Marker, Constantine Mihas and Murali K. Prahalad were appointed to the Company’s board of directors. Information regarding the committees upon which these directors are expected to serve, related party transactions involving any of these directors and the compensation plans in which such directors participate were previously reported (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act of 1934) in the Registration Statement.
On November 19, 2020, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers in connection with the closing of the IPO. These agreements will require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
These indemnification rights are not exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws, any agreement, or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The foregoing is only a summary of the material terms of the amended indemnification agreements, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of indemnification agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
On November 19, 2020 the Company adopted the Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.6 and 10.7, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference herein. The descriptions and forms of the Plan and the ESPP Plan are substantially the same as the descriptions and the forms set forth in and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
On November 24, 2020, the Company entered into employment agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with each of its named executive officers, including Carl W. Hull its Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Herde its Chief Financial Officer and Brian Neel its Chief Operating Officer, Nucleic Acid Production.
The Employment Agreements continue until the applicable executive’s resignation, death, disability or termination of employment with or without cause. The Employment Agreements provide for annualized base salaries of $500,000 for Mr. Hull, $382,498.77 for Mr. Herde and $333,237.49 for Mr. Neel. Under the Employment Agreements, each executive is eligible to receive an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 100%, 50% and 40% of base salary for Mr. Hull, Mr. Herde and Mr. Neel, respectively, provided that the final determination regarding the amount of the annual bonus, if any, will be made by the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) based on criteria previously established by the Board of Directors. In the event of a resignation by an executive for good reason or a termination of an executive’s employment by the Company without cause, the Employment Agreements provide for severance payments equal to 100% of base salary (75% for Mr. Neel) plus, for Mr. Hull, a prorated target bonus, and subsidized health plan continuation coverage premiums for up to 12 months (nine months for Mr. Neel), subject to the executive’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims. If during the 12-month period following a change in control of the Company, the executive resigns for good reason or the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, the Employment Agreements provide for (i) severance payments equal to 100% (200% for Mr. Hull) of base salary plus, for Mr. Hull and Mr. Herde, target annual bonus and (ii) and subsidized health plan continuation coverage premiums for up to 12 months (18 months for Mr. Hull).
The Employment Agreements also contain confidentiality provisions and certain restrictive covenants, including a non-competition covenant and non-solicitation covenants covering the period during which the executive is employed by the Company.
The foregoing description of the material terms of the Employment Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreements, which are filed as Exhibits 10.8 through 10.10 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On November 19, 2020, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement, became effective. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The descriptions and forms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws are substantially the same as the descriptions and forms set forth in and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On November 24, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the offering, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| 99.1 | Press Release dated November 24, 2020. |
| * | Exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K and will be provided on a supplemental basis to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. |
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.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||||
| Date: November 25, 2020 |
By: |
/s/ Carl Hull | ||||
| Name: |
Carl Hull | |||||
| Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |||||
Exhibit 1.1
60,000,000 Shares
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.
CLASS A COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
November 19, 2020
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November 19, 2020
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Jefferies LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
c/o Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), 60,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Firm Shares”). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional 9,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Additional Shares”), if and to the extent that you, as Representatives, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the Underwriters in Section 3 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”) and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”) to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Common Stock.”
In anticipation of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Company will complete reorganization transactions as described in the section titled “Organizational Structure” in the Registration Statement (as defined below).
In connection with the consummation of the offering contemplated by this agreement, the Company will become the sole managing member of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with the transactions described in “Organizational Structure” in the Registration Statement, the “Reorganization Transactions”).
Prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein):
(a) all consents, approvals, waivers and amendments necessary under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws in connection with any of the Transactions (as defined below) or the offering or sale of the Shares or for each of the Maravai Parties (as defined below) to enter into this Agreement or to perform their respective obligations hereunder shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and effect (collectively, the “Consents and Waivers”),
(b) Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC shall have amended and restated its existing limited liability company operating agreement to, among other things, appoint Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. as the sole managing member of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (as so amended and restated, the “Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC Amendment”),
(c) the Company shall have entered into a tax receivable agreement with certain holders of units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) and entered into an exchange agreement with the holders of units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (the “Exchange Agreement”),
(d) the Company shall have entered into a registration rights agreement with certain holders of units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), and
(e) the Company’s certificate of incorporation shall have been amended and restated and such amended and restated certificate of incorporation shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (collectively, the “Amendment and Restatement”),
all on the terms contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (as those terms are described below). The Consents and Waivers, the Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC Amendment, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Amendment and Restatement are hereinafter called, collectively and together with the Reorganization Transactions, the “Transactions.” The Company and Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC are herein referred to as the “Maravai Parties.”
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249733), including a preliminary prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of
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Shares (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “preliminary prospectus” shall mean each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness together with the documents, pricing information and the free writing prospectuses, if any, set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and business associates and other parties related to the Company (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriters” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Shares to be sold by Morgan Stanley and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program, at the direction of the Company, are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares.” Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
2. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Maravai Parties, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or, to the knowledge of each of the Maravai Parties, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the
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Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply, in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and as of 6:15 p.m., New York City time, on the date hereof (the “Applicable Time”) and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus, as of its date, does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the Representatives’ prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(d) Each of the Maravai Parties has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation and a limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the corporate or other business entity power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
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ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of the Company (the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated, organized or formed, is validly existing as a corporation or other business entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation (to the extent the concept of good standing or any functional equivalent is applicable in such jurisdiction), has the corporate or other business entity power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (to the extent the concept of good standing or any functional equivalent is applicable in such jurisdiction) in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims that would not be, singly or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) Each of the Consents and Waivers, the Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC Amendment, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Amendment and Restatement and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Maravai Parties, as applicable.
(g) The authorized capital stock of the Company and the authorized membership interests of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC conform as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(h) The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The membership interests of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC outstanding prior to the consummation of this offering have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(i) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
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(j) The execution and delivery by the Maravai Parties of this Agreement, the performance by the Maravai Parties of their obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, including the Transactions, will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries that is material to the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries, except for any such judgment, order or decree that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries or on the power or ability of the Maravai Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consumate the transactions contemplated by each of this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus relating to the Transactions, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the performance by the Maravai Parties of their obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(k) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, threatened to which the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the power or ability of the Maravai Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including the Transactions, or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
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Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
(m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(n) Neither of the Maravai Parties are, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(o) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(q) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between either of the Maravai Parties and any person granting such person the right to require the Maravai Parties to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Maravai Parties or to require the Maravai Parties to include such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, except those contracts, agreements and understandings described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, all of which have been validly waived in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares contemplated hereby.
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(r) (i) Neither the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, or any director or officer thereof or, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, any other employee, agent or representative of the Maravai Parties or of any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws; (ii) the Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; and (iii) neither the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.
(s) The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(t) (i) Neither the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries, or any director, or officer thereof, or, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, any other employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:
(A) the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or
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(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
(ii) The Maravai Parties will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or target of Sanctions.
(u) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Maravai Parties have not purchased any class of outstanding capital stock or membership interests, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on any class of capital stock or membership interests other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in any class of capital stock or membership interests, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(v) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, except to the extent that the failure to have good and marketable title to any real or personal property would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each
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case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries.
(w) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole, (i) the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries own or have a valid and enforceable license to use all patents, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, social media identifiers and accounts, software and all other worldwide intellectual property and similar proprietary rights (including all registrations and applications for registration of, all rights to claim priority under (including under the Paris Convention) and all goodwill associated with, any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) used or held for use in any material respect in, or reasonably necessary for, the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted by them, and as proposed to be conducted in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus; (ii) the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries solely and exclusively own all Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by any of them and hold all of their respective rights under all Intellectual Property Rights owned by, or licensed to, any of them free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, (iii) all Intellectual Property Rights owned by any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, the Intellectual Property Rights exclusively licensed to any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries, are valid, subsisting and enforceable, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of, or any rights of any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries in, any such Intellectual Property Rights; (iv) none of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice, or is party to any action, suit, proceeding or claim, alleging any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property Rights which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, no such action, suit, proceeding or claim is threatened; (v) to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights owned by
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or exclusively licensed to any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries in any material respect, and there is no pending, or the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim based on the foregoing; (vi) none of the Maravai Parties, any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party in any material respect; (vii) all Persons (including employees or contractors) engaged in the development of any material Intellectual Property Rights on behalf of any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries have executed an invention assignment agreement whereby such employees or contractors presently assign all of their right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property Rights to the Maravai Parties or their applicable subsidiary, and to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, no such agreement has been breached or violated; and (viii) the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries use, and have used, commercially reasonable efforts in accordance with customary industry practice to maintain and protect all Intellectual Property Rights owned by them, including maintenance and protection of all information intended to be maintained as a trade secret.
(x) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, (i) the Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have complied, and are presently in compliance, in all material respects with all internal and external privacy policies, contractual obligations, industry standards, applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority and any other legal obligations, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal, disclosure or other processing by any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, household, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Data Security Obligations”, and such data and information, “Personal Data”); (ii) none of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries have received any notification of or complaint regarding, and are unaware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate, non-compliance in any material respect with any Data Security Obligation; and (iii) there is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending, or to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties threatened, alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation.
(y) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries taken as a whole, (i) the Maravai Parties’ and each of their respective subsidiaries’ respective information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, technology, data and
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databases (including Personal Data and the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by or on behalf of any of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries) used in connection with the operation of any of their respective businesses (“IT Systems and Data”) are adequate for, and operate and perform as required in connection with, the operation of such businesses as they are currently conducted, free and clear of all bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants, in all material respects; (ii) the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries have taken all technical and organizational measures necessary to protect the IT Systems and Data in all material respects, and without limiting the foregoing, the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries have used commercially reasonable efforts in accordance with customary industry practice to establish and maintain, and have established, maintained, implemented and complied in all material respects with, reasonable information technology, information security, cyber security and data protection controls, policies and procedures, including oversight, access controls, encryption, technological and physical safeguards and business continuity/disaster recovery and security plans, consistent with industry standards and practices, that are designed to protect against and prevent breach, destruction, loss, unauthorized distribution, use, access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of or relating to any of the IT Systems and Data (“Breach”) and (iii) there has been no Breach, and the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries have not been notified of and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any Breach.
(z) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Maravai Parties, is imminent; and the Maravai Parties are not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of their principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(aa) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither of the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither of the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
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(bb) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations, licenses, consents, approvals, permits and other regulatory authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations, licenses, consents, approvals, permits and other regulatory authorizations would not be material to the Maravai Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither of the Maravai Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries (i) is, and at all times has been, in compliance with all applicable statutes, rules and regulations and policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Public Health, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and other applicable U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities (collectively, the “Regulatory Authorities”), including, without limitation:
(A) all applicable federal, state, local and foreign health care laws, including, without limitation, the U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a), the U.S. Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), all applicable federal, state, local and all foreign criminal laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to the U.S. False Statements Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287, and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the exclusion law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), the statutes, regulations and directives of applicable government funded or sponsored healthcare programs, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes;
(B) the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, the Security Standards, and the Standards for Electronic Transactions and Code Sets promulgated under HIPAA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.), and the regulations promulgated thereunder and any state or non-U.S. counterpart thereof or any other law or regulation the purpose of which is to protect the privacy of individuals or prescribers;
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(C) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(D) licensure, quality, safety and accreditation requirements under applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulatory bodies; and
(E) all other local, state, federal, national, supranational and foreign laws, rules, regulations and policies, relating to the regulation of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries and the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, registration, investigational use, premarket clearance, licensure, application approval, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, advertising, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product, or product under development, manufactured or distributed by the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries; (clauses (A) through (E), collectively, “Applicable Laws”);
and (ii) has not received any written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or written notice from any Regulatory Authority, governmental authority, court or arbitrator alleging or asserting non-compliance with (x) any Applicable Laws or (y) any certificates, authorizations and permits required by any such Applicable Laws, except in each of cases (i) and (ii) where such noncompliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(cc) There are no material U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules or regulations or other statutes, rules, regulations or policies that are applicable to the businesses of the Maravai Parties or their respective subsidiaries which are not described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus; and the statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption: “Government Regulation” are true and correct in all material respects.
(dd) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in any of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
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(ee) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is sponsored, maintained, administered or contributed to by the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) none of the Maravai Parties, any of their respective subsidiaries nor any member of their respective “Controlled Groups” (defined as any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that would be regarded as a single employer with the Maravai Parties under Section 414 of the Code) (x) has ever sponsored, maintained, contributed to or has had any obligation to contribute to, any employee benefit plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or (y) has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA.
(ff) The financial statements included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except for any normal year-end adjustments in Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC’s quarterly financial statements. The other financial information included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC or Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. and their respective consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the Maravai Parties believe that the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Maravai Parties reasonably and in good faith believe are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived, in each case in all material respects.
(gg) Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries and delivered
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its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Maravai Parties within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
(hh) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Since the end of the Maravai Parties’ most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Maravai Parties’ internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Maravai Parties’ internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Maravai Parties’ internal control over financial reporting.
(ii) The Maravai Parties have not sold, issued or distributed any shares of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
(jj) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus comply, and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program.
(kk) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.
(ll) The Company has not offered, or caused Morgan Stanley or any Morgan Stanley Entity as defined in Section 10 to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully
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influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Maravai Parties to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Maravai Parties, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Maravai Parties or their products.
(mm) The Maravai Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole) and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Maravai Parties), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, has had (nor do the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Maravai Parties or their respective subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a material adverse effect on the Maravai Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(nn) From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
(oo) The Maravai Parties (i) have not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) have not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Maravai Parties reconfirm that the Representatives have been authorized to act on their behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Maravai Parties have not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act other than those listed on Schedule III hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or Rule 163B of the Securities Act.
(pp) As of the Applicable Time, none of (A) the Time of Sale Prospectus, (B) any free writing prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (C) any individual Testing-the-Waters
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Communication, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at $25.5150 a share (the “Purchase Price”).
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 9,000,000 Additional Shares at the Purchase Price, provided, however, that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Shares shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on such Additional Shares. The Representatives may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Shares or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 5 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an “Option Closing Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
4. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the Representatives’ judgment is advisable. The Company is further advised by the Representatives that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $27.00 a share (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by the Representatives at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $0.8910 a share under the Public Offering Price.
5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against
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delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 24, 2020, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than December 2, 2020, as shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 3 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than January 5, 2021, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives.
The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
6. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission;
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Maravai Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and
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(iii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the Representatives’ judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the Representatives’ judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) Prior to the Closing Date:
(i) the Transactions shall have been duly consummated at the respective times and on the terms contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and
(ii) the Representatives shall have received a copy of the amended and restated charter of the Company certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, along with executed copies of the Consents and Waivers, the Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC Amendment, the Tax Receivables Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and such other evidence that the Transactions have been consummated as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of each of the Maravai Parties, to the effect set forth in Sections 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Maravai Parties contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date; and that the Maravai Parties have complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer or officers signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date (i) an opinion and (ii) a negative assurance letter of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (“Kirkland & Ellis”), outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP (“Kilpatrick Townsend”), outside intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
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(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date (i) an opinion and (ii) a negative assurance letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (“Davis Polk”), counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
The opinion and negative assurance letter of Kirkland & Ellis described in Section 6(d) and the opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend described in Section 6(e) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, from Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a certificate dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, in his capacity as such, with respect to certain financial and accounting information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(i) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representatives and certain securityholders, officers and directors of the Maravai Parties relating to restrictions on sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof (the “Lock-up Agreements”), shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
(j) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:
(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of each of the Maravai Parties, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;
(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Kirkland & Ellis, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 6(d) hereof;
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(iii) an opinion of Kilpatrick Townsend, outside intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(e) hereof;
(iv) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Davis Polk, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 6(f) hereof;
(v) a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, from Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6(g) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than two business days prior to such Option Closing Date;
(vi) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, substantially in the same form and substance as the certificate delivered to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof; and
(vii) such other documents as the Representatives may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Maravai Parties and their respective subsidiaries, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.
7. Covenants of the Maravai Parties. Each of the Maravai Parties covenants with each Underwriter as follows, as applicable:
(a) To furnish to the Representatives, without charge, five signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(e) or 7(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
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(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) To furnish to the Representatives a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or
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supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require the Maravai Parties to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction, to execute or file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or to subject themselves to taxation in any jurisdiction in which they are not otherwise subject.
(h) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(i) To comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
(j) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all documented printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the documented cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in
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Section 7(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, provided that the amount payable by the Company with respect to fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this subsection (iii) shall not exceed $10,000, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by FINRA; provided that the amount payable by the Company with respect to fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this subsection (iv) shall not exceed $50,000, (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Maravai Parties relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Maravai Parties, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Maravai Parties and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (x) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Maravai Parties hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 9 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution”, Section 10 entitled “Directed Share Program Indemnification” and the last paragraph of Section 12 below, the Underwriters will pay (A) 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show (with the Company paying the remaining 50% of the cost of such aircraft) and (B) all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(k) The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the Restricted Period (as defined in this Section 7).
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(l) If at any time following the distribution of any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Maravai Parties will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at their own expense, such Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
(m) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on or prior to the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.
(n)
(i) Each of the Maravai Parties also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of at least two of the Representatives (provided that each Representative shall have been informed of and given a reasonable opportunity to give or withhold consent to any such waiver request) (such consent and notice, the “Requisite Consent”) on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period ending on and including the 180th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (collectively, “Lock-Up Securities”), including units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (the “Units”), or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file or confidentially submit any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
(ii) The restrictions contained in the preceding Section 7(n)(i) shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by
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the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, (C) the issuance of shares, and options to purchase shares, of Common Stock and restricted stock units pursuant to stock option plans, stock purchase or other equity incentive plans described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, as those plans are in effect on the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, as applicable, (D) the sale or issuance of or entry into an agreement providing for the sale or issuance of Common Stock or securities convertible into, exercisable for or which are otherwise exchangeable for or represent the right to receive Common Stock in connection with (x) the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, business, technology, property or other assets of another person or entity or pursuant to an employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with such acquisition, and the issuance of any Common Stock or securities convertible into, exercisable for or which are otherwise exchangeable for or represent the right to receive Common Stock pursuant to any such agreement or (y) the Company’s joint ventures, commercial relationships and other strategic transactions, provided that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock securities convertible into, exercisable for or which are otherwise exchangeable for or represent the right to receive Common Stock that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to this clause (D) shall not exceed 7.5% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be completed as of that date, including the Transactions, and provided further that all recipients of any such securities shall enter into a “lock-up” agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto covering the remainder of the Restricted Period, (E) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Class A Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Class A Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period, or (F) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any compensation benefit plan described in clause (C).
(iii) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, give the Requisite Consent to release or waive the restrictions on the transfer of Shares set forth in a Lock-up Agreement for an officer or director of the
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Maravai Parties and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
(o) To enforce the terms of all existing agreements, plans and arrangements restricting the transfer by any holder of such holder’s Lock-Up Securities following the public offering and sale of the Shares contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, all other “market standoff,” “holdback” or similar agreements or provisions, applicable to the Common Stock or other Lock-Up Securities (the “Company Transfer Restrictions”), the Company shall issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent with respect to any transaction that would constitute a breach of, or default under, the Company Transfer Restrictions. During the Restricted Period, the Company shall enforce and not waive or amend, such Company Transfer Restrictions and stop transfer instructions unless the Company shall have obtained the Requisite Consent of the Representatives; provided that this Section 7(o) shall not prohibit the Company from effecting a waiver or amendment to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities which is permissible under the terms of the lock-up letters described in Section 6(i) hereof.
8. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Maravai Parties not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
9. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Maravai Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter participating in the offering within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or
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omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Maravai Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Maravai Parties, each of their directors, their officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls such Maravai Party within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Maravai Parties to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Maravai Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the following information under the caption “Underwriters” in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus: the concession and reallowance figures in the third paragraph, the information regarding sales to discretionary accounts in the eighth paragraph, the information regarding stabilization and short positions in the fourteenth paragraph and the information regarding internet distributions in the sixteenth paragraph.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a) or 9(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or one party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the other party or or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in
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respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(a), and by the Maravai Parties, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9(a) or 9(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Maravai Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and
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the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Maravai Parties or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(e) Each of the Maravai Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 9(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Maravai Parties contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Maravai Parties, their officers or directors or any person controlling the Maravai Parties and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
10. Directed Share Program Indemnification. (a) The Maravai Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless Morgan Stanley, each person, if any, who controls Morgan Stanley within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
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Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of Morgan Stanley within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“Morgan Stanley Entities”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Maravai Parties for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) that arise out of, or are based upon, the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Morgan Stanley Entities.
(b) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Morgan Stanley Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 10(a), the Morgan Stanley Entity seeking indemnity, shall promptly notify the Maravai Parties in writing and the Maravai Parties, upon request of the Morgan Stanley Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Morgan Stanley Entity to represent the Morgan Stanley Entity and any others the Maravai Parties may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Morgan Stanley Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Morgan Stanley Entity unless (i) the Maravai Parties shall have agreed in writing to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Maravai Parties and the Morgan Stanley Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or one party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the other party or (iii) the Maravai Parties have failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Morgan Stanley Entities. The Maravai Parties shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Morgan Stanley Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Morgan Stanley Entities. Any such separate firm for the Morgan Stanley Entities shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley. The Maravai Parties shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Maravai Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify the Morgan Stanley Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time a
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Morgan Stanley Entity shall have requested the Maravai Parties to reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Maravai Parties jointly and severally agree that they shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without their written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Maravai Parties of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Maravai Parties shall not have reimbursed the Morgan Stanley Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Maravai Parties shall not, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Morgan Stanley Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Morgan Stanley Entity, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of the Morgan Stanley Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Morgan Stanley Entity.
(c) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10(a) is unavailable to a Morgan Stanley Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Maravai Parties in lieu of indemnifying the Morgan Stanley Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Morgan Stanley Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 10(c)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 10(c)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Maravai Parties on the one hand and of the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Morgan Stanley Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Maravai Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Maravai Parties or by the Morgan Stanley Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
33
(d) The Maravai Parties and the Morgan Stanley Entities agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Morgan Stanley Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10(c). The amount paid or payable by the Morgan Stanley Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Morgan Stanley Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Morgan Stanley Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Morgan Stanley Entity has otherwise been required to pay. The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Morgan Stanley Entity or the Maravai Parties, their officers or directors or any person controlling the Maravai Parties and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.
11. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the Representatives’ judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the Representatives’ judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
12. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
34
If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 12 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Maravai Parties to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Maravai Parties shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Maravai Parties will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
13. Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this
35
Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Maravai Parties and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Shares.
(b) The Maravai Parties acknowledge that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Maravai Parties or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Maravai Parties only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Maravai Parties, and (iv) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person. The Maravai Parties waive to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims either of them may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.
14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. The Maravai Parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the offering of the Shares (each, a “Related Proceeding”). The Maravai Parties irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such Related Proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. To the extent that the Maravai Parties have or hereafter may acquire any immunity (on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Maravai Parties irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding.
17. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
18. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Representatives in care of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; in care of Jefferies LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022; Attention: General Counsel; and in care of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; and if to the Maravai Parties shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Company at Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., 10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200, San Diego, California 92121, Attention: Eric Tardif.
[Signature Pages Follow]
37
| Very truly yours, | ||||
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |||
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
| MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |||
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
38
| Accepted as of the date hereof | ||||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC JEFFERIES LLC GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | ||||
| Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. | ||||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||||
| By: | /s/ Kalli Dircks | |||
| Name: |
Kalli Dircks | |||
| Title: |
Executive Director | |||
| JEFFERIES LLC | ||||
| By: | /s/ Réal Leclerc | |||
| Name: |
Réal Leclerc | |||
| Title: |
Managing Director | |||
| GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | ||||
| By: |
/s/ Elizabeth Wood | |||
| Name: |
Elizabeth Wood | |||
| Title: | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division | |||
39
SCHEDULE I
| Underwriter |
Number of Firm Shares To Be Purchased |
|||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
16,090,915 | |||
| Jefferies LLC |
13,363,636 | |||
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
13,363,636 | |||
| BofA Securities, Inc. |
3,545,454 | |||
| Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
3,545,454 | |||
| UBS Securities LLC |
3,545,454 | |||
| Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated |
1,636,363 | |||
| William Blair & Company, L.L.C. |
1,636,363 | |||
| Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated |
1,500,000 | |||
| KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. |
1,090,909 | |||
| Academy Securities, Inc. |
170,454 | |||
| Loop Capital Markets LLC |
170,454 | |||
| Penserra Securities LLC |
170,454 | |||
| Tigress Financial Partners LLC |
170,454 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total: |
60,000,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
I-1
SCHEDULE II
Time of Sale Prospectus
| 1. | Preliminary prospectus issued November 13, 2020 |
| 2. | Orally communicated pricing information: |
| Firm Shares: |
60,000,000 | |||
| Additional Shares: |
9,000,000 | |||
| Public Offering Price: |
$ | 27.00 per share | ||
II-1
SCHEDULE III
Written Testing-the-Waters Communication
None.
III-1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
November 13, 2020
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Jefferies LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
c/o Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (the “Representatives”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters, including the Representatives (the “Underwriters”), of shares (the “Shares”) of the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”). As used herein, the term “Common Stock” refers to shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of at least two of the Representatives (provided that each Representative shall have been informed of and given a reasonable opportunity to give or withhold consent to any such waiver request) (such consent and notice, the “Requisite Consent”) on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to or cause any of its affiliates to, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
A-1
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), by the undersigned or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (collectively, “Lock-Up Securities”), including units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC (the “Units”) or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any Lock-Up Securities, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned. The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to shares of Class A Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Class A Common Stock in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to any immediate family member of the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, or any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned, or any of its affiliates (for the purposes of this agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin), (iii) to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity of which the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests, or (iv) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iii) above; (c) distributions of Lock-Up Securities to (i) a partner, member or stockholder, as the case may be, of such partnership, limited liability company or corporation, (ii) any wholly-owned subsidiary of the undersigned, (iii) an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned or (iv) if a transferee referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above is not a natural person, any direct or indirect partner, member or shareholder of such transferee until the Lock-Up Securities come to be held by a natural person; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i), (i) each donee or transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this agreement and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period (other than a filing on a Form 5 that shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer, that such transfer is not for value and that the Lock-Up Securities subject to such transfer remain subject to restrictions set forth herein), provided further that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b)(ii), (b)(iii), or (c), (i) each transferee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this agreement; provided that with respect to any related series of transfers or distributions to transferees or distributees otherwise permitted under
A-2
such clauses that are deemed to occur simultaneously, only the ultimate transferee or distributee in such series shall be required to sign and deliver such a lock-up agreement, and (ii) if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting such transfer during the Restricted Period, the undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer, that such transfer is not for value and that the Lock-Up Securities subject to such transfer remain subject to restrictions set forth herein; (d) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Class A Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Class A Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period; (e) transfer of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction or transactions made to all or substantially all holders of the Company’s Common Stock and approved by the board of directors of the Company the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), shall or would become, after giving effect to such transaction or transactions, the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting securities of the Company), provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction or transactions shall not be completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this agreement during the Restricted Period; (f)(i) as a result of the operation of law, or pursuant to an order of a court (including a domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement) or regulatory agency or (ii) by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession, provided that no filing by the undersigned or any party (transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer during the Restricted Period (other than a filing on a Form 5 that shall disclose that such transfer was a result of the operation of law, or pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession); (g) the repurchase of Lock-Up Securities by the Company pursuant to equity award agreements or other contractual arrangements providing for the right of said repurchase in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or service with the Company, provided that no filing by the undersigned under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act related thereto during the Restricted Period, such report shall disclose that such transfer was a result of the repurchase of the Lock-Up Securities or such other securities by the Company pursuant to equity award agreements or other contractual arrangements in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or service with the Company; (h) pursuant to the exercise of an option to purchase Lock-Up Securities in connection with the termination or expiration of such option pursuant to its terms, provided that (1) such option was granted pursuant to a
A-3
Company stock option plan or other equity incentive plan described in the registration statement on Form S-1 related to the Public Offering and the Prospectus, (2) any Lock-Up Securities received upon such exercise shall be subject to the terms of this agreement and (3) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in the aggregate beneficial ownership of the Lock-Up Securities shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to and including the date that is 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, and after such 90-day period, if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in the aggregate beneficial ownership of the Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period, the undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the Lock-Up Securities issuable upon such exercise are subject to the terms of this agreement and that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (i), and no other public filing or announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such exercise; (i) to the Company (x) pursuant to the exercise, on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, of any option to purchase Lock-Up Securities granted by the Company pursuant to stock option or equity incentive plans described in the Prospectus, or (y) for the purpose of satisfying any withholding taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of any option to purchase Lock-Up Securities or the vesting of any equity awards granted by the Company pursuant to stock option or equity incentive plans described in the Prospectus, provided that no filing by the undersigned or any party (transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act related thereto during the Restricted Period, such report shall disclose that such transfer was a result of the exercise, on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, of any option to purchase Lock-Up Securities granted by the Company pursuant to stock option or equity incentive plans described in the Prospectus, or for the purpose of satisfying any withholding taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of any option to purchase Securities or the vesting of any equity awards granted by the Company pursuant to stock option or equity incentive plans described in the Prospectus; and (j) in any exchange of Units and a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock into or for shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock) in a manner consistent with the provisions therefor set forth in the Prospectus; provided that to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the exchange, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that such exchange occurred pursuant to the exchange agreement by and among the Company, Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, and no transfer of the shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities received upon exchange may be made during the Restricted Period. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the Requisite Consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock, Units or any other security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the undersigned has demand and/or piggyback
A-4
registration rights, the foregoing shall not prohibit the undersigned from notifying the Company privately that it is or will be exercising its demand and/or piggyback registration rights following the expiration of the Restricted Period and undertaking preparations related thereto. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Shares the undersigned may purchase in the offering.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any Requisite Consent to release or waive the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock or other Lock-Up Securities, the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any Requisite Consent to release or waive the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock or other Lock-Up Securities, granted by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director, shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Shares and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation to you in connection with the Public Offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to participate in the Public Offering or sell any Shares at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.
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The undersigned hereby consents to receipt of this agreement in electronic form and understands and agrees that this agreement may be signed electronically. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or otherwise by electronic transmission evidencing an intent to sign this agreement, such facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission shall create a valid and binding obligation of the undersigned with the same force and effect as if such signature were an original. Execution and delivery of this agreement by facsimile transmission, electronic mail or other electronic transmission is legal, valid and binding for all purposes.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
This agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further effect upon the earliest to occur, if any, of: (i) the date of filing with the SEC of a notice of withdrawal of the registration statement on Form S-1 related to the Public Offering pursuant to Rule 477 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, prior to its effectiveness, (ii) the date that the Company advises the Representatives in writing prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement that it has determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (iii) the date that the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) terminates or is terminated prior to payment for and delivery of any Shares to be sold thereunder, and (iv) December 31, 2020, in the event that the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed on or before that date.
This agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
[Signature page follows]
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Very truly yours,
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF WAIVER OF LOCK-UP
, 20
[Name and Address of
Officer or Director
Requesting Waiver]
Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:
This letter is being delivered to the represenatives of the several underwriters in connection with the offering by Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) of shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up agreement dated , 20 (the “Lock-up Agreement”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated , 20 , with respect to shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).
[Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC] hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Agreement, but only with respect to the Shares, effective , 20 ; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].
Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
B-1
| Very truly yours, | ||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | ||
| Jefferies LLC | ||
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC | ||
| Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement | ||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | ||
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| Title: | ||
| Jefferies LLC | ||
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| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC | ||
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cc: Company
B-2
FORM OF PRESS RELEASE
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
[Date]
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of its Class A common stock, is [waiving][releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver][release] will take effect on , 20 , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.
* * * * *
Carl Hull, being the Chief Executive Officer of Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY as follows:
FIRST: The present name of the Corporation is Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. The Corporation was incorporated under the name Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 25, 2020 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
SECOND: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, pursuant to a unanimous written consent, adopted resolutions authorizing the Corporation to amend, integrate and restate the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof (the “Restated Certificate”).
THIRD: The Restated Certificate restates and integrates and further amends the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation.
FOURTH: That the stockholders of the Corporation, pursuant to written consent, approved and adopted the Restated Certificate in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
FIFTH: The Restated Certificate has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 19th day of November, 2020.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl Hull | |
| Name: | Carl Hull | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Signature Page to Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
Exhibit A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE ONE
The name of the corporation is Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE TWO
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE THREE
The nature and purpose of the business of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).
ARTICLE FOUR
Section 1. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 850,000,000 shares, consisting of:
1. 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”);
2. 500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); and
3. 300,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”).
The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the designations, rights, powers and preferences and the qualifications, restrictions and limitations thereof, if any, set forth below.
Section 2. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide, by resolution or resolutions for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers (including voting powers), preferences, and relative,
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participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the approval of the Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
Section 3. Common Stock.
(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided by or pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation:
(i) Each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder.
(ii) Each holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder.
(iii) Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote (and, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock).
(iv) The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.
(v) The holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately as a class upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event or otherwise) that would increase or decrease the par value of a class of stock or alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of a class of stock so as to affect them adversely.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends in cash, stock or property of the Corporation, such dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock.
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(c) Liquidation, Dissolution, etc. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation as required by law and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
(d) Reclassification. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock may be subdivided, split, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed unless contemporaneously therewith the other class of Common Stock and the common units of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC Units”) are subdivided, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in the same manner.
(e) Exchange. The holders of Class B Common Stock other than the Corporation shall, to the extent provided in the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement (each, defined below) and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement, as applicable, have the right to exchange the LLC Units held by them, , for the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock determined in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement. Upon the exchange of an LLC Unit for one share of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement, as applicable, the exchanging holder shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock transfer one share of Class B Common Stock to the Corporation, which shall be automatically retired and cancelled and shall no longer be outstanding. The Corporation shall at all times when any shares of Class B Common Stock and LLC Units shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the exchange of all outstanding LLC Units into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the exchange of all outstanding LLC Units, the Corporation will take such corporate actions within its power as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to cause this certificate of incorporation to be amended so as to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock to such number as shall be sufficient for such purpose. “Exchange Agreement” means that certain Exchange Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Corporation, Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC and holders of LLC Units party thereto, as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time. “LLC Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, dated on or about the date hereof, as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
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(f) Automatic Transfer. No share of Class B Common Stock may be sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred, other than in connection with (i) the exchange of an LLC Unit as set forth in Section 3(e) of Article Fourth hereof and in the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement, and (ii) the transfer of an LLC Unit by a holder of LLC Units to a “Permitted Transferee” of such holder as defined in the the LLC Agreement. In the event that any outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock are sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred other than as provided in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), or such outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall otherwise cease to be held by a holder of a corresponding number, based on the exchange rate then in effect, of LLC Units (including a transferee of a LLC Unit) for any reason, such shares of Class B Common Stock shall upon such sale, exchange or other transfer, or upon ceasing to be held by such holder, 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 thereupon shall be automatically retired and cancelled and shall no longer be outstanding.
(g) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.
ARTICLE FIVE
Section 1. Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances or otherwise, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall initially be eleven (11) and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution of the Board.
Section 3. Classes of Directors. The directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III.
Section 4. Election and Term of Office. The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares cast; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one or more directors pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by such holders. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Class A Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”), the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after the IPO Date and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders after the IPO Date. For the purposes hereof, the Board of Directors may assign directors already in office to Class I, Class II and Class
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III , in accordance with the terms of that certain Director Nomination Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof (as amended and/or restated or supplemented in accordance with its terms, the “Nomination Agreement”), by and among the Corporation and the investors named therein. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the IPO Date, directors elected to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting after their election and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which such director’s term expires and a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Nothing in this Certificate of Incorporation shall preclude a director from serving consecutive terms. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended and/or restated, the “Bylaws”) shall so provide.
Section 5. Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except as otherwise set forth in the Nomination Agreement, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or any other cause may be filled only by resolution of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and may not be filled in any other manner. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. A director elected or appointed to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been elected or appointed and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 6. Removal and Resignation of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least a majority in voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class (“Voting Stock”) and (ii) on and after the Trigger Date, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662⁄3%) of the voting power of the the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders called for that purpose. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. “Trigger Date” means the first date on which the the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least forty percent (40%) of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (determined assuming that each LLC Unit owned by holders other than the Corporation were exchanged for Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of either the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement). “Principal Stockholder” means, collectively, Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Partners XI/A&C LP, GTCR Partners XI/B LP, and GTCR Investment XI LLC. “Affiliated Companies” means (a) in respect of the Principal Stockholder, any entity that Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with
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the Principal Stockholder (other than the Corporation and any entity that is Controlled by the Corporation) and any investment funds managed by the Principal Stockholder and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any entity Controlled by the Corporation. “Control” is defined in ARTICLE NINE.
Section 7. Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE FIVE, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately or together by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be subject to the rights of such series of Preferred Stock. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.
Section 8. Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 9. Chairman of the Board. So long as the Principal Stockholder beneficially owns in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least 30% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors may be designated by a majority of the directors nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder.
ARTICLE SIX
Section 1. Limitation of Liability.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader exculpation than permitted prior thereto), no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
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(b) Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any act, omission or other matter occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Section 1. Action by Written Consent. Prior to the first date (the “Stockholder Consent Trigger Date”) on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least thirty five percent (35%) of the Voting Stock, any action which is required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of the Corporation’s stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. From and after the Stockholder Consent Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided the resolutions creating such series of Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies, or (ii) prior to the Stockholder Consent Trigger Date, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock in the manner provided for in the Bylaws. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Section 1. Certain Acknowledgments. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain of the directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees of the Principal Stockholder or its Affiliated Companies may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation and (ii) the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii)
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that the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies may engage in material business transactions with the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies, and that the Corporation is expected to benefit therefrom, the provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT are set forth to regulate and define to the fullest extent permitted by law the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve the Principal Stockholder and/or its Affiliated Companies and/or their respective directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation (collectively, the “Exempted Persons”), and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its officers, directors and stockholders in connection therewith.
Section 2. Competition and Corporate Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Exempted Persons shall have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, and no Exempted Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of any such activities of the Principal Stockholder, its Affiliated Companies or such Exempted Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its Affiliated Companies, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its Affiliated Companies might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliated Companies and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation, any of its Affiliated Companies or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation solely, by reason of the fact that the Principal Stockholder, one of its Affiliated Companies or any such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, sells, assigns, transfers or directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2, the Corporation does not renounce any interest or expectancy it may have in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to any Exempted Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and not in any other capacity.
Section 3. Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
Section 4. Amendment of this Article. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE EIGHT; provided
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however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this ARTICLE EIGHT nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this ARTICLE EIGHT shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption.
Section 5. Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding 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 EIGHT.
ARTICLE NINE
Section 1. Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation expressly elects not to be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL.
Section 2. Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined hereinafter) at any point in time at which the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with any Interested Stockholder (as defined hereinafter) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:
(a) 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;
(b) 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 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 Interested Stockholder) those shares owned (i) by Persons (as defined hereinafter) who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) 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
(c) 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, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662⁄3%) of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.
Section 3. Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions. The restrictions contained in this ARTICLE NINE shall not apply if:
(a) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-
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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
(b) 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 (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Section 3(b) of ARTICLE NINE; (ii) 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 (iii) 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 hereinafter) 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 Section 3(b) of ARTICLE NINE.
Section 4. Definitions. As used in this ARTICLE NINE and, solely with respect to the term “Control,” as also used in ARTICLE FIVE, Section 6, only, and unless otherwise provided by the express terms of this ARTICLE NINE, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as set forth in this Section 4:
(a) “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;
(b) “Associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such Person is a director, officer or general partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of Voting Stock; (ii) 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 (iii) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person;
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(c) “Business Combination” means:
(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with (A) the Interested Stockholder, or (B) any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 2 of this ARTICLE NINE is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(ii) 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;
(iii) 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: (A) 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; (B) pursuant to an exchange of LLC Units into Class A Common Stock, to the extent provided in the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement, (C) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (D) 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; (E) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Stock made on the same terms to all holders of such Stock; or (F) any issuance or transfer of Stock by the Corporation; provided however, that in no case under items (D)-(F) of this Section 4(c)(iii) of ARTICLE NINE 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;
(iv) 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
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(v) 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 Sections 4(c)(i)-(iv) of ARTICLE NINE) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation;
(d) “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 Voting Stock, 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 ARTICLE NINE, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such Rule is in effect as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation) have control of such entity;
(e) “Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation, or (ii) 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 ARTICLE NINE to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (x) the Principal Stockholder or any of its Affiliated Companies, or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of Stock of the Corporation, (y) any Person who would otherwise be an Interested Stockholder either in connection with or because of a transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation (in one transaction or a series of transactions) by the Principal Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates to such Person; provided, however, that such Person was not an Interested Stockholder prior to such transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition; or (z) 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 (z) only, 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;
(f) “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
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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 (C) 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 Section 4(f) of ARTICLE NINE), 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;
(g) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity;
(h) “Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, any capital stock of such corporation and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest of such entity; and
(i) “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 such Voting Stock.
ARTICLE TEN
Section 1. Amendments to the Bylaws. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, prior to the first date (the “Amendment Trigger Date”) on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least 50% of the Voting Stock, the Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board, (ii) the stockholders with, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock) and any other vote otherwise required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock. On and after the Amendment Trigger Date, the Bylaws may
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be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board or (ii) by the stockholders with, in addition to the vote of any holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662⁄3%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.
Section 2. Amendments to this Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock required by law or otherwise, no provision of ARTICLE FIVE, ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE TEN or ARTICLE ELEVEN of this Certificate of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Amendment Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, and (ii) from and after the Amendment Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662⁄3%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Section 1. Exclusive Forum. Unless this Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (A) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, this provision, including for any “derivative action”, will not apply to suits to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.; and (B) the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Section 2. Notice. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock) shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN.
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ARTICLE TWELVE
Section 1. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this 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) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
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Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.
A Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of November 19, 2020)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Offices. Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be as stated in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate a place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of stockholders.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such date and time as is specified by resolution of the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors to succeed those whose terms expire at such annual meeting and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (these “Bylaws”). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present 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 determining 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, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided
herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”)) or the Certificate of Incorporation.
(a) Form of Notice. All such notices shall be delivered in writing or in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If delivered by courier service, notice shall be deemed given at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If given by electronic mail, notice shall be deemed given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the DGCL. Notice to stockholders may also be given by other forms of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. If given by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, such notice shall be deemed given upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice. If notice is given by any other form of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(b) Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission given by the stockholder entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of such stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends 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 and does not further participate in the meeting.
(c) Notice by Electronic Transmission. Notwithstanding Section 4(a) of this ARTICLE II, a notice may not be given by electronic transmission from and after the time: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice. However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one 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 recipient through an automated process. A notice by
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electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information.
Section 5. List of Stockholders. The Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before each 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 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder. Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected 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 list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present, the chair of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place from time to time until a quorum shall be present in person or represented by proxy. When a specified item of business requires a vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a separate class or series, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business. A quorum once established at a meeting shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7. Adjourned Meetings. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned
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meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 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 stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Section 8. Vote Required. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, when a quorum has been established, all matters other than the election of directors shall be determined by the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter, unless by express provisions of the DGCL or other an applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a minimum or different vote is required, in which case such minimum or different vote shall be the required vote for such matter. Except as otherwise provide in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
Section 9. Voting Rights. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
Section 10. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action without a meeting 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 duly executed 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 proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.
Section 11. Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations.
(a) Business at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Only such business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of this ARTICLE II) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of the stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting (A) as specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
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direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 11(a)(iii) of this ARTICLE II, on the record date for determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) at the time of the meeting, is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) of this ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (C) of this Section 11(a)(i) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose such business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or business brought by the Principal Stockholder (as defined below) and any entity that controls, is controlled by or under common control with the Principal Stockholder (other than the Corporation and any company that is controlled by the Corporation) and any investment vehicles or funds managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by or otherwise affiliated with the Principal Stockholder (the “Principal Stockholder Affiliates”) at any time prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date (as defined below)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(ii) For any business (other than (A) nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of this ARTICLE II or (B) business brought by any of Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Partners XI/A&C LP, GTCR Partners XI/B LP, and GTCR Investment XI LLC (collectively, the “Principal Stockholder”) and the Principal Stockholder Affiliates at any time prior to the date when the Principal Stockholder ceases to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least 10% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Advance Notice Trigger Date”)) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 11(a)(iii) of this ARTICLE II to the Secretary; any such proposed business must be a proper matter for stockholder action and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 11(e) of this ARTICLE II) must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined in Section 11(a)(iii) of this ARTICLE II) required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for such business (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time prior to the mailing of the definitive proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act related to the next annual meeting of stockholders) must be delivered by hand and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date
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shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on November 20, 2020); provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded), such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of (A) the tenth day following the day the Public Announcement (as defined in Section 11(e) of this ARTICLE II) of the date of the annual meeting is first made or (B) the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 11(a) of this ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day only if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day).
(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter of business the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:
(A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting (including the specific text of any resolutions or actions proposed for consideration and if such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the specific language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting,
(B) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person,
(C) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person, a description of any Derivative Positions (as defined in Section 11(e) of this ARTICLE II) directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and to the extent to which a Hedging Transaction (as defined in Section 11(e) of this ARTICLE II) has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person,
(D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder, any Stockholder Associated Person or such other person or entity in such business,
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(E) a representation that such stockholder is a stockholder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting,
(F) any other information related to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents (even if a solicitation is not involved) by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder, and
(G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to the holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the proposal or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of the proposal (such representation, a “Solicitation Statement”).
In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to Section 11(a) of this ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of this ARTICLE II.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 11(b) of this ARTICLE II) shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 11(a) of this ARTICLE II.
(b) Nominations at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.
(ii) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof or (B) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II on the record date for determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the
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meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (B) of this Section 11(b)(ii) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 11(b)(iii) of this ARTICLE II to the Secretary and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time up to thirty-five (35) days prior to the next annual meeting of stockholders) must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on November 20, 2020); provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded), such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of the tenth day following the day the Public Announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made and the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise on the next succeeding day). For the avoidance of doubt, a stockholder shall not be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in these Bylaws.
(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(A) as to each person that the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (3) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by the person, (4) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (5) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in
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a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or is otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee of the stockholder, if applicable, and to serving as a director if elected),
(B) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person,
(C) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities, a description of any Derivative Positions directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and the extent to which a Hedging Transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person,
(D) a description of all arrangements or understandings (including financial transactions and direct or indirect compensation) between or among such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and each proposed nominee and any other person or entity (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder,
(E) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice,
(F) any other information relating to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder, and
(G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to the holders of a
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sufficient number of the Corporation’s outstanding shares reasonably believed by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, as the case may be, to elect each proposed nominee or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of the nomination (such representation, a “Nomination Solicitation Statement”).
In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 11(b) of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of this ARTICLE II and shall comply with Section 11(f) of this ARTICLE II.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything in Section 11(b)(ii) of this ARTICLE II to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph 11(b)(ii) of this Article II and there is no Public Announcement naming the nominees for additional directorships at least ten (10) days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 11(b)(ii), a stockholder’s notice required by Section 11(b)(ii) of this ARTICLE II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the tenth day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting.
(c) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting. Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. 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 notice of meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, any duly authorized committee thereof, or stockholders (if stockholders are permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2 of Article EIGHT of the Certificate of Incorporation) or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors or stockholders (if stockholders are permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 2 of Article Eight of the Certificate of Incorporation) has determined that directors are to be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II and at the time of the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures provided for in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) of this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at a
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special meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time up to the later of (i) thirty-five (35) days prior to the special meeting of stockholders and (ii) the tenth day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise on the next succeeding day). To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice shall set forth all of the information required by, and otherwise be in compliance with, Section 11(b)(iii) of this ARTICLE II. In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 11(c) of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 11(d) of this ARTICLE II and shall comply with Section 11(f) of this ARTICLE II. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting.
(d) Update and Supplement of Stockholder’s Notice. Any stockholder who submits a notice of proposal for business or nomination for election pursuant to this Section 11 of ARTICLE II is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the fifth Business Day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the Close of Business on the eighth Business Day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) Business Days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof).
(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II, the term:
(i) “Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in San Diego, CA or New York, NY are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close;
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(ii) “Close of Business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and if an applicable deadline falls on the Close of Business on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable deadline shall be deemed to be the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(iii) “Derivative Positions” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any derivative positions including, without limitation, any short position, profits interest, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise and any performance-related fees to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled based, directly or indirectly, on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation;
(iv) “Hedging Transaction” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any hedging or other transaction (such as borrowed or loaned shares) or series of transactions, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power or economic or pecuniary interest of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities;
(v) “Public Announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
(vi) “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (A) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder or (C) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.
(f) Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be qualified to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in the case of a person nominated by a stockholder in accordance with Sections 11(b) or 11(c) of this ARTICLE II, in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under such sections) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background
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of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five Business Days of such written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five Business Days of such) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (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, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and (iii) would be in compliance, and if elected as a director of the Corporation will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.
(g) Update and Supplement of Nominee Information. The Corporation may also, as a condition to any such nomination or business being deemed properly brought before an annual meeting, require any Stockholder Associated Person or proposed nominee to deliver to the Secretary, within five Business Days of any such request, such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Corporation, including such other information as may be reasonably required by the Board, in its sole discretion, to determine (A) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, (B) whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, Securities and Exchange Commission and stock exchange rules or regulation, or any publicly disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation and (C) such other information that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion, could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(h) Authority of Chair; General Provisions. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether any nomination or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or brought in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws (including whether the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, 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 11(a)(iii)(G) or Section 11(b)(iii)(G), as applicable, of these Bylaws) and, if any nomination or other business is not made or brought in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such nomination or proposal of other business be disregarded and not acted upon. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation 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 11,
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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.
(i) Compliance with Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 11 of this ARTICLE II.
(j) Effect on Other Rights. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to (A) affect any rights of the stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, except as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, (C) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or (D) limit the exercise, the method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation to nominate directors (including pursuant to that Director Nomination Agreement, dated as of on or about November 24, 2020 (as amended and/or restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Nomination Agreement”), by and among the Corporation and the investors named therein, which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Section 11 of ARTICLE II.
Section 12. Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. 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 not be more than 60 days nor less than 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 the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first 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 the adjourned meeting in conformity herewith; 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 with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12 at the adjourned meeting.
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Section 13. Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting. So long as stockholders of the Corporation have the right to act by written consent in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE EIGHT of the Certificate of Incorporation, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting as may be permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on 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) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by written notice delivered to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal place of business during regular business hours, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date, which notice shall include the text of any proposed resolutions. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 13(a) of this ARTICLE II will be deemed received on any given day only if received prior to the close of business on such day (and otherwise shall be deemed received on the next succeeding business day). The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which such written notice is properly delivered to and deemed received by the Secretary, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 13(a)). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 13(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days of receipt of a valid request by a stockholder, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required pursuant to applicable law, shall be the first date after the expiration of such ten (10) day time period on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(b); provided, however, that if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting shall in such an event be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(b) Generally. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 13, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the first date on which a consent is delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by applicable law. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to an electronic transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given by the Corporation (at its expense) to those stockholders who have not consented and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
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Section 14. Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Generally. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board, if any, or in the Chair’s absence or disability, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability, by the President, or in the President’s absence or disability, by a Vice President (in the order as determined by the Board of Directors), or in the absence or disability of the foregoing persons by a chair designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence or disability of such person, by a chair chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence or disability the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, 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 chair 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 of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (vi) restrictions on the use of mobile phones, audio or video recording devices and similar devices at the meeting. The chair of the 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 nomination or matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chair should so determine, such chair 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 chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chair of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chair of the meeting shall have the power, right and authority, for any or no reason, to convene, recess and/or adjourn any meeting of stockholders.
(c) Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers,
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employees or agents of the Corporation. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.
Section 15. Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that
(c) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;
(d) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and
(e) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that the annual meeting of stockholders takes place telephonically or through any other means by which the stockholders do not convene in any one location, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal offices of the Corporation immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders.
Section 3. Regular Meetings and Special Meetings. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and
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publicized among all directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by (i) the Chair of the Board, if any, (ii) by the Secretary upon the written request of a majority of the directors then in office or (iii) if the Board of Directors then includes a director nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder, by any director nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder, and in each case shall be held at the place, if any, on the date and at the time as he, she or they shall fix. Any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice is required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 4. Such notice shall be state the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if by telephone or by being personally delivered or sent by overnight courier, telecopy, electronic transmission, email or similar means or (b) five (5) days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director’s residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, electronic transmission, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 5. Waiver of Notice. Any director may waive notice of any meeting of directors by a writing signed by the director or by electronic transmission. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends 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 and does not further participate in the meeting. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.
Section 6. Chair of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. The Board of Directors may elect a Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board must be a director and may be an officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chair of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chair of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chair of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of the directors present
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at the meeting to so preside. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided, however, that a quorum shall never be less than one-third the total number of directors. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 7. Committees.
(a) The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, and any committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange as any securities of the Corporation are listed. 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 the committee. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided by the DGCL and in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.
(b) Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members 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.
Section 8. Action by Written Consent. 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. After the action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in the same paper form or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.
Section 9. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees, reimbursement of expenses and equity compensation, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity, including for attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors or participation on any committees. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
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Section 10. Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such member’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 11. Telephonic and Other Meetings. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number and Election. Subject to the authority of Chief Executive Officer to appoint officers as set forth in Section 11 of this Article IV, the officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.
Section 2. Term of Office. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 11 of this Article IV may also be removed by the Chief Executive Officer in his or her sole discretion.
Section 4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 11 of this Article IV.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.
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Section 6.Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of the Chair of the Board, or if a Chair of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of (a) the Board of Directors if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and (b) the stockholders. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the President is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the President.
Section 7. The President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The President shall, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, act with all of the powers and be subject to all of the restrictions of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these Bylaws or otherwise are incident to the position of President.
Section 8. Vice Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board, shall, perform such duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Vice President. The Vice Presidents may also be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors (other than executive sessions thereof) and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the Board of Directors’ supervision, the Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these Bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Secretary; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or an
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Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 10. The Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors; shall receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the financial condition and operations of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Chief Financial Officer. The Treasurer, if any, shall in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chief financial officer, subject to the power of the board of directors. The Treasurer, if any, shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 11. Appointed Officers. In addition to officers designated by the Board in accordance with this ARTICLE IV, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to appoint other officers below the level of Board-appointed Vice President as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time deem expedient and may designate for such officers titles that appropriately reflect their positions and responsibilities. Such appointed officers shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the senior officer to whom they report, consistent with corporate policies. An appointed officer shall serve until the earlier of such officer’s resignation or such officer’s removal by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors at any time, either with or without cause.
Section 12. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 13. Officers’ Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
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Section 14. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its 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. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by two authorized officers of the Corporation including, but not limited to, the Chair of the Board (if an officer), the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation at the date of issue. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall, if required by applicable law, send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a
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written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 3. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of stock to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner, except as otherwise required by applicable law. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Section 4. Fixing a Record Date for Purposes Other Than Stockholder Meetings or Actions by Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action (other than stockholder meetings and stockholder written consents which are expressly governed by Sections 12 and 13 of ARTICLE II hereof), 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 be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no 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.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Subject to and in accordance with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared and paid by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which they were created.
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Section 2. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
Section 3. Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this Section.
Section 6. Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in any other corporation or entity held by the Corporation shall be voted by the Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 7. Facsimile/Electronic Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws and subject to applicable law, facsimile and other forms of electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used.
Section 8. Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.
Section 9. Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL, any other applicable law or the Nomination Agreement, the provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws shall be construed and deemed to have been revised to conform to the applicable provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL, other applicable law or the Nomination Agreement, as the case may be, the applicable provisions of which shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference so as to eliminate any such inconsistency.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Right to Indemnification and Advancement. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer 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, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (“ERISA”) and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 2 of this ARTICLE VII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advance of expenses (as defined below), the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 1 or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement to employees and agents of the Corporation. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chair of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation appointed pursuant to ARTICLE IV, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to ARTICLE IV of these By-laws, and any reference to an officer of any other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of
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such other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other enterprise for purposes of this ARTICLE VII unless such person’s appointment to such office was approved by the board of directors pursuant to ARTICLE VII.
Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification. Any claim for indemnification or advance of expenses by an indemnitee under this Section 2 of ARTICLE VII shall be made promptly, and in any event within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), upon the written request of the indemnitee. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within forty-five days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty days, provided that the indemnitee has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII if required), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this ARTICLE VII shall be enforceable by the indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proof shall be on the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 4. Service for Subsidiaries. Any person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for purposes of this ARTICLE VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.
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Section 5. Reliance. Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this ARTICLE VII in entering into or continuing such service. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this ARTICLE VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights of Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this ARTICLE VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. All rights to indemnification under this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this ARTICLE VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this ARTICLE VII or repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the DGCL or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.
Section 7. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this ARTICLE VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this ARTICLE VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 8. Savings Clause. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if this ARTICLE VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 1 of this ARTICLE VII as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification and advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this ARTICLE VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this ARTICLE VII that shall not have been invalidated.
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ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Section 1 of ARTICLE TEN of the Certificate of Incorporation.
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Exhibit 4.1
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 24, 2020 among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), each of the investors listed on the signature pages hereto under the caption “Sponsor Investors” (collectively, the “Sponsor Investors”), and each Person listed on the signature pages under the caption “Other Investors” or who executes a Joinder as an “Other Investor” (collectively, the “Other Investors”). Except as otherwise specified herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Exhibit A attached hereto.
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
Section 1 Demand Registrations.
(a) Requests for Registration. At any time and from time to time, the Sponsor Investors may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement (“Long-Form Registrations”) or on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement (“Short-Form Registrations”), if available (any such requested registration, a “Demand Registration”). The Sponsor Investors may request that any Demand Registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”) and (if the Company is a WKSI at the time any such request is submitted to the Company or will become one by the time of the filing of such Shelf Registration) that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”). Each request for a Demand Registration must specify the approximate number or dollar value of Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the requesting Holders and (if known) the intended method of distribution. The Sponsor Investors will be entitled to request an unlimited number of Demand Registrations. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses, whether or not any such registration is consummated.
(b) Notice to Other Investors. Within four (4) Business Days after receipt of any such request, the Company will give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 1(e), will include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after the receipt of the Company’s notice; provided that, with the written consent of the Sponsor Investor, the Company may, or at the written request of the Sponsor Investors, the Company shall, instead provide notice of the Demand Registration to all Other Investors within three (3) Business Days following the non-confidential filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration so long as such registration statement is not an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) Form of Registrations. All Long-Form Registrations will be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by the Sponsor Investor. Demand Registrations will be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Company is permitted to use any applicable short form unless otherwise requested by the Sponsor Investor.
(d) Shelf Registrations.
(i) For so long as a registration statement for a Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) is and remains effective, the Sponsor Investors will have the right at any
time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”). If the Sponsor Investors desire to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to an underwritten offering, then the Sponsor Investors may deliver to the Company a written notice (a “Shelf Offering Notice”) specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that the Sponsor Investors desire to sell pursuant to such underwritten offering (the “Shelf Offering”). As promptly as practicable, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Notice, the Company will give written notice of such Shelf Offering Notice to all other Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities that have been identified as selling stockholders in such Shelf Registration Statement and are otherwise permitted to sell in such Shelf Offering, which such notice shall request that each such Holder specify, within seven (7) days after the Company’s receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice, the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities such Holder desires to be disposed of in such Shelf Offering. The Company, subject to Section 1(e) and Section 7, will include in such Shelf Offering all Shelf Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received timely written requests for inclusion. The Company will, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within fourteen (14) days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Notice), but subject to Section 1(e), use its best efforts to consummate such Shelf Offering.
(ii) If the Sponsor Investors desire to engage in an underwritten block trade or bought deal pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement) (each, an “Underwritten Block Trade”), then notwithstanding the time periods set forth in Section 1(d)(i), the Sponsor Investors may notify the Company of the Underwritten Block Trade not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the day such offering is first anticipated to commence. If requested by the Sponsor Investors, the Company will promptly notify other Holders of such Underwritten Block Trade and such notified Holders (each, a “Potential Participant”) may elect whether or not to participate no later than the next Business Day (i.e. one (1) Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Sponsor Investors), and the Company will as expeditiously as possible use its best efforts to facilitate such Underwritten Block Trade (which may close as early as two (2) Business Days after the date it commences); provided further that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1(d)(i), no Holder (other than Holders of Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities) will be permitted to participate in an Underwritten Block Trade without the written consent of the Sponsor Investor. Any Potential Participant’s request to participate in an Underwritten Block Trade shall be binding on the Potential Participant.
(iii) All determinations as to whether to complete any Shelf Offering and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Shelf Offering contemplated by this Section 1(d) shall be determined by the Sponsor Investors, and the Company shall use its best efforts to cause any Shelf Offering to occur in accordance with such determinations as promptly as practicable.
(iv) The Company will, at the request of the Sponsor Investors, file any prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the Sponsor Investors to effect such Shelf Offering.
(e) Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings. The Company will not include in any Demand Registration any securities which are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Sponsor Investors. If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and (if permitted hereunder) other securities requested to be included in such offering
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exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities (if any), which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, then the Company will include in such offering (prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities); (i) first, the number of Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities requested to be included which, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective Participating Sponsor Investors on the basis of the number of Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities owned by each such Participating Sponsor Investor; and (ii) second, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by any other Holders which, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder.
(f) Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings.
(i) The Company may postpone, for up to 60 days (or with the consent of the Sponsor Investors, a longer period) from the date of the request (the “Suspension Period”), the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement (and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities) by providing written notice to the Holders if the following conditions are met: (A) the Company determines that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization, financing or other transaction involving the Company and (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of material non-public information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and either (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction, (y) disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company’s ability to consummate such transaction, or (z) such transaction renders the Company unable to comply with SEC requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it impractical or inadvisable to cause the registration statement (or such filings) to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the registration statement on a post effective basis, as applicable. The Company may delay or suspend the effectiveness of a Demand Registration or Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 1(f)(i) only once in any twelve (12)-month period (for avoidance of doubt, in addition to the Company’s rights and obligations under Section 4(a)(vi)) unless additional delays or suspensions are approved by the Sponsor Investors.
(ii) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in Section 1(f)(i) above or pursuant to Section 4(a)(vi) (a “Suspension Event”), the Company will give a notice to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice must state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension will continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. Each Holder agrees not to effect any sales of its Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice. A Holder may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice will be given by the Company to the Holders promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event (and in any event during the permitted Suspension Period).
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(g) Selection of Underwriters. The legal counsel to the Company, the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer any underwritten offering in connection with any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering shall be selected by the Sponsor Investors.
(h) Other Registration Rights. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company will not grant to any Person(s) the right to request the Company or any Subsidiary to register any equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the Sponsor Investors.
(i) Revocation of Demand Notice or Shelf Offering Notice. At any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating to a Demand Registration or the “pricing” of any offering relating to a Shelf Offering Notice, the Sponsor Investors who initiated such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering may revoke or withdraw such notice of a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering Notice on behalf of all Holders participating in such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering without liability to such Holders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the other Participating Sponsor Investors), in each case by providing written notice to the Company.
(j) Confidentiality. Each Holder agrees to treat as confidential the receipt of any notice hereunder (including notice of a Demand Registration, a Shelf Offering Notice and a Suspension Notice) and the information contained therein, and not to disclose or use the information contained in any such notice (or the existence thereof) without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally (other than as a result of disclosure by such Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement).
Section 2 Piggyback Registrations.
(a) Right to Piggyback. Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities under the Securities Act (including primary and secondary registrations, and other than pursuant to an Excluded Registration) (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company will give prompt written notice (and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the public filing of the registration statement relating to the Piggyback Registration) to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 2(b) and Section 2(c), will include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after delivery of the Company’s notice. Any Participating Sponsor Investor may withdraw its request for inclusion at any time prior to executing the underwriting agreement, or if none, prior to the applicable registration statement becoming effective.
(b) Priority on Primary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company will include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Participating Sponsor Investors on the basis of the number of Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities owned by each such Participating Sponsor Investor, (iii) third, any other Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holder which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder, and (iv) fourth, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.
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(c) Priority on Secondary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s equity securities (other than pursuant to Section 1 hereof), and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company will include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the holders initially requesting such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (ii) second, the Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, pro rata among the Participating Sponsor Investors holding such Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities owned by each such Participating Sponsor Investor which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (iii) third, any other Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holder, pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, and (iv) fourth, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.
(d) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company will have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2, whether or not any holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration.
(e) Selection of Underwriters. If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the legal counsel for the Company, the investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be selected by the Sponsor Investors.
Section 3 Stockholder Lock-Up Agreements and Company Holdback Agreement.
(a) Stockholder Lock-up Agreements. In connection with any underwritten Public Offering, each Holder will enter into any lock-up, holdback or similar agreements requested by the underwriter(s) managing such offering, in each case with such modifications and exceptions as may be approved by the Sponsor Investors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Holder hereby agrees that in connection with the initial Public Offering and in connection with any Demand Registration, Shelf Offering or Piggyback Registration that is an underwritten Public Offering, not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (including sales pursuant to Rule 144), directly or indirectly, any equity securities of the Company (including equity securities of the Company that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such Holder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC) (collectively, “Securities”), or any securities, options or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Securities (collectively, “Other Securities”), (ii) enter into a transaction which would have the same effect as described in clause (i) above, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences or ownership of any Securities or Other Securities, whether such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such Securities or Other Securities, in cash or otherwise (each of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a “Sale Transaction”), or (iv) publicly disclose the intention to enter into any Sale Transaction, commencing on the date on which the Company gives notice to the Holders that a preliminary prospectus has been circulated for such underwritten Public Offering or the “pricing” of such offering and continuing to the date that is (x) 180 days following the date of the final prospectus for such underwritten Public Offering in the case of the initial Public Offering or (y) 90 days following the date of the final prospectus in the case of any other such underwritten Public Offering (each such period, or such
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shorter period as agreed to by the managing underwriters, a “Holdback Period”), in each case with such modifications and exceptions as may be approved by the Sponsor Investors. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to any Securities or Other Securities subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 3(a) until the end of such Holdback Period.
(b) Company Holdback Agreement. The Company (i) will not file any registration statement for a Public Offering or cause any such registration statement to become effective, or effect any public sale or distribution of its Securities or Other Securities during any Holdback Period (other than as part of such underwritten Public Offering, or a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or similar form which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Other Securities) and (ii) will cause each holder of Securities and Other Securities (including each of its directors and executive officers) to agree not to effect any Sale Transaction during any Holdback Period, except as part of such underwritten registration (if otherwise permitted), unless approved in writing by the Sponsor Investors and the underwriters managing the Public Offering and to enter into any lock-up, holdback or similar agreements requested by the underwriter(s) managing such offering, in each case with such modifications and exceptions as may be approved by the Sponsor Investors.
Section 4 Registration Procedures.
(a) Company Obligations. Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, the Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as possible:
(i) prepare and file with (or submit confidentially to) the SEC a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, all in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (provided that before filing or confidentially submitting a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will furnish to the counsel selected by the Sponsor Investors covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed or submitted, which documents will be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);
(ii) notify each Holder of (A) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;
(iii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities
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Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
(iv) furnish, without charge, to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder and each underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) (in each case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference therein), each amendment and supplement thereto, each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller or underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (the Company hereby consenting to the use in accordance with all applicable laws of each such registration statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto, and each such prospectus (or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto) or Free Writing Prospectus by each such seller of Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or prospectus);
(v) use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);
(vi) notify in writing each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information, and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event or of any information or circumstances as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 1(f), if required by applicable law or to the extent requested by the Sponsor Investor, the Company will use its best efforts to promptly prepare and file a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company in any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering shall cease to be true and correct;
(vii) (A) use best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA, and (B) comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements;
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(viii) use best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
(ix) enter into and perform such customary agreements (including, as applicable, underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Sponsor Investors or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, making available the executive officers of the Company and participating in “road shows,” investor presentations, marketing events and other selling efforts and effecting a stock or unit split or combination, recapitalization or reorganization);
(x) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition or sale pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as will be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement and the disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant thereto;
(xi) take all actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration or Shelf Offering hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xii) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;
(xiii) permit any Holder which, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;
(xiv) use best efforts to (A) make Short-Form Registration available for the sale of Registrable Securities and (B) prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Common Equity included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use, and in the event any such order is issued, best efforts to obtain promptly the withdrawal of such order;
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(xv) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(xvi) cooperate with the Holders covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement, or the removal of any restrictive legends associated with any account at which such securities are held, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;
(xvii) if requested by any managing underwriter, include in any prospectus or prospectus supplement updated financial or business information for the Company’s most recent period or current quarterly period (including estimated results or ranges of results) if required for purposes of marketing the offering in the view of the managing underwriter;
(xviii) take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will take such action as is necessary to make any such prohibition inapplicable;
(xix) cooperate with each Holder covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of applications, notices, registrations and responses to requests for additional information with FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Equity are or are to be listed, and (B) to the extent required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, retain a Qualified Independent Underwriter acceptable to the managing underwriter;
(xx) in the case of any underwritten offering, use its best efforts to obtain, and deliver to the underwriter(s), in the manner and to the extent provided for in the applicable underwriting agreement, one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters;
(xxi) use its best efforts to provide (A) a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement addressed to the Company, (B) on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale in connection with a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the closing date of the applicable sale, (1) one or more legal opinions of the Company’s outside counsel, dated such date, in form and substance as customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering or, in the case of a non-underwritten offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities and (2) one or more “negative assurances letters” of the Company’s outside counsel, dated such date, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering or, in the case of a non-underwritten
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offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities, in each case, addressed to the underwriters, if any, or, if requested, in the case of a non-underwritten offering, to the broker, placement agent or other agent of the Holders assisting in the sale of the Registrable Securities and (3) customary certificates executed by authorized officers of the Company as may be requested by any Holder or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities;
(xxii) if the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;
(xxiii) if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold;
(xxiv) if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, refile a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its best efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective; and
(xxv) if requested by any Participating Sponsor Investor, cooperate with such Participating Sponsor Investor and with the managing underwriter or agent, if any, on reasonable notice to facilitate any Charitable Gifting Event and to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to permit any such recipient Charitable Organization to sell in the underwritten offering if it so elects.
(b) Officer Obligations. Each Holder that is an officer of the Company agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she will participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Company, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.
(c) Automatic Shelf Registration Statements. If the Company files any Automatic Shelf Registration Statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, and the Sponsor Investors do not request that their Registrable Securities be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that, at the request of the Sponsor Investors, it will include in such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B in order to ensure that the Sponsor Investors may be added to such Shelf Registration Statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment. If the Company has filed any Automatic Shelf Registration Statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, the Company shall, at the request of the Sponsor Investors, file any post-effective amendments necessary to include therein all disclosure and language necessary to ensure that the holders of Registrable Securities may be added to such Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) Additional Information. The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing, as a condition to such seller’s participation in such registration.
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(e) In-Kind Distributions. If any Sponsor Investor (and/or any of their Affiliates) seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Company will, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing Persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested and consistent with the Company’s obligations under the Securities Act.
(f) Suspended Distributions. Each Person participating in a registration hereunder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(a)(vi), such Person will immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 4(a)(vi), subject to the Company’s compliance with its obligations under Section 4(a)(vi).
(g) Other. To the extent that any of the Participating Sponsor Investors is or may be deemed to be an “underwriter” of Registrable Securities pursuant to any SEC comments or policies, the Company agrees that (i) the indemnification and contribution provisions contained in Section 6 shall be applicable to the benefit of such Participating Sponsor Investor in their role as an underwriter or deemed underwriter in addition to their capacity as a holder and (ii) such Participating Sponsor Investor shall be entitled to conduct the due diligence which they would normally conduct in connection with an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, including without limitation receipt of customary opinions and comfort letters addressed to such Participating Sponsor Investor.
Section 5 Registration Expenses.
Except as expressly provided herein, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company or any Sponsor Investor in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement and/or in connection with any Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Offering, whether or not the same shall become effective, shall be paid by the Company, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the SEC or FINRA, (ii) all fees and expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or “blue sky” laws, (iii) all printing, duplicating, word processing, messenger, telephone, facsimile and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company or other depositary and of printing prospectuses and Company Free Writing Prospectuses), (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and cold comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), (v) Securities Act liability insurance or similar insurance if the Company so desires or the underwriters so require in accordance with then-customary underwriting practice, (vi) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which similar securities of the Company are then listed (or on which exchange the Registrable Securities are proposed to be listed in the case of the initial Public Offering), (vii) all applicable rating agency fees with respect to the Registrable Securities, (viii) all fees and disbursements of legal counsel for the Company, (ix) all fees and disbursements of one legal counsel for selling Holders selected by the Sponsor Investors together with any necessary local counsel as may be required by the Sponsor Investors, (xi) any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, (xii) all fees and expenses of any special experts or other Persons retained by the Company or the Sponsor Investors in connection with any Registration (xiii) all of the Company’s internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties) and (xiv) all expenses related to the “road-show” for any underwritten offering, including all travel, meals
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and lodging. All such expenses are referred to herein as “Registration Expenses.” The Company shall not be required to pay, and each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration, Shelf Offering or Piggyback Registration hereunder will bear and pay, all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Registrable Securities sold for such Person’s account and all transfer taxes (if any) attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities.
Section 6 Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) By the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law and without limitation as to time, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors employees, agents, fiduciaries, stockholders, managers, partners, members, affiliates, direct and indirect equityholders, consultants and representatives, and any successors and assigns thereof, and each Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “Indemnified Parties”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following (each, a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 6, collectively called an “application”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the “blue sky” or securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement, or omission , made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company will indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Indemnified Parties or as otherwise agreed to in the underwriting agreement executed in connection with such underwritten offering. Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.
(b) By Holders. In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder will furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, will indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any Losses resulting from (as determined by a final and appealable judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) any untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of
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a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided that the obligation to indemnify will be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and will be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.
(c) Claim Procedure. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice will impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties will have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the majority of the conflicted indemnified parties involved in the indemnification and approved by the Sponsor Investor, at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any Loss referred to herein, then such indemnifying party will contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Loss as well as any other relevant equitable considerations or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 6(d) is not permitted by applicable law, then in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative fault but also the relative benefit of the Company on the one hand and of the sellers of Registrable Securities and any other sellers participating in the registration statement on the other in connection with the statement or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution will be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party will be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue (or, as applicable alleged) untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to herein will be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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(e) Release. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(f) Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival. The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract (and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be considered the indemnitors of first resort in all such circumstances to which this Section 6 applies) and will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Section 7 Cooperation with Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to the terms of any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder will be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include in such registration) and (ii) completes, executes and delivers all questionnaires, powers of attorney, stock powers, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents and agreements required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements or as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s). To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 3, Section 4 and/or this Section 7, the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement will supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Company and the underwriters created thereby with respect to such registration.
Section 8 Subsidiary Public Offering.
(a) Subsidiary Public Offering. If, after an initial Public Offering of the common equity securities of one of its Subsidiaries, the Company distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equityholders, then the rights and obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement will apply, mutatis mutandis, to such Subsidiary, and the Company will cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement as if it were the Company hereunder.
Section 9 Joinder; Additional Parties; Transfer of Registrable Securities.
(a) Joinder. The Company may from time to time (with the prior written consent of the Sponsor Investors) permit any Person who acquires Common Equity (or rights to acquire Common Equity) to become a party to this Agreement and to be entitled to and be bound by all of the rights and obligations as a Holder by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Person in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Person, the Common Equity held by such Person shall become the category of Registrable Securities (i.e. Sponsor Investor or Other Investor Registrable Securities), and such Person shall be deemed the category of Holder (i.e. Sponsor Investor or Other Investor), in each case as set forth on the signature page to such Joinder.
(b) Restrictions on Transfers. Prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of law), the transferring Holder must first obtain the prior written consent of the Sponsor Investor, and if so obtained, cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a Joinder, except that such consent and Joinder shall not be required in the case of (i) a transfer to the Company, (ii) a transfer by any Sponsor Investor to its partners or members, (iii) a
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Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the initial Public Offering and/or (v) a transfer in connection with a Sale of the Company. Any transfer or attempted transfer of Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement will be void, and the Company will not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose (but the Company will be entitled to enforce against such Person the obligations hereunder).
(c) Legend. Each certificate (if any) evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF , 20 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S EQUITYHOLDERS, AS AMENDED. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
The Company will imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above will be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.
Section 10 General Provisions.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and the Sponsor Investors. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement will not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.
(b) Remedies. The parties to this Agreement will be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party will be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement 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 prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect the validity,
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legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(d) Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and permitted assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and permitted assigns (whether so expressed or not).
(f) Notices. Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; but if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the Company at the address specified on the signature page hereto or any Joinder and to any holder, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by giving prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein. The Company’s address is:
| Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. | ||
| 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 200 | ||
| San Diego, CA 92121 | ||
| Attn: | General Counsel | |
| Email: | ||
With a copy to:
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | ||
| 300 N. LaSalle Street | ||
| Chicago, IL 60664 | ||
| Attn: | Robert M. Hayward, P.C. | |
| Robert E. Goedert, P.C. | ||
| Email: | ||
or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
(g) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period will automatically be extended to the Business Day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
(h) Governing Law. The corporate law of the State of Delaware will govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its equityholders. All issues and questions
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concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto will 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.
(i) MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(j) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
(k) No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, will be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever will attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
(l) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement will be by way of example rather than by limitation.
(m) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.
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(n) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.
(o) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail will be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and will 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 will re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument will raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
(p) Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder agrees to execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(q) Dividends, Recapitalizations, Etc.. If at any time or from time to time there is any change in the capital structure of the Company by way of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment will be made in the provisions hereof so that the rights and privileges granted hereby will continue.
(r) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. No term or provision of this Agreement is intended to be, or shall be, for the benefit of any Person not a party hereto, and no such other Person shall have any right or cause of action hereunder, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
(s) Current Public Information. At all times after the Company has filed a registration statement with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will take such further action as the Sponsor Investors may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Its: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| SPONSOR INVESTORS: | ||
| Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Its: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Address: | 300 North LaSalle St., Suite 5600 Chicago, IL 60654 | |
| Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Its: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Address: | 300 North LaSalle St., Suite 5600 Chicago, IL 60654 | |
A-1
EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS
“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person and, in the case of an individual, also includes any member of such individual’s Family Group; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries will not be deemed to be Affiliates of any holder of Registrable Securities. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) will mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Business Day” means a day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or requested by law to close.
“Charitable Gifting Event” means any transfer by an Sponsor Investor, or any subsequent transfer by such holder’s members, partners or other employees, in connection with a bona fide gift to any Charitable Organization on the date of, but prior to, the execution of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten offering.
“Charitable Organization” means a charitable organization as described by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from time to time.
“Common Equity” means the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall include its successor(s).
“Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(f)(ii).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Registration” means any registration (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration (which is addressed in Section 1(a)), or (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the SEC or any successor or similar forms).
“Family Group” means with respect to any individual, such individual’s current or former spouse, their respective parents, descendants of such parents (whether natural or adopted) and the spouses of such descendants, any trust, limited partnership, corporation or limited liability company established solely for the benefit of such individual or such individual’s current or former spouse, their respective parents, descendants of such parents (whether natural or adopted) or the spouses of such descendants.
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“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Holdback Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Holder” means a holder of Registrable Securities who is a party to this Agreement (including by way of Joinder).
“Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).
“Long-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).
“Other Investors” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Other Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Equity held (directly or indirectly) by any Other Investors or any of their Affiliates, and (ii) any equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.
“Participating Sponsor Investors” means any Sponsor Investor(s) participating in the request for a Demand Registration, Shelf Offering, Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Block Trade.
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Public Offering” means any sale or distribution by the Company, one of its Subsidiaries and/or Holders to the public of Common Equity or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Equity pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act.
“Registrable Securities” means Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities and Other Registrable Securities. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when they have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the initial Public Offering, or (c) repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person will be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities, and the Registrable Securities will be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities
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hereunder (it being understood that a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Common Equity be registered pursuant to this Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the consummation of an initial Public Offering, any Registrable Securities held by any Person (other than any Sponsor Investor or its Affiliates) that may be sold under Rule 144(b)(1)(i) without limitation under any of the other requirements of Rule 144 will be deemed not to be Registrable Securities.
“Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.
“Rule 144”, “Rule 158”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 403B” and “Rule 462” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the SEC, as the same will be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.
“Sale of the Company” means any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which any Person(s) or a group of related Persons (other than any Sponsor Investor and/or its Affiliates) in the aggregate acquires: (i) Common Equity of the Company entitled to vote (other than voting rights accruing only in the event of a default, breach, event of noncompliance or other contingency) to elect directors with a majority of the voting power of the Company’s board of directors (whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, combination, sale or transfer of the Company’s Common Equity) or (ii) all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets determined on a consolidated basis; provided that a Public Offering will not constitute a Sale of the Company.
“Sale Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d)(i).
“Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d)(i).
“Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d)(i).
“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(d).
“Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Sponsor Investors” has the meaning set forth in the recitals; provided that any decision to be made under this Agreement by the Sponsor Investors shall be made by the holders of a majority of all Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities
“Sponsor Investor Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Equity held (directly or indirectly) by any Sponsor Investor or any of its Affiliates, or any Common Equity issued with respect to, or in exchange for, any common unit of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC held (directly or indirectly) by any Sponsor Investor or any of its Affiliates, and (ii) any equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.
A-4
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of 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 the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the limited liability company, partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.
“Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(f)(ii).
“Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(f)(ii).
“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(f)(i).
“Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.
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EXHIBIT B
The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of , 20 (as amended, modified and waived from time to time, the “Registration Agreement”), among , a [Delaware][corporation//limited liability company//limited partnership] (the “Company”), and the other persons named as parties therein (including pursuant to other Joinders). Capitalized terms used herein have the meaning set forth in the Registration Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of, the Registration Agreement as a Holder in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Agreement, and the undersigned will be deemed for all purposes to be a Holder, an [Sponsor Investor//Other Investor thereunder] and the undersigned’s [shares of Common Equity// Units] will be deemed for all purposes to be a [Sponsor Investor // Other] Registrable Securities under the Registration Agreement.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day of , 20 .
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| Signature | ||
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| Print Name | ||
| Address: |
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Agreed and Accepted as of
, 20 :
| [COMPANY] | ||
| By: |
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B-1
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.,
CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN,
AND
THE AGENT
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| RECITALS | 1 | |||||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
| Section 1.1 |
Definitions |
2 | ||||
| Section 1.2 |
Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions |
10 | ||||
| ARTICLE II DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS | 10 | |||||
| Section 2.1 |
Exchange Schedule |
10 | ||||
| Section 2.2 |
NOL Schedule |
10 | ||||
| Section 2.3 |
Tax Benefit Schedule |
11 | ||||
| Section 2.4 |
Procedure: Amendments |
12 | ||||
| ARTICLE III TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS | 13 | |||||
| Section 3.1 |
Payments |
13 | ||||
| Section 3.2 |
No Duplicative Payments |
13 | ||||
| Section 3.3 |
Coordination of Benefits. |
13 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV TERMINATION | 14 | |||||
| Section 4.1 |
Early Termination by the Corporation |
14 | ||||
| Section 4.2 |
Early Termination upon Change of Control |
14 | ||||
| Section 4.3 |
Breach of Agreement |
14 | ||||
| Section 4.4 |
Early Termination Notice |
15 | ||||
| Section 4.5 |
Payment upon Early Termination |
16 | ||||
| ARTICLE V SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS | 16 | |||||
| Section 5.1 |
Subordination |
16 | ||||
| Section 5.2 |
Late Payments by the Corporation |
16 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI | 17 | |||||
| PARTICIPATION IN TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION | 17 | |||||
| Section 6.1 |
Participation in the Corporation’s Tax Matters |
17 | ||||
| Section 6.2 |
Consistency |
17 | ||||
| Section 6.3 |
Cooperation |
17 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS | 18 | |||||
| Section 7.1 |
Notices |
18 | ||||
| Section 7.2 |
Counterparts |
18 | ||||
| Section 7.3 |
Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries |
19 | ||||
| Section 7.4 |
Governing Law |
19 | ||||
| Section 7.5 |
Severability |
19 | ||||
| Section 7.6 |
Successors: Assignment |
19 | ||||
ii
| Section 7.7 |
Amendments: Waivers |
19 | ||||
| Section 7.8 |
Titles and Subtitles |
20 | ||||
| Section 7.9 |
Reconciliation |
20 | ||||
| Section 7.10 |
Consent to Jurisdiction |
21 | ||||
| Section 7.11 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
21 | ||||
| Section 7.12 |
Withholding |
21 | ||||
| Section 7.13 |
Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets |
21 | ||||
| Section 7.14 |
Confidentiality |
22 | ||||
| Section 7.15 |
No Similar Agreements |
23 | ||||
| Section 7.16 |
Change in Law |
23 |
iii
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2020 is hereby entered into by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 1”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 2”), and the Agent.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, the TRA Holders held, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, limited liability company interests (“Units”) in the Company, which is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
WHEREAS, the Corporation is the managing member of the Company;
WHEREAS, following the date hereof, the Corporation will issue shares of its Class A Common Stock, to certain purchasers in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “IPO” and the date on which the IPO is consummated is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”);
WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, the Corporation will purchase Common Units (i) directly from the Company and (ii) from MLSH 1, in each case, using proceeds of the IPO (collectively, the “Purchase”);
WHEREAS, from and after the closing of the IPO, under certain circumstances, the member of the Company (other than the Corporation) may exchange its Units together with its shares of Class B Common Stock of the Corporation for a Cash Payment and/or Class A Common Stock (each such transaction an “Exchange”) pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement and as a result of such Exchanges, the Corporation is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein;
WHEREAS, the Company and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any corresponding provisions of state and local Tax law for the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date and each Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined below) occurs, which election is expected to result, with respect to the Corporation, in an adjustment to the Tax basis of the assets owned by the Company and such Subsidiaries in connection with the Purchase and each Exchange;
WHEREAS, each of NCP III Maravai Blocker Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Newstone Blocker”), and GTCR/Maravai Blocker Corp., a Delaware corporation (“GTCR Blocker”) (the Newstone Blocker and the GTCR Blocker, together, the “Blockers”), are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, immediately prior to the Reorganization Transactions (as defined below), are wholly owned by MLSH 2;
WHEREAS, MLSH 2 will enter into certain reorganization transactions with the Corporation in connection with the Blocker Mergers (the “Reorganization Transactions”), and as a result of such transactions the Corporation will succeed to certain Tax attributes of the Blockers as further described herein; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreements among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the Tax benefits realized by the Corporation as a result of (i) the Purchase, (ii) the Exchanges, (iii) the Reorganization Transactions and (iv) certain of the payments made pursuant to this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this ARTICLE I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).
“Accrued Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for Taxes of (i) the Corporation and (ii) without duplication, the Company, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the taxable income of the Company that is allocable to the Corporation (or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member for such Taxable Year).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.
“Agent” means MLSH 1 or such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6.
“Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).
“Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means the tax rate equal to the sum of the product of (x) the Company’s income and franchise Tax apportionment rate(s) for each state and local jurisdiction in which the Company files income or franchise Tax Returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate income and franchise Tax rate(s) for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Company files income or franchise Tax Returns for each relevant Taxable Year; provided, that the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate calculated pursuant
2
to the foregoing shall be reduced by the assumed federal income Tax benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income and franchise Taxes (with such benefit calculated as the product of (a) the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year and (b) the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate (without regard to this proviso)).
“Basis Adjustment” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of (i) the Purchase or (ii) an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Purchase or such Exchange (as calculated under Section 2.1), including, but not limited to:
(i) under Sections 734(b), 743(b), 754 and 755 of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, the Company remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and
(ii) under Sections 732(b), 734(b) and 1012 of the Code and, without duplication, as a result of any basis adjustment to which the Company succeeds, including pursuant to proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1(f) and any subsequent similar guidance and comparable sections of U.S. state and local income and franchise tax law (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes), and in each case, comparable sections of state and local Tax laws.
For the avoidance of doubt, (X) the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of Exchangeable Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Exchangeable Units prior to such Exchange and (Y) payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are (a) made to MLSH 2 or (b) treated as Imputed Interest.
“Beneficial Owner” means, with respect to a security, a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares:
(i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or
(ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.
The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings.
“Blocker Mergers” means those certain merger transactions to be consummated on the date hereof which will result in each of the Blockers merging with and into the Corporation, in each case with the Corporation remaining as the surviving corporation.
“Blocker NOLs” means the net operating losses, capital losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards under Section 163(j) of the Code and credit carryforwards of the Blockers relating to taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date.
3
“Blockers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York are authorized by law to be closed.
“Cash Payment” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any “person” or “group” who, on the Closing Date, is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities)) becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities;
(ii) (A) the shareholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Corporation or (B) there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets to an entity at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporation immediately prior to such sale or other disposition;
(iii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (A) the board of directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the merger or consolidation does not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (B) all of the Persons who were the respective Beneficial Owners of the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation; or
(iv) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Corporation then serving: individuals who were directors of the Corporation on the Closing Date or any new director whose appointment or election to the Board or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors of the Corporation on the Closing Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause (iv).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B
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Common Stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
“Change of Control Date” means the date on which a Change of Control occurs.
“Class A Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Class B Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Closing Date Basis” means, immediately prior to the Purchase, the Tax basis of any Reference Asset that is goodwill or any other intangible asset that is amortizable under Section 197 of the Code, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustments in the Tax basis of such Reference Assets.
“Code” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The term “Controlled” shall have a correlative meaning.
“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Corporation Letter” means a letter prepared by the Corporation in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, which states that the relevant Schedules, notices or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Agent, along with all supporting schedules and work papers, were prepared in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement and, to the extent not expressly provided in this Agreement, on a reasonable basis in light of the facts and law in existence on the date such Schedules, notices or other information were delivered by the Corporation to the Agent. Such letter shall identify any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of the underlying calculations.
“Corporation Return” means the U.S. federal and/or state and local Tax Return of the Corporation (including any consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member, as further described in Section 7.13(a)) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.
“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.
“Default Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points.
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“Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of any state and local Tax law or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.
“Disputing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.
“Early Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.
“Early Termination Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b).
“Early Termination Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.
“Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the recitals in the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition shall include any Exchange occurring in connection with a Change of Control.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Agreement” means that certain Exchange Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, 2020, by and among the Corporation, MLSH 1, the Company and the other parties thereto.
“Exchange Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Exchangeable Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Expert” means a “Big 4” accounting firm not disqualified by conflicts or independence analysis or such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to both parties.
“GTCR Blocker” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, (x) the liability for Taxes of the Corporation and, without duplication, the Company, but only with respect to Taxes of the Company allocable to the Corporation or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member for such Taxable Year (in each case, using the same methods, elections, conventions, and similar practices used on the relevant Corporation Return), but without taking into account (i) any Basis Adjustments, (ii) any Blocker NOLs, (iii) any Closing Date Basis and (iv) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year. The
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Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined (A) without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest, (B) using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, solely for purposes of calculating the state and local Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation and (C), to the extent not addressed in clause (B) of this sentence, using reasonable estimation methodologies for calculating the portion of any of the foregoing items attributable to U.S. state or local Taxes.
“ICE LIBOR” has the meaning set forth below under “LIBOR.”
“Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of any state and local Tax law with respect to the Corporation’s payment obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Imputed Interest shall not include any Accrued Amount.
“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“LIBOR” means during any period, a rate per annum equal to the ICE LIBOR rate for a period of one month (“ICE LIBOR”), as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the Corporation from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period. If ICE LIBOR ceases to be published, “LIBOR” shall mean a rate, selected by the Corporation in good faith, with characteristics similar to ICE LIBOR or consistent with market practices generally;
“LLC Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, to be dated as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
“MLSH 1” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“MLSH 2” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Newstone Blocker” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“NOL Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.
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“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.
“Purchase” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority for any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.
“Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority for any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.
“Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.
“Reconciliation Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.9.
“Reference Asset” means any asset that is held by the Company, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for purposes of the applicable Tax (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for purposes of the applicable Tax), immediately prior to the Purchase or at the time of an Exchange, as applicable. A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.
“Reorganization Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Schedule” means any of the following: (i) an Exchange Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule, (iii) an NOL Schedule or (iv) the Early Termination Schedule.
“Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.
“Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Tax Benefit Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
“Tax Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
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“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.
“Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporation as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state or local Tax law, as applicable (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the date hereof.
“Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, and any interest related to such Tax.
“Taxing Authority” means any federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi- governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.
“TRA Holders” means MLSH 1, MLSH 2 and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6.
“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant Taxable Year.
“Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that (i) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporation Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available, (ii) any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis or Imputed Interest that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date and any Blocker NOLs that have not been previously utilized in determining a Tax Benefit Payment as of the Early Termination Date, will be utilized by the Corporation in the earliest possible Taxable Year permitted by the Code and the Treasury Regulations (iii) the U.S. federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and the tax rates for U.S. state and local income taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, in each case as in effect on the Early Termination Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Years have already been enacted into law; (iv) any non-amortizable Reference Assets
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to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of for cash at their fair market value in a fully taxable transaction for Tax purposes on the later of (A) the fifteenth anniversary of the Exchange which gave rise to such Basis Adjustment and (B) the Early Termination Date, and (v) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Exchangeable Units that have not been transferred in an Exchange, then all Exchangeable Units and (if applicable) shares of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed to be transferred in an Exchange effective on the Early Termination Date.
Section 1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.
ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS
Section 2.1 Exchange Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange has been effected by a TRA Holder, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “Exchange Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each TRA Holder participating in any Exchange during such Taxable Year, (i) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Exchanges effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (ii) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.
Section 2.2 NOL Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “NOL Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, (i) the Blocker NOLs attributable to the Blockers as of the Closing Date and (ii) any applicable limitations on the use of the Blocker NOLs for Tax purposes (including under Section 382 of the Code).
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Section 2.3 Tax Benefit Schedule.
(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is allocable to each TRA Holder, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is allocable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporation intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability (the “without” calculation), (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporation of the Actual Tax Liability (the “with” calculation), (iv) a copy of the Corporation Return for such Taxable Year, (v) a Corporation Letter supporting such Tax Benefit Schedule and (vi) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporation shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporation in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Schedule. The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.4(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b)).
(b) Applicable Principles. The Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Corporation’s actual liability for Taxes for such Taxable Year that is attributable to the Basis Adjustments, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest, determined using a “with and without” methodology. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) such actual liability for Taxes will take into account the deduction of the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment that must be accounted for as interest under the Code based upon the characterization of Tax Benefit Payments as additional consideration payable by the Corporation, and (ii) in addition to using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining the state and local Hypothetical Tax Liability, the Corporation may use reasonable estimation methodologies for calculating the portion of any Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment attributable to U.S. state or local Taxes. For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryforwards or carrybacks of any Tax item (such as a net operating loss) attributable to the Basis Adjustments, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and the corresponding provisions of state and local Tax laws, as applicable, governing the use, limitation, and expiration of carryforwards or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryforward or carryback of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, or Imputed Interest (a “TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not so attributable (a “Non-TRA Portion”), such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion; and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the applicable prior Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, the TRA Portion of any Tax item when such item is incurred shall be determined using a marginal “with and without” methodology by calculating (i) the amount of such Tax item for all Tax purposes taking into account the Basis Adjustments, the Closing Date Basis, the Blocker NOLs and Imputed Interest and (ii) the amount of such Tax item for all Tax purposes without taking into account the Basis Adjustments, the
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Closing Date Basis, the Blocker NOLs or Imputed Interest, with the TRA Portion equal to the excess of the amount specified in clause (i) over the amount specified in clause (ii) (but only if such excess is greater than zero). The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement to MLSH 1 (or its successors or assigns), including the Accrued Amount (other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Exchangeable Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporation in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the calculation for the year of payment and into future year calculations, as appropriate.
Section 2.4 Procedure: Amendments.
(a) An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”) made in good faith or (ii) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporation. If the Corporation and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of such Objection Notice, the Corporation and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.
(b) The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agent, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporation Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust an Exchange Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Agent, the Corporation shall provide an Amended Schedule to the Agent (A) within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence and (B) in connection with the delivery of the Tax Benefit Schedule for the year of the applicable payment in the event of an adjustment pursuant to clause (vi) of the preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.4(a), the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.
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ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS
Section 3.1 Payments.
(a) Within five (5) calendar days after a Tax Benefit Schedule delivered to the Agent becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a), the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment for such Taxable Year in the percentages set forth on Schedule A, which such schedule may be updated by the Corporation with the written consent of the Agent after the day hereof. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the Corporation, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.
(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the Net Tax Benefit and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto for such Taxable Year. Subject to Section 3.3 the “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over (ii) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts); provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. The “Accrued Amount” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporation Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Exchangeable Units in an Exchange or the stock of the Blockers in the Reorganization Transactions (as applicable) unless otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise specified by a TRA Holder in the Exchange Notice for any Exchange, the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments attributable to any Closing Date Basis and Basis Adjustments in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed 40% of the fair market value of the consideration received on such Exchange.
Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement. It is also intended that the provisions of this Agreement will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the TRA Holders. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.
Section 3.3 Coordination of Benefits.
(a) If for any reason the Corporation does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) the Corporation will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.
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(b) To the extent the Corporation makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and (b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporation will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under this Agreement in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under this Agreement, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a) (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and this Section 3.3(b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
Section 4.1 Early Termination by the Corporation. With the written approval of a majority of
its independent directors, the Corporation may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to
Section 4.5(b), provided,
however, that this Agreement shall only terminate upon the receipt of the Early Termination Payment by the TRA Holders (such termination, an “Early Termination”). Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment by the
Corporation, the Corporation shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (i) Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (ii) any Tax Benefit
Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (ii) is included in the Early Termination Payment).
Section 4.2 Early Termination upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the Change of Control Date and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on such Change of Control Date, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of a TRA Holder agreed to by the Corporation and such TRA Holder as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including such Change of Control Date (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (c) is included in the Early Termination Payment). In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the term “Change of Control Date” for the term “Early Termination Date.”
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Section 4.3 Breach of Agreement.
(a) In the event that the Corporation breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then, unless otherwise waived in writing by a majority of the TRA Holders, such breach shall be treated as an Early Termination and all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (iii) is included in the Early Termination Payment). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, a majority of the TRA Holders shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.
(b) The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain sufficient available funds for the purpose of making required payments under this Agreement and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid entering into credit agreements that could be reasonably anticipated to materially delay the timing of any payments under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement as a result of and to the extent the Corporation has insufficient funds to make such payment; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by debt agreements to which the Corporation or its Subsidiaries is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided, further, that the Corporation shall promptly (and in any event, within two (2) Business Days), pay all such unpaid payments, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, immediately following such time that the Corporation has, and to the extent the Corporation has, sufficient funds to make such payment, and the failure of the Corporation to do so shall constitute a breach of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, all cash and cash equivalents used or to be used to pay dividends by, or repurchase equity securities of, the Corporation shall be deemed to be funds sufficient and available to pay such unpaid payments, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
Section 4.4 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early
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Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a), the Corporation shall deliver (i) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “Early Termination Schedule”) and (ii) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporation shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporation in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (y) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporation (the “Early Termination Effective Date”). If the Corporation and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporation and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.
Section 4.5 Payment upon Early Termination.
(a) Within three (3) calendar days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the TRA Holder.
(b) The “Early Termination Payment” shall equal, with respect to each TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.
ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS
Section 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment required to be made by the Corporation to any TRA Holder under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (such obligations, “Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due is governed by Section 4.3(a).
Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporation. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(a), at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.
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ARTICLE VI
PARTICIPATION IN TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION
Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporation’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporation, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation (i) shall notify the Agent of, and keep the Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “Tax Proceeding”) of the Corporation by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, (ii) shall provide the Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporation and its advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding, and (iii) shall not enter into any settlement with respect to any such portion of a Tax Proceeding that could have a material effect on the TRA Holders’ rights (including the right to receive payments) under this Agreement without the written consent of the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that is inconsistent with any provision of the LLC Agreement; provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Corporation shall prepare, file, and/or amend all Tax Returns in accordance with applicable law (including with respect to the calculation of taxable income and any calculations required to be made under this Agreement) and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Agent or any TRA Holder from disputing such Tax matters in accordance with Section 7.9.
Section 6.2 Consistency. The Corporation and the TRA Holders agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and each Tax Benefit Payment), but, for financial reporting purposes, only in respect of items that are not explicitly characterized as “deemed” or in a similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, in a manner consistent with that set forth in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporation under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.4 unless otherwise required by applicable law. If the Corporation and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporation and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.
Section 6.3 Cooperation. Each TRA Holder shall (i) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any Tax Proceeding, (ii) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. The Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3.
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ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. Phoenix, Arizona time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Corporation or the Company, to:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
Wateridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: [•]
E-mail: [•]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation or the Company) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
North LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Robert M. Hayward, P.C.; Robert E. Goedert, P.C.
E-mail: robert.hayward@kirkland.com; robert.goedert@kirkland.com
If to a TRA Holder other than the Agent, to the address set forth in the records of the Company.
Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.
Section 7.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.
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Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3.
Section 7.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
Section 7.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 7.6 Successors: Assignment. Each party agrees that each TRA Holder may assign, sell, transfer, delegate, or otherwise dispose of, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, or by operation of law, any right or obligation under this Agreement. Any purported assignment, transfer, or delegation in violation of this Section shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except for those enumerated above, this Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights or claims enforceable by any person or entity not a party to this Agreement. To the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, the transferring TRA Holder shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement, and any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once an Exchange has occurred, arise with respect to the Exchangeable Units transferred in such Exchange, may be assigned to any Person or Persons as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to be bound by Section 7.14. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Units such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units.
Section 7.7 Amendments: Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporation and by TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the
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Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of Early Termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange); provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such disproportionately affected TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment.
Section 7.8 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
Section 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporation and the Agent or any TRA Holder (as applicable, the “Disputing Party”) are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.4, Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporation and the Disputing Party agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or the Disputing Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondents of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise. The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Exchange Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporation and the Disputing Party shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts such Disputing Party’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse such Disputing Party for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case such Disputing Party shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.9 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the Disputing Party and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.
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Section 7.10 Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such party’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 7.11 Waiver of Jury Trial. Because disputes arising in connection with complex transactions are most quickly and economically resolved by an experienced and expert person and the parties wish applicable state and federal laws to apply (rather than arbitration rules), the parties desire that their disputes be resolved by a judge applying such applicable laws. Therefore, to achieve the best combination of the benefits of the judicial system and of arbitration. Each party to this agreement (including the Company) hereby waives all rights to trial by jury in any action or proceeding brought to resolve any dispute between or among any of the parties hereto. Whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of, connected with, related or incidental to this agreement. The transactions contemplated hereby and/or the relationships established among the parties hereunder.
Section 7.12 Withholding. The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder.
Section 7.13 Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.
(a) If the Corporation becomes a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, or unitary group of corporations that files a consolidated, combined, or unitary income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, or would be eligible to become a member of such a group at the election of one or members of that group, then, subject to the application of the Valuation Assumptions upon a Change of Control: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.
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(b) If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for Tax purposes) with which the Corporation does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code or any provisions of state or local Tax law, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset. Thus, for example, in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the entity, the taxable income of the entity shall be determined by treating the entity as having sold the asset for its fair market value, recovering any basis applicable to such asset (using the Tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made), while the Actual Tax Liability of the entity would be determined by recovering the actual Tax basis of the asset that reflects any Basis Adjustments. For purposes of this Section 7.13, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership. If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers one or more assets to a partnership (or a Person classified as a partnership for Tax purposes), the principles of this Section 7.13(b) and this Agreement shall govern the treatment of such transfer and any subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss or deductions from such partnership to such entity.
Section 7.14 Confidentiality.
(a) The Agent, each TRA Holder and each of the TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, concerning the Company and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, earned by the Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.14 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing such TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing such TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of such TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with such TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to such TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) Affiliates, auditors, accountants, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of such TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.14. (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder
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required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporation prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporation), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporation, the Company, the Agent, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the Agent or the TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.
(b) If the Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.14 the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.14 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporation and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.
Section 7.15 No Similar Agreements. Neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporation is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporation becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) without the prior written consent of the TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange).
Section 7.16 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income and all applicable state and local Tax purposes or would have other material adverse Tax consequences to the TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then at the election of the TRA Holder and to the extent specified by the TRA Holder, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to such TRA Holder, (ii) shall not apply to an Exchange by the TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by the TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, the Company, the Agent, and the TRA Holders have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| CORPORATION: | ||
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: Kevin Herde | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| COMPANY: | ||
| MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: Kevin Herde | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| AGENT: | ||
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: Kevin Herde | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| TRA HOLDER: | ||
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: Kevin Herde | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS 2, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: Kevin Herde | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Signature Page to the Tax Receivable Agreement
Schedule A
Holders and Outstanding Units
MLSH 1 - 85.34%
MLSH 2 - 14.66%
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
This EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of November 19, 2020 and effective as of immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO (as defined below) (the “Effective Time”), is made by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”).
WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock (the “IPO”), the Corporation intends to consummate the transactions described in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-249733);
WHEREAS, immediately following the IPO, the Member owns the number of Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock set forth on Exhibit A hereto; and
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for the exchange of Exchangeable Units together with shares of Class B Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Section 1.1 Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York, New York or San Diego, California are authorized by law to be closed.
“Cash Payment” means, an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the Exchanged Unit Amount, (y) the then-applicable Exchange Rate, and (z) (i) solely in connection with a Change of Control Exchange, the Class A Common Stock Value, and (ii) with respect to any Exchange that is not a Change of Control Exchange, the price to the public or the private sale price, as applicable, of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock in the substantially concurrent public offering or private sale, as applicable.
“Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.
“Change of Control Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i).
“Change of Control Exchange Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(iii).
“Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.
“Class A Common Stock Value” means, with respect to any Change of Control Exchange, the greater of (x) the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock 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 three (3) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the related Exchange Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock and (y) the price per share of Class A Common Stock offered by the Person or group that is the acquirer in the applicable Change of Control transaction. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Class A Common Stock Value shall be determined in good faith by a majority of the directors of the Corporation that do not have an interest in the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock being Exchanged.
“Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Unit” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Contribution Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iv).
“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iii).
“Exchange Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iii).
“Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which one Common Unit is entitled to be Exchanged. The Exchange Rate will also be used to determine the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that the Member must surrender upon an Exchange. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1.00, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2.
“Exchangeable Unit” means a Common Unit held by the Member.
“Exchanged Unit Amount” means, with respect to an Exchange, the number of Common Units set forth in the applicable Exchange Notice.
“First Exchange Time” means the expiration or earlier waiver of any lockup agreement relating to the IPO.
“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Liens” means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims, mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations, understandings or arrangements, or other restrictions on title or transfer of any nature whatsoever.
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“LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Manager” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Member” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity, and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Corporation and the other parties thereto, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(vi).
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (i) 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 (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is 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 and without limitation, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the manager, managing member, managing director (or a board comprised of any of the foregoing) or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries.
“Takeover Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Corporation, the Company and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal U.S. 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).
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“Voting Securities” means any equity securities of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in matters submitted for a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders or generally in the election of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II
Section 2.1 Exchange of Common Units.
(a) Elective Exchanges.
(i) From and after the First Exchange Time, the Member shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and the LLC Agreement, to surrender Exchangeable Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens) to the Corporation in exchange for the delivery to the Member (or its designee) of either, at the option of the Corporation, (x) a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Exchanged Unit Amount multiplied by the Exchange Rate or (y) solely in connection with an Exchange (including a Change of Control Exchange) that coincides with a substantially concurrent public offering or private sale of Class A Common Stock, the applicable Cash Payment. Any exchange of Exchangeable Units and Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment, as applicable, is defined herein as an “Exchange.” Subject to Section 2.1(a)(ii), after the First Exchange Time the Member may Exchange Exchangeable Units at any time and from time to time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Corporation nor the Company shall effectuate a Cash Payment pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) or (b)Section 2.1(b) unless (A) the Corporation determines to consummate a private sale or public offering of Class A Common Stock on, or not later than five (5) Business Days after, the relevant Exchange Date and (B) the Corporation contributes sufficient proceeds from such private sale or public offering to the Company for payment by the Company of the applicable Cash Payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall have no obligation to make a Cash Payment that exceeds the cash contributed to the Company by the Corporation from the Corporation’s offering or sales of Class A Common Stock referenced earlier in this Section 2.1(a)(i).
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Member shall not be entitled to effectuate an Exchange of Exchangeable Units (and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), and the Corporation and Company shall have the right to refuse to honor any request for such an Exchange, if at any time the Corporation or the Company determines based on the advice of counsel that such Exchange (1) would be prohibited by law or regulation (including, without limitation, the unavailability of a registration of such Exchange under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements thereof) or (2) would not be permitted under any agreement with the Corporation, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries to which the Member is party (including, without limitation, the LLC Agreement). Upon such determination, the Corporation or the Company (as applicable) shall notify the Member, which such notice shall include an explanation in reasonable detail as to the reason that the Exchange has not been honored.
(iii) The Member shall exercise its right to effectuate an Exchange of Exchangeable Units, and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate, as set forth in this Section 2.1(a) by delivering to the Company, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to the Corporation, during normal business hours, (A) a written election of exchange in respect of the Exchangeable Units to be exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (an “Exchange Notice”), duly executed by the Member, (B) any
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certificates in the Member’s possession representing such Exchangeable Units, (C) any stock certificates in the Member’s possession representing such shares of Class B Common Stock and (D) if the Corporation, the Company or any exchanging Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from the Member that it is unable to provide such certification. Unless the Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vi), an Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) shall be effected on the fifth Business Day following the Business Day on which the Corporation and the Company have received the items specified in clauses (A)-(D) of the first sentence of this Section 2.1(a)(iii) or such later date that is a Business Day specified in the Exchange Notice (such Business Day, the “Exchange Date”); provided, that the Company may establish alternate exchange procedures as necessary in order to facilitate the establishment by the Member of a trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. On the Exchange Date, all rights of the Member as a holder of the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock that are subject to the Exchange shall cease, and unless the Corporation has elected Cash Payment, the Member (or its designee) shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by the Member in respect of such Exchange.
(iv) Within two (2) Business Days following the Business Day on which the Corporation and the Company have received the Exchange Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “Contribution Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Corporation does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have not elected the Cash Payment method.
(v) The Member may specify, in an applicable Exchange Notice, that the Exchange is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the occurrence of any transaction or event, including the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering, Change of Control transaction or otherwise) of shares of Class A Common Stock or any merger, consolidation or other business combination.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Member may withdraw or amend its Exchange Notice, in whole or in part, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. San Diego, California time, on the Business Day immediately prior to the Exchange Date by giving written notice (a “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) specifying (A) the number of withdrawn Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate), (B) the number of Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) as to which the Exchange Notice remains in effect, if any, and (C) if the Member so determines, a new Exchange Date or any other new or revised information permitted in the Exchange Notice.
(b) Change of Control. In connection with a Change of Control, and subject to any approval of the Change of Control by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock that may be required:
(i) The Corporation shall have the right to require the Member to effectuate an Exchange of some or all of the Member’s Exchangeable Units, and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens), with the Corporation or, at the option of the Corporation, with any Subsidiary of the Corporation, in each case, in exchange for the delivery to the Member (or its designee) of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Exchanged Unit Amount and the Exchange Rate (such Exchange, a “Change of Control
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Exchange”); provided that, if the Corporation requires the Member to Exchange less than all of its outstanding Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate), the Member’s participation in the required Exchange shall be reduced pro rata based on ownership of Exchangeable Units. For the avoidance of doubt, any Exchangeable Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Member that are not Exchanged pursuant to a Change of Control Exchange may be Exchanged by the Member after the Change of Control transaction pursuant to Section 2.1(a) subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof.
(ii) The election of the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be at the sole discretion of the Corporation upon the approval thereof by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(iii) Any Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such Change of Control is not consummated) (the “Change of Control Exchange Date”). From and after the Change of Control Exchange Date, (x) the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock Exchanged pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation, or the exchanging Subsidiary, as applicable, on the Change of Control Exchange Date and (y) the Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock Exchanged pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) upon compliance with its obligations under Section 2.1(c)).
(iv) The Corporation shall provide written notice of an expected Change of Control to the Member within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, in the Change of Control (which consideration shall be equivalent whether paid for Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock), any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with the Change of Control, the percentage of total Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, to be transferred to the acquirer by all shareholders in the Change of Control, and the number of Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Member that the Corporation intends to require to be Exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control. The Corporation shall update such notice from time to time to reflect any material changes to such notice. The Corporation may satisfy any such notice and update requirements described in the preceding two sentences by providing such information on a Form 8-K, Schedule TO, Schedule 14D-9, Preliminary Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A, Definitive Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A or similar form filed with the SEC.
(c) Exchange Procedure on Change of Control Exchange. On or prior to the Change of Control Exchange Date, the Member shall deliver to the Corporation or the exchanging Subsidiary, as applicable, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to the Company, in each case during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Company and the
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Corporation, respectively: (A) an Exchange Notice, duly executed by the Member, (B) any certificates in the Member’s possession representing all Exchangeable Units being surrendered by the Member, (C) any stock certificates in the Member’s possession representing all shares of Class B Common Stock being surrendered by the Member and (D) if the Corporation, the Company or the exchanging Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from the Member that it is unable to provide such certification.
(d) Exchange Consideration. As promptly as practicable on or after the Exchange Date or Change of Control Exchange Date, as applicable, provided the Member has satisfied its obligations under Section 2.1(a)(iii) or Section 2.1(c), as applicable, the Company or the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Member (or its designee), either certificates or evidence of book-entry shares representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon the applicable Exchange, registered in the name of the Member (or its designee) or, if the Corporation has so elected, the Cash Payment. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Section 2.1(d) to the contrary, to the extent the Class A Common Stock issued in the exchange will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Company or the Corporation will, upon the written instruction of the Member, deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to the Member through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by the Member in the Exchange Notice. Upon the Member exercising its right to Exchange in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(i) or the occurrence of a Change of Control Exchange, the Company or the Corporation shall take such actions as (A) may be required to ensure that the Member receives the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in connection with such Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1, and (B) may be reasonably within its control that would cause such Exchange to be treated for purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement as an “Exchange” under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
(e) Legends.
(i) The shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange, other than any such shares issued in an Exchange subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THE TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW), OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
(ii) If (A) any shares of Class A Common Stock have been sold pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the SEC, (B) all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 are met, or (C) the legend (or a portion thereof) otherwise ceases to be applicable, the Corporation, upon the written request of the holder thereof, shall promptly provide such holder or its respective transferees with new certificates (or evidence of book-entry share) for securities of like tenor not bearing the provisions of the legend with respect to which the restriction has terminated. In connection therewith, such holder shall provide the Corporation with such information in its possession as the Corporation may reasonably request (which may include an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) in connection with the removal of any such legend.
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(f) Cancellation of Class B Common Stock. Any shares of Class B Common Stock surrendered in an Exchange shall automatically be deemed cancelled without any action on the part of any Person, including the Corporation. Any such cancelled shares of Class B Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares shall automatically cease and terminate.
(g) Expenses. Subject to any other arrangement or agreement among the Company and an applicable Member, the Corporation, the Company, any exchanging Subsidiary and the Member shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that the Corporation shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Member that requested the Exchange (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of the Member) or the Cash Payment is to be paid to a Person other than the Member that requested the Exchange, then the Member or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered or to whom the Cash Payment is to be paid shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
(h) Publicly Traded Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Manager of the Company, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, shall determine in good faith that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h) (or other provisions of those Regulations as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion), the Company may impose such restrictions on Exchanges as the Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.
Section 2.2 Adjustment.
The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock; or (b) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units. To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, the Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that the Member would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split,
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reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.
Section 2.3 Class A Common Stock to be Issued.
(a) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Common Units; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of unencumbered purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof).
(b) The Corporation has taken and will take all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Corporation (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities that may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Corporation for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Corporation (including directors-by-deputization) who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Corporation pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such Person pursuant to this Agreement).
(c) If any Takeover Law or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.
(d) The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Corporation or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.
Section 2.4 Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status.
(a) If the Corporation or the Company shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state, local or foreign tax rules or regulations in respect of any Exchange, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including, at its option, withholding shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount of any taxes that the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Exchange. To the extent that amounts are (or property is) so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the Member.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of the Corporation and the Company may, in its discretion, require that the Member deliver to the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-9) prior to an Exchange. In the event the Corporation or the Company has required delivery of such form but the Member does not provide such form, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall nevertheless deliver or cause to be delivered to the Member the Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment in accordance with Section 2.1, but subject to withholding as provided in Section 2.4(a).
Section 2.5 Tax Treatment.
Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any Exchange with the Company or the Corporation shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes. The parties hereto intend to treat any Exchange consummated hereunder as a taxable sale of the Exchangeable Units and Class B Common Stock (if any) by the Member to the Corporation for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes except as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Member and the Corporation and no party hereto shall take a position inconsistent with such intended tax treatment on any tax return, amendment thereof or any other communication with a taxing authority, in each case unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code.
Section 2.6 Contribution of the Corporation.
In connection with any Exchange between the Member and the Company, the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in such Exchange. Unless the Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 2.1(a)(vi), on the Exchange Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date) (i) the Corporation shall make a capital contribution to the Company (in the form of the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in such Exchange) required under this Section 2.6, (ii) the Company shall transfer such shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment to the Member in redemption of such Member’s Units in the Company, and (iii) in the case of an Exchange for Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable), the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the Exchanged Unit Amount surrendered by the Member.
Section 2.7 Distributions.
No Exchange will impair the right of the Member to receive any distribution for periods ending on or prior to the Exchange Date for such Exchange (but for which payment had not yet been made with respect to the Exchangeable Units in question at the time the Exchange is consummated); provided that, for purposes of this Section 2.7, the Member’s right to receive its pro rata portion of any distribution by the Company in respect of such periods shall not be deemed impaired to the extent that the Company has not paid the Corporation its pro rata portion of such distribution prior to the consummation of the applicable Exchange.
ARTICLE III
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Corporation.
The Corporation represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
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and to deliver the Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation, including all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of each of the Corporation’s Board of Directors’ power and authority and to the extent permitted by law, shall not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, “Takeover Laws”), (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by the Corporation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or the bylaws of the Corporation or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Corporation is a party, or (C) based on the representations to be made by the Member pursuant to the written election in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto in connection with Exchanges made pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Corporation or by which any property or asset of the Corporation is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or its business, financial condition or results of operations.
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, (v) it is an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is not classified as a “publicly traded partnership” as defined under Section 7704 of the Code, and (vi) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of formation of the Company or the LLC Agreement or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties of the Member.
The Member represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Member and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Member, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Member enforceable against the Member in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Member and the consummation by the Member of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Member or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Member is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Member or by which any property or asset of the Member is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not in any material respect result in the unenforceability against the Member of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
Section 4.1 Notices.
All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. San Diego, California time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth in the Company’s books and records (or below, with respect to the Corporation), or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
If to the Company or the Corporation:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Carl W. Hull
E-mail:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Company or the Corporation) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Robert M. Hayward, P.C.; Robert E. Goedert, P.C.
E-mail: robert.hayward@kirkland.com; robert.goedert@kirkland.com
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Section 4.2 Permitted Transferees.
To the extent that the Member (or an applicable Permitted Transferee of the Member) validly transfers after the date hereof any or all of its Common Units and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate, to a Permitted Transferee of such Person or to any other Person in a transaction not in contravention of, and in accordance with, the LLC Agreement, then the transferee thereof shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. Upon execution of any such joinder, such transferee shall, with respect to such transferred Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock, be entitled to all of the rights and bound by each of the obligations applicable to the relevant transferor hereunder; provided that the transferor shall remain entitled to all of the rights and bound by each of the obligations with respect to Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock that were not so transferred.
Section 4.3 Severability.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or entity or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
Section 4.4 Counterparts.
This Agreement and any amendments may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts and delivered via facsimile or .pdf, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document. The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.
Section 4.5 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement together with the LLC Agreement and the Tax Receivables Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto and their Permitted Transferees, any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 4.6 Further Assurances.
Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by any other party hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein.
Section 4.7 Governing 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.
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Section 4.8 Consent to Jurisdiction.
Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such party’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 4.9 Waiver of Jury Trial.
BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OF ARBITRATION, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE COMPANY) HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER.
Section 4.10 Amendments.
The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of (i) the Corporation, (ii) the Company and (iii) the Member. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
Section 4.11 Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors, assigns and Permitted Transferees.
Section 4.12 Specific Enforcement.
The parties hereto acknowledge that the remedies at law of the other parties for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, any party to this
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Agreement, without posting any bond, and in addition to all other remedies that may be available, shall be entitled to equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy that may then be available.
[Signature Pages to Follow]
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Signature Page to Exchange Agreement
Exhibit A
| Immediately Following IPO | ||||||||
| Number of Common Units Owned |
Number of Shares of Class B Common Stock Owned |
|||||||
| Name and Address of Member |
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| Maravai Life Science Holdings, LLC 10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92121 |
168,654,980.79 | 168,654,980.79 | ||||||
A-1
Exhibit B
[Form of]
Exchange Notice
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
10770 Waterridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: [●]
Email: [●]
Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.
The Member hereby transfers to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) effective as of the Exchange Date, the number of Exchangeable Units in Exchange for either shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued in its name or, at the option of the Corporation, the Cash Payment payable to the account set forth below, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement.
Number of Exchangeable Units to be Exchanged: [●]
Number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be Exchanged: [●]
If the Corporation elects a Cash Payment:
Account Number: [●]
Legal Name of Account Holder: [●]
The Member hereby represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Exchange Notice and to perform the Member’s obligations hereunder; (iii) the execution and delivery of this Exchange Notice by the Member and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Member; (iv) this Exchange Notice constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Member enforceable against the Member in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally; (v) the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice are being transferred to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) free and clear of any Liens; (vi) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Member, the Exchanged Units or shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice is required to be obtained by the Member for the transfer of such Exchanged Units or shares of Class B Common Stock to the Corporation; and (vii) the Member is either not currently in possession of material non-public information concerning the Corporation or will not be in possession of such material non-public information at the time the shares of Class A Common Stock are sold by the undersigned in any public sale.
The Member hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation, the Corporation or the Company as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and
B-1
resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) the Exchanged Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice and to deliver to the Member the shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment to be delivered in Exchange therefor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member, by authority duly given, has caused this Exchange Notice to be executed and delivered by the undersigned.
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: |
| |
| Title: |
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| Dated: |
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B-2
Exhibit C
[Form of]
Joinder
This Joinder (“Joinder”) is a joinder agreement to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.
The Company and the Corporation and the undersigned agree that all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Joinder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule, notwithstanding that public policy in Delaware or any other forum jurisdiction might indicate that the laws of that or any other jurisdiction should otherwise apply based on contacts with such state or otherwise. In the event of any conflict between this Joinder and the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this Joinder shall control.
The undersigned, having acquired Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock, hereby joins and enters into the Exchange Agreement. By signing and returning this Joinder to the Company and the Corporation, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of the Member contained in the Exchange Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of the Member thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of the Member set forth in Section 3.3 of the Exchange Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein. The parties to the Exchange Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder by the Company and the Corporation, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Agreement.
| [●] | ||
| Name: |
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| Title: |
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| Dated: |
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| Address for Notice: [●] | ||
C-1
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 19, 2020
THE UNITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.
CERTAIN UNITS MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH HEREIN AND/OR IN A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THE INITIAL HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT CHARGE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
| ARTICLE II ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS |
9 | |||||
| Section 2.1 |
Formation of LLC |
9 | ||||
| Section 2.2 |
Limited Liability Company Agreement |
9 | ||||
| Section 2.3 |
Name |
9 | ||||
| Section 2.4 |
Purpose |
9 | ||||
| Section 2.5 |
Principal Office; Registered Office |
9 | ||||
| Section 2.6 |
Term |
10 | ||||
| Section 2.7 |
No State-Law Partnership |
10 | ||||
| ARTICLE III UNITS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS |
10 | |||||
| Section 3.1 |
Units; Capitalization |
10 | ||||
| Section 3.2 |
Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units |
11 | ||||
| Section 3.3 |
Repurchase or Redemption of Class A Common Stock |
14 | ||||
| Section 3.4 |
Changes in Common Stock |
14 | ||||
| Section 3.5 |
Capital Accounts |
14 | ||||
| Section 3.6 |
Negative Capital Accounts; No Interest Regarding Positive Capital Accounts |
15 | ||||
| Section 3.7 |
No Withdrawal |
15 | ||||
| Section 3.8 |
Loans From Unitholders |
15 | ||||
| Section 3.9 |
Adjustments to Capital Accounts for Distributions In-Kind |
16 | ||||
| Section 3.10 |
Transfer of Capital Accounts |
16 | ||||
| Section 3.11 |
Adjustments to Book Value |
16 | ||||
| Section 3.12 |
Compliance With Section 1.704-1(b) |
16 | ||||
| Section 3.13 |
Non-Convertible Preferred Units |
16 | ||||
| Section 3.14 |
Convertible Preferred Units |
17 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS |
17 | |||||
| Section 4.1 |
Distributions |
17 | ||||
| Section 4.2 |
Allocations |
18 | ||||
| Section 4.3 |
Special Allocations |
19 | ||||
| Section 4.4 |
Offsetting Allocations |
20 | ||||
| Section 4.5 |
Tax Allocations |
20 | ||||
| Section 4.6 |
Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Unitholder |
21 | ||||
| ARTICLE V MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF BUSINESS |
22 | |||||
| Section 5.1 |
Management |
22 | ||||
| Section 5.2 |
Investment Company Act |
23 | ||||
| Section 5.3 |
Officers |
23 | ||||
| Section 5.4 |
Fiduciary Duties |
24 | ||||
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| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE VI EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION |
25 | |||||
| Section 6.1 |
Exculpation |
25 | ||||
| Section 6.2 |
Indemnification |
25 | ||||
| Section 6.3 |
Expenses |
26 | ||||
| Section 6.4 |
Non-Exclusivity; Savings Clause |
26 | ||||
| Section 6.5 |
Insurance |
27 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS |
27 | |||||
| Section 7.1 |
Accounting and Records |
27 | ||||
| Section 7.2 |
Preparation of Tax Returns |
27 | ||||
| Section 7.3 |
Tax Elections |
27 | ||||
| Section 7.4 |
Tax Controversies |
27 | ||||
| Section 7.5 |
Code § 83 Safe Harbor Election |
28 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF UNITS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS |
29 | |||||
| Section 8.1 |
Transfer of Units |
29 | ||||
| Section 8.2 |
Recognition of Transfer; Substituted and Additional Members |
30 | ||||
| Section 8.3 |
Expense of Transfer; Indemnification |
31 | ||||
| Section 8.4 |
Exchange Agreement |
31 | ||||
| Section 8.5 |
Change of Control Transactions |
32 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION OF UNITHOLDERS |
32 | |||||
| Section 9.1 |
Withdrawal and Resignation of Unitholders |
32 | ||||
| ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
32 | |||||
| Section 10.1 |
Dissolution |
32 | ||||
| Section 10.2 |
Liquidation and Termination |
32 | ||||
| Section 10.3 |
Securityholders Agreement |
33 | ||||
| Section 10.4 |
Cancellation of Certificate |
33 | ||||
| Section 10.5 |
Reasonable Time for Winding Up |
34 | ||||
| Section 10.6 |
Return of Capital |
34 | ||||
| Section 10.7 |
Hart-Scott-Rodino |
34 | ||||
| ARTICLE XI GENERAL PROVISIONS |
34 | |||||
| Section 11.1 |
Power of Attorney |
34 | ||||
| Section 11.2 |
Amendments |
34 | ||||
| Section 11.3 |
Title to the Company Assets |
35 | ||||
| Section 11.4 |
Remedies |
35 | ||||
| Section 11.5 |
Successors and Assigns |
35 | ||||
| Section 11.6 |
Severability |
35 | ||||
| Section 11.7 |
Counterparts; Binding Agreement |
35 | ||||
| Section 11.8 |
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation |
36 | ||||
| Section 11.9 |
Applicable Law |
36 | ||||
| Section 11.10 |
Addresses and Notices |
36 | ||||
| Section 11.11 |
Creditors |
36 | ||||
| Section 11.12 |
No Waiver |
37 | ||||
| Section 11.13 |
Further Action |
37 | ||||
| Section 11.14 |
Entire Agreement |
37 | ||||
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| Page | ||||||
| Section 11.15 |
Delivery by Electronic Means |
37 | ||||
| Section 11.16 |
Certain Acknowledgments |
37 | ||||
| Section 11.17 |
Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY |
38 | ||||
| Section 11.18 |
Representations and Warranties |
38 | ||||
| Section 11.19 |
Tax Receivable Agreement |
39 | ||||
iii
MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is entered into as of November 19, 2020, by and among the Company, Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Maravai Co.”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Article I.
WHEREAS, the Certificate was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware on July 27, 2018;
WHEREAS, the limited liability company agreement of the Company was entered into on July 27, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to amend and replace, and supersede in its entirety, the Prior Agreement;
WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) of Maravai Co., (i) Maravai Co. will be admitted as a Member of the Company and will purchase Common Units in the Company from Holdings with a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO, (ii) Maravai Co., the Company and Holdings will enter into an Exchange Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which Holdings will be permitted to exchange Common Units (together with the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) for Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment (as defined therein), (iii) Maravai Co. will contribute a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO to the Company in exchange for newly-issued Common Units and (iv) Maravai Co., the Company and certain other parties will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which Maravai Co. will be obligated to make payments to certain parties related to tax benefits realized (clauses (i) through (iv), collectively, the “IPO Transactions”); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement as set forth herein to give effect to the IPO Transactions and reflect the admission of Maravai Co. as a Member and the sole manager of the Company.
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 Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the following meaning:
“Additional Member” means a Person admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 8.2.
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“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Capital Account 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 Person’s Capital Account balance shall be (i) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6), and (ii) increased for any amount such Person is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 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).
“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person, and in the case of any Unitholder that is a partnership, limited liability company, corporation or similar entity, any partner, member or stockholder of such Unitholder; provided, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Unitholder. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).
“Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as it may be amended, modified and/or waived from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Unitholder for any Fiscal Quarter, an amount, which in the good faith estimation of the Manager, equals the product of (a) the amount of taxable income of the Company allocable to such Unitholder in respect of such Fiscal Quarter (other than any income allocable in respect of Non-Convertible Preferred Units) (which shall include gross or net income allocations of items of Profit or Loss and guaranteed payments for the use of capital), determined (x) without regard to adjustments under Section 732(d), 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code, (y) by including adjustments to taxable income in respect of Section 704(c) of the Code and (z) reducing such taxable income by net taxable losses of the Company allocated to such Unitholder for prior to taxable periods beginning after the date hereof to the extent that such losses are of a character (ordinary or capital) that would permit the losses to be deducted by such Unitholder against the current taxable income of the Company allocable to the Unitholder for such Fiscal Quarter and have not previously been taken into account in determining such Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability, multiplied by (b) the Assumed Tax Rate.
“Assumed Tax Rate” means the combined maximum U.S. federal, state, and local income tax rate applicable to a taxable individual or corporation in any jurisdiction in the United States (whichever is higher), including pursuant to Section 1411 of the Code, in each case taking into account all jurisdictions in which the Company is required to file income tax returns and the relevant apportionment information, in effect for the applicable Fiscal Quarter (making an appropriate adjustment for any rate changes that take place during such period and taking into account the character of the income).
“Base Rate” means, as of 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.
2
“Book Value” means, with respect to any of the Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for federal income Tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted (in the case of permitted adjustments, to the extent the Company makes such permitted adjustments) by Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York, New York or San Diego, California are authorized by law to be closed.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Member pursuant to Section 3.5 and the other applicable provisions of this Agreement.
“Capital Contributions” means any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property which a Unitholder contributes or is deemed by the Manager to have contributed to the Company with respect to any Unit pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.10.
“Cash Payment” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Certificate” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Certificate of Designations” means any certificate of designations of Convertible Preferred Stock of Maravia Co., to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State upon issuance of any such Convertible Preferred Stock, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, changed or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Class A Common Stock” means the class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Maravai Co.
“Class A Common Stock Value” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Class B Common Stock” means the class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Maravai Co.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Such term, if elected by the Manager in its sole discretion, shall be deemed to include any future amendments to the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding Code provisions (whether or not such amendments and corresponding provisions are mandatory or discretionary).
“Common Unit” means a Unit having the rights and obligation specified with respect to a Common Unit in this Agreement.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Convertible Preferred Stock” means the Convertible Preferred Stock of Maravai Co., the rights and preferences of which are set forth in any related Certificate of Designations.
3
“Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend” means any dividend declared and actually paid in cash by Maravai Co. in respect of any Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend Amount” means, with respect to any Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend, the aggregate amount paid in cash by Maravai Co. in connection with such Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend.
“Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Liquidation Payment Amount” means, with respect to any Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment, the aggregate amount distributed by Maravai Co. in connection with such Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment.
“Convertible Preferred Stock Change of Control Repurchase” means a repurchase of Convertible Preferred Stock by Maravai Co. required pursuant to any Certificate of Designations because of the occurrence of a change of control.
“Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment” means any distribution of the Liquidation Payment Amount by Maravai Co. pursuant to any Certificate of Designation in respect of any Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Convertible Preferred Unit” means a Unit, issued to Maravai Co., having the rights and obligation specified with respect to a Convertible Preferred Unit in this Agreement.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. L. § 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
“Distribution” means each distribution made by the Company to a Unitholder, with respect to such Person’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities and whether by liquidating distribution, redemption, repurchase or otherwise; provided that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, none of the following shall be deemed to be a Distribution hereunder: (i) any recapitalization, exchange or conversion 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; and (ii) any repurchase of Units pursuant to any right of first refusal or similar repurchase right in favor of the Company.
“Equity Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Equity Securities” means (i) any Units, capital stock, partnership, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests (including other classes, groups or series thereof having such relative rights, powers and/or obligations as may from time to time be established by the Manager, including rights, powers and/or duties different from, senior to or more favorable than existing classes, groups and series of Units, capital stock, partnership, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests, and including any profits interests), (ii) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units, capital stock, partnership interests, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests, and (iii) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units, capital stock, partnership interests, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the term “Equity Securities” refers to Equity Securities of the Company.
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“Event of Withdrawal” means the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company.
“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Exchange Agreement” means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among Maravai Co., the Company and Holdings, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Exchange Rate” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Exchangeable Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Exchanged Unit Amount” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date of determination, (i) with respect to a Unit, such Unit’s Pro Rata Share as of such date, (ii) with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock, the Class A Common Stock Value as of such date, and (iii) with respect to any other non-cash assets, the fair market value for such property as between a willing buyer under no compulsion to buy and a willing seller under no compulsion to sell in an arm’s-length transaction occurring on such date, taking into account all relevant factors determinative of value (including in the case of securities, any restrictions on transfer applicable thereto or, if such securities are traded on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, the quoted price for such securities as of the date of determination), as reasonably determined in good faith by the Manager.
“Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager and which is permitted or required by Code Section 706.
“Fiscal Quarter” means each calendar quarter ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, or such other quarterly accounting period as may be established by the Manager or as required by the Code.
“Fiscal Year” means the 12-month period ending on December 31, or such other annual accounting period as may be established by the Manager or as may be required by the Code.
“Forfeiture Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
“Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government.
“Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b).
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“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.
“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“IPO Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“IRS Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
“Liquidation Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2(b).
“Liquidation FMV” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2(b).
“Liquidation Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2(b).
“Losses” means items of the Company loss and deduction determined according to Section 3.5.
“Manager” means (i) Maravai Co. so long as Maravai Co. has not withdrawn as the Manager pursuant to Section 5.1(c) and (ii) any successor thereof appointed as Manager in accordance with Section 5.1(c). Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to the Manager shall refer to the Manager acting in its capacity as such.
“Maravai Co.” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Member” means each Person listed on the Unit Ownership Ledger and any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; but in each case only for so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units.
“Minimum Gain” means the partnership minimum gain determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“Non-Convertible Preferred Unit” means a Unit, issued to Maravai Co., having the rights and obligations specified with respect to a Non-Convertible Preferred Unit in this Agreement.
“Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b).
“Partnership Tax Audit Rules” means Code Sections 6221 through 6241, as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, together with any guidance issued thereunder or successor provisions and any similar provision of state or local Tax laws.
“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any of such Person’s Affiliates and (ii) any direct or indirect partner, member, stockholder or other equityholder of such Person.
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a Governmental Entity.
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“PR” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).
“Pro Rata Share” means with respect to each Unit, the proportionate amount such Unit would receive if an amount equal to the Total Equity Value were distributed to all Units in accordance with Section 4.1(b), as determined in good faith by the Manager.
“Profits” means items of the Company income and gain determined according to Section 3.5.
“Prior Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among Maravai Co. and certain other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.
“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.
“Senior Notes” means any future senior debt securities issued by Maravai Co.
“Senior Note Payments” means payments of principal, interest or other premiums pursuant to any Senior Notes.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (i) 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 (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is 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 and without limitation, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the manager, managing member, managing director (or a board comprised of any of the foregoing) or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.
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“Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 8.2.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, excise, natural resources, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profit, environmental, customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital stock, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll, license, employee or other withholding, or other tax, of any kind whatsoever, including any transferee liability and any interest, penalties or additions to tax or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.
“Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(i).
“Tax Distribution Conditions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(i).
“Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among Maravai Co., the Company and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.
“Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for federal income Tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 7.3.
“Total Equity Value” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate proceeds which would be received by the Unitholders if: (i) the assets of the Company were sold at their fair market value to an independent third-party on arm’s-length terms, with neither the seller nor the buyer being under compulsion to buy or sell such assets; (ii) the Company satisfied and paid in full all of its obligations and liabilities (including all Taxes, costs and expenses incurred in connection with such transaction and any amounts reserved by the Manager with respect to any contingent or other liabilities); and (iii) such net sale proceeds were then distributed in accordance with Section 4.1, all as determined by the Manager in good faith based upon the Class A Common Stock Value as of such date.
“Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement.
“Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
“Treasury Regulations” means the income Tax regulations promulgated under the Code and effective as of the date of this Agreement. Such term, if elected by the Manager in its sole discretion, shall be deemed to include any future amendments to such regulations and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations (whether or not such amendments and corresponding provisions are mandatory or discretionary).
“Unit” means a limited liability company interest in the Company of a Member or representing a fractional part of the interests in Profits, Losses and Distributions of the Company held by all Members and shall include Common Units, Convertible Preferred Units and Non-Convertible Preferred Units.
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“Unit Ownership Ledger” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Unitholder” means any owner of one or more Units as reflected on the Company’s books and records.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Section 2.1 Formation of LLC. The Company was formed in the State of Delaware on July 27, 2018 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.
Section 2.2 Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of amending and restating the Prior Agreement and establishing 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 2.6 the rights, powers and obligations of the Unitholders with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and, except where the Delaware Act provides that such rights, powers and obligations specified in the Delaware Act shall apply “unless otherwise provided in a limited liability company agreement” or words of similar effect and such rights, powers and obligations are set forth in this Agreement, the Delaware Act; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing and anything else to the contrary, Section 18-210 of the Delaware Act (entitled “Contractual Appraisal Rights”) and Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware Act (entitled “Access to and Confidentiality of Information; Records”) shall not apply to or be incorporated into this Agreement and each Unitholder hereby expressly waives any and all rights under such Sections of the Delaware Act.
Section 2.3 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC”. The Manager may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such name change shall be given to all Unitholders. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.
Section 2.4 Purpose. The purpose and business of the Company shall be to manage and direct the business operations and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to engage in any other lawful acts or activities for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Delaware Act.
Section 2.5 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92121, or at such other place inside or outside the state of Delaware as the Manager may from time to time designate, and all business and activities of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred at its principal office. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places as the Manager deems advisable. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Manager may designate from time to time in the manner
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provided by applicable law, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be the registered agent named in the Certificate or such Person or Persons as the Manager may designate from time to time in the manner provided by applicable law.
Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the Company shall be terminated and dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article X.
Section 2.7 No State-Law Partnership. The Unitholders intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Unitholder be a partner or joint venturer of any other Unitholder by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.7, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Unitholder relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Unitholders intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for federal and, if applicable, state or local income Tax purposes, and that each Unitholder 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
UNITS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS
Section 3.1 Units; Capitalization.
(a) Units; Capitalization. The Company shall have the authority to issue an unlimited number of Common Units and Convertible Preferred Units. Immediately following the IPO, the Company will issue Common Units to Maravai Co. in exchange for a contribution of the net proceeds received by Maravai Co. from the IPO (less any proceeds used to purchase Common Units from Holdings) to the Company, such that following the sale of Common Units by Holdings and the issuance of Common Units by the Company, the total number of Common Units held by Maravai Co. will equal the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. The ownership by a Member of Common Units shall entitle such Member to allocations of Profits and Losses and other items and Distributions of cash and other property as set forth in Article IV hereof.
(b) Unit Ownership Ledger; Capital Contributions. The Manager shall create and maintain a ledger (the “Unit Ownership Ledger”) setting forth the name and address of each Unitholder, the number of each class of Units held of record by each such Unitholder, and the amount of the Capital Contribution made with respect to each class of Units and the date of such Capital Contribution. Upon any change in the number or ownership of outstanding Units (whether upon an issuance of Units, a Transfer of Units, a cancellation of Units or otherwise), the Manager shall amend and update the Unit Ownership Ledger. Absent manifest error, the ownership interests recorded on the Unit Ownership Ledger shall be conclusive record of the Units that have been issued and are outstanding. Each Unitholder named in the Unit Ownership Ledger has made (or shall be deemed to have made) Capital Contributions to the Company as set forth in the Unit Ownership Ledger in exchange for the Units specified in the Unit Ownership Ledger. Any reference in this Agreement to the Unit Ownership Ledger shall be deemed a reference to the Unit Ownership Ledger as amended and in effect from time to time.
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(c) Certificates; Legends. Units shall be issued in uncertificated form; provided that, at the request of any Member, the Manager may cause the Company to issue one or more certificates to any such Member holding Units representing in the aggregate the Units held by such Member. If any certificate representing Units is issued, then such certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:
THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES UNITS REPRESENTING A MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC. THE MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY NON-U.S. OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH. THE MEMBERSHIP INTEREST IN MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC, DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2020, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH SHALL BE FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY TO THE RECORD HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.
(d) Prior Common Units. The Common Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Members prior to the date of this Agreement shall remain unchanged.
Section 3.2 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.
(a) The Manager shall have the right to cause the Company to issue and/or create and issue at any time after the date hereof, and for such amount and form of consideration as the Manager may determine, additional Units or other Equity Securities of the Company (including creating classes or series thereof having such powers, designations, preferences and rights as may be determined by the Manager). The Manager shall have the power to make such amendments to this Agreement in order to provide for such powers, designations, preferences and rights as the Manager in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate to give effect to such additional authorization or issuance in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2(a). In connection with any issuance of Units (whether on or after the date of this Agreement), the Person who acquires such Units shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement accepting and agreeing to be bound by all terms and conditions hereof, and shall enter into such other documents, instruments and agreements to effect such purchase as are required by the Manager (including such documents, instruments and agreements entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement by the Members, each, an “Equity Agreement”).
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(b) At any time Maravai Co. issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock (other than an issuance of the type covered by Section 3.2(d) or an issuance to a holder of Exchangeable Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, as described in Section 3.2(c)), Maravai Co. shall contribute to the Company all of the net proceeds (if any) received by Maravai Co. with respect to such share or shares of Class A Common Stock. Upon the contribution by Maravai Co. to the Company of all of such net proceeds so received by Maravai Co., the Manager shall cause the Company to issue a number of Common Units determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect, registered in the name of Maravai Co.; provided, however, that if Maravai Co. issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock, some or all of the net proceeds of which are to be used to fund expenses or other obligations of Maravai Co. for which Maravai Co. would be permitted a Distribution pursuant to Article IV, then Maravai Co. shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company which are used or will be used to fund such expenses or obligations; provided further, if Maravai Co. issues any shares of Class A Common Stock in order to purchase or fund the purchase of Common Units from a Member (other than a Subsidiary of Maravai Co.), then the Company shall not issue any new Common Units registered in the name of Maravai Co. in accordance with Section 3.2(c) and Maravai Co. shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company (it being understood that such net proceeds shall instead be transferred by Maravai Co. to such other Member as consideration for such purchase). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.2(b) shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of Class A Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of Maravai Co. under a “poison pill” or similar shareholder’s rights plan (it being understood that (i) upon exchange of Exchangeable Units for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, such Class A Common Stock would be issued together with any such corresponding right and (ii) in the event such rights to purchase Equity Securities of Maravai Co. are triggered, Maravai Co. will ensure that the holders of Common Units that have not been Exchanged prior to such time will be treated equitably vis-à -vis the holders of Class A Common Stock under such plan).
(c) At any time a holder of Exchangeable Units exchanges such Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock or a Cash Payment, the Company shall cancel such Exchangeable Units. Upon the cancellation by the Company of the Exchangeable Units exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock, the Manager shall cause the Company to issue a number of Common Units equal to the Exchanged Unit Amount, registered in the name of Maravai Co. in accordance with Section 2.6 of the Exchange Agreement.
(d) At any time Maravai Co. issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with an equity incentive program, whether such share or shares are issued upon exercise (including cashless exercise) of an option, settlement of a restricted stock unit, as restricted stock or otherwise, the Manager shall cause the Company to issue a corresponding number of Common Units, registered in the name of Maravai Co. (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect); provided that Maravai Co. shall be required to contribute all (but not less than all) of the net proceeds (if any) received by Maravai Co. from or otherwise in connection with such issuance of one or more shares of Class A Common Stock, including the exercise price of any option exercised, to the Company. If any such shares of Class A Common Stock so issued by Maravai Co. in connection with an equity incentive program are subject to vesting or forfeiture provisions, then the Common Units that are issued by the Company to Maravai Co. in connection therewith in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.2(d) shall be subject to vesting or forfeiture on the same basis; if any of such shares of Class A Common
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Stock vest or are forfeited, then a corresponding number of the Common Units (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect) issued by the Company in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.2(d) shall automatically vest or be forfeited. Any cash or property held by Maravai Co. or the Company or on any of such Person’s behalf in respect of dividends paid on restricted shares of Class A Common Stock that fail to vest shall be returned to the Company upon the forfeiture of such restricted shares of Class A Common Stock.
(e) Maravai Co. shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon Exchange of all outstanding Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock to satisfy its obligations under the Exchange Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude Maravai Co. from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of Maravai Co.). If any shares of Class A Common Stock require registration with or approval of any Governmental Entity under any federal or state law before such shares may be issued upon an Exchange, Maravai Co. shall use reasonable efforts to cause the exchange of such shares of Class A Common Stock to be duly registered or approved, as the case may be. Maravai Co. shall list and use its reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Exchange prior to such delivery upon the national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws). Maravai Co. covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(f) For purposes of this Section 3.2, “net proceeds” means gross proceeds to Maravai Co. from the issuance of Class A Common Stock or other securities less all reasonable bona fide out-of-pocket fees and expenses of Maravai Co., the Company and their respective Subsidiaries actually incurred in connection with such issuance.
(g) In the event Maravai Co. issues any Class A Common Stock upon conversion of any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, a corresponding number of Convertible Preferred Units shall be cancelled and cease to be outstanding, and the Company shall issue to Maravai Co. Common Units in accordance with Section 3.2(b) without any further action by the Company or the Manager.
(h) In the event Maravai Co. makes a Distribution of cash in respect of the Convertible Preferred Units in connection with any Convertible Preferred Stock Change of Control Repurchase or Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment, a number of Convertible Preferred Units shall be cancelled and cease to be outstanding equal to the number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock repurchased or liquidated, respectively, without any further action by the Company or the Manager.
(i) In the event Maravai Co. repays (or otherwise retires) the principal of any outstanding Senior Notes, one Non-Convertible Preferred Unit shall be cancelled and cease to be outstanding for each $1,000 principal amount of any Senior Notes that is repaid or otherwise retired without any further action by the Company or the Manager.
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Section 3.3 Repurchase or Redemption 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 Maravai Co. for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of such shares, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held by Maravai Co. (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect), at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the share or shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by Maravai Co. (plus any reasonable expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the share or shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by Maravai Co.
Section 3.4 Changes in Common Stock. In addition to any other adjustments required hereby, any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or other capital stock of Maravai Co. shall be accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the Common Units or other Equity Securities, as applicable.
Section 3.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) Maintenance of Capital Accounts. The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Unitholder according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the sole discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of the Company property. Without limiting the foregoing, each Unitholder’s Capital Account shall be adjusted:
(i) by adding any additional Capital Contributions made by such Unitholder in consideration for the issuance of Units;
(ii) by deducting any amounts paid to such Unitholder in connection with the redemption or other repurchase by the Company of Units;
(iii) by adding any Profits allocated in favor of such Unitholder and subtracting any Losses allocated in favor of such Unitholder; and
(iv) by deducting any distributions paid in cash or other assets to such Unitholder by the Company.
(b) Computation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction Items. For purposes of computing the amount of any item of the Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to Article IV and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income Tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided that:
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(i) the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(1)(B), Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for federal income Tax purposes;
(ii) if the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(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 the 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 the Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for Tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g);
(v) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted Tax basis of any of the Company’s asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis); and
(vi) this Section 3.5 shall be applied in a manner consistent with the principles of Prop. Reg. Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d), (f)(1), (h)(2) and (s).
Section 3.6 Negative Capital Accounts; No Interest Regarding Positive Capital Accounts. No Unitholder shall be required to pay to any other Unitholder or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Unitholder’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company). Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Unitholder shall be entitled to receive interest from the Company in respect of any positive balance in its Capital Account, and no Unitholder shall be liable to pay interest to the Company or any Unitholder in respect of any negative balance in its Capital Account.
Section 3.7 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contributions or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided herein.
Section 3.8 Loans From Unitholders. Loans by Unitholders to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. If any Unitholder shall loan funds to the Company in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed by such Unitholder to the capital of the Company, the making of such loans shall not result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Unitholder. The amount of any such loans shall be a debt of the Company to such Unitholder and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans are made.
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Section 3.9 Adjustments to Capital Accounts for Distributions In-Kind. To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property (as of the date of such distribution) for purposes of Section 4.1 and such property shall be treated as if it were sold for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value and any resulting gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members’ Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 through Section 4.4.
Section 3.10 Transfer of Capital Accounts. The original Capital Account established for each Substituted Member shall be in the same amount as the Capital Account of the Member (or portion thereof) to which such Substituted Member succeeds at the time such Substituted Member is admitted to as a Member of the Company. The Capital Account of any Member whose interest in the Company shall be increased or decreased by means of (a) the Transfer to it of all or part of the Units of another Member or (b) the repurchase or forfeiture of Units pursuant to any Equity Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such Transfer or repurchase. Any reference in this Agreement to a Capital Contribution of or Distribution to a Member that has succeeded any other Member shall include any Capital Contributions or Distributions previously made by or to the former Member on account of the Units of such former Member Transferred to such Member.
Section 3.11 Adjustments to Book Value. The Company shall adjust the Book Value of its assets to Fair Market Value in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) as of the following times: (a) at the Manager’s discretion in connection with the issuance of Units in the Company or a more than de minimis Capital Contribution to the Company; (b) at the Manager’s discretion in connection with the Distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of the Company’s assets, including money; and (c) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g). Any such increase or decrease in Book Value of an asset shall be allocated as a Profit or Loss to the Capital Accounts of the Members under Section 4.2 (determined immediately prior to the event giving rise to the revaluation).
Section 3.12 Compliance With Section 1.704-1(b). The provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations. In the event the Manager shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts are computed in order to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Manager may make such modification, notwithstanding anything in Section 11.2 to the contrary. The Manager also shall (a) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of the Company capital reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(iv)(g), and (b) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b).
Section 3.13 Non-Convertible Preferred Units. The Manager may from time to time authorize the issuance of Non-Convertible Preferred Units at a price of $1,000 per Non-Convertible Preferred Unit in consideration for the capital contribution made or deemed to have been made by Maravai Co. of the net proceeds of any Senior Notes issuance.
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Section 3.14 Convertible Preferred Units. The Manager may from time to time authorize the issuance of Convertible Preferred Units, in consideration for the capital contribution made or deemed to have been made by Maravai Co. of the net proceeds of any Convertible Preferred Stock issuance.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
Section 4.1 Distributions.
(a) Tax and Preferred Distributions.
(i) Tax Distributions. To the extent funds of the Company are legally available for distribution by the Company and such distribution would not be prohibited under any credit facility to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (the “Tax Distribution Conditions”), with respect to each Fiscal Quarter, the Company shall distribute to each Unitholder, an amount of cash (each a “Tax Distribution”) equal to such Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability for such Fiscal Quarter. To the extent a holder of Common Units would receive for any Fiscal Quarter less than its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Tax Distributions to such Unitholder shall be increased to ensure that all Tax Distributions to holders of Common Units are made in accordance with their Pro Rata Share. The Manager shall be entitled to adjust subsequent Tax Distributions up or down to reflect any variation between its prior estimation of quarterly Tax Distributions and the Tax Distributions that would have been computed under this Section 4.1(a)(i) based on subsequent information. In the event that due to the Tax Distribution Conditions the funds available for any Tax Distribution to be made hereunder are insufficient to pay the full amount of the Tax Distribution that would otherwise be required under this Section 4.1(a)(i), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to distribute to the Unitholders the amount of funds that are available after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions on a pro rata basis (according to the amounts that would have been distributed to each Unitholder pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(i) if available funds (after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions) existed in a sufficient amount to make such Distribution in full). At any time thereafter when additional funds of the Company are available for Distribution after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to immediately distribute such funds to the Unitholders on a pro rata basis (according to the amounts that would have been distributed to each Unitholder pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(i) if available funds (after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions) would have existed in a sufficient amount to make such Tax Distribution in full).
(ii) Additional Tax Distributions. In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules for which no election is made pursuant to Code Section 6226 (or any similar provision of state or local law)), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be
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recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest and penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Unitholders and former Unitholders received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Unitholders and the successors of such former Unitholders, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Unitholders and former Unitholders pursuant to Section 4.1 in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall.
(iii) Convertible Preferred Unit Cash Dividend Distributions. In the event Maravai Co. declares and pays a Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend, on or before the related dividend payment date (as set forth in the applicable Certificate of Designations), the Manager may cause the Company to make a Distribution of cash in respect of the Convertible Preferred Units in an amount equal to the related Convertible Preferred Stock Cash Dividend Amount.
(iv) Convertible Preferred Stock Change of Control Repurchase. In the event Maravai Co. is required to make a Convertible Preferred Stock Change of Control Repurchase, on or before the date of the related Change of Control Exchange (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), the Manager shall cause the Company to make a Distribution of cash in respect of the Convertible Preferred Units in an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) which is to be paid in cash and not in shares of Class A Common Stock.
(v) Convertible Preferred Unit Liquidation Payment. In the event Maravai Co. makes a Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment, on or before the related date fixed for liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of Maravai Co., the Manager may cause the Company to make a Distribution in respect of the Convertible Preferred Units in an amount equal to the related Convertible Preferred Stock Liquidation Payment Amount.
(vi) Non-Convertible Preferred Unit Cash Distributions. In the event Maravai Co. makes any Senior Note Payment, the Manager may cause the Company to make a Distribution of cash in respect of the Non-Convertible Preferred Units in an amount equal to the related Senior Note Payment.
(b) Other Distributions. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.1(a), the Manager may (but shall not be obligated to) make Distributions at such time, in such amounts and in such form (including in-kind property) as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion, in each case to the holders of Common Units immediately prior to such Distribution on a pro rata basis.
Section 4.2 Allocations. Profits or Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unitholders in such a manner as to reduce or eliminate, to the extent possible, any difference, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, between (a) the sum of (i) the Capital Account of each Unitholder, (ii) such Unitholder’s share of Minimum Gain (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(g)) and (iii) such Unitholder’s partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2)) and (b) the respective net amounts, positive or negative, which would be distributed to them or for which they would be liable to the Company
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under this Agreement and the Delaware Act, determined as if the Company were to (i) liquidate the assets of the Company for an amount equal to their Book Value and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such liquidation pursuant to Section 10.2.
Section 4.3 Special Allocations.
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Unitholders in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).
(b) Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Chargeback. Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated to each holder of Common Units ratably among such Unitholders based upon their ownership of Common Units. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(a), if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Unitholder shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 4.3(b) is intended to be a Minimum Gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. If any Unitholder that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Section 4.3(a) and Section 4.3(b), but before the application of any other provision of this Article IV, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Unitholder in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 4.3(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
(d) Allocation of Certain Profits and Losses. Profits and Losses described in Section 3.5(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).
(e) Regulatory Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 4.3(a)-(d) (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 Unitholders intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make the Company distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction, and loss shall be reallocated among the Unitholders so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby
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cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Unitholders 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 Unitholders 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 Unitholders so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Unitholder is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership Minimum Gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt Minimum Gain, and application of the Minimum Gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Unitholders, the Unitholders may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such Minimum Gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such Minimum Gain chargeback requirement.
(f) The Unitholders acknowledge that allocations like those described in Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(c) (“Forfeiture Allocations”) may result from the allocations of Profits and Losses provided for in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company is entitled to make Forfeiture Allocations and, once required by applicable final or temporary guidance, allocations of Profits and Losses will be made in accordance with Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(c) or any successor provision or guidance.
(g) Any item of deduction with respect to a Tax that is offset for a Unitholder under Section 4.6 shall be allocated to the Unitholder in which such payment is to be offset. Any items of deduction (including a deduction described in Code Sections 707(c) and 162(a)) with respect to or arising from any Convertible Preferred Units shall be allocated to the holders of such Convertible Preferred Units unless such treatment is prohibited by law. For the avoidance of doubt, all tax deductions described in this Section 4.3(g) shall be taken into account in determining the amount of Tax Distribution made under the provisions of Section 4.1(a)(i). Any items of deduction (including a deduction described in Code Sections 707(c) and 162(a)) with respect to or arising from the Non-Convertible Preferred Units shall be allocated to the holders of such Non-Convertible Preferred Units unless such treatment is prohibited by law.
Section 4.4 Offsetting Allocations. If, and to the extent that, any Member is deemed to recognize any item of income, gain, deduction or loss as a result of any transaction between such Member and the Company pursuant to Sections 83, 482, or 7872 of the Code or any similar provision now or hereafter in effect, the Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to allocate any corresponding Profit or Loss to the Member who recognizes such item in order to reflect the Members’ economic interest in the Company.
Section 4.5 Tax Allocations.
(a) Allocations Generally. Except as provided in Section 4.5(b) below, for federal, state and local income Tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be allocated among the Unitholders in the same manner and in the same proportion that the corresponding book items have been allocated among the Unitholders’ respective Capital Accounts; provided that, if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable law, then each subsequent
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item of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Unitholders so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.
(b) Code Section 704(c) Allocations. Items of the Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely for Tax purposes, be allocated among the Unitholders in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income Tax purposes and its initial Book Value. Such allocations shall be made using a reasonable method specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3. In addition, if the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), then subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income Tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager shall determine all allocations pursuant to this Section 4.5(b) using any method selected by the Manager that is permitted under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(c) Section 754 Election. The Company will make an election under Section 754 of the Code for its Taxable Year that includes or begins on the date of this Agreement to adjust the basis of the Company property as permitted and provided in Sections 734 and 743 of the Code. Such election shall be effective solely for federal (and, if applicable, state and local) income Tax purposes and shall not result in any adjustment to the Book Value of any Company asset or to the Member’s Capital Accounts (except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)).
(d) Allocation of Tax Credits, Tax Credit Recapture, Etc. Allocations of Tax credits, Tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Unitholders according to their interests in such items as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and (viii).
(e) Corrective Allocations. If necessary, the Company will make corrective allocations as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).
(f) Effect of Allocations. Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.5 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 Unitholder’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions (other than Tax Distributions) or other items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
Section 4.6 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Unitholder. Except as otherwise provided in Article VI, if the Company is required by law to make any payment to a Governmental Entity that is specifically attributable to a Unitholder or a Unitholder’s status as such (including federal withholding Taxes, state personal property Taxes, and state unincorporated business Taxes), then such Unitholder shall indemnify and contribute to 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 4.6 or
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with respect to any other amounts owed by the Unitholder to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. A Unitholder’s obligation to indemnify and make contributions to the Company under this Section 4.6 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section 4.6, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Unitholder under this Section 4.6, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such indemnification and contribution, with interest calculated at a rate equal to the Base Rate plus three percentage points per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law), compounded on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF BUSINESS
Section 5.1 Management.
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act, the business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed, operated and controlled at the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the Manager in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. No Members shall have management authority or voting or other rights over, or any other ability to take part in the conduct or control of the business of, the Company. The Manager is hereby designated as a “manager” within the meaning of Section 18-101(10) of the Delaware Act. The Manager is, to the extent of its rights and powers set forth in this Agreement, an agent of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business, and the actions of the Manager taken in accordance with such rights and powers shall bind the Company (and no Member shall have such right). The Manager shall have all necessary powers to carry out the purposes, business and objectives of the Company. The Manager may delegate in its discretion the authority to sign agreements and other documents and take other actions on behalf of the Company to any Person (including any Member, officer or employee of the Company) to enter into and perform any document on behalf of the Company.
(b) Without limiting Section 5.1(a), the Manager shall have the sole power and authority to effect any of the following by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in one or a series of related transaction, in each case without the vote, consent or approval of any Unitholder: (i) any 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); (ii) any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, (iii) any acquisition; (iv) any issuance of debt or equity securities; (v) any incurrence of indebtedness; or (vi) any dissolution. Except for any vote, consent or approval of any Unitholder expressly required by this Agreement, if a vote, consent or approval of the Unitholders is required by the Delaware Act or other applicable law with respect to any action to be taken by the Company or matter considered by the Manager, each Unitholder will be deemed to have consented to or approved such action or voted on such matter in accordance with the consent or approval of the Manager on such action or matter.
(c) Maravai Co. may withdraw as the Manager and appoint as its successor at any time upon written notice to the Company (a) any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Maravai Co., (b) any
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Person of which Maravai Co. is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, (c) any Person into which Maravai Co. is merged or consolidated or (d) any transferee of all or substantially all of the assets of Maravai Co., which withdrawal and replacement shall be effective upon the delivery of such notice. No appointment of a Person other than Maravai Co. (or its successor, as the case may be) as Manager shall be effective unless Maravai Co. (or its successor, as the case may be) and the new Manager provide all Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such Members against the new Manager, to cause the new Manager to comply with all of the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement.
Section 5.2 Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.
Section 5.3 Officers.
(a) Officers. Unless determined otherwise by the Manager, the officers of the Company shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and a Secretary and each other officer of Maravai Co. shall also be an officer of the Company, with the same title. All officers shall be appointed by the Manager (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Manager delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer) and shall hold office until their successors are appointed by the Manager (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Manager delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer). Two or more offices may be held by the same individual. The officers of the Company may be removed by the Manager (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Manager delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer) at any time for any reason or no reason.
(b) Other Officers and Agents. The Manager may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem necessary or advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Manager.
(c) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of a chief executive officer of a company. He or she shall preside at all meetings of Members if present thereat.
(d) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Manager.
(e) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the chief financial officer of the Company and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Company. The books of account shall at all times be open to inspection by the Manager. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name of, and to the credit of, the Company with such depositaries as may be designated by the Manager.
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(f) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositaries as may be designated by the Manager or the Chief Executive Officer. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Manager or the Chief Executive Officer, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. He or she shall render to the Manager and the Chief Executive Officer whenever either of them may request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company. If required by the Manager, the Treasurer shall give the Company a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Manager shall prescribe.
(g) Secretary. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of Members and all other notices required by applicable law or by this Agreement, and in case of his or her absence or refusal or neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Manager. He or she shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Manager or by the Chief Executive Officer.
(h) Other Officers. Other officers, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them, respectively, by the Manager or by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 5.4 Fiduciary Duties.
(a) Members and Unitholders. To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, no Member or Unitholder, solely in its capacity as such, shall owe any fiduciary duty to the Company, the Manager, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement, provided that the foregoing shall not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Nothing in this Section 5.4(a) shall limit the liabilities, duties or obligations of any Member or Unitholder acting in his or her capacity as an officer or manager pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement.
(b) Manager and Officers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, except as set forth in Section 5.4(c), (i) the Manager shall, in its capacity as Manager, and not in any other capacity, have the same fiduciary duties to the Company and the Unitholders and Members as a member of the board of directors of a Delaware corporation; and (ii) each officer of the Company shall, in his or her capacity as such, and not in any other capacity, have the same fiduciary duties to the Company and the Unitholders and Members as an officer of a Delaware corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, the fiduciary duties described in clause (i) above shall not be limited by the fact that the Manager shall be permitted to take certain actions in its sole or reasonable discretion pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any agreement entered into in connection herewith.
(c) Manager Conflicts. The parties hereto acknowledge that the members of Maravai Co.’s board of directors will owe fiduciary duties to Maravai Co. and its stockholders. The Manager will use commercially reasonable and appropriate efforts and means, as determined in good faith by the Manager, to minimize any conflict of interest between the Members, on the one hand, and
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the stockholders of Maravai Co., on the other hand, and to effectuate any transaction that involves or affects any of the Company, the Manager, the Members and/or the stockholders of Maravai Co. in a manner that does not (i) disadvantage the Members of their interests relative to the stockholders of Maravai Co. or (ii) advantage the stockholders of Maravai Co. relative to the Members or (iii) treat the Members and the stockholders of Maravai Co. differently; provided that in the event of a conflict between the interests of the stockholders of Maravai Co. and the interests of the Members, such Members agree that the Manager shall discharge its fiduciary duties to such Members by acting in the best interests of Maravai Co.’s stockholders.
(d) Waiver. Any duties and liabilities set forth in this Agreement shall replace those existing at law or in equity and each of the Company, each Member and Unitholder and any other Person bound by this Agreement hereby, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 18-1101(e) of the Delaware Act, waives the right to make any claim, bring any action or seek any recovery based on any duties or liabilities existing at law or in equity other than any such duties and liabilities set forth in this Agreement.
(e) Survival. The provisions of this Section 5.4 shall survive any amendment, repeal or termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1 Exculpation.
(a) Actions in Capacity as a Member or Unitholder. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Member, Unitholder (other than the Manager, acting in its capacity as such) or its respective Indemnitees shall be liable to the Company, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement as a result of or arising out any action of or omission by such Member or Unitholder solely in its capacity as a Member or Unitholder, except to the extent such Obligations arise out of such Member’s (1) material breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (2) bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, in each case as determined by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected).
(b) Other Actions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, including Section 6.5, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement as a result of or arising out of the activities of the Indemnitee on behalf of the Company to the extent within the scope of the authority reasonably believed by such Indemnitee to be conferred on such Indemnitee, except to the extent such Indemnitee would not be entitled to exculpation or indemnification pursuant to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Maravai Co. (as the same may be amended from time to time).
Section 6.2 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of (a) the Manager and its managing member Maravai Co., (b) the Unitholders and Members and
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their respective Affiliates, (c) the stockholders, members, managers, directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of the Unitholders, Members and their respective Affiliates, and (d) the officers and directors of Maravai Co., the Manager, the Company and each of their Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnitee”) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (collectively, “Obligations”), which at any time may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the Indemnitee as a result of or arising out of this Agreement, Maravai Co., the Company, their respective assets, businesses or affairs, or the activities of the Indemnitee on behalf of Maravai Co., the Company or any of their Subsidiaries to the extent within the scope of the authority reasonably believed to be conferred on such Indemnitee; provided, however, that, to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to exculpation with respect to such Obligations pursuant to 6.5, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification for any such Obligations to the extent such Indemnitee would not be entitled to exculpation or indemnification pursuant to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Maravai Co. (as the same may be amended from time to time); provided further, that, to the extent such Indemnitee is entitled to exculpation with respect to such Obligations pursuant to 6.5, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification for any such Obligations to the extent they arise out of such Indemnitee’s (1) material breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (2) bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nobo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification hereunder. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) shall be made only out of the assets of the Company and no Member shall have any personal liability on account thereof.
Section 6.3 Expenses. Expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding described in Section 6.1(b) shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in Section 6.1(b); provided that such undertaking shall be unsecured and interest free and shall be accepted without regard to an Indemnitee’s ability to repay amounts advanced and without regard to an Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification.
Section 6.4 Non-Exclusivity; Savings Clause. The indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in Section 6.1(b) and Section 6.3 shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any other agreement, policy of insurance or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in Section 6.1(b) and Section 6.3 shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a named Indemnitee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns of such a Person. If Article VI, Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless exculpate, indemnify and advance expenses each Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of such sections not so invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The exculpation, indemnification and advancement of
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expenses provisions set forth in Article VI, Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each of the persons constituting Indemnitees at any time while such provisions remain in effect, whether or not such Person continues to serve in such capacity and whether or not such Person is a party hereto. In addition, neither Article VI, Section 6.2 nor Section 6.3 may be retroactively amended to adversely affect the rights of any Indemnitee arising in connection with any acts, omissions, facts or circumstances occurring prior to such amendment.
Section 6.5 Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in such capacity, or arising out of their status as Indemnitees, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify them against such liability under this Section 6.5.
ARTICLE VII
ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS
Section 7.1 Accounting and Records. The books and records of the Company shall be made and maintained, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, at the expense of the Company, in accordance with such method of accounting as is determined by the Manager. The books and records of the Company shall reflect all Company transactions and shall be made and maintained in a manner that is appropriate and adequate for the Company’s business.
Section 7.2 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Company shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all Tax returns required to be filed by the Company, including making the elections described in Section 7.3. Each Unitholder shall furnish to the Company all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s income Tax returns to be prepared and filed.
Section 7.3 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year unless the Manager shall determine otherwise. The Manager shall determine whether to make or revoke any available election pursuant to the Code. Each Unitholder will upon request supply any information necessary to give proper effect to such election.
Section 7.4 Tax Controversies.
(a) The Manager shall be the “partnership representative” (or “PR”) of the Company for purposes of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and, as such, (i) shall be authorized to designate any other Person selected by the Manager as the partnership representative and (ii) 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, and to expend the Company’s funds for professional services and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Unitholder agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings.
(b) In the event of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service, unless otherwise approved by all of the Members, the PR shall make on a timely basis, to the extent permissible under applicable law, the election provided by Section 6226(a) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules to treat a “partnership adjustment” as an adjustment to be taken into account by each Member in
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accordance with Section 6226(b) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules. If the election under Section 6226(a) of the of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules is made, the PR shall furnish to each Member for the year under audit a statement reflecting the Member’s share of the adjusted items as determined in the notice of final partnership adjustment, and each such Member shall take such adjustment into account as required under Section 6226(b) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules and shall be liable for any related tax, interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amounts.
(c) In the event of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service, if the PR does not make the election provided by Section 6226(a) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules as noted above, the PR shall allocate the burden of any taxes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any “imputed underpayment” within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules), penalties, interest and related expenses imposed on the Company pursuant to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules among the Members to whom such amounts are attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as reasonably determined by the PR and each Member shall promptly reimburse the Company in full for the entire amount the PR determines to be attributable to such Member; provided that the Company will also be allowed to recover any amount due from such Member pursuant to this sentence from any distribution otherwise payable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement. Solely for purposes of determining the current Member(s) to which any taxes or other amounts are attributable under this provision, references to any Member in this Section 7.4(c) shall include a reference to each Person that previously held the Units currently held by such Member (but only to the extent of such Person’s interest in such Units).
(d) The PR is authorized to, and shall follow principles (to the extent available) similar to those set forth in Section 7.4(b) and Section 7.4(c) with respect to any audits by state, local, or foreign tax authorities and any tax liabilities that result therefrom.
Section 7.5 Code § 83 Safe Harbor Election.
(a) By executing this Agreement, each Unitholder authorizes and directs the Company to elect to have the “Safe Harbor” described in the proposed Revenue Procedure set forth in the Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-43 (the “IRS Notice”) or in any successor, guidance or provision apply to any interest in the Company transferred to a service provider by the Company on or after the effective date of such Revenue Procedure in connection with services provided to the Company. For purposes of making such Safe Harbor election, the PR is hereby designated as the “partner who has responsibility for federal income Tax reporting” by the Company and, accordingly, that execution of such Safe Harbor election by the PR constitutes execution of a “Safe Harbor Election” in accordance with Section 3.03(1) of the IRS Notice. Each Unitholder hereby agrees to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor described in the IRS Notice, including, the requirement that each Unitholder shall prepare and file all federal income Tax returns reporting the income Tax effects of each Unit issued by the Company that qualifies for the Safe Harbor in a manner consistent with the requirements of the IRS Notice.
(b) Any Unitholder or former Unitholder that fails to comply with requirements set forth in Section 7.5(a) shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each adversely affected Unitholder and former Unitholder from and against any and all losses, liabilities, Taxes, damages, judgments, fines, costs, penalties, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith (including, costs and expenses of suits and
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proceedings, and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), in each case resulting from such Unitholder’s or former Unitholder’s failure to comply with such requirements. The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company and any other Person under this Section 7.5(b) (and any amount so offset with respect to such Person’s obligation to indemnify a Person other than the Company shall be paid over to such other Person by the Company). A Unitholder’s obligations to comply with the requirements of Section 7.5(a) and to indemnify the Company and any Unitholder or former Unitholder under this Section 7.5(b) shall survive such Unitholder’s ceasing to be a Unitholder of the Company and/or the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and, for purposes of this Section 7.5, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company and any Unitholder or former Unitholder may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Unitholder or former Unitholder under this Section 7.5(b), including (i) instituting a lawsuit to collect such indemnification and contribution, with interest calculated at a rate equal to the Base Rate plus three percentage points per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law), compounded on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter and (ii) specific performance and/or immediate injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction (without the necessity of showing actual money damages, or posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of Section 7.5(a).
(c) Each Unitholder authorizes the Manager to amend paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 7.5 to the extent necessary to achieve substantially the same Tax treatment with respect to any interest in the Company Transferred to a service provider by the Company in connection with services provided to the Company as set forth in Section 4 of the IRS Notice (e.g., to reflect changes from the rules set forth in the IRS Notice in subsequent Internal Revenue Service guidance); provided that such amendment is not materially adverse to any Unitholder (as compared with the after-Tax consequences that would result if the provisions of the IRS Notice applied to all interests in the Company Transferred to a service provider by the Company in connection with services provided to the Company).
ARTICLE VIII
TRANSFER OF UNITS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS
Section 8.1 Transfer of Units. Other than as provided for below in this Section 8.1, no Member may sell, assign, transfer, grant a participation in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of (such transaction being herein collectively called a “Transfer”) all or any portion of its Units except with the approval of the Manager, which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion. Without the approval of the Manager (but otherwise in compliance with Section 8.1), a Member may, at any time, (a) Transfer any portion of such Member’s Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, and (b) Transfer any portion of such Member’s Units to a Permitted Transferee of such Member. Any Transfer of Units to a Permitted Transferee of such Member by a Member which also holds Class B Common Stock must be accompanied by the transfer of a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect) to such Permitted Transferee. Any purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Units not complying with this Section 8.1 shall be void ab initio and shall not create any obligation on the part of the Company or the other Members to recognize that purported Transfer or to recognize the Person to which the Transfer purportedly was made as a Member. A Person
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acquiring a Member’s Units pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall not be admitted as a substituted or Additional Member except in accordance with the requirements of Section 8.2, but such Person shall, to the extent of the Units transferred to it, be entitled to such Member’s (i) share of Distributions, (ii) share of Profits and Losses and (iii) Capital Account in accordance with Section 3.5. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, if a Member Transfers all or any portion of its Units after the designation of a record date and declaration of a Distribution pursuant to Section 4.1 and before the payment date of such distribution, the transferring Member (and not the Person acquiring all or any portion of its Units) shall be entitled to receive such Distribution in respect of such transferred Units.
Section 8.2 Recognition of Transfer; Substituted and Additional Members.
(a) No direct or indirect Transfer of all or any portion of a Member’s Units may be made, and no purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient of all or any part of such Units shall be admitted to the Company as a substituted or Additional Member hereunder, unless:
(i) the provisions of Section 8.1 shall have been complied with;
(ii) in the case of a proposed substituted or Additional Member that is (A) a competitor or potential competitor of Maravai Co. or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, (B) a Person with whom Maravai Co. or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries has had or is expected to have a material commercial or financial relationship or (C) likely to subject Maravai Co. or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to any material legal or regulatory requirement or obligation, or materially increase the burden thereof, in each case as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion, the admission of the purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient as a substituted or Additional Member shall have been approved by the Manager;
(iii) the Manager shall have been furnished with the documents effecting such Transfer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, executed and acknowledged by both the seller, assignor or transferor and the purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient, and the Manager shall have executed (and the Manager hereby agrees to execute) any other documents on behalf of itself and the Members required to effect the Transfer;
(iv) the provisions of Section 8.2(b) shall have been complied with;
(v) the Manager shall be reasonably satisfied that such Transfer will not (A) result in a violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable law; or (B) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;
(vi) such Transfer would not cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or any other association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer shall not be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Treas. Reg. § 1.7704-1;
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(vii) the Manager shall have received the opinion of counsel, if any, required by Section 8.2(c) in connection with such Transfer; and
(viii) all necessary instruments reflecting such Transfer and/or admission shall have been filed in each jurisdiction in which such filing is necessary in order to qualify the Company to conduct business or to preserve the limited liability of the Members.
(b) Each Substituted Member and Additional Member shall be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement. Each Substituted Member and Additional Member, as a condition to its admission as a Member, shall execute and acknowledge such instruments (including a counterpart of this Agreement and the Exchange Agreement or a joinder agreement in customary form), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, as the Manager reasonably deems necessary or desirable to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such substituted or Additional Member to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Units acquired by such substituted or Additional Member. The admission of a substituted or Additional Member shall not require the consent of any Member (but shall require the consent of the Manager, if and to the extent such consent of the Manager is expressly required by this Article VIII). As promptly as practicable after the admission of a substituted or Additional Member, the Unit Ownership Ledger and other books and records of the Company and Exhibit A shall be changed to reflect such admission.
(c) As a further condition to any Transfer of all or any part of a Member’s Units, the Manager may, in its discretion, require a written opinion of counsel to the transferring Member reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, obtained at the sole expense of the transferring Member, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager, as to such matters as are customary and appropriate in transactions of this type, including, without limitation (or, in the case of any Transfer made to a Permitted Transferee, limited to an opinion) to the effect that such Transfer will not result in a violation of the registration or other requirements of the Securities Act or any other federal or state securities laws. No such opinion, however, shall be required in connection with a Transfer made pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.
Section 8.3 Expense of Transfer; Indemnification. All reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Manager and the Company in connection with any Transfer of a Member’s Units, including any filing and recording costs and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the transferring Member. In addition, the transferring Member hereby indemnifies the Manager and the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Manager, the Company, or any of their Affiliates may become subject arising out of or based upon any false representation or warranty made by, or breach or failure to comply with any covenant or agreement of, such transferring Member or such transferee in connection with such Transfer.
Section 8.4 Exchange Agreement. In connection with any Transfer of any portion of a Member’s Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, the Manager shall cause the Company to take any action as may be required under the Exchange Agreement or requested by any party thereto to effect such Transfer promptly.
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Section 8.5 Change of Control Transactions. In the event (i) Maravai Co. enters into an agreement to consummate a Change of Control (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) transaction or (ii) any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer for any of the outstanding shares of Maravai Co.’s stock, Maravai Co. will take all reasonable actions in order to effect any Change of Control Exchange (as defined in the Exchange Agreement).
ARTICLE IX
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION OF UNITHOLDERS
Section 9.1 Withdrawal and Resignation of Unitholders. No Unitholder shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article X, without the prior written consent of the Manager (which consent may be withheld by the Manager in its sole discretion), except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement. Upon a Transfer of all of a Unitholder’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, and (if applicable) the Equity Agreements, such Unitholder shall cease to be a Unitholder. Notwithstanding that payment on account of a withdrawal may be made after the effective time of such withdrawal, any completely withdrawing Unitholder will not be considered a Unitholder for any purpose after the effective time of such complete withdrawal, and, in the case of a partial withdrawal, such Unitholder’s Capital Account (and corresponding voting and other rights) shall be reduced for all other purposes hereunder upon the effective time of such partial withdrawal.
ARTICLE X
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 10.1 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first of the following to occur:
(a) at the election of the Manager; and
(b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 33.5 of the Delaware Act or an administrative dissolution under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Article X the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 10.2 Liquidation and Termination. On the dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more representatives, Members or other Persons as liquidator(s). 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 the Company’s 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) The liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from the Company’s funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in liquidation)
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or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine).
(b) As promptly as practicable after dissolution, the liquidators shall (i) determine the Fair Market Value (the “Liquidation FMV”) of the Company’s remaining assets (the “Liquidation Assets”) in accordance with Article X hereof, (ii) determine the amounts to be distributed to each Unitholder in accordance with Section 4.1, and (iii) deliver to each Unitholder a statement (the “Liquidation Statement”) setting forth the Liquidation FMV and the amounts and recipients of such Distributions, which Liquidation Statement shall be final and binding on all Unitholders.
(c) As soon as the Liquidation FMV and the proper amounts of Distributions have been determined in accordance with Section 10.2(b) above, the liquidators shall promptly distribute the Company’s Liquidation Assets to the holders of Units in accordance with Section 4.1(b) above. In making such distributions, the liquidators shall allocate each type of Liquidation Assets (i.e., cash or cash equivalents, preferred or common equity securities, etc.) among the Unitholders ratably based upon the aggregate amounts to be distributed with respect to the Units held by each such holder; provided that the liquidators may allocate each type of Liquidation Assets so as to give effect to and take into account the relative priorities of the different Units; provided further that, in the event that any securities are part of the Liquidation Assets, each Unitholder that is not an “accredited investor” as such term is defined under the Securities Act may, in the sole discretion of the Manager, receive, and hereby agrees to accept, in lieu of such securities, cash consideration with an equivalent value to such securities as determined by the Manager. Any non-cash Liquidation Assets 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 Section 4.2 and Section 4.3. If any Unitholder’s Capital Account is not equal to the amount to be distributed to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 10.2(b), Profits and Losses for the Fiscal Year in which the Company is dissolved shall be allocated among the Unitholders in such a manner as to cause, to the extent possible, each Unitholder’s Capital Account to be equal to the amount to be distributed to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 10.2(b). The distribution of cash and/or property to a Unitholder in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.2(b) constitutes a complete return to the Unitholder of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Unitholder of its interest in the Company and all the Company property and constitutes a compromise to which all Unitholders have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Unitholder returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Unitholder for those funds.
Section 10.3 Securityholders Agreement. To the extent that units or other equity securities of any Subsidiary are distributed to any Unitholders and unless otherwise agreed to by the Manager, such Unitholders hereby agree to enter into a securityholders agreement with such Subsidiary and each other Unitholder which contains rights and restrictions in form and substance similar to the provisions and restrictions set forth herein (including in Article VIII).
Section 10.4 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the distribution of the Company’s assets as provided herein, the Company shall be terminated (and the Company shall not be terminated prior to such time), and the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of
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State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company. The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 10.4.
Section 10.5 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 Section 10.2 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.
Section 10.6 Return of Capital. The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Unitholders (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from the Company assets).
Section 10.7 Hart-Scott-Rodino. In the event the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) is applicable to any Unitholder, the dissolution of the Company shall not be consummated until such time as the applicable waiting period (and extensions thereof) under the HSR Act have expired or otherwise been terminated with respect to each such Unitholder.
ARTICLE XI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 11.1 Power of Attorney. Each Unitholder hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager and the liquidators, if any and as applicable, and their respective designees, 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 execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (to the same extent such Person could take such action): (a) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments hereof or thereof in accordance with the terms hereof 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 or as otherwise permitted herein; (b) all instruments, agreements, amendments or other documents 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 and/or the liquidators deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Unitholder pursuant to Article VIII or Article IX. 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 Unitholder and the Transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Units and shall extend to such Unitholder’s heirs, successors, permitted assigns and personal representatives.
Section 11.2 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended (including, for purposes of this Section 11.2, any amendment effected directly or indirectly by way of a merger or consolidation of the Company) or waived, in whole or in part, by the Manager; provided, however,
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that to the extent any amendment or waiver, including any amendment or waiver of the Exhibits attached hereto, would disproportionately and adversely affect the rights of any Member of a class compared with the rights of any other Member of such class, such amendment or waiver may only be made by the Manager upon the prior written consent of such disproportionately and adversely affected Member.
Section 11.3 Title to the Company Assets. The Company’s assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Unitholder, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets or any portion thereof. Legal title to any or all of such assets may be held in the name of the Company or one or more nominees, as the Manager may determine. The Manager hereby declares and warrants that any Company assets for which legal title is held in the name of any nominee shall be held in trust by such nominee for the use and benefit of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. All the 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 assets is held.
Section 11.4 Remedies. Each Unitholder and the Company shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law.
Section 11.5 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 11.6 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 or if such term or provision could be drawn more narrowly so as not to be illegal, invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall be so narrowly drawn, as to such jurisdiction, without invalidating the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 11.7 Counterparts; Binding Agreement. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but 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. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and effective as to each Person who (a) executes this Agreement in the appropriate space provided in the signature pages hereto notwithstanding
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the fact that other Persons who have not executed this Agreement may be listed on the signature pages hereto and (b) may from time to time become a party to this Agreement by executing a counterpart of or joinder to this Agreement.
Section 11.8 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. Whenever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.
Section 11.9 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.
Section 11.10 Addresses and Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) telecopied to the recipient, or delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if telecopied/emailed before 5:00 p.m. San Diego, California time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth in the Company’s books and records, or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
Section 11.11 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 the Company’s Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Indemnitees are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 6.1(b) and shall be entitled to enforce such provision (as it may be in effect from time to time).
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Section 11.12 No Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 11.13 Further Action. The parties agree to 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.
Section 11.14 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter herein 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.
Section 11.15 Delivery by Electronic Means. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission in portable document format (pdf) or comparable electronic transmission, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or pdf electronic transmission or comparable electronic transmission to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
Section 11.16 Certain Acknowledgments. This Agreement shall be considered for all purposes as having been prepared through the joint efforts of the parties. No presumption shall apply in favor of any party in the interpretation of this Agreement or in the resolution of any ambiguity of any provision hereof based on the preparation, substitution, submission or other event of negotiation, drafting or execution hereof. Each Member and Unitholder acknowledges that it/he/she is entitled to and has been afforded the opportunity to consult legal counsel of its choice regarding the terms, conditions and legal effects of this Agreement, as well as the advisability and propriety thereof. Each Member and Unitholder further acknowledges that having so consulted with legal counsel of its choosing, such Member or Unitholder hereby waives any right to raise or rely upon the lack of representation or effective representation in any future proceedings or in connection with any future claim resulting from this Agreement or the formation of the Company. THE COMPANY, THE MEMBERS AND THE UNITHOLDERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP HAS ONLY REPRESENTED THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE NEGOTIATION AND PREPARATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND HAS NOT REPRESENTED THE MEMBERS OR THE UNITHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH MATTERS.
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Section 11.17 Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.
(a) Consent to Jurisdiction. Each Unitholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each Unitholder further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such Unitholder’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each Unitholder irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b) WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OF ARBITRATION, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE COMPANY) HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER.
Section 11.18 Representations and Warranties. By execution of this Agreement, each Member severally represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Such Member has full legal right, power, and authority to deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to perform such Member’s obligations hereunder and thereunder;
(b) This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Member enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws of general application relating to creditors’ rights or general principles of equity;
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(c) Neither this Agreement nor the other Transaction Documents violate, conflict with, result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default or an event of default under any other agreement of which such Member is a party; and
(d) Such Member’s investment in Units in the Company is made for such Member’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Units.
Section 11.19 Tax Receivable Agreement. The Tax Receivable Agreement and the Exchange Agreement shall each be treated as part of this Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code, and Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and § 1.761-1(c) with respect to payments to a Member with respect to an Exchange (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) by such Member.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.
| MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl W. Hull | |
| Name: | Carl W. Hull | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDING. INC., as a Member and the Sole Manager | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl W. Hull | |
| Name: | Carl W. Hull | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Member | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl W. Hull | |
| Name: | Carl W. Hull | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Signature Page to Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
Joinder
The undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of November 19, 2020 (the “Agreement”), and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement as a Member.
| MEMBER: | ||
| [●] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Its: | ||
| Address for Notices: | ||
| [●] | ||
| [●] | ||
| [●] | ||
| [●] | ||
Exhibit 10.5
DIRECTOR NOMINATION AGREEMENT
THIS DIRECTOR NOMINATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 24, 2020, by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 1”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 2”), GTCR Fund XI/C LP, a Delaware limited partnership, GTCR Fund XI/B LP, a Delaware limited partnership, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, a Delaware limited partnership, GTCR Partners XI/A&C LP, a Delaware limited partnership, GTCR Partners XI/B LP, a Delaware limited partnership and GTCR Investment XI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, “GTCR”). This Agreement shall be effective from the date hereof (the “Effective Date”).
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, GTCR beneficially owns a majority of the equity interests in the Company;
WHEREAS, GTCR is contemplating causing the Company to effect an initial public offering (the “IPO”);
WHEREAS, GTCR currently has the authority to appoint all directors of the Company;
WHEREAS, in consideration of GTCR agreeing to undertake the IPO, the Company has agreed to permit GTCR to designate persons for nomination for election to the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) following the Effective Date on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
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, each of the parties to this Agreement agrees as follows:
1. Board Nomination Rights.
(a) From the Effective Date, GTCR shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate to the Board a number of designees equal to at least: (i) 100% of the Total Number of Directors (as defined below), so long as GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A common stock”) and the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B common stock” and together with the Class A common stock, the “Common Stock”) representing at least 40% of the Original Amount of GTCR, (ii) 40% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing at least 30% but less than 40% of the Original Amount of GTCR, (iii) 30% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing at least 20% but less than 30% of the Original Amount of GTCR, (iv) 20% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing at least 10% but less than 20% of the Original Amount of GTCR and (v) one Director, in the event that GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the Original Amount of GTCR (such persons, the “Nominees”). For
purposes of calculating the number of directors that GTCR is entitled to designate pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, any fractional amounts shall automatically be rounded up to the nearest whole number (e.g., 11⁄4 Directors shall equate to 2 Directors) and any such calculations shall be made after taking into account any increase in the Total Number of Directors.
(b) In the event that GTCR has nominated less than the total number of designees, GTCR shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 1(a), GTCR shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional designees to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company and the Directors shall take all necessary corporation action, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to fiduciary duties under Delaware law), to (x) enable GTCR to nominate and effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals, whether by increasing the size of the Board, or otherwise and (y) to designate such additional individuals nominated by GTCR to fill such newly created vacancies or to fill any other existing vacancies.
(c) In addition to the nomination rights set forth in Section 1(a) above, from the Effective Date, for so long as GTCR Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the Original Amount of GTCR, GTCR shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate a person (a “Non-Voting Observer”) to attend meetings of the Board (including any meetings of any committees thereof) in a non-voting observer capacity. Any such Non-Voting Observer shall be permitted to attend all meetings of the Board. GTCR shall have the right to remove and replace its Non-Voting Observer at any time and from time to time. The Company shall furnish to any Non-Voting Observer (i) notices of Board meetings no later than, and using the same form of communication as, notice of Board meetings are furnished to directors and (ii) copies of any materials prepared for meetings of the Board that are furnished to the directors no later than the time such materials are furnished to the directors; provided that failure to deliver notice, or materials, to such Non-Voting Observer in connection with such Non-Voting Observer’s right to attend and/or review materials with respect to, any meeting of the Board shall not, by itself, impair the validity of any action taken by such Board at such meeting. Such Non-Voting Observer shall be required to execute or otherwise become subject to any codes of conduct or confidentiality agreements of the Company generally applicable to directors of the Company or as the Company reasonably requests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude the Non-Voting Observer from receiving any materials and/or attending any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting could adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.
(d) The Company shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Nominees and the Non-Voting Observer in connection with the performance of his or her duties as a director or a Non-Voting Observer and in connection with his or her attendance at any meeting of the Board.
(e) “Affiliate” of any person shall mean any other person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such person; where “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “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 securities, by contract or otherwise).
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(f) “Beneficially Own” shall mean that a specified person has or shares the right, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, to vote shares of capital stock of the Company.
(g) “Director” means any member of the Board.
(h) “Original Amount of GTCR” means the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock held, directly or indirectly, by GTCR on the date hereof, as such number may be adjusted from time to time for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar changes in the Company’s capitalization.
(i) “Total Number of Directors” means the total number of Directors comprising the Board.
(j) No reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock that GTCR Beneficially Owns shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. At the Effective Date, the Board shall be comprised of 11 members and the initial Nominees shall be Sean Cunningham, Benjamin Daverman, Luke Marker and Constantine Mihas.
(k) In the event that any Nominee shall cease to serve for any reason, GTCR shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor in accordance with this Agreement (regardless of GTCR’s beneficial ownership in the Company at the time of such vacancy) and the Board shall promptly fill the vacancy with such successor nominee; it being understood that any such designee shall serve the remainder of the term of the director whom such designee replaces.
(l) If a Nominee is not appointed or elected to the Board because of such person’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for other reason is unavailable or unable to serve on the Board, GTCR shall be entitled to designate promptly another nominee and the director position for which the original Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation.
(m) So long as GTCR has the right to nominate Nominees under Section 1(a) or any such Nominee is serving on the Board, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain in effect at all times directors and officers indemnity insurance coverage reasonably satisfactory to GTCR, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws (each as may be further amended, supplemented or waived in accordance with its terms) shall at all times provide for indemnification, exculpation and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.
(n) If the size of the Board is expanded, GTCR shall be entitled to nominate a number of Nominees to fill the newly created vacancies such that the total number of Nominees serving on the Board following such expansion will be equal to that number of Nominees that GTCR would be entitled to nominate in accordance with Section 1(a) if such expansion occurred immediately prior to any meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and the Board shall appoint such Nominees to the Board.
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(o) At such time as the Company ceases to be a “controlled company” and is required by applicable law or the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “Exchange”) listing standards to have a majority of the Board comprised of “independent directors” (subject in each case to any applicable phase-in periods), GTCR’s Nominees shall include a number of persons that qualify as “independent directors” under applicable law and the Exchange listing standards such that, together with any other “independent directors” then serving on the Board that are not Nominees, the Board is comprised of a majority of “independent directors.”
(p) At any time that GTCR shall have any nomination rights under Section 1, the Company shall not take any action, including making or recommending any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or the Company’s bylaws that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect GTCR’s rights under this Agreement, in each case without the prior written consent of GTCR.
2. Company Obligations. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that prior to the date that GTCR and its Affiliates cease to Beneficially Own shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock, (i) each Nominee is included in the Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders (the “Board’s Slate”) for each election of directors; and (ii) each Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board (each, a “Director Election Proxy Statement”), and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board. GTCR will promptly provide reporting to the Company after GTCR ceases to Beneficially Own shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock, such that Company is informed of when this obligation terminates. The calculation of the number of Nominees that GTCR is entitled to nominate to the Board’s Slate for any election of directors shall be based on the percentage of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by GTCR (“GTCR Voting Control”) immediately prior to the mailing to shareholders of the Director Election Proxy Statement relating to such election (or, if earlier, the filing of the definitive Director Election Proxy Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission). Unless GTCR notifies the Company otherwise prior to the mailing to shareholders of the Director Election Proxy Statement relating to an election of directors, the Nominees for such election shall be presumed to be the same Nominees currently serving on the Board, and no further action shall be required of GTCR for the Board to include such Nominees on the Board’s Slate; provided, that, in the event GTCR is no longer entitled to nominate the full number of Nominees then serving on the Board, GTCR shall provide advance written notice to the Company, of which currently servicing Nominee(s) shall be excluded from the Board Slate, and of any other changes to the list of Nominees. If GTCR fails to provide such notice prior to the mailing to shareholders of the Director Election Proxy Statement relating to such election (or, if earlier, the filing of the definitive Director Election Proxy Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), a majority of the independent directors then serving on the Board shall determine which of the Nominees of GTCR then serving on the Board will be included in the Board’s Slate. Furthermore, the Company agrees for so long as the Company qualifies as a “controlled company” under the rules of the Exchange the Company will elect to be a “controlled company” for purposes of the
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Exchange and will disclose in its annual meeting proxy statement that it is a “controlled company” and the basis for that determination. The Company and GTCR acknowledge and agree that, as of the Effective Date, the Company is a “controlled company.”
3. Committees. From and after the Effective Date hereof until such time as GTCR and its Affiliates cease to Beneficially Own shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock, GTCR shall have the right to designate a number of members of each committee of the Board equal to the nearest whole number greater than the product obtained by multiplying (a) the percentage of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by GTCR and (b) the number of positions, including any vacancies, on the applicable committee, provided that any such designee shall be a director and shall be eligible to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law or listing standards of the Exchange, including any applicable independence requirements (subject in each case to any applicable exceptions, including those for newly public companies and for “controlled companies,” and any applicable phase-in periods). Any additional members shall be determined by the Board. Nominees designated to serve on a Board committee shall have the right to remain on such committee until the next election of directors, regardless of the level of GTCR Voting Control following such designation. Unless GTCR notifies the Company otherwise prior to the time the Board takes action to change the composition of a Board committee, and to the extent GTCR has the requisite GTCR Voting Control for GTCR to nominate a Board committee member at the time the Board takes action to change the composition of any such Board committee, any Nominee currently designated by GTCR to serve on a committee shall be presumed to be re-designated for such committee.
4. Amendment and Waiver. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and GTCR, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. GTCR shall not be obligated to nominate all (or any) of the Nominees it is entitled to nominate pursuant to this Agreement for any election of directors but the failure to do so shall not constitute a waiver of its rights hereunder with respect to future elections; provided, however, that in the event GTCR fails to nominate all (or any) of the Nominees it is entitled to nominate pursuant to this Agreement prior to the mailing to shareholders of the Director Election Proxy Statement relating to such election (or, if earlier, the filing of the definitive Director Election Proxy Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board shall be entitled to nominate individuals in lieu of such Nominees for inclusion in the Board’s Slate and the applicable Director Election Proxy Statement with respect to the election for which such failure occurred and GTCR shall be deemed to have waived its rights hereunder with respect to such election. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
5. Benefit of Parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Notwithstanding
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the foregoing, the Company may not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of GTCR. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 6, nothing herein contained shall confer or is intended to confer on any third party or entity that is not a party to this Agreement any rights under this Agreement.
6. Assignment. Upon written notice to the Company, GTCR may assign to any any Affiliate of GTCR (other than a portfolio company) all of its rights hereunder and, following such assignment, such assignee shall be deemed to be “GTCR” for all purposes hereunder.
7. Indemnification.
(a) The Company shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless GTCR, its Affiliates, partners, employees, agents, directors, managers, officers and controlling Persons (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, expenses, or obligations of any kind or nature (whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent) in connection therewith (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnified Parties before or after the date of this Agreement (each, an “Action”) arising directly or indirectly out of, or in any way relating to, (i) GTCR’s or its Affiliates’ Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company or control or ability to influence the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than any such Actions (x) to the extent such Actions arise out of any breach of this Agreement by an Indemnified Party or its Affiliates or the breach of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation of such Indemnified Party to its direct or indirect equity holders, creditors or Affiliates or (y) to the extent such Actions are directly caused by such Person’s willful misconduct), (ii) the business, operations, properties, assets or other rights or liabilities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) any services provided prior, on or after the date of this Agreement by GTCR or its Affiliates to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Company shall defend at its own cost and expense in respect of any Action which may be brought against the Company and/or its Affiliates and the Indemnified Parties. The Company shall defend at its own cost and expense any and all Actions which may be brought in which the Indemnified Parties may be impleaded with others upon any Action by the Indemnified Parties, except that if such damage shall be proven to be the direct result of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct by any of the Indemnified Parties, then such Indemnified Party shall reimburse the Company for the costs of defense and other costs incurred by the Company in proportion to such Indemnified Party’s culpability as proven. In the event of the assertion against any Indemnified Party of any Action or the commencement of any Action, the Company shall be entitled to participate in such Action and in the investigation of such Action and, after written notice from the Company to such Indemnified Party, to assume the investigation or defense of such Action with counsel of the Company’s choice at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company may retain one firm of counsel to represent all Indemnified Parties in such Action; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ a single firm of separate counsel (and any necessary local counsel) and to participate in the defense or investigation of such Action and the Company shall bear the expense of such separate counsel (and local counsel, if applicable), if (x) in the opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party use of counsel of the Company’s choice could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest, (y) the Company shall not have
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employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of the assertion of any such Action or (z) the Company shall authorize the Indemnified Party to employ separate counsel at the Company’s expense. The Company further agrees that with respect to any Indemnified Party who is employed, retained or otherwise associated with, or appointed or nominated by, GTCR or any of its Affiliates and who acts or serves as a director, officer, manager, fiduciary, employee, consultant, advisor or agent of, for or to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, that the Company or such subsidiaries, as applicable, shall be primarily liable for all indemnification, reimbursements, advancements or similar payments (the “Indemnity Obligations”) afforded to such Indemnified Party acting in such capacity or capacities on behalf or at the request of the Company, whether the Indemnity Obligations are created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise. The Company hereby agrees that in no event shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any right or claim against GTCR for contribution or have rights of subrogation against GTCR through an Indemnified Party for any payment made by the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to any Indemnity Obligation. In addition, the Company hereby agrees that in the event that GTCR pay or advance an Indemnified Party any expenses with respect to an Indemnity Obligation, the Company will, or will cause its subsidiaries to, as applicable, promptly reimburse GTCR, for such payment or advance upon request; subject to the receipt by the Company of a written undertaking executed by the Indemnified Party and GTCR, that makes such payment or advance to repay any such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party was not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. The foregoing right to indemnity shall be in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at common law or otherwise and shall remain in full force and effect following the completion or any termination of the engagement. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold it harmless as and to the extent contemplated by this Section 7, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such Action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that the certain of the Indemnified Parties have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by investment funds managed by GTCR and certain of their Affiliates (collectively, the “Fund Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees with respect to any indemnification, hold harmless obligation, expense advancement or reimbursement provision or any other similar obligation whether pursuant to or with respect to this Agreement, the organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other agreement, as applicable, (i) that the Company and its subsidiaries are the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., their obligations to the Indemnified Parties are primary and any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for claims, expenses or obligations arising out of the same or similar facts and circumstances suffered by any Indemnified Party are secondary), (ii) that the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by any Indemnified Party and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, liabilities, obligations, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement, the organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other agreement, as applicable, without regard to any rights any Indemnified Party may have against the
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Fund Indemnitors, and (iii) that the Company, on behalf of itself and each of its subsidiaries, irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all Actions against the Fund Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of any Indemnified Party with respect to any Action for which any Indemnified Party has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of any Indemnified Party against the Company. The Company agrees that the Fund Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 7(b).
8. Headings. Headings are for ease of reference only and shall not form a part of this Agreement.
9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
10. Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement may be brought against any of the parties in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court, and each of the parties hereby consents 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. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each of the parties agrees that service of process upon such party at the address referred to in Section 16, together with written notice of such service to such party, shall be deemed effective service of process upon such party.
11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and negotiations, both written and oral among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. This Agreement shall become effective when each party shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by each of the other parties. An executed copy or counterpart hereof delivered by facsimile shall be deemed an original instrument.
14. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
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15. Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts and things as may be required to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
16. Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
17. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party or to the Company shall be in writing (including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given,
If to the Company:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
10770 Wateridge Circle, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
| Attention: | Robert M. Hayward, P.C. | |
| Robert E. Goedert, P.C. |
If to any member of GTCR or any Nominee:
c/o GTCR LLC
300 North LaSalle Street, Suite 5600
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Attention: Luke Marker
Email: luke.marker@gtcr.com
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
| Attention: | Robert M. Hayward, P.C. | |
| Robert E. Goedert, P.C. |
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or to such other address or telecopier number as such party or the Company may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other parties and the Company. Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective when delivered at the address specified in this Section 16 during regular business hours.
18. Enforcement. Each of the parties hereto covenant and agree that the disinterested members of the Board have the right to enforce, waive or take any other action with respect to this Agreement on behalf of the Company.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| MARAVAI LIFE SCIENCES HOLDINGS 2, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Herde | |
| Name: | Kevin Herde | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
[Signature Page to Director Nomination Agreement]
| GTCR FUND XI/C LP | ||
| By: | GTCR Partners XI/A&C LP | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | GTCR Investment XI LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
| GTCR FUND XI/B LP | ||
| By: | GTCR Partners XI/B LP | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | GTCR Investment XI LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
| GTCR PARTNERS XI/A&C LP | ||
| By: | GTCR Investment XI LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
[Signature Page to Director Nomination Agreement]
| GTCR CO-INVEST XI LP | ||
| By: | GTCR Investment XI LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
| GTCR PARTNERS XI/B LP | ||
| By: | GTCR Investment XI LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
| GTCR INVESTMENT XI LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Name: | Constantine S. Mihas | |
| Title: | Principal | |
[Signature Page to Director Nomination Agreement]
Exhibit 10.8
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 24, 2020, by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Maravai Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Employer”), and Carl W. Hull (“Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 4.
Maravai Life Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Maravai”), Executive and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), are parties to a Senior Management Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2014, as amended from time to time (the “Original Senior Management Agreement”), and concurrently with entering into this Agreement, the Company, Maravai and Executive are amending the Original Senior Management Agreement (the “Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement”) to remove Maravai as a party to and to remove the employment-related provisions from the Original Senior Management Agreement, in each case, as provided therein.
In conjunction with the execution of the Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement, Parent, Employer and Executive also mutually desire to enter into an agreement containing the terms and conditions pursuant to which Employer will continue to employ Executive. This Agreement shall become effective upon the consummation of the initial public offering of Parent (the “Effective Date”). In the event, such initial public offering does not occur prior to January 25, 2021, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be null and void and the Original Senior Management Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. Employer agrees to continue to employ Executive, and Executive accepts such continued employment, for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending upon his separation pursuant to Section 1(c) (the “Employment Period”).
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Employer and any entities created and/or acquired after the date of this Agreement) and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority implied by such position, which shall include defining Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ strategy and business plan, selecting and evaluating other executives of Parent and its Subsidiaries, sourcing and completing acquisitions made by Parent and its Subsidiaries and managing the growth and operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, and such other activities as are reasonably directed by the board of directors of Parent (the “Board”), including serving on the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiaries of Parent, subject in each case to the power of the Board to expand, limit or otherwise alter such duties, responsibilities, positions and authority and to otherwise override actions of officers. Parent further agrees to appoint Executive as Chairman of the Board, with all requisite rights, duties and obligations of that position without any additional compensation for such service.
(ii) Executive shall report to the Board, and Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent; provided, that during the Employment Period, Executive shall be
entitled to (A) serve, with the prior written consent of the Board, on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures and fulfill speaking engagements and (C) manage personal investments, so long as, with respect to clauses (B) and (C), such activities do not interfere substantially with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities to Parent or Employer under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Employer consent to Executive’s service on the board of directors of the Persons set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Permitted Boards”).
(b) Salary, Bonus and Benefits. Commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until a Separation, Employer will pay Executive a base salary at a rate of $500,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”). The Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board. For each fiscal year of Employer ending during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 100% of the Annual Base Salary (such amount, the “Annual Bonus”), as determined by the Board based upon the performance of Executive and the achievement by Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent of financial, operating and other objectives set by the Board. Each Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible after the Board (or a committee thereof) certifies whether the applicable performance targets for the applicable year have been achieved but in no event later than March 15 following the end of such year. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(b) to the contrary, no Annual Bonus, if any, or any portion thereof, shall be payable for any year unless Executive remains continuously employed by Employer from the Effective Date through the last day of such year. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to such other benefits as are approved by the Board and made generally available to all senior management of Parent and Employer.
(c) Separation. The Employment Period will continue until (x) Executive’s resignation, death or Disability or (y) the Board terminates Executive’s employment with or without Cause. Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with Employer without Good Reason and for any other reason, or no reason at all, upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to Employer; provided, however, that if Executive has provided notice to Employer of Executive’s termination of employment, Employer may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required, then it shall not change the basis for Executive’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment by the Board without Cause) and any requirement to continue salary or benefits shall cease as of such earlier date.
(i) Payment Upon Separation. If Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason pursuant to clause (x) above or by the Board without Cause pursuant to clause (y) above, then (A) Executive will be entitled to any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 1(b) and (B) during the one-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “Severance Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the first anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 100% of his Annual Base Salary plus an amount equal to one times the target Annual Bonus prorated for the number of days worked by Executive for Parent in the calendar year of the Separation, subject to Section 1(d), payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
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(ii) Payment Upon Separation following a Change in Control. If, during the period commencing upon a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the twelve month anniversary of such Change in Control, Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason or by Parent or Employer (or their respective successors) without Cause, then (A) Executive will be entitled to any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 1(b) and (B) during the two-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “CIC Severance Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the second anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 200% of his Annual Base Salary plus an amount equal to two times the target Annual Bonus, subject to Section 1(d), payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the CIC Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
(iii) Release Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other benefits pursuant to this Section 1(c) unless Executive has timely executed and delivered to Employer a general release and separation agreement in form prepared by Employer (a “Release Agreement”) (and such Release Agreement shall become in full force and effect and not been timely revoked as may be permitted by its terms), which Release Agreement shall be delivered by Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after his Separation and (B) Executive shall be entitled to receive such payments only so long as Executive has not breached any of the provisions of such Release Agreement or Section 2 or Section 3. The amounts payable pursuant to this Section 1(c) shall be reduced by the amount of any compensation earned or received by Executive during the Severance Period or CIC Severance Period, as applicable, in connection with the performance of any services by Executive (excluding any compensation earned from Executive’s services on the Permitted Boards). Upon request from time to time, Executive shall furnish Employer with a true and complete certificate specifying any such compensation earned or received by him while receiving any payments from Employer pursuant to this Section 1(c). Executive shall not be entitled to any further payments from Parent, Employer or their Affiliates, nor shall they have any further liability to Executive, except as expressly set forth in this Section 1(c).
(d) Code Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or otherwise be exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall Parent or Employer be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Executive by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then any payment under this Section 1 that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of Executive, and (ii) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 1(d) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with
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the normal payment dates specified for them herein. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of
any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from Parent and Employer within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision
of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any
payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a
Release Agreement, (A) if Executive fails to execute the Release Agreement on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes his acceptance of the Release Agreement thereafter, he shall not be entitled to any
payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release Agreement, and (B) in any case where the date of termination of employment and the Release Expiration Date fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to
Executive that are conditioned on the Release Agreement and are treated as “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes of this
Section 1(d) “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is 21 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment, or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment
is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is 45 days following the date of Executive’s termination
of employment. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this
Section 1(d), such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release Agreement (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in
the case of any payments subject to clause (B) of this
Section 1(d), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later. To the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the
installments of the severance payment that would otherwise be paid pursuant to Section 1(c) after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Separation occurs (the “Applicable
March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum on the
Applicable March 15 (or the first business day preceding the Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a business day) and the installments of the severance payment payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be
reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess). For purposes of Code Section 409A,
the Executive’s right to receive any installment payment pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in no event shall any
payment under this Agreement that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A be subject to offset by any other amount unless otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A.
(e) Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified
individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the separation payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which such Executive has the right to receive from Parent or
any of its Affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments provided for in this Agreement shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the
present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from the Parent and its Affiliates will be one dollar less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so
that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net
after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any such reduction in the
amount of the payments provided hereunder is necessary shall be made
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by Parent in good faith. If a reduced payment is made and through error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from Parent (or its Affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to Parent (or its Affiliates) upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 1(e) shall require Parent or Employer to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.
2. Confidential Information.
(a) Obligation to Maintain Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that the information, observations and data (including trade secrets) obtained by him during the course of his employment with Employer prior to and after the Effective Date concerning the business or affairs of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (“Confidential Information”) are the property of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to Parent’s and Employer’s business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period. Therefore, Executive agrees that he will not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the Board’s written consent, unless and to the extent that the Confidential Information, (i) becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts or omissions to act or (ii) is required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law or court order. Executive shall deliver to Employer at a Separation, or at any other time Employer may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including all acquisition prospects, lists and contact information) which he may then possess or have under his control.
(b) Protection of Trade Secrets. Executive acknowledges and agrees with Employer that Executive’s services to Employer and to Parent and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates require the use of Confidential Information and trade secret information (including any formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process) that Employer, Parent or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates have made reasonable efforts to keep confidential and that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use (“Trade Secrets”). Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Employer, Parent and such Subsidiaries and Affiliates would be irreparably harmed if Executive were to provide similar services requiring the use of such Trade Secrets.
(c) Ownership of Property. Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any confidential information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) that relate to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates engaging in Parent Business or an anticipated business in which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates have a bona fide interest or expectancy relating to the acquisition of a business by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, research and development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including any of the foregoing that constitutes any proprietary information or records) (“Work Product”) belong to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate, and Executive hereby assigns, and agrees to assign, all of the above Work Product to Parent, Employer or to such Subsidiary or Affiliate. Any
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copyrightable work prepared in whole or in part by Executive in the course of his work for any of the foregoing entities shall be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws, and Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall own all rights therein. To the extent that any such copyrightable work is not a “work made for hire,” Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate all right, title, and interest, including without limitation, copyright in and to such copyrightable work. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product and copyrightable work to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period), to establish and confirm Parent’s, Employer’s or such Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ownership (including assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments); provided, that Parent shall reimburse Executive for his reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
(d) Third Party Information. Executive understands that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on Parent’s, Employer’s and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates’ part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the Employment Period and thereafter, and without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 2(a), Executive will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than personnel and consultants of Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates who need to know such information in connection with their work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates) or use, except in connection with his work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by a member of the Board (other than Executive) in writing.
(e) Use of Information of Prior Employers. During the Employment Period, Executive will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or Person. Executive will use in the performance of his duties only information which is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and which is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or Person. In furtherance of the foregoing, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Executive shall execute and deliver to Employer a certificate in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.
(f) Continuation of Terms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in this Section 2 are a continuation without interruption, lapse, reprieve, gap or modification of any kind of the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in Section 8 of the Original Senior Management Agreement.
(g) Whistleblower Protections. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no provision of this Agreement will be interpreted so as to impede Executive (or any other individual) from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any Inspector General of any United States federal agency, or making other disclosures under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization of Parent or Employer to make any such reports or disclosures, and Executive will not be required to notify Parent or Employer that such reports or disclosures have been made.
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(h) Trade Secrets. An individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Accordingly, the parties to this Agreement have the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The parties also have the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.
3. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment with Employer he will become familiar with Trade Secrets and with other confidential information concerning Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and that his services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that:
(a) Noncompetition. Except for Executive’s services on the Permitted Boards, during the Employment Period, Executive shall not engage in any business activity other than for the benefit of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
(b) Nonsolicitation. During the Employment Period, other than in good faith in the best interests of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to leave the employ of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or, hire any former employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries within one year after such person ceased to be an employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and Parent, Employer or any such Subsidiary.
(c) Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of Section 2 or this Section 3, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum duration, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law. Because Executive’s services are unique and because Executive has access to confidential information, the parties hereto agree that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, any party and/or their respective successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof.
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(d) Additional Acknowledgments. Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this
Section 3 are in consideration of: (i) employment with Employer and (ii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this Agreement. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the
restrictions contained in Section 2 and this Section 3 do not preclude Executive from earning a livelihood, nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Executive’s ability to earn a living.
In addition, Executive acknowledges (A) that the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will be conducted throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective
Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, (B) notwithstanding the state of organization or principal office of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any of their respective executives or employees
(including Executive), it is expected that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within its industry throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where
Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, and (C) as part of his responsibilities, Executive will be traveling throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent,
Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period in furtherance of Employer’s business and its relationships. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the potential harm to Parent, Employer and their
respective Subsidiaries of the non-enforcement of any provision of Section 2 or this Section 3 outweighs any potential harm to Executive of its enforcement
by injunction or otherwise. The covenants contained in each of Sections 2(a),
2(b), 2(c), 2(d), 2(e), 3(a) and 3(b) may be enforced independently and without any one or more of such sections
limiting the provisions of any one or more of the other of such sections. Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read this Agreement and consulted with legal counsel of his choosing regarding its contents, has given careful consideration to
the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection of confidential and proprietary information of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries now
existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
4. Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such particular Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Cause” means (a) the commission of a felony, (b) willful conduct tending to bring Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries into substantial public disgrace or disrepute, (c) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held by Executive as reasonably directed by the Board, (d) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, including any other act or omission involving significant and willful dishonesty or fraud with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers or suppliers, or (e) any material breach of Sections 2 or 3 or Section 1(a)(ii) (but only with respect the requirement of such Section 1(a)(ii) that Executive devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and their Subsidiaries). In each case above the burden of proving such action or omission is a “Cause” event shall be with Employer. In addition, Employer agrees it will permit Executive an opportunity to be heard by the Board before reaching a decision concerning any proposed dismissal for Cause.
“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Parent’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
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“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Disability” means the disability of Executive caused by any physical or mental injury, illness or incapacity as a result of which Executive is, or is reasonably expected to be, unable to effectively perform the essential functions of Executive’s duties for a substantially continuous period of more than 120 days or for any 180 days (whether or not continuous) within a 365 day period, as determined by the Board in good faith.
“Good Reason” means (a) any action by Parent or Employer which results in a material reduction in Executive’s title, status, authority or responsibility as Chief Executive Officer of Parent and Employer; provided, that a change in title from Chief Executive Officer to Chairman shall not be considered a material reduction, (b) a failure of Executive to be on the Board and appointed Chairman of the Board, or (c) a reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary or target Annual Bonus, in each case without the prior written consent of Executive. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any assertion by Executive of a termination for Good Reason shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) Executive must provide written notice to the Board of the existence of such condition(s) within thirty (30) days after the initial occurrence of such condition(s); (B) the condition(s) specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for thirty (30) days following the Board’s receipt of such written notice; and (C) the date of Executive’s termination of employment must occur within seventy (70) days after the initial occurrence of the condition(s) specified in such notice. Further and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Change in Control does not and will not in and of itself constitute a breach by Parent or Employer of their obligations under this Agreement, a diminution in the nature or scope of the powers, duties, status, authority or responsibilities of the Executive or “Good Reason” to terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement.
“Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government or any agency or department or subdivision of any governmental authority, including the United States federal government or any state or local government.
“Parent Business” means the business(es) of providing those services or selling those products which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries actually provide or sell.
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, any other business entity, or a Governmental Entity.
“Separation” means Executive ceasing to be employed by any of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries for any reason.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or business entity of which if (a) 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) a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business
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entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of Parent.
5. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) sent to the recipient by reputable express courier service (charges prepaid), (c) mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or (d) emailed to the recipient (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. Chicago, Illinois time on a business day, and otherwise on the next business day. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the parties at the addresses indicated below:
If to Parent or Employer:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Board of Directors
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Attention: Sanford E. Perl, P.C.
Michael H. Weed, P.C.
Daniel A. Guerin, P.C.
Email: sperl@kirkland.com
mweed@kirkland.com
daniel.guerin@kirkland.com
If to Executive:
or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
6. General Provisions.
(a) 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 any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein, embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including the Original Senior Management Agreement.
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(c) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation; No Strict Construction. 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. 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.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, Parent, Employer, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that the rights and obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall not be assigned or delegated. In the event of Executive’s death prior to completion by Parent of all payments due under this Agreement, Parent shall make all such payments to Executive’s beneficiary or to Executive’s estate as appropriate.
(f) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
(g) Dispute Resolution. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement (a “Covered Claim”) shall be resolved by binding arbitration to be held in San Diego, California, and shall be administered by JAMS in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures of JAMS then in effect and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards. Each party shall pay their own costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other charges of counsel) incurred in resolving any such Covered Claim; provided, that in the event litigation is required to compel arbitration or to enforce an arbitration award or judgment pursuant to this Agreement, the non-prevailing party in such litigation shall reimburse the costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and other charges of counsel) of the prevailing party. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate California state court, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control.
(h) Executive’s Cooperation. During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate with Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates in any disputes with third parties, internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by Parent (including Executive being available to Parent upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at Parent’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to Parent all pertinent information and turning over to Parent
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all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments). In the event Parent requires Executive’s cooperation in accordance with this paragraph after the Employment Period, Parent shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable time at a rate of $100 per hour and reasonable travel expenses (including lodging and meals, upon submission of receipts).
(i) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement 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. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any party and/or their respective successors and assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, but subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions of this Agreement.
(j) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of Parent, Employer and Executive. 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. The waiver by any party of a breach of any covenant, duty, agreement, or condition of this Agreement of any other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of that provision or any other provision hereof.
(k) Insurance. Parent or Employer, at its discretion, may apply for and procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered available. Executive agrees to cooperate in any medical or other examination, supply any information, and to execute and deliver any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and constitute such insurance.
(l) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day which is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the state in which Parent’s chief executive office is located, the time period shall be automatically extended to the business day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or holiday.
(m) Tax Withholding. Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from any amounts owing from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to Executive (including withholding shares or other equity securities in the case of issuances of equity by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes, excise taxes, or employment taxes (“Taxes”) imposed with respect to Executive’s compensation or other payments from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Executive’s ownership interest in Parent, including wages, bonuses, distributions, the receipt or exercise of equity options and/or the receipt or vesting of restricted equity. In the event any such deductions or withholdings are not made, Executive shall indemnify Parent, Employer and each of their respective Subsidiaries for any amounts paid with respect to any such Taxes, together with any interest, penalties and related expenses thereto; provided, that, Executive shall not be obligated to indemnify Parent pursuant to this Section 6(m) for such interest, penalties or related expenses which are directly caused by the failure of Parent to take necessary action with respect to such deductions and withholdings as it is required by law to take.
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(n) Termination. This Agreement (except for the provisions of Sections 1(a) and 1(b)) shall survive a Separation and shall remain in full force and effect after such Separation.
(o) Deemed Resignations. Except as otherwise determined by the Board or as otherwise agreed to in writing by Executive and Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries prior to the termination of Executive’s employment with Employer, any termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute, as applicable, an automatic resignation of Executive: (i) as an officer of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries; (ii) from the Board; and (iii) from any other board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries and from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any corporation, limited liability entity, unlimited liability entity or other entity in which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries holds an equity interest and with respect to which board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) Executive serves as the designee or other representative of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries. Executive agrees to take any further actions that Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries reasonably requests to effectuate or document the foregoing.
(p) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a photographic, portable document format (.pdf), or similar reproduction of such signed writing using an electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties hereto. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
(q) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein (including the last sentence of Section 6(e)), no term or provision of this Agreement is intended to be, or shall be, for the benefit of any Person not a party hereto, and no such other Person shall have any right or cause of action hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary or Parent or Employer that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third party beneficiary of Executive’s obligations under Sections 2, 3, 6(g), 6(h) and 6(o) and shall be entitled to enforce such obligations as if a party hereto.
(r) Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance. Each of Parent and Employer agree that it shall obtain and maintain in full force and effect during the term of Executive’s employment hereunder directors’ and officers’ insurance policies in amounts and with coverages customary for entities of the size and with the type of business of Parent and Employer, respectively.
(s) Clawback. To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Board (or a committee thereof), amounts paid or payable under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of amounts paid or payable under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each of Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries reserves the right, without the consent of Executive, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect; provided, however, that such clawback policies and procedures shall not apply to compensation paid prior to the Employment Period.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Kurt Oreshack | |
| Name: Kurt Oreshack | ||
| Its: Vice President and General Counsel | ||
| MARAVAI INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Kurt Oreshack | |
| Name: Kurt Oreshack | ||
| Its: Vice President and General Counsel | ||
| /s/ Carl W. Hull |
| Carl W. Hull |
Exhibit 10.9
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 24, 2020, by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Maravai Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Employer”), and Kevin Herde (“Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 4.
Employer, Executive and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), are parties to a Senior Management Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2017, as amended from time to time (the “Original Senior Management Agreement”), and concurrently with entering into this Agreement, the Company, Employer and Executive are amending the Original Senior Management Agreement (the “Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement”) to remove Employer as a party to and to remove the employment-related provisions from the Original Senior Management Agreement, in each case, as provided therein.
In conjunction with the execution of the Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement, Parent, Employer and Executive also mutually desire to enter into an agreement containing the terms and conditions pursuant to which Employer will continue to employ Executive. This Agreement shall become effective upon the consummation of the initial public offering of Parent (the “Effective Date”). In the event, such initial public offering does not occur prior to January 25, 2021, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be null and void and the Original Senior Management Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. Employer agrees to continue to employ Executive, and Executive accepts such continued employment, for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending upon Executive’s separation pursuant to Section 1(c) (the “Employment Period”).
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Maravai Intermediate Holdings, LLC and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority implied by such position, which shall include responsibility for financing, accounting, treasury and IT operations, defining Parent’s and Employer’s strategy and business plan, selecting and evaluating other executives of Parent and Employer, sourcing and completing acquisitions made by Parent and Employer and managing the growth and operations of the Company, and such other activities as are reasonably directed by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent or the board of directors of Parent (the “Board”), subject in each case to the power of the Chief Executive Officer of Parent to expand, limit or otherwise alter such duties, responsibilities, positions and authority and to otherwise override actions of officers.
(ii) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Parent or such Person’s designee, and Executive shall devote Executive’s best efforts and Executive’s full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent; provided, that during the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to (A) serve, with the prior written consent of the Board, on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures and fulfill speaking engagements and (C) manage personal investments, so long as, with respect to clauses (B) and (C), such activities do not interfere substantially with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities to Parent or Employer under this Agreement.
(b) Salary, Bonus and Benefits. Commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until a Separation, Employer will pay Executive a base salary at a rate of $382,498.77 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”). The Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board. For each fiscal year of Employer ending during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 50% of the Annual Base Salary (such amount, the “Annual Bonus”), as determined by the Board based upon the performance of Executive and the achievement by Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent of financial, operating and other objectives set by the Board. Each Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible after the Board (or a committee thereof) certifies whether the applicable performance targets for the applicable year have been achieved but in no event later than March 15 following the end of such year. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(b) to the contrary, no Annual Bonus, if any, or any portion thereof, shall be payable for any year unless Executive remains continuously employed by Employer from the Effective Date through the last day of such year. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to such other benefits as are approved by the Board and made generally available to other similarly situated members of senior management of Parent and Employer.
(c) Separation. The Employment Period will continue until (x) Executive’s resignation, death or Disability or (y) the Board terminates Executive’s employment with or without Cause. Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with Employer without Good Reason and for any other reason, or no reason at all, upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to Employer; provided, however, that if Executive has provided notice to Employer of Executive’s termination of employment, Employer may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required, then it shall not change the basis for Executive’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment by the Board without Cause) and any requirement to continue salary or benefits shall cease as of such earlier date.
(i) Payment Upon Separation. If Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason pursuant to clause (x) above or by the Board without Cause pursuant to clause (y) above, then (A) Executive will be entitled to any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 1(b) and (B) during the one-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “Severance Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the first anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 100% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
(ii) Payment Upon Separation following a Change in Control. If, during the period commencing upon a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the twelve month anniversary of such Change in Control, Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason or by Parent or Employer (or their respective successors) without Cause, then during the one-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “CIC Severance
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Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the first anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 100% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary plus an amount equal to the target Annual Bonus, subject to Section 1(d), payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the CIC Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
(iii) Release Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other benefits pursuant to this Section 1(c) unless Executive has timely executed and delivered to Employer a general release and separation agreement in form prepared by Employer (a “Release Agreement”) (and such Release Agreement shall become in full force and effect and not been timely revoked as may be permitted by its terms), which Release Agreement shall be delivered by Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after Executive’s Separation and (B) Executive shall be entitled to receive such payments only so long as Executive has not breached any of the provisions of such Release Agreement or Section 2 or Section 3. The amounts payable pursuant to this Section 1(c) shall be reduced by the amount of any compensation earned or received by Executive during the Severance Period or CIC Severance Period, as applicable, in connection with the performance of any services by Executive. Upon request from time to time, Executive shall furnish Employer with a true and complete certificate specifying any such compensation earned or received by Executive while receiving any payments from Employer pursuant to this Section 1(c). Executive shall not be entitled to any further payments from Parent, Employer or their Affiliates, nor shall they have any further liability to Executive, except as expressly set forth in this Section 1(c).
(d) Code Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or otherwise be exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall Parent or Employer be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Executive by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then any payment under this Section 1 that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of Executive, and (ii) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 1(d) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from Parent and Employer within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code
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Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a Release Agreement, (A) if Executive fails to execute the Release Agreement on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes Executive’s acceptance of the Release Agreement thereafter, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release Agreement, and (B) in any case where the date of termination of employment and the Release Expiration Date fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are conditioned on the Release Agreement and are treated as “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes of this Section 1(d) “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is 21 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment, or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is 45 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this Section 1(d), such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release Agreement (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to clause (B) of this Section 1(d), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later. To the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the installments of the severance payment that would otherwise be paid pursuant to Section 1(c) after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Separation occurs (the “Applicable March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum on the Applicable March 15 (or the first business day preceding the Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a business day) and the installments of the severance payment payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess). For purposes of Code Section 409A, the Executive’s right to receive any installment payment pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in no event shall any payment under this Agreement that constitutes “deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A be subject to offset by any other amount unless otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A.
(e) Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified
individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the separation payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which such Executive has the right to receive from Parent or
any of its Affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments provided for in this Agreement shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the
present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from the Parent and its Affiliates will be one dollar less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so
that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net
after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any such reduction in the
amount of the payments provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by Parent in good faith. If a reduced payment is made and through error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from Parent (or its Affiliates)
used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to Parent (or its Affiliates) upon notification that an
overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 1(e) shall require Parent or Employer to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under
Section 4999 of the Code.
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2. Confidential Information.
(a) Obligation to Maintain Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that the information, observations and data (including trade secrets) obtained by Executive during the course of Executive’s employment with Employer prior to and after the Effective Date concerning the business or affairs of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (“Confidential Information”) are the property of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to Parent’s and Employer’s business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive will not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Executive’s own account any Confidential Information without the Board’s written consent, unless and to the extent that the Confidential Information, (i) becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts or omissions to act or (ii) is required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law or court order. Executive shall deliver to Employer at a Separation, or at any other time Employer may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including all acquisition prospects, lists and contact information) which Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.
(b) Protection of Trade Secrets. Executive acknowledges and agrees with Employer that Executive’s services to Employer and to Parent and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates require the use of Confidential Information and trade secret information (including any formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process) that Employer, Parent or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates have made reasonable efforts to keep confidential and that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use (“Trade Secrets”). Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Employer, Parent and such Subsidiaries and Affiliates would be irreparably harmed if Executive were to provide similar services requiring the use of such Trade Secrets.
(c) Ownership of Property. Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any confidential information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) that relate to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates engaging in Parent Business or an anticipated business in which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates have a bona fide interest or expectancy relating to the acquisition of a business by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, research and development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including any of the foregoing that constitutes any proprietary information or records) (“Work Product”) belong to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate, and Executive hereby assigns, and agrees to assign, all of the above Work Product to Parent, Employer or to such Subsidiary or Affiliate. Any copyrightable work prepared in whole or in part by Executive in the course of Executive’s work for any of the foregoing entities shall be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws, and Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall own all rights therein. To the extent that any such copyrightable work is not a “work made for hire,” Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate all right, title, and interest, including without limitation, copyright in and to such copyrightable work. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product and copyrightable work to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period), to establish and confirm Parent’s, Employer’s or such Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ownership (including assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments); provided, that Parent shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
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(d) Third Party Information. Executive understands that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on Parent’s, Employer’s and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates’ part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the Employment Period and thereafter, and without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 2(a), Executive will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than personnel and consultants of Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates who need to know such information in connection with their work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates) or use, except in connection with Executive’s work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by a member of the Board (other than Executive) in writing.
(e) Use of Information of Prior Employers. During the Employment Period, Executive will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or Person. Executive will use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information which is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and which is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or Person. In furtherance of the foregoing, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Executive shall execute and deliver to Employer a certificate in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
(f) Continuation of Terms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in this Section 2 are a continuation without interruption, lapse, reprieve, gap or modification of any kind of the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in Section 8 of the Original Senior Management Agreement.
(g) Whistleblower Protections. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no provision of this Agreement will be interpreted so as to impede Executive (or any other individual) from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any Inspector General of any United States federal agency, or making other disclosures under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization of Parent or Employer to make any such reports or disclosures, and Executive will not be required to notify Parent or Employer that such reports or disclosures have been made.
(h) Trade Secrets. An individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement
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is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Accordingly, the parties to this Agreement have the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The parties also have the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.
3. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. Executive acknowledges that in the course of Executive’s employment with Employer, Executive will become familiar with Trade Secrets and with other confidential information concerning Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and that Executive’s services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that:
(a) Noncompetition. During the Employment Period, Executive shall not engage in any business activity other than for the benefit of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
(b) Nonsolicitation. During the Employment Period, other than in good faith in the best interests of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to leave the employ of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or, hire any former employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries within one year after such person ceased to be an employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and Parent, Employer or any such Subsidiary.
(c) Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of Section 2 or this Section 3, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum duration, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law. Because Executive’s services are unique and because Executive has access to confidential information, the parties hereto agree that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, any party and/or their respective successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof.
(d) Additional Acknowledgments. Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are in consideration of: (i) employment with Employer and (ii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this Agreement. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 2 and this Section 3 do not preclude Executive from earning a livelihood, nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Executive’s ability to earn a living. In addition, Executive acknowledges (A) that the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will be conducted throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, (B) notwithstanding the state of organization or principal office of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any of their respective
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executives or employees (including Executive), it is expected that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within its industry throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, and (C) as part of Executive’s responsibilities, Executive will be traveling throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period in furtherance of Employer’s business and its relationships. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the potential harm to Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries of the non-enforcement of any provision of Section 2 or this Section 3 outweighs any potential harm to Executive of its enforcement by injunction or otherwise. The covenants contained in each of Sections 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(d), 2(e), 3(a) and 3(b) may be enforced independently and without any one or more of such sections limiting the provisions of any one or more of the other of such sections. Executive acknowledges that Executive has carefully read this Agreement and consulted with legal counsel of Executive’s choosing regarding its contents, has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection of confidential and proprietary information of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries now existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
4. Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such particular Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Cause” means (a) the commission of a felony, (b) willful conduct tending to bring Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries into substantial public disgrace or disrepute, (c) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held by Executive as reasonably directed by the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer of Parent, (d) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, including any other act or omission involving significant and willful dishonesty or fraud with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers or suppliers, or (e) any material breach of Sections 2 or 3 or Section 1(a)(ii) (but only with respect the requirement of such Section 1(a)(ii) that Executive devote Executive’s full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and their Subsidiaries). In each case above the burden of proving such action or omission is a “Cause” event shall be with Employer. In addition, Employer agrees it will permit Executive an opportunity to be heard by the Board before reaching a decision concerning any proposed dismissal for Cause.
“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Parent’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Disability” means the disability of Executive caused by any physical or mental injury, illness or incapacity as a result of which Executive is, or is reasonably expected to be, unable to effectively perform the essential functions of Executive’s duties for a substantially continuous period of more than 120 days or for any 180 days (whether or not continuous) within a 365 day period, as determined by the Board in good faith.
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“Good Reason” means (a) any action by Parent or Employer which results in a material reduction in Executive’s title, status, authority or responsibility as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Employer or (b) a reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary or target Annual Bonus, in each case without the prior written consent of Executive. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any assertion by Executive of a termination for Good Reason shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) Executive must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of such condition(s) within thirty (30) days after the initial occurrence of such condition(s); (B) the condition(s) specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for thirty (30) days following the the Company’s receipt of such written notice; and (C) the date of Executive’s termination of employment must occur within seventy (70) days after the initial occurrence of the condition(s) specified in such notice. Further and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Change in Control does not and will not in and of itself constitute a breach by Parent or Employer of their obligations under this Agreement, a diminution in the nature or scope of the powers, duties, status, authority or responsibilities of the Executive or “Good Reason” to terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement.
“Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government or any agency or department or subdivision of any governmental authority, including the United States federal government or any state or local government.
“Parent Business” means the business(es) of providing those services or selling those products which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries actually provide or sell.
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, any other business entity, or a Governmental Entity.
“Separation” means Executive ceasing to be employed by any of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries for any reason.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or business entity of which if (a) 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) a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of Parent.
5. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) sent to the recipient by reputable express courier service (charges prepaid), (c) mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or (d) emailed to the recipient (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable
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overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. Chicago, Illinois time on a business day, and otherwise on the next business day. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the parties at the addresses indicated below:
If to Parent or Employer:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Board of Directors
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Attention: Sanford E. Perl, P.C.
Michael H. Weed, P.C.
Daniel A. Guerin, P.C.
Email: sperl@kirkland.com
mweed@kirkland.com
daniel.guerin@kirkland.com
If to Executive:
or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
6. General Provisions.
(a) 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 any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein, embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including the Original Senior Management Agreement.
(c) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation; No Strict Construction. 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
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with the terms thereof, and, if applicable, hereof. 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.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, Parent, Employer, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that the rights and obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall not be assigned or delegated. In the event of Executive’s death prior to completion by Parent of all payments due under this Agreement, Parent shall make all such payments to Executive’s beneficiary or to Executive’s estate as appropriate.
(f) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
(g) Dispute Resolution. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement (a “Covered Claim”) shall be resolved by binding arbitration to be held in San Diego, California, and shall be administered by JAMS in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures of JAMS then in effect and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards. Each party shall pay their own costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other charges of counsel) incurred in resolving any such Covered Claim; provided, that in the event litigation is required to compel arbitration or to enforce an arbitration award or judgment pursuant to this Agreement, the non-prevailing party in such litigation shall reimburse the costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and other charges of counsel) of the prevailing party. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate California state court, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control.
(h) Executive’s Cooperation. During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate with Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates in any disputes with third parties, internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by Parent (including Executive being available to Parent upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at Parent’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to Parent all pertinent information and turning over to Parent all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments). In the event Parent requires Executive’s cooperation in accordance with this paragraph after the Employment Period, Parent shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable time at a rate of $100 per hour and reasonable travel expenses (including lodging and meals, upon submission of receipts).
(i) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement 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. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to
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recover damages and costs caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any party and/or their respective successors and assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, but subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions of this Agreement.
(j) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of Parent, Employer and Executive. 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. The waiver by any party of a breach of any covenant, duty, agreement, or condition of this Agreement of any other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of that provision or any other provision hereof.
(k) Insurance. Parent or Employer, at its discretion, may apply for and procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered available. Executive agrees to cooperate in any medical or other examination, supply any information, and to execute and deliver any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and constitute such insurance.
(l) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day which is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the state in which Parent’s chief executive office is located, the time period shall be automatically extended to the business day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or holiday.
(m) Tax Withholding. Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from any amounts owing from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to Executive (including withholding shares or other equity securities in the case of issuances of equity by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes, excise taxes, or employment taxes (“Taxes”) imposed with respect to Executive’s compensation or other payments from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Executive’s ownership interest in Parent, including wages, bonuses, distributions, the receipt or exercise of equity options and/or the receipt or vesting of restricted equity. In the event any such deductions or withholdings are not made, Executive shall indemnify Parent, Employer and each of their respective Subsidiaries for any amounts paid with respect to any such Taxes, together with any interest, penalties and related expenses thereto; provided, that, Executive shall not be obligated to indemnify Parent pursuant to this Section 6(m) for such interest, penalties or related expenses which are directly caused by the failure of Parent to take necessary action with respect to such deductions and withholdings as it is required by law to take.
(n) Termination. This Agreement (except for the provisions of Sections 1(a) and 1(b)) shall survive a Separation and shall remain in full force and effect after such Separation.
(o) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a photographic, portable document format (.pdf), or similar reproduction of such signed writing using an electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto
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or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties hereto. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
(p) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein (including the last sentence of Section 6(e)), no term or provision of this Agreement is intended to be, or shall be, for the benefit of any Person not a party hereto, and no such other Person shall have any right or cause of action hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary or Parent or Employer that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third party beneficiary of Executive’s obligations under Sections 2, 3, 6(g), 6(h) and 6(o) and shall be entitled to enforce such obligations as if a party hereto.
(q) Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance. Each of Parent and Employer agree that it shall obtain and maintain in full force and effect during the term of Executive’s employment hereunder directors’ and officers’ insurance policies in amounts and with coverages customary for entities of the size and with the type of business of Parent and Employer, respectively.
(r) Clawback. To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Board (or a committee thereof), amounts paid or payable under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of amounts paid or payable under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each of Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries reserves the right, without the consent of Executive, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect; provided, however, that such clawback policies and procedures shall not apply to compensation paid prior to the Employment Period.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl Hull | |
| Name: Carl Hull | ||
| Its: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| MARAVAI INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl Hull | |
| Name: Carl Hull | ||
| Its: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| /s/ Kevin Herde | ||
| Kevin Herde | ||
Signature Page to Employment Agreement
Exhibit 10.10
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 24, 2020, by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), TriLink Biotechnologies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Employer”), and Brian Neel (“Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 4.
Employer, Executive and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), are parties to a Senior Management Agreement, dated as of December 27, 2017, as amended from time to time (the “Original Senior Management Agreement”), and concurrently with entering into this Agreement, the Company, Employer and Executive are amending the Original Senior Management Agreement (the “Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement”) to remove Employer as a party to and to remove the employment-related provisions from the Original Senior Management Agreement, in each case, as provided therein.
In conjunction with the execution of the Amendment to the Original Senior Management Agreement, Parent, Employer and Executive also mutually desire to enter into an agreement containing the terms and conditions pursuant to which Employer will continue to employ Executive. This Agreement shall become effective upon the consummation of the initial public offering of Parent (the “Effective Date”). In the event, such initial public offering does not occur prior to January 25, 2021, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and be null and void and the Original Senior Management Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. Employer agrees to continue to employ Executive, and Executive accepts such continued employment, for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending upon Executive’s separation pursuant to Section 1(c) (the “Employment Period”).
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of TriLink Biotechnologies, LLC and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority implied by such position, which shall include such other activities as are reasonably directed by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent or the board of directors of Parent (the “Board”), subject in each case to the power of the Chief Executive Officer of Parent to expand, limit or otherwise alter such duties, responsibilities, positions and authority and to otherwise override actions of officers.
(ii) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Parent or such Person’s designee, and Executive shall devote Executive’s best efforts and Executive’s full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent.
(b) Salary, Bonus and Benefits. Commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until a Separation, Employer will pay Executive a base salary at a rate of $333,237.49 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”). The Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board. For each fiscal year of Employer ending during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 40% of the Annual Base Salary (such amount, the “Annual Bonus”), as
determined by the Board based upon the performance of Executive and the achievement by Parent, Employer and the other Subsidiaries of Parent of financial, operating and other objectives set by the Board. Each Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible after the Board (or a committee thereof) certifies whether the applicable performance targets for the applicable year have been achieved but in no event later than March 15 following the end of such year. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(b) to the contrary, no Annual Bonus, if any, or any portion thereof, shall be payable for any year unless Executive remains continuously employed by Employer from the Effective Date through the last day of such year. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to such other benefits as are approved by the Board and made generally available to other similarly situated members of senior management of Parent and Employer.
(c) Separation. The Employment Period will continue until (x) Executive’s resignation, death or Disability or (y) the Board terminates Executive’s employment with or without Cause. Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with Employer without Good Reason and for any other reason, or no reason at all, upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to Employer; provided, however, that if Executive has provided notice to Employer of Executive’s termination of employment, Employer may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required, then it shall not change the basis for Executive’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment by the Board without Cause) and any requirement to continue salary or benefits shall cease as of such earlier date.
(i) Payment Upon Separation. If Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason pursuant to clause (x) above or by the Board without Cause pursuant to clause (y) above, then (A) Executive will be entitled to any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus pursuant to Section 1(b) and (B) during the one-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “Severance Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the nine month anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 75% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
(ii) Payment Upon Separation following a Change in Control. If, during the period commencing upon a Change in Control (as defined below) and ending on the twelve month anniversary of such Change in Control, Executive’s employment is terminated by resignation of Executive with Good Reason or by Parent or Employer (or their respective successors) without Cause, then during the one-year period commencing on the date of termination (the “CIC Severance Period”), (I) Employer shall pay to Executive during the period beginning on the date of the Separation and ending on the first anniversary of the date of the Separation an aggregate amount equal to 100% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary, subject to Section 1(d), payable in equal installments on Employer’s regular salary payment dates as in effect on the date of the Separation, and (II) if Executive is eligible to and does elect continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code, then Employer shall reimburse to Executive the premiums paid for such coverage by Executive during the portion of the CIC Severance Period of which Executive is eligible for and elects such continuation coverage under Employer’s health benefit plan, provided that such reimbursements shall not be made in the event an excise tax under Section 4980D of the Code would be imposed on Employer as a result.
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(iii) Release Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments or other benefits pursuant to this Section 1(c) unless Executive has timely executed and delivered to Employer a general release and separation agreement in form prepared by Employer (a “Release Agreement”) (and such Release Agreement shall become in full force and effect and not been timely revoked as may be permitted by its terms), which Release Agreement shall be delivered by Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after Executive’s Separation and (B) Executive shall be entitled to receive such payments only so long as Executive has not breached any of the provisions of such Release Agreement or Section 2 or Section 3. The amounts payable pursuant to this Section 1(c) shall be reduced by the amount of any compensation earned or received by Executive during the Severance Period or CIC Severance Period, as applicable, in connection with the performance of any services by Executive. Upon request from time to time, Executive shall furnish Employer with a true and complete certificate specifying any such compensation earned or received by Executive while receiving any payments from Employer pursuant to this Section 1(c). Executive shall not be entitled to any further payments from Parent, Employer or their Affiliates, nor shall they have any further liability to Executive, except as expressly set forth in this Section 1(c).
(d)
Code Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or otherwise be exempt from Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated
thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be either exempt from or in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever
shall Parent or Employer be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Executive by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule
provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then any payment under this
Section 1 that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service” shall not be made until the date which is the earlier of (i) the expiration of
the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of Executive, and (ii) the date of Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A.
Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 1(d) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in
accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or
following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” from Parent and Employer within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references
to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments of “nonqualified
deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a Release Agreement, (A) if
Executive fails to execute the Release Agreement on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes Executive’s acceptance of the Release Agreement thereafter, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or
benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release Agreement, and (B) in any case where the date of termination of employment and the Release Expiration Date fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are
conditioned on the Release Agreement and are treated as “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes of this
Section 1(d) “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is 21 days following
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the date of Executive’s termination of employment, or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment
termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is 45 days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified
deferred compensation (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this
Section 1(d), such amounts shall be
paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release Agreement (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to clause (B) of this
Section 1(d), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later. To the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the installments of the severance payment that would otherwise be paid
pursuant to Section 1(c) after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Separation occurs (the “Applicable March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption
amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum on the Applicable March 15 (or the first business day preceding the
Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a business day) and the installments of the severance payment payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable
after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess). For purposes of Code Section 409A, the Executive’s right to receive any installment payment pursuant
to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in no event shall any payment under this Agreement that constitutes “deferred
compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A be subject to offset by any other amount unless otherwise permitted by Code Section 409A.
(e) Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified
individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the separation payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which such Executive has the right to receive from Parent or
any of its Affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments provided for in this Agreement shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the
present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from the Parent and its Affiliates will be one dollar less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so
that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net
after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any such reduction in the
amount of the payments provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by Parent in good faith. If a reduced payment is made and through error or otherwise that payment, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from Parent (or its Affiliates)
used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to Parent (or its Affiliates) upon notification that an
overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 1(e) shall require Parent or Employer to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under
Section 4999 of the Code.
2. Confidential Information.
(a) Obligation to Maintain Confidentiality. Executive acknowledges that the information, observations and data (including trade secrets) obtained by Executive during the course of Executive’s employment with Employer prior to and after the Effective Date concerning the business or affairs of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (“Confidential Information”) are the property of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to Parent’s and Employer’s business or industry of which
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Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive will not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Executive’s own account any Confidential Information without the Board’s written consent, unless and to the extent that the Confidential Information, (i) becomes generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts or omissions to act or (ii) is required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law or court order. Executive shall deliver to Employer at a Separation, or at any other time Employer may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates (including all acquisition prospects, lists and contact information) which Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.
(b) Protection of Trade Secrets. Executive acknowledges and agrees with Employer that Executive’s services to Employer and to Parent and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates require the use of Confidential Information and trade secret information (including any formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process) that Employer, Parent or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates have made reasonable efforts to keep confidential and that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use (“Trade Secrets”). Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Employer, Parent and such Subsidiaries and Affiliates would be irreparably harmed if Executive were to provide similar services requiring the use of such Trade Secrets.
(c) Ownership of Property. Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any confidential information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable) that relate to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates engaging in Parent Business or an anticipated business in which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates have a bona fide interest or expectancy relating to the acquisition of a business by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, research and development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including any of the foregoing that constitutes any proprietary information or records) (“Work Product”) belong to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate, and Executive hereby assigns, and agrees to assign, all of the above Work Product to Parent, Employer or to such Subsidiary or Affiliate. Any copyrightable work prepared in whole or in part by Executive in the course of Executive’s work for any of the foregoing entities shall be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws, and Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall own all rights therein. To the extent that any such copyrightable work is not a “work made for hire,” Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or Affiliate all right, title, and interest, including without limitation, copyright in and to such copyrightable work. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product and copyrightable work to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period), to establish and confirm Parent’s, Employer’s or such Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ownership (including assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments); provided, that Parent shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
(d) Third Party Information. Executive understands that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on Parent’s, Employer’s and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates’ part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited
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purposes. During the Employment Period and thereafter, and without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 2(a), Executive will hold Third Party Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than personnel and consultants of Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates who need to know such information in connection with their work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates) or use, except in connection with Executive’s work for Parent, Employer or their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by a member of the Board (other than Executive) in writing.
(e) Use of Information of Prior Employers. During the Employment Period, Executive will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or Person. Executive will use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information which is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and which is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or Person. In furtherance of the foregoing, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Executive shall execute and deliver to Employer a certificate in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
(f) Continuation of Terms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in this Section 2 are a continuation without interruption, lapse, reprieve, gap or modification of any kind of the terms, conditions, obligations and covenants set forth in Section 8 of the Original Senior Management Agreement.
(g) Whistleblower Protections. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no provision of this Agreement will be interpreted so as to impede Executive (or any other individual) from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any Inspector General of any United States federal agency, or making other disclosures under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization of Parent or Employer to make any such reports or disclosures, and Executive will not be required to notify Parent or Employer that such reports or disclosures have been made.
(h) Trade Secrets. An individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). Accordingly, the parties to this Agreement have the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The parties also have the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.
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3. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation. Executive acknowledges that in the course of Executive’s employment with Employer, Executive will become familiar with Trade Secrets and with other confidential information concerning Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and that Executive’s services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that:
(a) Noncompetition. During the Employment Period, Executive shall not engage in any business activity other than for the benefit of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
(b) Nonsolicitation. During the Employment Period, other than in good faith in the best interests of the Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to leave the employ of Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or, hire any former employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries within one year after such person ceased to be an employee of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Parent, Employer or such Subsidiary or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and Parent, Employer or any such Subsidiary.
(c) Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of Section 2 or this Section 3, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum duration, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law. Because Executive’s services are unique and because Executive has access to confidential information, the parties hereto agree that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, any party and/or their respective successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof.
(d) Additional Acknowledgments. Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are in consideration of: (i) employment with Employer and (ii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this Agreement. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 2 and this Section 3 do not preclude Executive from earning a livelihood, nor do they unreasonably impose limitations on Executive’s ability to earn a living. In addition, Executive acknowledges (A) that the business of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will be conducted throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, (B) notwithstanding the state of organization or principal office of Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any of their respective executives or employees (including Executive), it is expected that Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within its industry throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period, and (C) as part of Executive’s responsibilities, Executive will be traveling throughout the United States and other jurisdictions where Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries conduct business during the Employment Period in furtherance of Employer’s business and its relationships. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the
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potential harm to Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries of the non-enforcement of any provision of Section 2 or this
Section 3 outweighs any potential harm to Executive of its enforcement by injunction or otherwise. The covenants contained in each of Sections 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(d), 2(e),
3(a)
and 3(b) may be enforced independently and without any one or more of such sections limiting the provisions of any one or more of the other of such sections. Executive acknowledges that Executive has carefully read this Agreement and
consulted with legal counsel of Executive’s choosing regarding its contents, has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement and is in full accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper
protection of confidential and proprietary information of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries now existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this
Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
4. Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such particular Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Cause” means (a) the commission of a felony, (b) willful conduct tending to bring Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries into substantial public disgrace or disrepute, (c) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the office held by Executive as reasonably directed by the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer of Parent, (d) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries, including any other act or omission involving significant and willful dishonesty or fraud with respect to Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers or suppliers, or (e) any material breach of Sections 2 or 3 or Section 1(a)(ii) (but only with respect the requirement of such Section 1(a)(ii) that Executive devote Executive’s full business time and attention to the business and affairs of Parent, Employer and their Subsidiaries). In each case above the burden of proving such action or omission is a “Cause” event shall be with Employer. In addition, Employer agrees it will permit Executive an opportunity to be heard by the Board before reaching a decision concerning any proposed dismissal for Cause.
“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Parent’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Disability” means the disability of Executive caused by any physical or mental injury, illness or incapacity as a result of which Executive is, or is reasonably expected to be, unable to effectively perform the essential functions of Executive’s duties for a substantially continuous period of more than 120 days or for any 180 days (whether or not continuous) within a 365 day period, as determined by the Board in good faith.
“Good Reason” means (a) any action by Parent or Employer which results in a material reduction in Executive’s title, status, authority or responsibility as Chief Operating Officer of Employer or (b) a reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary or target Annual Bonus, in each case without the prior written consent of Executive. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any assertion by Executive of a termination for Good Reason shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) Executive must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of such condition(s) within thirty (30) days after the initial occurrence of such condition(s); (B) the condition(s) specified in such notice
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must remain uncorrected for thirty (30) days following the the Company’s receipt of such written notice; and (C) the date of Executive’s termination of employment must occur within seventy (70) days after the initial occurrence of the condition(s) specified in such notice. Further and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Change in Control does not and will not in and of itself constitute a breach by Parent or Employer of their obligations under this Agreement, a diminution in the nature or scope of the powers, duties, status, authority or responsibilities of the Executive or “Good Reason” to terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement.
“Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government or any agency or department or subdivision of any governmental authority, including the United States federal government or any state or local government.
“Parent Business” means the business(es) of providing those services or selling those products which Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries actually provide or sell.
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, any other business entity, or a Governmental Entity.
“Separation” means Executive ceasing to be employed by any of Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries for any reason.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or business entity of which if (a) 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) a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of Parent.
5. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) sent to the recipient by reputable express courier service (charges prepaid), (c) mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or (d) emailed to the recipient (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. Chicago, Illinois time on a business day, and otherwise on the next business day. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the parties at the addresses indicated below:
If to Parent or Employer:
Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.
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10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Board of Directors
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
300 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Attention: Sanford E. Perl, P.C.
Michael H. Weed, P.C.
Daniel A. Guerin, P.C.
Email: sperl@kirkland.com
mweed@kirkland.com
daniel.guerin@kirkland.com
If to Executive:
or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
6. General Provisions.
(a) 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 any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein, embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including the Original Senior Management Agreement.
(c) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation; No Strict Construction. 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. 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.
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(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, Parent, Employer, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that the rights and obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall not be assigned or delegated. In the event of Executive’s death prior to completion by Parent of all payments due under this Agreement, Parent shall make all such payments to Executive’s beneficiary or to Executive’s estate as appropriate.
(f) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
(g) Dispute Resolution. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement (a “Covered Claim”) shall be resolved by binding arbitration to be held in San Diego, California, and shall be administered by JAMS in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures of JAMS then in effect and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards. Each party shall pay their own costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other charges of counsel) incurred in resolving any such Covered Claim; provided, that in the event litigation is required to compel arbitration or to enforce an arbitration award or judgment pursuant to this Agreement, the non-prevailing party in such litigation shall reimburse the costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and other charges of counsel) of the prevailing party. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate California state court, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control.
(h) Executive’s Cooperation. During the Employment Period and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate with Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates in any disputes with third parties, internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by Parent (including Executive being available to Parent upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at Parent’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to Parent all pertinent information and turning over to Parent all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments). In the event Parent requires Executive’s cooperation in accordance with this paragraph after the Employment Period, Parent shall reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable time at a rate of $100 per hour and reasonable travel expenses (including lodging and meals, upon submission of receipts).
(i) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement 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. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any party and/or their respective successors and assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, but subject to Section 6(g), apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions of this Agreement.
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(j) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of Parent, Employer and Executive. 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. The waiver by any party of a breach of any covenant, duty, agreement, or condition of this Agreement of any other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of that provision or any other provision hereof.
(k) Insurance. Parent or Employer, at its discretion, may apply for and procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered available. Executive agrees to cooperate in any medical or other examination, supply any information, and to execute and deliver any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and constitute such insurance.
(l) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day which is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the state in which Parent’s chief executive office is located, the time period shall be automatically extended to the business day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or holiday.
(m) Tax Withholding. Parent, Employer and their respective Subsidiaries shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from any amounts owing from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to Executive (including withholding shares or other equity securities in the case of issuances of equity by Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes, excise taxes, or employment taxes (“Taxes”) imposed with respect to Executive’s compensation or other payments from Parent, Employer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Executive’s ownership interest in Parent, including wages, bonuses, distributions, the receipt or exercise of equity options and/or the receipt or vesting of restricted equity. In the event any such deductions or withholdings are not made, Executive shall indemnify Parent, Employer and each of their respective Subsidiaries for any amounts paid with respect to any such Taxes, together with any interest, penalties and related expenses thereto; provided, that, Executive shall not be obligated to indemnify Parent pursuant to this Section 6(m) for such interest, penalties or related expenses which are directly caused by the failure of Parent to take necessary action with respect to such deductions and withholdings as it is required by law to take.
(n) Termination. This Agreement (except for the provisions of Sections 1(a) and 1(b)) shall survive a Separation and shall remain in full force and effect after such Separation.
(o) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a photographic, portable document format (.pdf), or similar reproduction of such signed writing using an electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties hereto. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
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(p) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein (including the last sentence of Section 6(e)), no term or provision of this Agreement is intended to be, or shall be, for the benefit of any Person not a party hereto, and no such other Person shall have any right or cause of action hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary or Parent or Employer that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third party beneficiary of Executive’s obligations under Sections 2, 3, 6(g), 6(h) and 6(o) and shall be entitled to enforce such obligations as if a party hereto.
(q) Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance. Each of Parent and Employer agree that it shall obtain and maintain in full force and effect during the term of Executive’s employment hereunder directors’ and officers’ insurance policies in amounts and with coverages customary for entities of the size and with the type of business of Parent and Employer, respectively.
(r) Clawback. To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Board (or a committee thereof), amounts paid or payable under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of amounts paid or payable under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each of Parent, Employer or any of their Affiliates or Subsidiaries reserves the right, without the consent of Executive, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect; provided, however, that such clawback policies and procedures shall not apply to compensation paid prior to the Employment Period.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.
| MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl Hull | |
| Name: Carl Hull | ||
| Its: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| TRILINK BIOTECHNOLOGIES, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Carl Hull | |
| Name: Carl Hull | ||
| Its: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| /s/ Brian Neel |
| Brian Neel |
Signature Page to Employment Agreement
Exhibit 99.1
Maravai LifeSciences Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering and Full Exercise of the Underwriters’ Option to
Purchase Additional Shares
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - November 24, 2020 - Maravai LifeSciences, Inc. (Maravai) (NASDAQ: MRVI), a global provider of life science reagents and services to researchers and biotech innovators, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 69,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to 9,000,000 additional shares of Class A common stock, at a public offering price of $27 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to Maravai from the offering were approximately $1,863,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. All of the shares in the offering were offered by Maravai. Maravai’s Class A common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 20, 2020 under the symbol “MRVI.”
Morgan Stanley, Jefferies and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. BofA Securities, Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank, Baird, William Blair, Stifel and KeyBanc Capital Markets also acted as joint book-running managers, and Academy Securities, Loop Capital Markets, Penserra Securities LLC and Tigress Financial Partners acted as co-managers for the offering.
Perella Weinberg Partners L.P. served as capital markets advisor to Maravai. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel to Maravai and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP provided legal counsel to the underwriters.
A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and became effective on November 19, 2020. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the final prospectus relating to the securities has been filed with the SEC and may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, or by email at prospectus@morganstanley.com; Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 877-821-7388 or by email at Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 866-471-2526, by facsimile at 212-902-9316 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Maravai
Maravai is a leading life sciences company providing critical products to enable the development of drug therapies, diagnostics, novel vaccines and support research on human diseases through its portfolio of companies and their proprietary capabilities and products. Maravai’s companies are leaders in providing products and services in the fields of nucleic acid synthesis, bioprocess impurity detection and analysis, and protein labeling and detection to many of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical, vaccine, diagnostics, and cell and gene therapy companies.
Investor and Media Contact
Sara Michelmore
MacDougall
+1 781-235-3060
maravai@macbiocom.com