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8-K 1 eh250691528_8k.htm FORM 8-K

 

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): October 8, 2025

 

Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware   001-42899   38-3922540

(State of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

4035 S. Riverpoint Parkway

Phoenix, AZ

  85040
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(800) 990-2765

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(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

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   PXED   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 

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.

Underwriting Agreement

On October 8, 2025, Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), AP VIII Socrates Holdings, L.P., a stockholder of the Company (the “Apollo Stockholder”) that is managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (collectively, “Apollo”), and TVG-I-E-AEG Holdings, LP, a stockholder of the Company (the “Vistria Stockholder,” and, together with the Apollo Stockholder, the “Selling Stockholders”) that is managed by affiliates of The Vistria Group, LP (collectively, “Vistria”), relating to the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), by the Selling Stockholders (the “Initial Public Offering”).

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Selling Stockholders sold 4,250,000 shares of Common Stock to the Underwriters on October 10, 2025, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Selling Stockholders of $136.0 million, before deducting the underwriting discount and commission.

The Selling Stockholders also granted the Underwriters an option (the “Option”) to purchase up to an additional 637,500 shares of Common Stock for a period of 30 days following October 8, 2025. The Underwriters exercised the Option in full on October 11, 2025, and the sale of an additional 637,500 shares of Common Stock to the Underwriters closed on October 15, 2025, resulting in additional gross proceeds to the Selling Stockholders of $20.4 million, before deducting the underwriting discount and commission.

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company. It also provides that the Company will indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

Stockholders’ Agreement

As described in the registration statement for the Initial Public Offering, on October 8, 2025, the Company entered into the stockholders’ agreement (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”) with the Apollo Stockholder and the Vistria Stockholder.

The Stockholders’ Agreement provides that, as long as the Vistria Stockholder and its affiliates continue to beneficially own at least 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, the Vistria Stockholder will have the right, but not the obligation, to (a) nominate a number of directors (the “Vistria Board Nominees”) comprising a percentage of the Company’s board of directors in accordance with its beneficial ownership of the outstanding Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole number) (at least one of whom will serve as a Class III director), (b) designate one director to the boards of directors (or similar body) of any subsidiary of the Company on which any affiliate of the Apollo Stockholder serves as a director or to which the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates appoint any director and (c) designate one member of each committee of the board of directors (other than the audit committee) to which the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates appoint any director.

Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Apollo Stockholder has the right, at any time until the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates no longer beneficially own at least 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, to nominate a number of directors (the “Apollo Board Nominees”) comprising a percentage of the Company’s board of directors in accordance with their beneficial ownership of the outstanding Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole number), except that if Apollo and its affiliates, including the Apollo Stockholder, beneficially own more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock, the Apollo Stockholder will have the right to nominate a majority of the directors.

Any vacancy on the Company’s board of directors in respect of an Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board Nominee will be filled only by individuals designated by the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates or the Vistria Stockholder and its affiliates, as applicable, for so long as they respectively beneficially own at least 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock.

     

In the event that the Apollo Stockholder has nominated fewer than the total number of Apollo Board Nominees that the Apollo Stockholder is entitled to nominate or the Vistria Stockholder has nominated fewer than the total number of Vistria Board Nominees that the Vistria Stockholder is entitled to nominate, the Apollo Stockholder or the Vistria Stockholder, as applicable, will have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional nominee(s), and the Company’s board of directors will take all necessary actions, whether by increasing the size of the board of directors or otherwise, to effect the election of such additional nominee(s) to fill any existing vacancy or newly-created directorship. In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause of any Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board Nominee, including the failure of any Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board nominee to be elected as a director at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders, the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates or the Vistria Stockholder and its affiliates, as applicable, will continue to have the right to nominate the Apollo Board Nominee or the Vistria Board Nominee, as applicable, and the Company’s board of directors will take all necessary actions, whether by increasing the size of the board of directors or otherwise, to effect the election of such additional nominee(s) to fill any existing vacancy or newly-created directorship. Nevertheless, in the event that the removal or election of any director would require The University of Phoenix, Inc. (the “University”) to make any filing, notice or report, or obtain any consent, registration, approval, permit or authorization from any educational agency in order to maintain, continue or reinstate any Educational Approval (as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement) presently held by the University (each, an “Educational Consent”), the University shall not be required to take any action to remove or elect, as applicable, such director until such Educational Consent has been made, obtained or is otherwise not required at the time of such director’s removal or election.

The Stockholders’ Agreement provides that for so long as the Apollo Stockholder and its affiliates beneficially own at least 33% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, the Company will not, and the Company will cause its subsidiaries not to, take certain significant actions specified therein without the prior consent of the Apollo Stockholder.

The Stockholders’ Agreement also provides that for so long that the Vistria Stockholder and its affiliates beneficially own at least 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, the Company will not amend, modify or repeal (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) any provision of its certificate of incorporation, its bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of its subsidiaries in a manner that adversely affects any affiliates of the Vistria Stockholder without the prior consent of the Vistria Stockholder. The Stockholders’ Agreement also sets forth certain information rights granted to the Apollo Stockholder and the Vistria Stockholder.

The foregoing summary of the Stockholders’ Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Stockholders’ Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1, and is incorporated by reference herein.

Registration Rights Agreement

As described in the registration statement for the Initial Public Offering, on October 8, 2025, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Apollo Stockholder, the Vistria Stockholder and certain other stockholders. Subject to several exceptions, including the Company’s right to defer a demand registration, shelf registration or underwritten offering under certain circumstances, the Apollo Stockholder and the Vistria Stockholder may require that the Company register for public resale under the Securities Act all shares of the Company’s Common Stock that they request to be registered at any time, subject to the restrictions in the lock-up agreements entered into by each of those parties in connection with the Initial Public Offering, so long as the securities being registered in each registration statement or sold in any underwritten offering are reasonably expected to produce aggregate proceeds of at least $50 million (or $25 million if a shelf takedown).

If the Company becomes eligible to register the sale of its securities on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, which will not be until at least twelve calendar months after October 8, 2025, the Apollo Stockholder and, subject to certain exceptions, the Vistria Stockholder, will have the right to require the Company to register the sale of the Common Stock held by it on Form S-3, subject to offering size and other restrictions. The Apollo Stockholder and the Vistria Stockholder will also have the right to request marketed and non-marketed underwritten offerings using a shelf registration statement.

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The Company will not be obligated under the Registration Rights Agreement to effectuate more than one demand registration or underwritten offering under a shelf registration statement for the Vistria Stockholder, and, without the Company’s consent, the Vistria Stockholder will not be able to exercise its demand registration until following the one-year anniversary of the Initial Public Offering.

If the Company proposes to file certain types of registration statements under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities (including for sale by the Company or at the request of the Apollo Stockholder or the Vistria Stockholder), the Company will be required to use its reasonable best efforts to offer the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement the opportunity to register the sale of all or part of their shares on the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement (customarily known as “piggyback rights”).

All expenses of registration under the Registration Rights Agreement, including the legal fees of counsel chosen by stockholders participating in a registration, will be paid by the Company.

The registration rights granted in the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to customary restrictions including blackout periods and, if a registration is underwritten, any limitations on the number of shares to be included in the underwritten offering as reasonably advised by the managing underwriter or underwriters. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.

The foregoing summary of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2, and is incorporated by reference herein.

University Stockholders’ Agreement

As described in the registration statement for the Initial Public Offering, on October 9, 2025, the Company, the University and the Company’s direct subsidiary, Phoenix Education Operating Corp. (“Opco”), entered into The University of Phoenix, Inc. Amended & Restated Stockholders’ Agreement (the “University Stockholders’ Agreement”). The University Stockholders’ Agreement includes customary provisions which, among other things, (a) provides for the agreement of the non-Opco stockholders to vote for candidates for the University’s independent trustees nominated in accordance with the University’s bylaws and to vote for other trustees of the University nominated by Opco and (b) provides restrictions on transfer and certain piggy-back registration rights in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the University Stockholders’ Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the University Stockholders’ Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3, and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Prior to the completion of the Initial Public Offering, the Company converted from a limited partnership named AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. to a Delaware corporation named Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. Copies of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which became effective upon the conversion, are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively.

As described in the registration statement for the Initial Public Offering, on October 8, 2025, the Company, the Apollo Stockholder and the Vistria Stockholder terminated the management consulting agreement and transaction fee agreement that the Company was party to prior to the Initial Public Offering.

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
No.
  Description
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.
3.2   Bylaws of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.
10.1   Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2025, by and among Phoenix Education Partners, Inc., TVG-I-E-AEG Holdings, LP and AP VIII Socrates Holdings, L.P.
10.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2025, by and among Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. and the holders party thereto.
10.3   The University of Phoenix, Inc. Amended & Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2025, by and among The University of Phoenix, Inc., Phoenix Education Operating Corp. and Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.

 

 

 

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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.

 

  PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.  
         
  By: /s/ Srini Medi  
    Name: Srini Medi  
    Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary  

Dated: October 15, 2025

 

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EX-3.1 2 eh250691528_ex0301.htm EXHIBIT 3.1

EXHIBIT 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.

The undersigned incorporator, in order to form a corporation under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), certifies as follows:

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation (hereinafter the “Corporation”) is Phoenix Education Partners, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is the Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

Section 4.01        Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 1,500,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 1,495,000,000 shares shall be common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 5,000,000 shares shall be preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

Section 4.02        Common Stock. The terms of the Common Stock set forth below shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding.

(a)        Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated, this “Certificate of Incorporation”), the holders of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders generally.

(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 Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, as, if and when declared by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) out of the funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends (payable in cash, shares of stock of the Corporation, property or assets of the Corporation or otherwise) as the Board may from time to time in its sole discretion determine.

(c)        Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after the payment or provision for the payment of any debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed among and paid to the holders of Common Stock ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.

Section 4.03        Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance from time to time of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, by filing a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, with such powers (including voting powers, if any), designations, preferences, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, as are stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance thereof adopted by the Board, including, but not limited to, determination of any of the following:

(a)        the distinctive designation of the series, whether by number, letter or title, and the number of shares which will constitute the series;

(b)        the dividend rate, if any, and the times of payment of dividends, if any, on the shares of the series, whether such dividends will be cumulative and, if so, from what date or dates, and the relation which such dividends, if any, shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock;

(c)        the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of a specified event;

(d)        whether or not the shares of the series will be entitled to the benefit of a retirement or sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

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(e)        the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of the shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or upon the happening of any other specified event;

(f)        whether or not the shares of the series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, at the option of either the holder or the Corporation or upon the happening of a specified event, shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation and, if so convertible or exchangeable, the conversion price or prices, or the rates of exchange, and any adjustments thereof, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

(g)        whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation in any respect, or will be entitled to the benefit of limitations restricting the issuance of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, restricting the payment of dividends on or the making of other distributions in respect of shares of any other class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of the series as to dividends or distributions, or restricting the purchase or redemption of the shares of any such junior class or classes or series of stock of the Corporation, and the terms of any such restriction;

(h)        whether or not the shares of the series will have voting rights or powers and, if so, the terms of such voting rights and powers; and

(i)        any other powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the series.

Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights and powers, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately as a class or together with the holders of one or more other such series as a separate class, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock established by a Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation pursuant to this Article IV and the DGCL and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

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ARTICLE V

Section 5.01        General Powers. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

Section 5.02        Number of Directors.

(a)        Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to Article IV and this Article V (relating to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors), the total number of directors shall be as determined from time to time exclusively by the Board; provided, that in no event shall the total number of directors be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15); provided, further, that, for so long as the Apollo Percentage Interest (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement, dated on or about the date of the effectiveness of the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation, by and among the Corporation, TVG-I-E-AEG Holdings, LP (the “Vistria Stockholder”) and AP VIII Socrates Holdings, L.P. (the “Apollo Stockholder”) (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”)) is at least 33%, without the prior written approval of the Apollo Stockholder, the Board shall not increase or decrease the total number of directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws (as defined below) shall so require.

Section 5.03        Classified Board; Term of Office. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”), Class II directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. At each succeeding annual meeting, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification. The Board is authorized to assign the initial members of the Board to their respective classes.

Section 5.04        Quorum. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, but in addition to any requirements set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, if Apollo Global

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Management, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Apollo”), investment funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, including Apollo Management VIII, L.P., and their respective affiliates, including the Apollo Stockholder (collectively, the “Apollo Entities” and, each, an “Apollo Entity”), own, beneficially or of record, at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation and there is at least one member of the Board who is an Apollo Board Nominee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement), a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board shall include at least one Apollo Board Nominee unless each Apollo Board Nominee provides notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the remaining members of the Board waiving his or her right to be included in the quorum at such meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, but in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, at any time that the Apollo Entities own, beneficially or of record, at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, the Corporation shall not (directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation or otherwise) amend, alter or repeal this Section 5.04, or adopt any provision inconsistent herewith, without the prior written consent of the Apollo Stockholder.

Section 5.05        Vacancies; Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of a director or other cause, or any newly created directorship in the Board, shall be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, that, (i) for so long as the Apollo Nomination Condition (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) is satisfied, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of any Apollo Board Nominee, including the failure of any Apollo Board Nominee to be elected, shall be filled only by the Apollo Stockholder and (ii) for so long as the Vistria Nomination Condition (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) is satisfied, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of such Vistria Board Nominee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement), including the failure of the Vistria Board Nominee to be elected, shall be filled only by the Vistria Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the class to which he or she has been appointed and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.

Section 5.06        Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that, from and after the Trigger Event (as defined in Article VII hereof) any such director or all such directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3rds or 66 2/3%) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Company and the Directors shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take all actions necessary at any time and from time to time so that (i) an Apollo Board Nominee will not

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be removed from the Board without the approval of the Apollo Stockholder, so long as the Apollo Nomination Condition is satisfied and (ii) a Vistria Board Nominee will not be removed from the Board without the approval of the Vistria Stockholder, so long as the Vistria Nomination Condition is satisfied.

Section 5.07        Voting Rights of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series of Preferred Stock, to elect directors, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies (including filling any newly created directorships) any and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock 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 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 such 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 such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification. Except as otherwise provided by the Board 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, retirement, removal or disqualification of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

ARTICLE VI

In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers, privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the DGCL or other statutes or laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”), without any action on the part of the stockholders.

ARTICLE VII

Except as otherwise required by law, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by (i) the Chairman of the Board, at any time, (ii) the Secretary of the Corporation at the direction of a majority of the directors then in office, at any time, or (iii) until such time as the Apollo Entities cease to beneficially own at least 50.1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Trigger Event”), the Secretary of the Corporation at the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock, and special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.

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ARTICLE VIII

To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. Any repeal or amendment or modification of this Article VIII (including by changes in applicable law), or the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide a broader limitation on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of any director or officer of the Corporation with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the time of such repeal or amendment or modification or adoption of such inconsistent provision. If any provision of the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of directors or officers, as applicable, shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. References in this Article VIII to an “officer” shall mean a person who, at the time of an act or omission as to which liability is asserted, falls within the meaning of the term “officer” as defined in Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.

ARTICLE IX

Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding to act by written consent as provided in any Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders; provided, that prior to the Trigger Event, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation 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 or on behalf of 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 entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Section 10.01    Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, at any time during which this Certificate of Incorporation is in effect (whether or not such person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or payment of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was at any such time serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of

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another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (hereinafter, an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, shall be (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to be) indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide greater indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 10.04 of this Article X, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the first instance by the Board.

Section 10.02    Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall include the right, without the need for any action by the Board, to be paid by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) the expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, to the extent required by the DGCL, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article X or otherwise.

Section 10.03    Nature of Rights; Other Sources. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article X shall be contract rights between the Corporation and each Indemnitee to whom such rights are extended that vest at the commencement of such person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and all such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation or ceased to serve at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Corporation hereby acknowledges that certain Indemnitees may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance (other than directors’ and officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation, its controlled affiliates or any of the foregoing’s respective subsidiaries) from persons or entities other than the Corporation (collectively, the

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“Other Indemnitors”). The Corporation hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort of the Indemnitees (i.e., its obligations to an Indemnitee hereunder are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms hereof, without regard to any rights an Indemnitee may have against the Other Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Other Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of an Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation hereunder shall affect the foregoing and the Other 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 such Indemnitee against the Corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, no person or entity providing directors’ or officers’ liability insurance or similar insurance obtained or maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation, any of its controlled affiliates or any of the foregoing’s respective subsidiaries, including any person or entity providing such insurance obtained or maintained as contemplated by Section 10.08, shall be an Other Indemnitor.

Section 10.04    Claims. To obtain indemnification under this Article X, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 10.04, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (a) by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, (b) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of the Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (c) if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.

Section 10.05    Enforcement. If a claim under Section 10.01 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X has been received by the Corporation, or if a claim under Section 10.02 of this Article X is not paid in full by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after a written claim therefor has been made, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. It shall be a defense to any such action that in the case of a claim for

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indemnification, the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or 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, Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or 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 10.06    Procedures. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10.04 of this Article X that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Article X that the procedures and presumptions of this Article X are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Article X.

Section 10.07    Non-Exclusive Rights. The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article X: (i) shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought prior to the date of such termination. Any amendment, modification, alteration or repeal of this Article X (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) that in any way diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an Indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, in any way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission.

Section 10.08    Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 10.09    Additional Rights. The Board may grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article X with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.

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Section 10.10    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Section of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

Section 10.11    Definitions; Construction. For purposes of this Article X: “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant; and “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporate law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Article X. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article X shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the officers appointed as such pursuant to the Bylaws by the Board or by an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or 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 corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or 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 such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or 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 corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article X.

Section 10.12    Notices. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under this Article X shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, fax, email, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.

ARTICLE XI

Section 11.01    Recognition of Corporate Opportunities. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, officers, principals, partners, members, managers, employees, agents and/or other representatives of the Apollo Entities and their respective Affiliates (as defined below) and the Vistria Stockholder and its respective Affiliates may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation and its Affiliates, and (ii) the Apollo Entities and their respective Affiliates and the Vistria Stockholder and its respective Affiliates may now engage and may

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continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation and Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation and its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article XI are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation and its Affiliates with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve the Apollo Entities and their respective Affiliates or the Vistria Stockholder and its respective Affiliates, as applicable, and any person or entity who, while a stockholder, director, officer or agent of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, is a director, officer, principal, partner, member, manager, employee, agent and/or other representative of the Apollo Entities and their respective Affiliates or the Vistria Stockholder and its respective Affiliates, as applicable (each, an “Identified Person”), on the one hand, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its Affiliates and its and their respective stockholders, directors, officers, and agents in connection therewith, on the other. To the fullest extent permitted by law (including, without limitation, the DGCL), and notwithstanding any other duty (contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, whether at law or in equity), each Identified Person (i) shall have the right to and shall have no duty (contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, whether at law or in equity) not to, directly or indirectly, engage in and possess interests in other business ventures of every type and description, including those engaged in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or deemed to be competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, on its own account, or in partnership with, or as a direct or indirect equity holder, controlling person, stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate (including any portfolio company), member, financing source, investor, director or indirect manager, general or limited partner or assignee of any other person or entity with no obligation to offer to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or other Affiliates the right to participate therein and (ii) shall have the right to invest in, or provide services to, any person that is engaged in the same or similar business activities as the Corporation or its Affiliates or directly or indirectly competes with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

Section 11.02    Competitive Opportunities. In the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be an investment, corporate or business opportunity or prospective economic or competitive advantage in which the Corporation or its Affiliates could have an interest or expectancy (contractual, equitable or otherwise) (a “Competitive Opportunity”) or otherwise is then exploiting any Competitive Opportunity, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL and notwithstanding any other duty existing at law or in equity, the Corporation and its Affiliates will have no interest in, and no expectation (contractual, equitable or otherwise) that such Competitive Opportunity be offered to it. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any such interest or expectation (contractual, equitable or otherwise) is hereby renounced so that such Identified Person shall (i) have no duty to communicate or present such Competitive Opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliates, (ii) have the right to either hold any such Competitive Opportunity for such Identified Person’s own account and benefit or the account of the former, current or future direct or indirect equity holders, controlling persons, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, Affiliates, members, financing sources, investors, direct or indirect managers, general or limited partners or assignees of any Identified Person or to direct, recommend, assign or otherwise transfer such Competitive Opportunity to persons or entities other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, Affiliates or direct or indirect equity holders and (iii) notwithstanding any provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, not be obligated or liable to the Corporation,

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any stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation or any other person or entity by reason of the fact that such Identified Person, directly or indirectly, took any of the actions noted in the immediately preceding clause (ii), pursued or acquired such Competitive Opportunity for itself or any other person or entity or failed to communicate or present such Competitive Opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliates.

Section 11.03    Acknowledgement. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any other interest in the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

Section 11.04    Interpretation; Duties. In the event of a conflict or other inconsistency between this Article XI and any other Article or provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, this Article XI shall prevail under all circumstances. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, under no circumstances shall the provisions of this Article XI (other than this Section 11.04 of this Article XI) apply to (or result in or be deemed to result in a limitation or elimination of any duty (contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, whether at law or in equity)) owed by any employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, irrespective of whether such employee otherwise would be an Identified Person, and any Competitive Opportunity waived or renounced by any person or entity pursuant to such other provisions of this Article XI shall be expressly reserved and maintained by such person or entity, as applicable (and shall not be waived or renounced) as to any such employee.

Section 11.05    Section 122(17) of the DGCL. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 11.04 of this Article XI, this Article XI is intended to constitute, with respect to the Identified Persons, a disclaimer and renunciation, to the fullest extent permitted under Section 122(17) of the DGCL, of any right of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates with respect to the matters set forth in this Article XI, and this Article XI shall be construed to effect such disclaimer and renunciation to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.

Section 11.06    Definitions. Solely for purposes of this Article XI, “Affiliate” shall mean (a) with respect to the Apollo Entities, any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by an Apollo Entity, controls an Apollo Entity, or is under common control with an Apollo Entity, but excluding (x) the Corporation, and (y) any entity that is controlled by the Corporation (including its direct and indirect subsidiaries), (b) with respect to the Vistria Stockholder, any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, or is under common control with, The Vistria Group, LP and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation. As used in this Section 11.06, the term “control” when used with respect to any person shall mean the power to direct the management or policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

ARTICLE XII 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of

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Delaware lacks jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, then another court of the State of Delaware, or if no court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or any of its stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, but subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article XII, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any action, suit or proceedings asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The provisions of this Article XII do not apply to claims arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

ARTICLE XIII

Section 13.01    Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

Section 13.02    Interested Stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

(a)        prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

(b)        upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans 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 and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

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Section 13.03    Certain Exceptions. The restrictions contained in this Article XIII 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-year period immediately prior to the 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 13.03(b), (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 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, 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 or more of either that 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 or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent 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 13.03.

Section 13.04    Definitions. For purposes of this Article XIII only, references to:

(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)        “Apollo Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from an Apollo Entity or any of its affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(c)        “Apollo Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Apollo Direct Transferee or any other Apollo Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

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(d)        “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 partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 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.

(e)        “business combination”, when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

(i)        any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.02 of this Article XIII 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 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 a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) 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; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) 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 (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

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(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

(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 subsections (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

(f)        “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 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(g)        “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 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 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) 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; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (A) the Apollo Entities, any Apollo Direct Transferee, any Apollo Indirect Transferee, Vistria, any Vistria Direct Transferee, any Vistria Indirect Transferee, or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that, in the case of clause (B), 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 corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. 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 the definition of “owner” below 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.

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(h)        “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

(i)        beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

(ii)        has (1) 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 (2) 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 ten (10) or more persons; or

(iii)        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 item (2) of subsection (h)(ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

(i)        “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

(j)        “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

(k)        “Vistria” means The Vistria Group, LP and any affiliate thereof, including the Vistria Stockholder.

(l)        “Vistria Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from Vistria or any of its affiliates or successors or any “group”, or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(m)        “Vistria Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Vistria Direct Transferee or any other Vistria Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(n)        “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Every reference to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentages of the votes of such voting stock.

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ARTICLE XIV

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: (i) 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 Article (or section or subsection thereof) 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 in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Article (or any section or subsection thereof) of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

ARTICLE XV

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its current form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to greater or additional vote or consent required hereunder (including any vote of the holders of any particular class or classes or series of stock required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Section 4.03 of Article IV, Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII, and this Article XV.

From and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any additional or greater vote or consent required hereunder (including any vote of the holders of any particular class or classes or series of stock required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

ARTICLE XVI

The name and mailing address of the incorporator are Srini Medi and 4035 S. Riverpoint Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85040.

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WITNESS the signature of this Certificate of Incorporation this 7th day of October, 2025.

 

 

  /s/ Srini Medi  
  Incorporator  
  Name: Srini Medi  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. — CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

   

 

EX-3.2 3 eh250691528_ex0302.htm EXHIBIT 3.2

EXHIBIT 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.

(Adopted as of October 7, 2025)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1.01        Registered Office. The address of the registered office of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

Section 1.02        Other Offices. The Corporation may have a principal or other office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Corporation.

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.01        Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, or solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 2.13 of these Bylaws and applicable law, as may be designated by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2.02        Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.07 of these Bylaws shall be held on such day and at such hour, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, adjourn, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.03        Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held on such day and at such hour, as shall be designated in the notice of meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting. Except in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called at the request of the stockholders pursuant to the express terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may postpone, adjourn, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.

   

Section 2.04        Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, notice, stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present may be deemed to be present 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 ten (10) days nor more than sixty (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. Notice may be given either personally, by courier service, by electronic mail, by other form of electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or by mail. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. If delivered by courier service, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the times provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. When a determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this Section 2.04, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors fixes a new notice or voting record date for the adjourned meeting. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law.

Section 2.05        Quorum; Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series or classes or series of stock voting as a separate class, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or series or classes or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series or classes or series with respect to the vote on such business. The chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum. No notice of an adjourned meeting need be given except as required by law. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 2.06        Proxies.

(a)        General. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.

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(b)        White Card. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for exclusive use by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.07        Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a)        Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

(i)        At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and only other business shall be considered or conducted, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations to be properly made at an annual meeting, and proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be made: (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of these Bylaws, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw as to such business or nomination or (D) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). Subject to the Stockholders Agreement, clause (C) of this Section 2.07(a)(i) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii)        Without qualification or limitation, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(C) of this Bylaw, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on February 9, 2025); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. “Close of business” means 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on any calendar day, whether or not such day is a business day. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the

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announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. In addition, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice or otherwise at the request of the Corporation or pursuant to these Bylaws shall be true, correct and complete as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after such record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, 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 or any adjournment or postponement thereof. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (a)(ii) or paragraph (b)) to the Secretary must: (a) set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, of such beneficial owner, if any, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder, such beneficial owner, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (B) any 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, any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard of whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or beneficial owner, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the

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risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any security of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owner is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation (as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended from time to time) held by such stockholder or beneficial owner, and (I) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended from time to time) (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), and (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (b) a representation that the stockholder giving notice (i) is a stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by a qualified representative at the meeting to propose such business or nomination; (ii) intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the business or nomination, and (B) to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the stockholder proposal or nomination, including in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act as applicable; and (iii) shall provide all other information and affirmations, updates and supplements required pursuant to these Bylaws; (c) if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf such proposal is made in such business, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration, and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the text of such proposed amendment) and (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; (d) set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors (i) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies

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for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (e) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.08 of these Bylaws. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee or proposing or nominating stockholder to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, or other qualifications of such nominee. Any proposed nominee and proposing or nominating stockholder shall (i) provide any other information reasonably requested from time to time by the Corporation within five (5) business days after each such request and (ii) update and supplement promptly (and in any event no later than two (2) business days prior to the commencement of the applicable meeting of stockholders) any information provided to the Corporation in the stockholders’ notice, or at the Corporation’s request pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) or any other provision of these Bylaws, if any such information ceases for any reason to be accurate or complete in any material respect.

(iii)        Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that 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 (a)(ii) of this Bylaw and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new directorships created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)        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 Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, (B) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation

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who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw as to such nomination, or (C) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement. The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations before a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected or appointed. In the event that the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, other than with respect to any nomination made in the manner provided in the Stockholders Agreement, any stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting only if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this Bylaw with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.08 of these Bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which the Corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special meeting at which directors are to be elected. 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 in the immediately preceding sentence.

(c)        General.

(i)        Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw or in the Stockholders Agreement shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded; provided, that nothing shall limit the power and authority of the Board of Directors to make any such determinations in advance of any meeting of stockholders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, 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 make a nomination or present a proposal of other 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 Bylaw, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person 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.

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(ii)        For purposes of this Bylaw, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(iii)        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)(C) or paragraph (b) of this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Corporation’s proxy statement any nomination of director or directors or any other business proposal.

(iv)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the nomination of any Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board Nominee (each as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 2.07.

Section 2.08        Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation and qualified to serve as a director, a person must deliver (such delivery to be made, in the case of a person nominated for election as a director of the Corporation pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(C) or paragraph (b) of Section 2.07 of these Bylaws, in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.07 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background, citizenship and qualification of such person and the background of any other persons or entities on whose behalf the nomination is being made pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(C) or paragraph (b) Section 2.07 of these Bylaws (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) 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 (2) 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, (B) 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 (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

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Section 2.09        Required Vote. At all meetings of the stockholders at which directors are to be elected and a quorum is present, a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote for the election of such directors shall be sufficient to elect such directors. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any regulation applicable to the Corporation, its stockholders or its securities (in which case such vote as prescribed by applicable law shall be the applicable vote on the matter), in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

Section 2.10        Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by applicable law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law.

Section 2.11        Action Without a Meeting. Unless prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action permitted or required to be taken at a meeting of 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, shall be signed by or on behalf of 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 entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than a unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing 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 written consents signed by a sufficient number of the holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

Section 2.12        Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such

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presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 2.13        Remote Meetings. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors 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 (i) 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, (ii) 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 (iii) 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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 3.01        General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.02        Number of Directors. The total number of directors shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided by the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the total number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 3.03        Quorum; Required Vote. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but in no event shall less than one-third of the total number of directors (including any vacancies or

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unfilled newly created directorships) constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.04        Telephonic Participation. All or any one or more directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation in a meeting pursuant to such communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.05        Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold its meetings at such place or places, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

Section 3.06        Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. After there has been such determination, and notice thereof has been given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

Section 3.07        Special Meetings. Subject to the notice requirements of Section 3.08, special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer or by a majority of the directors.

Section 3.08        Notice. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his or her business or residence in writing by hand delivery, overnight mail or courier service, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, or orally in person or by telephone. If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least twelve (12) hours before such meeting. If given orally in person or by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting.

Section 3.09        Resignation. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission thereof to the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall be effective when the resignation is delivered, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 3.10        Vacancies on Board of Directors; Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of any director or other cause, or any newly created directorship resulting from

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any increase in the authorized number of directors, shall be filled only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, that (i) for so long as the Apollo Entities own, beneficially or of record, at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of any Apollo Board Nominee, including the failure of any Apollo Board Nominee to be elected, shall be filled only by the Apollo Stockholder (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) and (ii) for so long as the Vistria Nomination Condition (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) is satisfied, any vacancy resulting from the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause in respect of such Vistria Board Nominee (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement), including the failure of the Vistria Board Nominee to be elected, shall be filled in the manner set forth in the Stockholders Agreement. Except as otherwise provided by this Bylaw, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the class to which such director shall have been appointed and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.

Section 3.11        Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees of the Board of Directors to exercise, subject to applicable provisions of law, all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation when the Board of Directors is not in session. Each such committee shall consist of two (2) or more directors of the Corporation and, subject to applicable law and any other law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation (including the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on the which the Corporation’s shares are listed), at least one Apollo Board Nominee shall be entitled to be a member of each such committee, for so long as the Apollo Entities (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) own, beneficially or of record, at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) 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 law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any such committee, to the extent provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, these Bylaws or the designating resolution, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each committee shall keep written minutes of its proceedings and shall report such proceedings to the Board of Directors when required.

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 in these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 3.08 of these Bylaws. Each committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee. Unless otherwise provided in the

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Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in these Bylaws or the by resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, every reference to a committee or to a member of a committee in these Bylaws shall apply to any subcommittee or member of a subcommittee mutatis mutandis.

Section 3.12        Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, 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 any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

Section 3.13        Fees and 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. Directors who are officers or employees of the Corporation may receive, if the Board of Directors desires, compensation for service as directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01        Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and may include a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board of Directors shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IV. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof. In addition, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurers and Controllers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or such committee or by the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.

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Section 4.02        Term of Office. The principal officers of the Corporation shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly chosen and shall qualify, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification.

Section 4.03        Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors. Any officer or agent appointed by the Chief Executive Officer may also be removed by him or her whenever, in his or her judgment, the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his or her successor or his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

Section 4.04        Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission thereof to the Corporation. The resignation of any officer shall be effective when the resignation is delivered, unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4.05        Vacancies. A vacancy in any office may be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for appointment to such office.

Section 4.06        Powers and Duties. Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the officers shall each have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer without limiting the foregoing:

(a)        Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and he or she shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

(b)        Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and officers of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. Unless there shall have been elected one or more Presidents of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the President of the Corporation.

(c)        President. Each President shall have such general powers and duties of supervision and management as shall be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

(d)        Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositaries as may

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be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or a President, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. He or she shall render to the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, each President and the Board of Directors at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever they may request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, he or she shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe. The Chief Executive Officer may direct the Treasurer or any assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasurer or any assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.

(e)        Secretary. The Secretary, if present, shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof and of the stockholders and keep the minutes thereof in a book or books to be provided for that purpose. He or she shall see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; he or she shall have charge of the stock records of the Corporation; he or she shall see that all reports, statements and other documents required by law are properly kept and filed; and in general, he or she shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

Section 4.07        Salaries. The salaries of the principal officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof appointed for such purpose, and the salaries of any other officers may be fixed by the Chief Executive Officer.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 5.01        Certificated and Uncertificated Stock; Transfers.

(a)        The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s 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.

(b)        Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder. Unless the Board of Directors by resolution directs otherwise, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be

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authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on such certificates may be an electronic signature. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose electronic signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 5.02        Last, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Certificates. As a condition to the issue of a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued and alleged to have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Corporation may require the owner of any such certificate, or such owner’s legal representatives, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum and in such form as it may direct or to otherwise indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares. Proper evidence of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall be procured for the Corporation, if required. The Corporation may authorize the issuance of such new certificate without any bond when in its judgment it is proper to do so.

Section 5.03        Record Owners. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders of the Corporation and the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its stock ledger as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to vote and to receive notice, and otherwise to exercise all of the rights and powers of an owner of such shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

Section 5.04        Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 5.05        Record Date.

(a)        In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at 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 and which record date, unless otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 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 meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no such record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, then the record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of such meeting is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(b)        In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of

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stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(c)        In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting has been fixed by the Board of Directors (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS

Section 6.01        Amendments by Stockholders. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be added by the stockholders (i) prior to the Trigger Event (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon and (ii) after the Trigger Event, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the stock entitled to vote thereon at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or addition is contained in the notice of such special meeting.

Section 6.02        Amendments by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 7.01        Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 7.02        Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person on behalf of the Corporation to attend and vote at any meeting of security holders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities and to

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exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies, powers of attorney and consents on behalf of the Corporation. Unless the Board of Directors directs otherwise, each of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and any President shall have the powers specified in the preceding provisions of this Section 7.02.

Section 7.03        Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient, in accordance with law. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time in their discretion may deem proper. The Board of Directors may abolish any such reserve at any time.

Section 7.04        Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board of Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting.

Section 7.05        Contracts. Except as otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contracts or other instruments may be executed and delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board of Directors may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, each President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President may execute bonds, contracts, deeds, leases and other instruments to be made or executed for or on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, each President, the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Corporation may delegate contractual powers to others under his or her jurisdiction, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.

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EX-10.1 4 eh250691528_ex1001.htm EXHIBIT 10.1


EXHIBIT 10.1

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

by and among

PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.,

TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP,

and

AP VIII SOCRATES HOLDINGS, L.P.

Dated as of October 8, 2025

 

 

 

     

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Article I DEFINITIONS 1
Section 1.1   Definitions 1
Section 1.2   Interpretation 5
   
Article II DISPOSITIONS 6
Section 2.1   Disposition and Joinders 6
   
Article III GOVERNANCE AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS 7
Section 3.1   Board Composition 7
Section 3.2   Matters Requiring Approval of the Apollo Investor 9
Section 3.3   Matters Requiring Approval of the Vistria Investor 10
Section 3.4   Assurances 11
   
Article IV NOTICES 11
Section 4.1   Notices 11
   
Article V CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS 11
Section 5.1   Books and Records; Access 11
Section 5.2   Sharing of Information 12
Section 5.3   Confidential Information 13
   
Article VI MISCELLANEOUS 15
Section 6.1   GOVERNING LAW 15
Section 6.2   Binding Effect 15
Section 6.3   Amendment 15
Section 6.4   Termination 15
Section 6.5   Specific Performance 15
Section 6.6   Counterparts 16
Section 6.7   Severability 16
Section 6.8   Further Assurances 16
Section 6.9   Submission to Jurisdiction 16
Section 6.10   Waiver 17
Section 6.11   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 17
Section 6.12   Entire Agreement 17
Section 6.13   No Third Party Beneficiaries 17
Section 6.14   Changes in Company Group Equity Securities 17
Section 6.15   No Recourse 18
Section 6.16   Issuance of Additional Securities 18
Section 6.17   Aggregation of Securities 18
Section 6.18   Assignment 19

 

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STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

This STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT dated as of October 8, 2025 (this “Agreement”), by and among (i) PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), (ii) TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Vistria Investor”), and (iii) AP VIII SOCRATES HOLDINGS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Apollo Investor”).

WHEREAS, in connection with, and effective upon, the date of completion of the initial public offering of the Company, the Company, the Vistria Investor and the Apollo Investor wish to set forth their agreements with respect to certain matters concerning the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1        Definitions.

(a)        As used in this Agreement:

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) except as otherwise specified herein, none of the Apollo Group, the Apollo Investor, the Vistria Investor, the Vistria Fund, any Permitted Transferee or the other Holders shall be considered an Affiliate of (i) any portfolio company in which the Apollo Group, the Apollo Investor, the Vistria Investor, the Vistria Fund, any Permitted Transferee, such other Holders or any of their respective investment fund affiliates, as applicable, have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa), (ii) any limited partner of, non-managing member of, or other similar direct or indirect investor in the Apollo Funds, the Vistria Investor, the Vistria Fund, any Permitted Transferee or any of their respective alternative investment vehicles or (iii) any portfolio company in which any limited partner of, non-managing member of, or other similar direct or indirect investor in the Apollo Group, the Apollo Investor, the Vistria Investor, the Vistria Fund, any Permitted Transferee or the other Holders or any of their respective affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa), and none of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this definition shall be considered an Affiliate of each other (the exclusion in this clause (1), the “Affiliate Exclusion”) and (2) each of the Holders (other than the Apollo Investor) shall not be considered an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Apollo Investor or the Apollo Group. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the

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extent that AGS would be considered an “Affiliate” of the Apollo Investor or any of its Affiliates, AGS shall not be considered such an “Affiliate” of the Apollo Investor or any of its Affiliates when AGS acts as a broker-dealer, underwriter, placement agent, initial purchaser, arranger or lender or in any similar role in the ordinary course of its business.

“AGS” means Apollo Global Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Apollo Funds” means Apollo Investment Fund VIII, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners (Delaware 892) VIII, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners (Delaware) VIII, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners VIII, L.P. and AP Socrates Co-Invest, L.P.

“Apollo Group” means the Apollo Funds and the Apollo Investor, collectively with each of their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) (it being agreed that the Affiliate Exclusion shall apply to all uses of the term “Apollo Group” in this Agreement unless otherwise specified). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that AGS would be considered a member of the “Apollo Group”, AGS shall not be considered such a member of the “Apollo Group” when AGS acts as a broker-dealer, underwriter, placement agent, initial purchaser, arranger or lender or in any similar role in the ordinary course of its business.

“Apollo Group Related Person” means (x) any member of the Apollo Group (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) or (y) any Person who is a general partner, partner, managing director, manager, officer, director, employee or principal of any member of the Apollo Group (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) (including any Apollo Board Nominee) or any Affiliate (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) of any of the foregoing (it being agreed that the Affiliate Exclusion shall be disregarded for purposes of all uses of the term “Apollo Group Related Person” in this Agreement). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that AGS would be considered an “Apollo Group Related Person”, AGS shall not be considered such an “Apollo Group Related Person” when AGS acts as a broker-dealer, underwriter, placement agent, initial purchaser, arranger or lender or in any similar role in the ordinary course of its business.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.

“Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Company, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

“Change of Control” means the direct or indirect (x) sale of all or substantially all of such Person’s assets in one transaction or series of related transactions, (y) merger, consolidation, refinancing or recapitalization as a result of which the holders of such Person’s issued and outstanding capital stock (or equivalent Equity Securities) immediately before such transaction own or control less than 50% of the voting power of the capital stock (or equivalent Equity Securities) of such Person or of the continuing or surviving entity immediately after such transaction or (z) acquisition (in one or more transactions) by any Person or Persons acting together or constituting a “group” under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act together with any Affiliates thereof (other than equity holders of such Person as of the date hereof and their respective Affiliates) of beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) or control, directly or indirectly, of at least 50% of the total voting power of all classes of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of such Person’s board of directors or similar governing body.

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“Charter” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

“Company Confidential Information” means any confidential and proprietary information, documents and materials of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all of the foregoing’s respective employees, officers, trustees, directors, managers, consultants, representatives, analyses, models, securities positions, purchases, sales, investments, competitive strategies, marketing plans, student data, educational methods and technology, activities, business, affairs or other transactions or matters, in each case that are provided by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Group Equity Linked Securities” means (x) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any warrants or options or other rights to acquire, any capital stock, voting securities or equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (y) any warrants or options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any Company Group Equity Securities or (z) any rights that are linked in any way to the price of any Equity Securities of, or to the value of or of any part of, or to any dividends or distributions paid on any capital stock or other Equity Securities of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Group Equity Securities” means any Equity Securities issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Company Group Equity Linked Securities.

“Company School” means the University or any educational institution or location owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Disposition” means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, exchange, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or sale or any other disposition, of Company Group Equity Securities, or any legal, economic or beneficial interest in any Company Group Equity Securities (in each case, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, whether held in its own right or by its representative and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law). “Dispose” and “Disposed” have correlative meanings.

“Educational Agency” means any Person, whether governmental, government chartered, private or quasi-private, that engages in granting or withholding Educational Approvals for, administers any form of Student Financial Assistance to or for students of, or otherwise regulates private postsecondary schools in accordance with standards relating to the performance, operation, financial condition or academic standards of such schools.

“Educational Approvals” means any Licenses or similar approval issued or required to be issued by an Educational Agency to a Company School with respect to any aspect of the Company School’s operations subject to the oversight of such Educational Agency, including any such approval for the Company School to participate in any program of Student Financial Assistance offered by such Educational Agency, but excluding any Licenses or similar approval issued to the Company Schools or the Company School’s employees on an individual basis.

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“Equity Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Governmental Authority” means any international, national, federal, state, provincial or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, commission, court, tribunal, arbitral body or self-regulated entity (including any stock exchange), whether domestic or foreign.

“Holder” means any Person holding Company Group Equity Securities.

“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, constitution, principle of common law, ordinance, code, decree, order, judgment, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or Educational Agency and any order or decision of an applicable arbitrator or arbitration panel.

“Licenses” means any licenses, permits, certifications, accreditations, approvals, registrations, consents, authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions, identification numbers, concessions, grants, directives, guidelines, policies, requirements, ruling, decrees or orders.

“Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Holder at any time, the percentage reflecting the share of (x) the voting power represented by the Equity Securities of the Company held by such Holder in (y) the aggregate voting power represented by all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company.

“Permitted Transferee” means, (x) with respect to the Vistria Investor, the Vistria Fund or any of its respective Affiliates (it being understood that a Person shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Vistria Investor or the Vistria Fund merely by virtue of also being a Holder of Company Group Equity Securities) or any investment fund managed by The Vistria Group, LP or by any successor thereto and (y) with respect to the Apollo Investor, any member of the Apollo Group; provided, that in no event shall any portfolio company in which any such Person or any of its Affiliates has made a debt or equity investment be deemed a Permitted Transferee.

“Person” means any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), limited liability company, joint stock company, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, firm, Governmental Authority or other enterprise, association, organization or entity of any kind, whether domestic or foreign.

“Representative” means, with respect to any Person, the investors, financing sources, partners, employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants and representatives of such Person.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

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“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Student Financial Assistance” means any form of student financial assistance, grants or loans that is administered by any Educational Agency or other Governmental Authority.

“Subsidiary” means each Person in which another Person (x) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other Equity Securities representing more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or other Equity Securities or (y) is a general partner, manager, managing member or other controlling Person.

“University” means The University of Phoenix, Inc., a Subsidiary of the Company.

“Vistria Fund” means Vistria Fund, LP.

Term Section
Agreement Preamble
AP VIII Holdings Preamble
Apollo Board Nominee 3.1(b)
Apollo Investor Preamble
Apollo Nomination Condition 3.1(b)
Company Preamble
Director 3.1(a)
Educational Consent 3.1(d)
Information 5.1
Receiving Party 5.3(a)
Related Parties 6.15
Related Party 6.15
Apollo Percentage Interest 3.1(b)
Vistria Board Nominee 3.1(c)
Vistria Investor Preamble
Vistria Investor Participants 3.1(c)
Vistria Percentage Interest 3.1(c)
Vistria Nomination Condition 3.1(c)
Vistria Subsidiary Designee 3.1(c)

 

Section 1.2        Interpretation. Interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the following rules of construction: (a) references to the terms Article, Section, paragraph, Annex, and Exhibit are references to the Articles, Sections, paragraphs, Annexes and Exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, including Exhibits hereto; (c) references to “$” or “Dollars” shall mean United States dollars; (d) the words “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (e) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (f) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form; (g) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions; (h) the headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or

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interpretation of this Agreement; (i) each of the Company, AP VIII Holdings and the Vistria Investor has participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and if an ambiguity or question of interpretation should arise, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or burdening either party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions in this Agreement; (j) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s permitted successors and assigns; (k) references to “days” mean calendar days unless Business Days are expressly specified; (l) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”; (m) the terms “party”, “party hereto”, “parties” and “party hereto” shall mean a party to this Agreement and the parties to this Agreement, as applicable, unless otherwise specified; (n) with respect to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including”; (o) any deadline or time period set forth in this Agreement that by its terms ends on a day that is not a Business Day shall be automatically extended to the next succeeding Business Day; and (p) the gender of all words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural. Unless otherwise specified, any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time may be amended, supplemented, restated or modified, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes.

ARTICLE II

DISPOSITIONS

Section 2.1        Disposition and Joinders. When any shares of Common Stock or other Company Group Equity Securities are Disposed of to a Permitted Transferee:

(a)        any Disposition or attempted or purported Disposition in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall not be required to give effect to such attempted or purported Disposition on the books and records of the Company;

(b)        it shall be a condition of any Disposition (A) if the transferee is not a party to this Agreement that such Disposition not be effected unless and until such transferee has entered into a customary joinder agreement to this Agreement and such further customary documentation, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, as may be necessary to make such Person a party hereto and bound by the obligations and entitled to the rights set forth herein and (B) such Disposition complies with all requirements of applicable Law; and

(c)        it shall be a condition of any Disposition that the Disposition shall not impose material liability or material reporting obligations on the Company or any Holder in any jurisdiction, whether domestic or foreign, or result in the Company or any Holder becoming subject to the jurisdiction of any court or governmental entity anywhere (other than for matters in connection with such Disposition), other than the jurisdictions, courts and governmental entities in which the Company or such Holder, as applicable, is then subject to such liability, reporting obligation or jurisdiction; and

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(d)        it shall be a condition of any Disposition that the Disposition shall not cause the termination, qualification, default, suspension or other loss (whether temporary or permanent) of any material Educational Approval.

ARTICLE III

GOVERNANCE AND ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

Section 3.1        Board Composition.

(a)        General. Each member of the Board (each, a “Director”) of the Company shall serve for the time periods set forth in the Charter or Bylaws. Subject to Section 3.2, without limiting the Apollo Investor’s or the Vistria Investor’s rights pursuant to this Section 3.1, the Board may increase or decrease its size in accordance with the provisions of the Charter and Bylaws. The Charter and Bylaws and the organizational documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries, as they may be amended from time to time subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall not at any time be inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.

(b)        Nomination by the Apollo Investor. For so long as the Percentage Interest of the Apollo Investor (the “Apollo Percentage Interest”) is at least 5% (the “Apollo Nomination Condition”), the Apollo Investor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate for election to the Board by the Company’s stockholders a number of Directors (any such nominee, an “Apollo Board Nominee”) that equals the Apollo Percentage Interest multiplied by the total number of Directors comprising the Board (for the avoidance of doubt, including any vacancies and newly created directorships), and rounded up to the nearest whole number, it being understood that the Apollo Nomination Condition can only fail to be satisfied as a result of Dispositions by the Apollo Investor and not the issuance of additional Company Group Equity Securities) and is subject to applicable SEC and stock exchange rules and standards (provided, however, that the Apollo Board Nominees shall not be required to be “independent” for purposes of such rules and standards). No delay by the Apollo Investor in nominating its Apollo Board Nominees shall impair its right to subsequently nominate its Apollo Board Nominees. In the event that the Apollo Investor has nominated less than the total number of nominees the Apollo Investor shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 3.1(b), the Apollo Investor shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional nominees to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company and the Directors shall take all necessary corporate actions, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to (x) enable the Apollo Investor to nominate and effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals, whether by increasing the size of the Board, or otherwise, and (y) effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals nominated by the Apollo Investor to fill such newly-created directorships or to fill any other existing vacancies. In the event that the Apollo Nomination Condition is no longer satisfied, the Apollo Investor shall have no right to nominate the Apollo Board Nominees and the Apollo Investor shall take all actions necessary, appropriate or otherwise reasonably requested by the Company to cause the Apollo Board Nominees to resign or be removed from the boards and committees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Apollo Board Nominees shall be entitled to the same notice and information rights as all other members of the board of directors (or similar body) of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary or any member of the applicable committee thereof.

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(c)        Nomination by the Vistria Investor. For so long as the Percentage Interest of the Vistria Investor (the “Vistria Percentage Interest”) is at least 5% (the “Vistria Nomination Condition”), the Vistria Investor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to (i) nominate for election to the Board by the Company’s stockholders a number of Directors (any such nominee, a “Vistria Board Nominee”) that equals the Vistria Percentage Interest multiplied by the total number of Directors comprising the Board (for the avoidance of doubt, including any vacancies and newly created directorships), and rounded up to the nearest whole number, it being understood that the Vistria Nomination Condition can only fail to be satisfied as a result of Dispositions by the Vistria Investor and not the issuance of additional Company Group Equity Securities) and is subject to applicable SEC and stock exchange rules and standards (provided, however, that the Vistria Investor Participants shall not be required to be “independent” for purposes of such rules and standards), (ii) designate one (1) member of the board of directors (or other similar body) of any Subsidiary to which any Affiliate of the Apollo Investor appoints any director or serves as a director (the “Vistria Subsidiary Designee”, and, together with the Vistria Board Nominee(s), the “Vistria Investor Participants”) and (iii) designate one (1) member of each committee of the Board (other than the Audit Committee) to which the Apollo Investor or any of its affiliates appoint any director. One (1) of the Vistria Board Nominees shall be designated as a Class III director pursuant to the classified board structure provided in Section 5.03 of the Charter, unless the Vistria Investor otherwise provides its prior written consent for the Vistria Board Nominee to be in a different class. No delay by the Vistria Investor in nominating or designating a Vistria Investor Participant shall impair its right to subsequently nominate or designate the Vistria Investor Participants. In the event that the Vistria Investor has nominated less than the total number of nominees the Vistria Investor shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 3.1(c), the Vistria Investor shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional nominees to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company and the Directors shall take all necessary corporate actions, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to (x) enable the Vistria Investor to nominate and effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals, whether by increasing the size of the Board, or otherwise, and (y) effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals nominated by the Vistria Investor to fill such newly-created directorships or to fill any other existing vacancies. In the event that the Vistria Nomination Condition is no longer satisfied, the Vistria Investor shall have no right to nominate the Vistria Investor Participants and the Vistria Investor shall take all actions necessary, appropriate or otherwise reasonably requested by the Company or the Apollo Investor to cause the Vistria Investor Participants to resign or be removed from the boards and committees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Vistria Board Nominee(s) and Vistria Subsidiary Designee shall be entitled to the same notice and information rights as all other members of the board of directors (or similar body) of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary or any member of the applicable committee thereof.

(d)        Vacancies. In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause of any Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board Nominee, including the failure of any Apollo Board Nominee or Vistria Board Nominee to be elected, the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, shall have the right to designate a replacement to fill such vacancy (but only if the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, would be then entitled to nominate such designee pursuant to Section 3.1(b) or Section 3.1(c), as applicable). The remaining Directors and the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take all actions necessary at any time and from time to time to cause the vacancy created thereby to be filled by the individual so designated and to cause the

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Board to elect such designee to the Board as soon as possible; provided, that in the event that the removal or election of any Director would require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any filing, notice or report, or obtain any consent, registration, approval, permit or authorization from any Educational Agency in order to maintain, continue or reinstate any Educational Approval presently held by any Company School (each, an “Educational Consent”), the Company shall not be required to take any action to remove or elect, as applicable, such Director until such Educational Consent has been made, obtained or is otherwise not required at the time of such Director’s removal or election.

(e)        Assurances. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders (and in any election by written consent) called for the purpose of electing directors the persons nominated pursuant to this Section 3.1 and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a Director as provided herein, and to use the same efforts to cause the election of such nominees as it uses to cause other nominees recommended by the Board to be elected, including soliciting proxies or consents in favor thereof. The Company is entitled, solely for the purposes set forth in this Section 3.1(e), to identify such individual as an Apollo Board Nominee or a Vistria Board Nominee pursuant to this Agreement. The Company and the Directors shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take all actions necessary at any time and from time to time so that (i) an Apollo Board Nominee will not be removed from the Board without the approval of the Apollo Investor, so long as the Apollo Percentage Interest is at least 5%, and (ii) a Vistria Board Nominee will not be removed from the Board without the approval of the Vistria Investor, so long as the Vistria Percentage Interest is at least 5%.

(f)        Corporate Opportunities. The Charter (and equivalent organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company) shall at all times include a waiver of any interest or expectancy of the Company or any such Subsidiary in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity, and of any other “corporate opportunity” or similar restriction, in favor of the Vistria Investor, the Apollo Investor, and their respective Affiliates (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) and the respective Representatives of the foregoing to the fullest extent permitted by law, including pursuant to Section 122(17) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Section 3.2        Matters Requiring Approval of the Apollo Investor. For so long as the Apollo Percentage Interest is at least 33%, without the prior written approval of the Apollo Investor, the Company shall not, and shall (to the extent applicable) cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, take any action to (or agree or commit to):

(a)        increase or decrease the size of the Board;

(b)        incur indebtedness for borrowed money, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, aggregating to more than $50 million, except for (i) borrowings under a revolving credit facility that has previously been approved or is in existence (with no increase in maximum availability) on the date of closing of the Company’s initial public offering or (ii) intercompany indebtedness;

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(c)        issue additional Common Stock or Company Group Equity Securities where the value of any such issuance exceeds $50 million in any single issuance, or an aggregate amount of $100 million during a calendar year, other than (A) any award under any stockholder-approved equity compensation plan or (B) any intra-company issuance among the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries;

(d)        other than in the ordinary course of business with vendors, customers and suppliers, enter into or effect any (A) acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the equity interests or assets of any Person, or the acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of any business, properties, assets, or Persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions or (B) disposition of assets of the Company or any Subsidiary or the shares or other equity interests of any Subsidiary, in each case where the amount of consideration for any such acquisition or disposition exceeds $50 million in any single transaction, or an aggregate amount of $100 million in any series of transactions during a calendar year;

(e)        hire or terminate the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company or the University or designate any Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company or the University; provided, that, with respect to any appointment or removal of the President, the Chief Executive Officer (if applicable) or the Chief Financial Officer of the University, the rights of the Apollo Investor set out in this Section 3.2(e) shall be subject in all respects to the requisite independence of the Board of Trustees of the University as set forth in the bylaws of the University, including the right of the Board of Trustees of the University to appoint or remove the President and Chief Financial Officer of the University as set forth therein, and the parties hereto shall be obligated only to take such action as may be permissible or appropriate under applicable Law and the bylaws of the University to give effect to this Section 3.2(e);

(f)        merge or consolidate with or into any other entity, or transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise) all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets, taken as a whole, to another entity, or enter into or agree to undertake any other transaction that would constitute a Change of Control (other than, in each case, transactions among the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries);

(g)        undertake any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company;

(h)        effect any material change in the nature of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or

(i)        amend, modify or repeal (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) any provision of the Charter, the Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of its Subsidiaries in a manner that adversely affects any member of the Apollo Group.

Section 3.3        Matters Requiring Approval of the Vistria Investor. For so long as the Vistria Percentage Interest is at least 5%, without the prior written approval of the Vistria Investor, the Company shall not, and shall (to the extent applicable) cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, amend, modify or repeal (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) any provision of the Charter, Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of its Subsidiaries in a manner that adversely affects the Vistria Investor or any of its Affiliates.

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Section 3.4        Assurances. The Company and the Directors shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take all actions necessary at any time and from time to time ensure that the Charter and Bylaws and the organizational documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries facilitate and implement the terms and conditions of, and do not at any time conflict with any provision of, this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

NOTICES

Section 4.1        Notices. In the event a notice or other document is required to be sent hereunder to the Company, to the Apollo Investor or to the Vistria Investor, such notice or other document shall be given in writing, shall be either personally delivered to the Company, to the Apollo Investor or to the Vistria Investor, as applicable, or delivered by an established delivery service by which receipts are given or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or sent by electronic mail, addressed to the party entitled to receive such notice or other document pursuant to the contact information for each party set forth on Annex I hereto. All notices, other communications or documents shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (ii) when sent, if by electronic mail (except if any error or “bounce back” electronic mail message is received by the sender and, in such case, upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice or document is being sent); (iii) five (5) Business Days after having been deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first class mail; and (iv) on the first Business Day with respect to which a reputable air courier guarantees delivery; provided, however, that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. Without limiting the foregoing, each of the Company, the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor agrees to receive notice under the Charter and Bylaws or under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or under the organizational documents and applicable entity law of any Subsidiary of the Company, by electronic transmission at the e-mail address on file with the Company, and the Vistria Investor covenants and agrees to keep a current e-mail address on file with the Company for such purpose.

ARTICLE V

CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS

Section 5.1        Books and Records; Access. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books, records and accounts, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, subject to Section 5.3 hereof. For each of the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor, for so long as it beneficially owns 3% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (A) permit the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, and, in each case, its respective designated representatives, at reasonable times and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to inspect, review and/or make copies and extracts from the books and records of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and

  - 11 -  

condition of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries with the officers of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (B) upon the written request of the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, provide the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, in addition to other information that might be reasonably requested by the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, from time to time, (i) direct access to the Company’s auditors and officers, (ii) quarter-end reports to be provided within 45 days after the end of each quarter, (iii) copies of all materials provided to the Board (or committee of the Board) at the same time as provided to the Directors (or members of a committee of the Board), (iv) access to appropriate officers and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such times as may be requested by the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, as the case may be, for consultation with the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, with respect to matters relating to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (v) information in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, including, without limitation, extraordinary dividends, stock redemptions or repurchases, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets, issuances of significant amounts of debt or equity and material amendments to the Charter or Bylaws or the organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, and to provide the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, with the right to consult with the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such actions, (vi) flash data to be provided within ten days after the end of each quarter and (vii) to the extent otherwise prepared by the Company, operating and capital expenditure budgets and periodic information packages relating to the operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries (all such information so furnished pursuant to this Section 5.1, the “Information”); provided, that each of the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor may waive, in its sole discretion, in whole or in part, any right to receive all or any portion of the Information contemplated by this Section 5.1 at any time. The Company agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor in connection with the matters on which the Company is consulted as described above. Subject to Section 5.2, any Affiliate of the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor (and any party receiving Information from the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor) who shall receive Information shall maintain the confidentiality of such Information in accordance with Section 5.3, and the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged Information of the Company so long as the Company has used its commercially reasonable efforts to enter into an arrangement pursuant to which it may provide such information to the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor without the loss of any such privilege.

Section 5.2        Sharing of Information. Individuals associated with each of the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor may from time to time serve on the Board or the equivalent governing body of the Company’s Subsidiaries. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, recognizes that such individuals (a) will from time to time receive non-public information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and (b) may (subject to the obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such information in accordance with Section 5.3) share such information with other individuals associated with the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor, as applicable. Such sharing will be for the dual purpose of facilitating support to such individuals in their capacity as Directors (or members of the governing body of any Subsidiary) and enabling the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor, as applicable, as equityholders, to better evaluate the Company’s performance and prospects. The Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably consents to such sharing.

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Section 5.3        Confidential Information.

(a)        Confidentiality Obligations. Each of the Vistria Investor and the Apollo Investor agrees that all Company Confidential Information is proprietary and confidential to the Company. The (x) Vistria Investor (on behalf of itself, its Affiliates and its Representatives) agrees that it will not, during or after the term of this Agreement, whether through an Affiliate, Representative or otherwise, use Company Confidential Information or disclose Company Confidential Information to any Person for any reason or purpose whatsoever and (y) the Apollo Investor (on behalf of itself, its Affiliates and its Representatives) (the Vistria Investor in clause (x) and the Apollo Investor in clause (y), the “Receiving Party”) agrees that it will not, during or after the term of this Agreement, whether through an Affiliate, Representative or otherwise, use Company Confidential Information or disclose Company Confidential Information to any Person for any reason or purpose whatsoever, except, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y):

(i)        to authorized representatives and employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries and as otherwise is proper in the course of performing the Receiving Party’s obligations hereunder or under any other agreement between such Receiving Party and the Company or its Subsidiaries, or as a member of the board of directors of any of the foregoing for the purpose of discharging such member’s fiduciary or other duties to the Company or its Subsidiaries, provided such member acts in good faith and in a manner such member reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(ii)        as part of such Receiving Party’s bona fide reporting or review procedures, or in connection with such Receiving Party’s or its Affiliates’ bona fide fund raising or marketing (subject to the recipients thereof being bound by substantially similar confidentiality obligations and use restrictions as set forth herein);

(iii)        in accordance with Section 5.2;

(iv)        to such Receiving Party’s (or any of its Affiliates’) general partners, partners, managing directors, managers, officers, directors, employees, principals, Representatives, agents, auditors, attorneys or other advisors on a “need to know” basis; provided, that the Receiving Party shall notify such Persons of the confidential nature of such Company Confidential Information and its obligations hereunder and instruct such Persons to abide by the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth herein applicable to such Persons (unless such Persons are otherwise already bound by a duty of confidentiality to such Receiving Party),

(v)        to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the Receiving Party or assets of the Receiving Party or its Affiliates or the Company Group Equity Securities held by such Holder, or bona fide prospective merger partner of such Receiving Party or its Affiliates; provided, that such bona fide prospective purchaser or bona fide prospective merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 5.3;

(vi)        in connection with the performance of any party’s obligations under this Agreement; or

(vii)        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

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process, or by law, rule or regulation (including as part of any governmental or regulatory investigation or review, or to comply with SEC rules or regulations); provided, that the Receiving Party required to make such disclosure shall, to the extent legally permissible, provide to the Company prompt written notice of any such requirement and shall cooperate with the Company in seeking a protective order or other appropriate remedy, to the extent applicable.

(b)        Compliance of and Liability for Affiliates and Representatives. Each of the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor shall cause their respective Affiliates to abide by and comply with the provisions of this Section 5.3. The Vistria Investor shall, with respect to the Company Confidential Information, be liable to the Company for any and all breaches of the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth herein by the Vistria Investor, its Affiliates and its and their Representatives (including the Vistria Investor Participants) for any and all breaches of the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth herein by the Vistria Investor, its Affiliates and its and their Representatives (including the Vistria Investor Participants). The Apollo Investor shall, with respect to the Company Confidential Information, be liable to the Company for any and all breaches of the confidentiality and use restrictions set forth herein by the Apollo Investor, its Affiliates, and its and their Representatives. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or otherwise, any liability for breach of this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall continue in effect forthwith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person (including any investment fund managed by the Receiving Party or its Affiliates or any portfolio company of any such investment fund) shall be deemed to be a Representative of the Receiving Party for purposes of this Section 5.3 or have any obligation hereunder unless such Person actually receives Company Confidential Information from, or on behalf of, the Receiving Party. Further, no Affiliate or portfolio company of the Receiving Party shall be deemed to be a Representative hereunder for purposes of this Section 5.3 solely due to the fact that one of the Receiving Party’s employees who has received or had access to Company Confidential Information serves as an officer or member of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Affiliate or portfolio company; provided, that such employee does not provide Company Confidential Information to the other directors, officers or employees of such Affiliate or portfolio company.

(c)        For purposes of this Section 5.3, “Company Confidential Information” shall not include, with respect to any Person, information: (A) which such Person (or its Affiliates) can demonstrate was already in the possession of such Person (or its Affiliates) prior to its receipt from the Company or any Subsidiary thereof lawfully and from a source not subject to any confidentiality obligation to such Person, the Company, their respective Affiliates or the foregoing’s respective Representatives, (B) which such Person (or its Affiliates) can demonstrate was learned from sources other than the Company, its Affiliates or its Representatives and, that to the knowledge of such Person (or its Affiliates), is not bound by any duty of confidentiality to any Person in respect of such information, after such information was disclosed by the Company or its Subsidiaries, (C) which is or becomes generally available to the public or the participants in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries participate, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Person, any of its Affiliates or any of its or its Affiliates’ respective Representatives in violation hereof or (D) which is independently developed by such Person or its Affiliates without use, reliance upon or reference to Company Confidential Information.

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ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1        GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT 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 CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT EVEN IF, UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

Section 6.2        Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, each of the parties hereto, and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

Section 6.3        Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented, and any provision hereof may be waived, from time to time by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Apollo Investor; provided, however, that any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver shall require the consent of the Vistria Investor if such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver (a) would adversely affect the Vistria Investor in any respect or (b) would disproportionately benefit any other Holder or confer any benefit on any other Holder to which the Vistria Investor would not be entitled. Upon obtaining any such consent and without any further action or execution by the Vistria Investor, (x) any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of this Agreement may be implemented and reflected in writing executed solely by the Company and the Apollo Investor and (y) each other party to this Agreement shall be deemed a party to and bound by such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any addition of a transferee of the Company Group Equity Securities in accordance with Article II shall not constitute an amendment hereto and need be signed only by the Company and such transferee or recipient.

Section 6.4        Termination. Unless earlier terminated by the mutual agreement of all the parties hereto, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each of the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor, as applicable, upon such time as it ceases to own any Company Group Equity Securities. Except as otherwise provided herein, if the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor Disposes of all of its Company Group Equity Securities, the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor, as applicable, shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no further rights or obligations hereunder.

Section 6.5        Specific Performance. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this Agreement will be inadequate, agrees that each other party to this Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach and further agrees to waive (to the extent legally permissible) any legal conditions required to be met for the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief (including posting any bond in order to obtain equitable

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relief). Each party to this Agreement further agrees not to raise as a defense or objection to the request or granting of such relief that any breach of this Agreement is or would be compensable by an award of money damages or that there is an adequate remedy at law.

Section 6.6        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same agreement. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or .pdf signature which shall constitute an original for all purposes.

Section 6.7        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, and such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions shall be null and void as to such jurisdiction. It is the intent of the parties, however, that any invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions be automatically replaced by other provisions which are as similar as possible in terms to such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions but are valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section 6.8        Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and other documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 6.9        Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery or, in the event (but only in the event) that the Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such legal action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that such United States District Court for the District of Delaware also does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such legal action or proceeding, any Delaware state court sitting in New Castle County, in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereof, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware, as described above. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the addresses set forth in Annex I shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 6.9, that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of

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notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, that the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper, or that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts and further irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the benefit of any defense that would hinder, fetter or delay the levy, execution or collection of any amount to which a party hereto is entitled pursuant to the final judgment of any court having jurisdiction. Each party hereto expressly acknowledges that the foregoing waiver is intended to be irrevocable under the Laws of the State of Delaware and of the United States of America; provided, that each such party’s consent to jurisdiction and service contained in this Section 6.9 is solely for the purpose referred to in this Section 6.9 and shall not be deemed to be a general submission to said courts or in the State of Delaware other than for such purpose.

Section 6.10        Waiver. No course of dealing between or among the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party 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 party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 6.11        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX FINANCIAL 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, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.

Section 6.12        Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous and contemporaneous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto, whether written, oral or otherwise, as to such subject matter. Unless otherwise provided herein, any consent required by any party hereto may be withheld by such party in its sole and absolute discretion.

Section 6.13        No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, none of the provisions in this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any Person other than the parties to this Agreement, their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns and, with respect to Section 6.15 only, Related Parties. The covenants and agreements contained herein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the respective parties hereto.

Section 6.14        Changes in Company Group Equity Securities. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Company Group Equity Securities by way of a dividend, distribution, stock

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split or combination, reclassification, recapitalization, exchange or readjustment, whether in a merger, consolidation, conversion or similar transaction, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to Company Group Equity Securities as so changed.

Section 6.15        No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement or otherwise, and notwithstanding the fact that certain Holders may be partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations or other entities, each party hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered by any Person pursuant hereto or otherwise shall be had against any of the Apollo Investor’s, Apollo Group’s (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion), the Vistria Investor’s or any of the foregoing’s respective Affiliates’ (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) former, current or future direct or indirect equity holders, controlling Persons, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, Affiliates (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion), members, financing sources, managers, general or limited partners or assignees (each, a “Related Party” and, collectively, the “Related Parties”) (it being agreed that the Affiliate Exclusion shall be disregarded for purposes of all uses of the terms “Related Party” and “Related Parties” in this Agreement), in each case other than (subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the provisions of this Agreement) each party hereto or any of its respective assignees under this Agreement, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any of the Related Parties, as such, for any obligation or liability of any party hereto or any of its respective assignees under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered by any Person pursuant hereto for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or liabilities or their creation; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.15 shall relieve or otherwise limit the liability of any party hereto or any of its respective assignees for any breach or violation of its obligations under such agreements, documents or instruments.

Section 6.16        Issuance of Additional Securities. If additional Company Group Equity Securities are issued to the Vistria Investor or the Apollo Investor at any time during the term of this Agreement, either directly or upon the exercise or exchange of securities or loans of the Company (or its Subsidiary, as applicable) exercisable for or exchangeable into Company Group Equity Securities, such additional Company Group Equity Securities, as a condition to their issuance, shall become subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

Section 6.17        Aggregation of Securities. All Company Group Equity Securities beneficially owned by (a) the Vistria Investor and its Permitted Transferees shall be aggregated together and (b) the Apollo Investor and its Permitted Transferees shall be aggregated together, in each case for purposes of determining the rights or obligations of the Vistria Investor or the Apollo Investor, respectively, or the application of any restrictions to the Vistria Investor or the Apollo Investor, respectively, under this Agreement in each instance in which such right, obligation or restriction is determined in respect of or with reference to any Percentage Interest or ownership of Company Group Equity Securities, including in connection with any right pursuant to Article III. All rights held by the Vistria Investor, its Affiliates or their respective Permitted Transferees under this Agreement shall be exercised solely by the Vistria Investor.

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Section 6.18        Assignment.

(a)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Apollo Investor may assign its rights or obligations, in whole or in part, under this Agreement to any member of the Apollo Group (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion). In the event that any additional member of the Apollo Group (disregarding the Affiliate Exclusion) becomes an owner of Company Group Equity Securities, such Person shall, as a condition to acquiring such Company Group Equity Securities, become party to this Agreement and this Agreement shall be amended and restated to provide that such Person or a designee of such Person shall have the same rights and obligations of the Apollo Investor hereunder to the extent of such Person’s ownership of Company Group Equity Securities.

(b)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Vistria Investor may assign, in connection with a Disposition otherwise permitted hereby, (x) any of its rights or obligations to any Permitted Transferee or (y) any of its rights (other than the rights set forth in Article III) to any transferee of Company Group Equity Securities to whom the Vistria Investor Disposes of at least fifty percent (50%) of Company Group Equity Securities that it holds as of the date of this Agreement (subject to Section 6.14). For the avoidance of doubt, except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Vistria Investor shall be prohibited from assigning to any Person any right contained in this Agreement.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This Agreement is executed by the Company and by the other parties hereto to be effective as of the date first above written.

  COMPANY  
       
  PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.  
       
By: /s/ Srini Medi
    Name: Srini Medi  
    Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

 

  APOLLO INVESTOR  
       
  AP VIII SOCRATES HOLDINGS, L.P.  
       
  By: AP VIII Socrates Holdings GP, LLC, its general partner  
       
By: /s/ James Elworth
    Name: James Elworth  
    Title: Vice President  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

 

  VISTRIA INVESTOR  
       
  TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP  
       
  By: Vistria-AEG GP, LLC, its general partner  
       
By: /s/ Adnan A. Nisar
    Name: Adnan A. Nisar  
    Title: Sole Manager  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

 

EX-10.2 5 eh250691528_ex1002.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

among

PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.

AND

THE HOLDERS PARTY HERETO

DATED OCTOBER 8, 2025

 

 

     

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1ARTICLE II DEMAND AND SHELF REGISTRATION 5ARTICLE III PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION 16ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION PROCEDURES 19ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION 23ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE ACT COMPLIANCE 25ARTICLE VII TERMINATION 26ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS 26
Section 1.1   Definitions 1
   
Section 2.1   Right to Demand; Demand Notices 5
Section 2.2   Shelf Registration 7
Section 2.3   Deferral or Suspension of Registration 11
Section 2.4   Effective Registration Statement 12
Section 2.5   Selection of Underwriters; Cutback 12
Section 2.6   Lock-up 13
Section 2.7   Participation in Underwritten Offering; Information by Holder 14
Section 2.8   Registration Expenses 15
   
Section 3.1   Notices 16
Section 3.2   Underwriter’s Cutback 17
Section 3.3   Company Control 18
Section 3.4   Selection of Underwriters 18
Section 3.5   Withdrawal of Registration 18
   
Section 4.1   Registration Procedures 19
   
Section 5.1   Indemnification by the Company 23
Section 5.2   Indemnification by Selling Investors 23
Section 5.3   Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings 24
Section 5.4   Settlement Offers 25
Section 5.5   Other Indemnification 25
Section 5.6   Contribution 25
   
Section 6.1   Exchange Act Compliance 25
   
Section 7.1   Termination 26
   
Section 8.1   Severability 26
Section 8.2   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial 27
Section 8.3   Other Registration Rights 27
Section 8.4   Successors and Assigns 27
Section 8.5   Notices 28
Section 8.6   Headings 29

 

i  

Section 8.7   Additional Parties 29
Section 8.8   Adjustments 29
Section 8.9   Entire Agreement 30
Section 8.10   Counterparts; Facsimile or.pdf Signature 30
Section 8.11   Amendment 30
Section 8.12   Extensions; Waivers 30
Section 8.13   Further Assurances 30
Section 8.14   No Third-Party Beneficiaries 30
Section 8.15   Interpretation; Construction 31
Section 8.16   Changes in Common Stock 31

 

 

 

 

ii  

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 8, 2025 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Phoenix Education Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor entity thereto, the “Company”), and each of the Holders (as defined below) that are parties hereto from time to time.

WHEREAS, in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1        Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

“Adoption Agreement” shall mean an Adoption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective joint ventures (if any) shall not be considered Affiliates of any Holder, (b) no Holder shall be considered an Affiliate of (i) any portfolio company in which investment funds affiliated with such Holder have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa), (ii) any limited partners, non-managing members of, or other similar direct or indirect investors in such Holder or its investment fund affiliates, (iii) any portfolio company in which any limited partner, non-managing member of, or other similar direct or indirect investor in such Holder or any of its investment fund affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa) or (iv) any other Holder, and none of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (iv) of this definition shall be considered an Affiliate of each other and (c) without giving effect to the exception set forth in the beginning of this sentence, no Holder shall be considered an Affiliate of the Persons described in clauses (a) and/or (b) of this definition (and vice versa).

“Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the introductory paragraph.

“Apollo Investor” shall mean AP VIII Socrates Holdings, L.P. and each of its permitted successors and assigns.

“Assignee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

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“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 (or successor rule) promulgated under the Securities Act.

“beneficially owned”, “beneficial ownership” and similar phrases have the same meanings as such terms have under Rule 13d-3 (or any successor rule then in effect) under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any Holder, such Holder shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable upon the occurrence of a subsequent event.

“Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

“Common Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, any additional security paid, issued or distributed in respect of any such shares by way of a dividend, stock split or distribution, or in connection with a combination of shares, and any security into which such Common Stock or additional securities shall have been converted or exchanged in connection with a recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, exchange, distribution or otherwise.

“Control,” and its correlative meanings, “Controlling,” and “Controlled,” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect (including through one or more intermediaries), of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“Demand Holder” shall mean each of (i) the Apollo Investor, (ii) the Vistria Investor and (iii) each Transferee of the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor to whom the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as applicable, has Transferred rights in accordance with Section 2.1(a) and Section 8.4.

“Demand Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(b).

“Demand Registration” shall mean a registration of Shares pursuant to Section 2.1.

“Demand Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1(a).

“Determination Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(e).

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or any successor regulatory authority.

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“Holders” shall mean the holders of Registrable Securities who are parties hereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Transferees of such Holders that acquire Registrable Securities in accordance with Section 8.4 and execute an Adoption Agreement in accordance with Section 8.4).

“Information” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(h).

“Initial Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1.

“Inspectors” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(i).

“Investor Shelf Holders” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c)(i).

“Lock-up Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6(a).

“Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c)(ii).

“Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(d).

“Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, 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 Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(a).

“Piggyback Registration” shall mean any registration pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the securities covered by such Registration Statement and, in each case, by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments and, in each case, all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

“Records” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(i).

“Registrable Securities” shall mean, with respect to any Holder, at any time, the Shares held or beneficially owned by such Holder at such time or which such Holder has the right to acquire pursuant to the exercise of any option, warrant or right or the conversion or exchange of any convertible or exchangeable security held by such Holder at such time, regardless of whether then exercisable, convertible or exchangeable; provided, however, that as to any Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) upon the sale thereof pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) upon the sale thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 under the Securities Act, (iii) when the Holder of such securities holds less than one percent (1%) of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (determined as the aggregate number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder with all of its Affiliates), such securities are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) without

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compliance with the manner of sale, volume and other limitations under such rule and the Holder of such securities is not subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof, (iv) when such securities cease to be outstanding or (v) if such securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates or book-entries for them not bearing a legend restricting transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and such securities may be publicly resold without registration under the Securities Act.

“Registration Statement” shall mean any Registration Statement of the Company which covers the Registrable Securities, including any preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

“Requesting Holder” shall mean the Holder exercising a Demand Right.

“Restricted Shelf Take-Down” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c)(iii).

“Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c)(iii).

“Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or successor rule).

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Selling Investors” shall mean the Holders selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement under this Agreement.

“Selling Investors’ Counsel” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b).

“Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock and shall also include any security of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for such securities of the Company, whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation or reorganization.

“Shelf Holder” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(b).

“Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).

“Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(a).

“Shelf Take-Down” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(b).

“Short-Form Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement, as it may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor form.

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“Subsidiary” shall mean each Person in which another Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other equity interests representing more than 50% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests.

“Take-Down Participation Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c)(iv).

“Transfer” shall mean any direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, bequest by will or under intestacy laws, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, of the stated security (or any interest therein or right thereto, including the issuance of any total return swap or other derivative whose economic value is primarily based upon the value of the stated security) or of all or part of the voting power (other than the granting of a revocable proxy) associated with the stated security (or any interest therein) whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial ownership of the stated security, with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law).

“Transferee” shall mean a Person acquiring Shares pursuant to a Transfer.

“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a sale, on the Company’s or any Holder’s behalf, of Shares by the Company or a Holder to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

“Underwritten Shelf Take-Down” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c).

“Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.2(c).

“Vistria Investor” shall mean TVG-I-E-AEG Holdings, LP and each of its permitted successors and assigns.

“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall mean a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 (or successor rule) promulgated under the Securities Act.

ARTICLE II DEMAND AND SHELF REGISTRATION

Section 2.1        Right to Demand; Demand Notices.

(a)        Holders’ Demand for Registration. Subject to the provisions of this Article II, at any time and from time to time, each Demand Holder shall have the right to request in writing that the Company register the sale under the Securities Act of all or part of the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Demand Holder or its Affiliates (a “Demand Right”). Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(i)        the Apollo Investor shall have an unlimited number of Demand Rights; provided, that, subject to Section 8.4, the Apollo Investor may provide a Transferee with the following Demand Rights: (A) no Demand Rights if such Transferee acquires less than 5% of the outstanding Shares, (B) one Demand Right if such Transferee acquires at least 5% but not more than 15% of the outstanding Shares and (C) two Demand Rights if such Transferee acquires at least 15% of the outstanding Shares;

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(ii)        the Vistria Investor shall have one Demand Right (so long as the Vistria Investor has not initiated an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down under Section 2.2(c)); provided, that no Demand Registration shall be deemed to be a Demand Registration for the purposes of this clause (ii) if the Vistria Investor is not able to sell all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold therein as a result of the participation of any other Holder in such Demand Registration or the application of Section 2.5(b); provided, further, that, (A) the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Demand Registration at the request of the Vistria Investor until the one-year anniversary of the closing of the Company’s initial public offering unless (x) the Company is eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement using a Short-Form Registration Statement and the Lock-up Period relating to the initial public offering has expired or (y) the prior written consent of the Company is obtained, and (B) subject to Section 8.4, the Vistria Investor may provide a Transferee with its Demand Right so long as the Vistria Investor Transfers at least 50% of the Shares that it holds as of the date of this Agreement (subject to Section 8.16) to such Transferee;

(iii)        a Demand Right may be exercised only if (x) the aggregate offering price of the Shares to be sold by the Demand Holder and its Affiliates in the applicable offering (before deduction of underwriter discounts and commissions) is reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50.0 million or (y) such Demand Right is exercised with respect to all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demand Holder; provided, that if the Company has previously effected a Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Company shall not be required to effect an additional Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 until a period of 75 days shall have elapsed from the date on which such previous registration became effective.

(b)        Demand Notices. All requests made pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be made by providing written notice to the Company (each such written notice, a “Demand Notice”), which notice shall (i) specify the aggregate number and class or classes of Registrable Securities proposed to be registered by the Demand Holder (and its Affiliates) providing such Demand Notice (which may include a range or be specified in an aggregate dollar amount rather than an aggregate number of shares) and (ii) state the intended methods of disposition in the offering (including whether or not such offering shall be an Underwritten Offering).

(c)        Demand Filing. Subject to Section 2.3, promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days) after receipt of any Demand Notice, the Company shall give written notice of the Demand Notice to all other Holders of Registrable Securities and otherwise comply with Section 3.1 when and if required. Subject to Section 2.3, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to file the registration statement in respect of a Demand Notice as soon as practicable and, in any event, within 90 days after receiving a Demand Notice and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the same to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as practicable after such filing.

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(d)        Demand Registration Form. Registrations under this Section 2.1 shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission that the Company is eligible to use (i) as reasonably requested by the Requesting Holder (which form may include a confidential submission if permitted under applicable rules of the Commission) and (ii) as shall permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the Demand Notice. If, in connection with any registration under this Section 2.1 that is requested by the Requesting Holder to be on a Short-Form Registration Statement, the managing underwriter, if any, shall advise the Company that in its opinion, or if the Company independently determines in good faith, the use of another permitted form is of material importance to the success of the offering, then such registration shall be permitted to be on such other permitted form.

(e)        Demand Withdrawal. A Requesting Holder may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration by providing written notice to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to the earliest of (i) effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement, (ii) the filing of any Registration Statement relating to such Demand Registration that includes a pricing range or (iii) the commencement of a roadshow relating to the Registration Statement for such Demand Registration, and no such registration shall be counted for purposes of determining the number of Demand Registrations to which such Requesting Holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.1(a) if the Requesting Holder withdraws all of its Registrable Securities from such Demand Registration.

Section 2.2        Shelf Registration.

(a)        Filing. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) from and after such time as the Company shall have qualified for the use of a Short-Form Registration Statement, upon the written request by the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, (A) subject to Section 2.3, promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days) after receipt of any such written request, the Company shall give written notice to all other Holders of Registrable Securities and otherwise comply with Section 3.1, and (B) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 60 days with the Commission a Short-Form Registration Statement (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) to register the sale of all of the Registrable Securities then outstanding on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”) and (ii) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable after such filing. In no event shall the Company be required to file, and maintain effectiveness of, more than one Shelf Registration Statement at any one time pursuant to this Section 2.2. For the avoidance of doubt, no request for the filing of a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) shall count as a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 2.1(a).

(b)        Shelf Take-Downs. Any Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in an effective Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Holder”) may initiate an offering or sale of all or part of such Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Take-Down”), in which case the provisions of this Section 2.2 shall apply. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

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(i)        any such Shelf Holder may initiate an unlimited number of Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Downs pursuant to Section 2.2(d) below; provided, that such Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Downs do not constitute an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down;

(ii)        the Apollo Investor may initiate an unlimited number of Underwritten Offerings (including any block trade) pursuant to Section 2.2(c) below; provided, that, subject to Section 8.4, the Apollo Investor may provide a Transferee with the following Underwritten Shelf Take-Down rights: (A) such Transferee may not initiate any Underwritten Offerings (including any block trade) if such Transferee acquires less than 5% of the outstanding Shares, (B) such Transferee may initiate one Underwritten Offering (including any block trade) pursuant to Section 2.2(c) below if such Transferee acquires at least 5% but not more than 15% of the outstanding Shares and (C) such Transferee may initiate up to two Underwritten Offerings (including any block trade) pursuant to Section 2.2(c) below if such Transferee acquires at least 15% of the outstanding Shares; and

(iii)        the Vistria Investor may initiate one Underwritten Offering (including a block trade and only so long as the Vistria Investor has not exercised a Demand Registration under Section 2.1) pursuant to Section 2.2(c) below; provided, that (A) no Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be deemed to have been exercised or to count against the number of Demand Registrations for the purposes of Section 2.1 if such Shelf Holder is not able to sell all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold therein as a result of the participation of any other Holder in any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and the application of Section 2.5(b); and (B) subject to Section 8.4, the Vistria Investor may provide a Transferee with its Underwritten Shelf Take-Down right under this Section 2.2(b)(iii) so long as the Vistria Investor Transfers at least 50% of the Shares that it holds as of the date of this Agreement (subject to Section 8.16) to such Transferee; and

(iv)        in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.2(b), (A) in each case, the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the initiating Shelf Holder shall be required to (x) have a reasonably anticipated aggregate offering price of at least $25.0 million (before deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions) or (y) constitute all remaining Registrable Securities held by such Shelf Holder and (B) if the Company has previously effected a Shelf Take-Down that is an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.2, the Company shall not be required to effect an additional Shelf Take-Down that is an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.2 until a period of 75 days shall have elapsed from the date of such prior Shelf Take-Down that was an Underwritten Offering.

(c)        Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs.

(i)        Subject to Section 2.2(b), if a Demand Holder that is a Shelf Holder (collectively, “Investor Shelf Holders”) so elects in a written request delivered to the Company (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice”), a Shelf Take-Down may be in the form of an Underwritten Offering (an “Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”) and, if necessary, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and effect an amendment or supplement to its Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as practicable.

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Such initiating Investor Shelf Holder shall indicate in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice the number of Registrable Securities of such Investor Shelf Holder to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and whether it intends for such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to involve a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other marketing effort by the underwriters (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down”); provided, that any such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down requested by an Investor Shelf Holder shall be deemed to reduce the number of Demand Rights such Investor Shelf Holder is entitled to under Section 2.1(a).

(ii)        Promptly upon delivery of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice with respect to a Marketed Underwritten Shelf-Take Down (but in no event more than ten (10) days prior to the expected date of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down), the Company shall promptly deliver a written notice of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to all Shelf Holders with Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement and, in each case, subject to Section 2.5(b) and Section 2.7, the Company shall include in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down all such Registrable Securities of such Shelf Holders that are registered on such Shelf Registration Statement for which the Company has received written requests, which requests must specify the aggregate amount of such Registrable Securities of such Holder to be offered and sold pursuant to such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, for inclusion therein at least three (3) Business Days prior to the expected date of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down.

(iii)        Subject to Section 2.2(b), if an Investor Shelf Holder desires to effect an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down that is not a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (a “Restricted Shelf Take-Down”), the Investor Shelf Holder initiating such Restricted Shelf Take-Down shall provide written notice (a “Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice”) of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down to the other Shelf Holders as far in advance of the completion of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down as shall be reasonably practicable in light of the circumstances applicable to such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, which Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice shall set forth (A) the total number of Registrable Securities expected to be offered and sold in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, (B) the expected plan of distribution of such Restricted Shelf Take-Down and (C) an invitation to the other Shelf Holders to elect to include in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down Registrable Securities held by such other Shelf Holders (but subject to Section 2.5(b) and Section 2.7) and (D) the action or actions required (including the timing thereof) in connection with such Restricted Shelf Take-Down with respect to the other Investor Shelf Holders if any such Shelf Holder elects to exercise such right. Any Restricted Shelf Take-Down shall be (x) deemed to reduce the number of Demand Rights the initiating Investor Shelf Holder is entitled to under Section 2.1(a), (y) required to comply with a minimum size requirement equal to fifty percent (50%) of the minimum size requirements set forth in Section 2.2(b) (unless the initiating Investor Shelf Holder requests the filing of a new Shelf Registration Statement in order to effect such Restricted Shelf Take-Down and at such time the Company is not eligible to use an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, in which case the minimum size requirements set forth in Section 2.2(b) shall apply), and (z) subject to the limits set forth in Section 2.2(b).

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(iv)        Upon delivery of a Restricted Shelf Take-Down Notice, the other Shelf Holders may elect to sell Registrable Securities in such Restricted Shelf Take-Down, at the same price per Registrable Security and pursuant to the same terms and conditions with respect to payment for the Registrable Securities as agreed to by the initiating Investor Shelf Holder, by sending an irrevocable written notice (a “Take-Down Participation Notice”) to the initiating Investor Shelf Holder, indicating its election to participate in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down and the total number of its Registrable Securities to include in the Restricted Shelf Take-Down (but, in all cases, subject to Section 2.5(b) and Section 2.7).

(v)        Notwithstanding the delivery of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice, all determinations as to whether to complete any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be at the discretion of the Investor Shelf Holder initiating the Underwritten Shelf Take-Down.

(d)        Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Downs. If a Shelf Holder desires to effect a Shelf Take-Down that does not constitute an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down (a “Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down”), such Shelf Holder shall so indicate in a written request delivered to the Company no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the expected date of such Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down (or such shorter period as the Company may agree), which request shall include (i) the aggregate number and class or classes of Registrable Securities expected to be offered and sold in such Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down, (ii) the expected plan of distribution of such Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down and (iii) the action or actions required (including the timing thereof) in connection with such Non-Marketed Shelf Take-Down, and, if necessary, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and effect an amendment or supplement to its Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as practicable.

(e)        Filing for Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. Upon the Company becoming a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, (x) the Company shall give written notice to the Apollo Investor and the Vistria Investor as promptly as practicable but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter and such notice shall describe, in reasonable detail, the basis on which the Company has become a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, and (y) the Company shall, upon written request by the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 20 Business Days after receiving such request, use its reasonable best efforts to register, under an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, the sale of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees that if any Holder beneficially owns any Registrable Securities three years after the filing of the most recent Automatic Shelf Registration Statement in compliance with this Section 2.2(e), the Company shall, if permitted under applicable rules of the Commission, file and cause to remain effective a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement that registers the sale of any Registrable Securities that remain outstanding at such time. The Company shall give written notice of filing such Registration Statement to all of the Holders as promptly as practicable thereafter. At any time after the filing of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement by the Company, if the Company is no longer a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (the “Determination Date”), within ten (10) Business Days after such Determination Date, the Company shall (A) give written notice thereof to all of the Holders and (B) to the extent the Company continues to qualify for the use of Form S-3 promulgated under

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the Securities Act or any successor form thereto, the Company shall file, if necessary, a Short-Form Registration Statement (or a post-effective amendment converting the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to a Short-Form Registration Statement) covering all of the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such Short-Form Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable after the date the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is no longer useable by the Holders to sell their Registrable Securities.

(f)        Continued Effectiveness. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.2(a) or Section 2.2(e) hereof, as applicable, continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by a Shelf Holder until the date as of which all Registrable Securities registered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold.

Section 2.3        Deferral or Suspension of Registration. If (a) the Company receives a Demand Notice, a request to file a Shelf Registration Statement, or a written request from a Shelf Holder for a Shelf Take-Down and the Board of Directors, in its good faith judgment, determines that it would be materially adverse to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective on or before the date such filing or effectiveness would otherwise be required hereunder, or for such Registration Statement or prospectus included therein to be used to sell Shares or for such Shelf Take-Down to be effected, because such action would: (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) conflict with any laws or regulations applicable to the Company in any material respect to the Company; (iii) based on the advice of the Company’s outside counsel, require disclosure of material non-public information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iv) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or (b) the Company is subject to any of its customary suspension or blackout periods, for all or part of the period of such blackout period, or upon issuance by the Commission of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with respect to such Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing (but not the preparation), initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein for a period of not more than 60 days (or such longer period as the Requesting Holder or Shelf Holder, as applicable, may determine). If the Company shall so postpone the filing or initial effectiveness of a Registration Statement with respect to a Demand Notice and if the Requesting Holder within 30 days after receipt of the notice of postponement advises the Company in writing that it has determined to withdraw such Demand Notice, then such Demand Registration shall be deemed to be withdrawn and shall not be deemed to be an exercise of one of the Demand Rights to which such Requesting Holder is entitled under Section 2.1. Unless consented to in writing by the Holders, the Company shall not use the deferral or suspension rights provided under this Section 2.3 (x) more than twice in any 12-month period (except that the Company shall be able to use this right more than twice in any 12-month period if the Company is exercising such right during the 15-day period prior to the Company’s regularly scheduled quarterly earnings announcement date and the total number of days of postponement in such 12-month period does not exceed 120 days) or (y) except as contemplated in the parenthetical in (x) immediately above, in the aggregate for more than 90 days in any 12-month period. In the event of any deferral or suspension pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Requesting Holder, if applicable, apprised of the estimated

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length of the anticipated delay; and (ii) notify the Requesting Holder or Shelf Holders, as applicable, promptly upon termination of the deferral or suspension. After the expiration of the deferral or suspension period and without any further request from the Requesting Holder or Shelf Holders, as applicable, to the extent such Requesting Holder has not withdrawn the Demand Notice, if applicable, the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare and file a Registration Statement or post-effective amendment or supplement to the applicable Registration Statement or document, or file any other required document, as applicable, so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include a material misstatement or omission and will be effective and useable for the sale of Registrable Securities.

Section 2.4        Effective Registration Statement. A registration requested pursuant to this Article II shall not be deemed to have been effected:

(a)        unless a registration statement with respect thereto has been declared effective by the Commission and remains effective in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the laws of any U.S. state or other jurisdiction applicable to the disposition of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement for not less than 180 days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement) or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer;

(b)        if, after it becomes effective, such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other governmental authority or court for any reason other than a violation of applicable law solely by any Selling Investor and has not thereafter become effective; or

(c)        if, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the conditions to closing specified in an underwriting agreement applicable to the Company are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of any breach or failure by any Selling Investor.

Section 2.5        Selection of Underwriters; Cutback.

(a)        Selection of Underwriters. If a Requesting Holder intends to offer and sell the Registrable Securities covered by its request under this Article II by means of an Underwritten Offering, such Requesting Holder shall, in reasonable consultation with other participating Holders, select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be firms of nationally recognized standing and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. If an Investor Shelf Holder intends to offer and sell the Registrable Securities covered by its request under this Article II by means of an Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, the participating Investor Shelf Holders shall mutually select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be firms of nationally recognized standing and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, nationally recognized investment banks shall be deemed reasonably acceptable for purposes of this Section 2.5.

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(b)        Underwriter’s Cutback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II or Section 3.1, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of an Underwritten Offering in connection with a Demand Registration or a Shelf Registration advise the Company in their good faith opinion that the inclusion of all such Registrable Securities proposed to be included in the Registration Statement or such Underwritten Offering would be reasonably likely to interfere with the successful marketing, including, but not limited to, the pricing, timing or distribution, of the Registrable Securities to be offered thereby or in such Underwritten Offering, and no Holder has delivered a Piggyback Notice with respect to such Underwritten Offering, then the number of Shares proposed to be included in such Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering shall be allocated among the Company, the Selling Investors and all other Persons selling Shares in such Underwritten Offering in the following order:

(i)        first, the Registrable Securities of the class or classes proposed to be registered held by the Holder that initiated such Demand Registration, Shelf Registration or Underwritten Offering and the Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) held by other Holders requested to be included in such Demand Registration, Shelf Registration or Underwritten Offering (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder at the time of such Demand Registration, Shelf Registration or Underwritten Offering);

(ii)        second, all other securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the holder’s option, such class or classes) requested to be included in such Demand Registration, Shelf Registration or Underwritten Offering other than Shares to be sold by the Company; and

(iii)        third, the Shares of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

No Registrable Securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such registration or offering. If the underwriter has not limited the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten, the Company may include securities for its own account (or for the account of any other Persons) in such registration if the underwriter so agrees and if the number of Registrable Securities would not thereby be limited.

Section 2.6        Lock-up.

(a)        If requested by the managing underwriters in connection with any Underwritten Offering, each Holder (i) who beneficially owns 1% or more of the outstanding Shares or (ii) who is a natural person and serving as a director or executive officer of the Company shall agree to be bound by customary lock-up agreements providing that such Holder shall not, directly or indirectly, effect any Transfer (including sales pursuant to Rule 144) of any such Shares without prior written consent from the underwriters managing such Underwritten Offering during a period beginning on the date of launch of such Underwritten Offering and ending up to 90 days from and including the date of pricing or such shorter period as reasonably requested by the underwriters managing such Underwritten Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”); provided that (A) the

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foregoing shall not apply to any Shares that are offered for sale as part of such Underwritten Offering, (B) such Lock-Up Period shall be no longer than and on substantially the same terms as the lock-up period applicable to the Company and the executive officers and directors of the Company, and (C) such Lock-Up Period shall not commence unless the Company notifies the Holders in writing prior to the commencement of the Lock-Up Period. Each such Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the underwriters to such effect. The provisions of this Section 2.6(a) will no longer apply to a Holder if (x) such Holder ceases to hold any Shares or (y) except in the case of any Holder who is a current director or executive officer of the Company, such Holder beneficially owns less than 1% of the outstanding Shares. In addition, any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any or all of such agreements by the Company or the underwriters in order to allow a Holder to participate in an offering contemplated by this Agreement shall apply pro rata to all Holders that are subject to such agreements, based on the number of Registrable Securities subject to such agreements.

(b)        Nothing in Section 2.6(a) shall prevent: (i) any Holder that is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation from (A) making a distribution of Shares to the partners, members or stockholders thereof or (B) Transferring Shares to an Affiliate of such Holder; (ii) any Holder who is an individual from Transferring Shares to (A) an individual by will or the laws of descent or distribution or by gift without consideration of any kind or (B) a trust or estate planning-related entity for the sole benefit of such Holder or a lineal descendant or antecedent or spouse; (iii) any Holder from (A) pledging, hypothecating or otherwise granting a security interest in Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares to one or more lending institutions as collateral or security for any loan, advance or extension of credit and any transfer upon foreclosure upon such Shares or such securities or (B) Transferring Shares pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court or regulatory agency or (iv) any Holder from Transferring Shares in a manner that was permitted under, but subject to the conditions described in, the lock-ups entered into in connection with the Company’s initial public offering; provided that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), such Transfer is otherwise in compliance with applicable securities laws and; provided, further, that, in the case of clause (i), clause (ii) and, if applicable, clause (iv), each such Transferee agrees in writing to become subject to the terms of this Agreement by executing an Adoption Agreement and agrees to be bound by the applicable underwriter lock-up.

Section 2.7        Participation in Underwritten Offering; Information by Holder. No Holder may participate in an Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements, and in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including any lock-up arrangements, and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. In addition, the Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holders, as applicable, as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this Article II. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the registration of Shares in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that no underwriter shall require any Holder to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Holder and such

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Holder’s intended method of distribution, any representation required by law and any other customary representations, warranties and agreements and if, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts, an underwriter requires any Holder of to make additional representations or warranties to or agreements with such underwriter, such Holder may elect not to participate in such underwritten offering. Any liability of a Holder to any underwriter or other person pursuant to any applicable underwriting agreement shall be limited to liability arising from breach of its representations and warranties, shall be several, not joint and several, and shall be limited to the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to liability.

Section 2.8        Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including without limitation (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with any stock exchange, the Commission and FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA), (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters or Selling Investors in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Shares and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters or the Demand Holders may designate), (iii) all printing and related messenger and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Shares in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses, all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including the expenses of any special audit and “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance)), (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on any securities exchange and all rating agency fees, (v) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of the Selling Investors’ Counsel, (vi) all fees and documented out-of-pocket disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuer or sellers of securities, including liability insurance if the Company so desires or if the underwriters so require and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, and fees and disbursements of counsel to underwriters (other than such fees and disbursements incurred in connection with any registration or qualification of Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of any state)), (vii) Securities Act liability insurance or similar insurance if the Company or the underwriters so require in accordance with then-customary underwriting practice, (viii) fees and expenses of other Persons retained by the Company, and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one legal counsel chosen by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Registration, as applicable, and (ix) for any Demand Holder, any other reasonable expenses customarily paid by the issuers of securities, including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses for such Demand Holder’s legal counsel if other than the legal counsel selected by the Holders in (viii) above, will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether the Registration Statement becomes effective (or such offering is completed) and whether or not all or any portion of the Registrable Securities originally requested to be included in such registration are ultimately included in such registration; provided, however, that (x) any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Shares so registered and sold, (y) transfer taxes with respect to the sale of Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holder of such Registrable Securities and (z) the fees and expenses of any other counsel, accountants or other persons retained or employed by any Holder will be borne by such Holder.

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ARTICLE III PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION

Section 3.1        Notices.

(a)        If the Company at any time proposes for any reason to register the sale of a class or classes of Shares under the Securities Act (other than a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor of either such form, or a registration relating solely to the offer and sale to the Company’s directors or employees pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan or arrangement) whether or not Shares are to be sold by the Company or otherwise, and whether or not in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 2.2 or any other agreement (such registration, a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give to each Holder holding Registrable Securities eligible to participate in such Piggyback Registration written notice of its intention to so register the Shares at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as reasonably practical) prior to the expected date of filing of such Registration Statement or amendment thereto in which the Company first intends to identify the selling stockholders and the number of Registrable Securities to be sold (each such notice, an “Initial Notice”). The Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 below, include in such Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as the securities otherwise being sold, all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes as the Shares proposed to be registered (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) with respect to which the Company has received written requests from Holders for inclusion therein within the time period specified by the Company in the applicable Initial Notice, which time period shall be not less than ten (10) days after sending the applicable Initial Notice (each such written request, a “Piggyback Notice”), which Piggyback Notice shall specify the number of Shares proposed to be included in the Piggyback Registration.

(b)        If a Holder does not deliver a Piggyback Notice within the period specified in Section 3.1(a), such Holder shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived any and all rights under this Article III with respect to such registration (but not with respect to future registrations in accordance with this Article III). For the avoidance of doubt, no Piggyback Registration shall count towards the number of Demand Registrations that a Demand Holder is entitled to make pursuant to Section 2.1 or Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs that an Investor Shelf Holder is entitled to make pursuant to Section 2.2.

(c)        No registration effected under this Section 3.1 shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration upon request under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof, and no registration effected pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 hereof. The Initial Notice, the Piggyback Notice and the contents thereof shall be kept confidential until the public filing of the Registration Statement.

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Section 3.2        Underwriter’s Cutback. If the managing underwriter of an Underwritten Offering (including an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2) that includes a Piggyback Registration advises the Company that it is the managing underwriter’s good faith opinion that the inclusion of all such Registrable Securities proposed to be included in the Registration Statement for such Underwritten Offering would be reasonably likely to interfere with the successful marketing, including, but not limited to, the pricing, timing or distribution, of the Registrable Securities to be offered thereby, then the number of Shares proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be allocated among the Company, the Selling Investors and all other Persons selling Shares in such Underwritten Offering in the following order:

(a)        if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is initiated as an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i)        first, the Shares held by the Company of the class or classes proposed to be registered that the Company proposes to sell, as applicable;

(ii)        second, all Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) held by Holders requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration) by each such Holder at the time of such Piggyback Registration); and

(iii)        third, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible at the holder’s option into such class or classes) requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration.

(b)        if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of any Holder, then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i)        first, the Registrable Securities of the class or classes proposed to be registered held by such Holder and the Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) held by other Holders requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder at the time of such Piggyback Registration);

(ii)        second, all other securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration other than Shares to be sold by the Company; and

(iii)        third, the Shares of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

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(c)        if the Piggyback Registration referred to in Section 3.1 is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of any holder of Common Stock other than a Holder, then, with respect to each class proposed to be registered:

(i)        first, the securities of the class or classes proposed to be registered held by such holder;

(ii)        second, the Registrable Securities of the same class or classes (or exercisable for or convertible into, at the Holder’s option, such class or classes) held by Holders requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration (pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the amounts of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder at the time of such Piggyback Registration);

(iii)        third, all other securities of the same class or classes (or convertible at the holder’s option into such class or classes) requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration other than Shares to be sold by the Company; and

(iv)        fourth, the Shares of the same class or classes to be sold by the Company.

Section 3.3        Company Control. Except for a Registration Statement being filed in connection with the exercise of a Demand Right or a Shelf Registration, the Company may decline to file a Registration Statement after an Initial Notice has been given or after receipt by the Company of a Piggyback Notice, and the Company may withdraw a Registration Statement after filing and after such Initial Notice or Piggyback Notice, but prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Company shall promptly notify the Selling Investors in writing of any such action and (ii) nothing in this Section 3.3 shall prejudice the right of any Demand Holder to immediately request that such registration be effected as a registration under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 to the extent permitted thereunder.

Section 3.4        Selection of Underwriters. If the Company intends to offer and sell Shares by means of an Underwritten Offering (other than an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2), the Company shall select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such Underwritten Offering, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be firms of nationally recognized standing.

Section 3.5        Withdrawal of Registration. Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw all or a part of its Piggyback Notice by giving written notice to the Company of such withdrawal at least five (5) Business Days prior to the earliest of (i) effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement, (ii) the filing of any Registration Statement relating to such Piggyback Registration that includes a price range or (iii) commencement of a roadshow relating to the Registration Statement for such Piggyback Registration.

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ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Section 4.1        Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is under an obligation pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable:

(a)        in the case of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Registration Statement that registers such Registrable Securities to become and remain effective for a period of 180 days or, if earlier, until all of such Registrable Securities covered thereby have been disposed of; provided, that, in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on a Shelf Registration Statement which are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such 180-day period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for sales of such Registrable Securities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, until the earlier of when (i) the Holders have sold all of such Registrable Securities, (ii) all of such Registrable Securities have become eligible for immediate sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act by the Holder thereof without restriction by the manner of sale, volume and other limitations under such rule and (iii) in the case of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been effective for three years (provided that the Company’s obligations under this Section 4.1(a) shall be renewed with respect to such Registrable Securities upon the filing of a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2(e));

(b)        furnish to each Selling Investor, at least five (5) Business Days before filing a Registration Statement, or such shorter period as reasonably practical, copies of such Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, which documents shall be subject to the review, comment and approval by one lead counsel (and any reasonably necessary local counsel) selected by the Holders who beneficially own a majority of such Registrable Securities, which counsel (who may also be counsel to the Company), in each case, shall be subject to the reasonable approval of each Demand Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such registration, and who shall represent all Selling Investors as a group (the “Selling Investors’ Counsel”) (it being understood that such five (5) Business Day period need not apply to successive drafts of the same document proposed to be filed so long as such successive drafts are supplied to the Selling Investors’ Counsel in advance of the proposed filing by a period of time that is customary and reasonable under the circumstances);

(c)        furnish to each Selling Investor and each underwriter, if any, such number of copies of final conformed versions of the applicable registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and any documents incorporated by reference) reasonably requested by such Selling Investor or underwriter in writing;

(d)        in the case of Registrable Securities, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus or prospectus supplement, including any free

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writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, used in connection therewith as may be (i) reasonably requested by any Holder (to the extent such request relates to information relating to such Holder), or (ii) necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for at least the period specified in Section 4.1(a) and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement and the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities, and furnish to each Selling Investor and to the managing underwriter(s), if any, within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof a copy of any amendment or supplement to such registration statement or prospectus; provided, however, that, with respect to each free writing prospectus or other materials to be delivered to purchasers at the time of sale of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall (i) ensure that no Registrable Securities are sold “by means of” (as defined in Rule 159A(b) under the Securities Act) such free writing prospectus or other materials without the prior written consent of the sellers of the Registrable Securities, which free writing prospectus or other materials shall be subject to the review of counsel to such sellers and (ii) make all required filings of all free writing prospectuses or other materials with the Commission as are required;

(e)        notify in writing each Holder promptly (i) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing thereof or for additional information with respect thereto, (ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of such Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes and, in any such case as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, prepare and file an amendment or supplement to such registration statement or prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(f)        use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders reasonably request and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holders to consummate their disposition in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to general taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this Section 4.1(f);

(g)        furnish to each Selling Investor such number of copies of a summary prospectus or other prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Investors or any underwriter may reasonably request in writing;

(h)        notify on a timely basis each Holder of such Registrable Securities at any time when a prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or

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omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and, at the request of such Holder, as soon as practicable prepare and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the offeree of such securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

(i)        make available for inspection by the Selling Investors, the Selling Investors’ Counsel or any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Selling Investor or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information (together with the Records, the “Information”) requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement and request that the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements make themselves available, at reasonable times and for reasonable periods, to discuss the business of the Company. Any of the Information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Information is requested or required pursuant to a subpoena, order from a court of competent jurisdiction or other interrogatory by a governmental entity or similar process; (iii) such Information has been made generally available to the public; or (iv) such information is or becomes available to such Inspector on a non-confidential basis other than through the breach of an obligation of confidentiality (contractual or otherwise). The Holder(s) of Registrable Securities agree that they will, upon learning that disclosure of such Information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another governmental entity, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at the Company’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Information deemed confidential;

(j)        in the case of an Underwritten Offering, deliver to the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering a “comfort” letter in customary form and at customary times and covering matters of the type customarily covered by such comfort letters from its independent certified public accountants;

(k)        in the case of an Underwritten Offering, deliver to the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering a written and signed legal opinion or opinions in customary form from its outside or in-house legal counsel dated the closing date of the Underwritten Offering;

(l)        provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity and which may be the Company) for such Registrable Securities and deliver to such transfer agent and registrar such customary forms, legal opinions from its outside or in-house legal counsel, agreements and other documentation as such transfer agent and/or registrar so request;

  21  

(m)        issue to any underwriter to which any Selling Investors may sell Registrable Securities in such offering certificates evidencing such Registrable Securities;

(n)        upon the request of any Holder of the Registrable Securities included in such registration, use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on any national securities exchange on which any Shares are listed or, if the Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, use its reasonable best efforts to qualify such Registrable Securities for inclusion on such national securities exchange as the Company shall designate;

(o)        otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, earnings statements (which need not be audited) covering a period of 12 months beginning within three months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earnings statements shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

(p)        notify the Holders and the lead underwriter or underwriters, if any, and (if requested) confirm such advice in writing, as promptly as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by the Company when the applicable registration statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or becomes effective and when the applicable prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed;

(q)        use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable the withdrawal of, any stop order with respect to the applicable registration statement or other order suspending the use of any preliminary or final prospectus;

(r)        promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable registration statement such information as the lead underwriter or underwriters, if any, and the Holders holding a majority of each class of Registrable Securities being sold agree (with respect to the relevant class) should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such class of Registrable Securities; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as promptly as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(s)        cooperate with each Holder and each underwriter or agent, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(t)        provide a CUSIP number or numbers for all such shares, in each case not later than the effective date of the applicable registration statement;

(u)        to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing underwriters in connection with an Underwritten Offering (including an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2), send appropriate officers of the Company to attend any “road shows” scheduled in connection with any such Underwritten Offering, with all out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or such officers in connection with such attendance to be paid by the Company;

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(v)        enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as the Selling Investor or Selling Investors, as the case may be, owning at least a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by any applicable registration statement shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including customary indemnification and contribution to the effect and to the extent provided in Article V hereof; and

(w)        subject to all the other provisions of this Agreement, use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration, marketing and sale of such Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION

Section 5.1        Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Selling Investor, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, members and representatives, and each of their respective successors and assigns, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses caused by any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with the registration contemplated by a Registration Statement or any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus, or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any other disclosure document (including reports and other documents filed under the Exchange Act and any document incorporated by reference therein) or 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 the same was made in reliance on and in conformity with any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Selling Investor expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement, prospectus, or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense specifically for use therein. The Company will also indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who Controls such Persons to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Selling Investor, if requested.

Section 5.2        Indemnification by Selling Investors. Each Selling Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, the Company’s Controlled Affiliates and their respective directors, managers, partners, members and representatives, and each of their respective successors and assigns, and each Person who Controls the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus, or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make

  23  

the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance on and in conformity with any information furnished in writing by such Selling Investor to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, for each Selling Investor and in no event shall the liability of any Selling Investor hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Selling Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

Section 5.3        Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt (but in any event within 30 days after such Person has actual knowledge of the facts constituting the basis for indemnification) written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that it is prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (c) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party or (d) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon advice of counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if such Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action or claim 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 includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, (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 and (iii) does not commit any indemnified party to take, or hold back from taking, any action. No indemnified party shall, without the written consent of the indemnifying party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder, and no indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any such action or claim effected without its consent, in each case which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

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Section 5.4        Settlement Offers. Whenever the indemnified party or the indemnifying party receives a firm offer to settle a claim for which indemnification is sought hereunder, it shall promptly notify the other of such offer. If the indemnifying party refuses to accept such offer within 20 Business Days after receipt of such offer (or of notice thereof), such claim shall continue to be contested and, if such claim is within the scope of the indemnifying party’s indemnity contained herein, the indemnified party shall be indemnified pursuant to the terms hereof. 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 in any one jurisdiction, unless in the written opinion of counsel to the indemnified party, reasonably satisfactory to the indemnifying party, use of one counsel would be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of one additional counsel.

Section 5.5        Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified in this Article V (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Selling Investor with respect to any required registration or other qualification of Registrable Securities under Federal or state law or regulation of governmental authority other than the Securities Act.

Section 5.6        Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, then (i) the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and such prospective sellers, on the other hand, from their sale of the Registrable Securities, provided that, no Selling Investor shall be required to contribute in an amount greater than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Selling Investor with respect to the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or, except as provided in Section 5.3, defending any such action or claim. 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 Holders’ obligations in this Section 5.6 to contribute shall be several in proportion to the amount of Registrable Securities registered by them and not joint.

ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE ACT COMPLIANCE

Section 6.1        Exchange Act Compliance. So long as the Company (a) has registered a class of securities under Section 12 or Section 15 of the Exchange Act and (b) files reports under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, then the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to enable Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within

  25  

the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time or any similar rules or regulations adopted by the Commission, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) making and keeping public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) filing with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act and (iii) at the request of any Holder if such Holder proposes to sell securities in compliance with Rule 144, forthwith furnish to such Holder, as applicable, a written statement of compliance with the reporting requirements of the Commission as set forth in Rule 144 and make available to such Holder such information as will enable the Holder to make sales pursuant to Rule 144.

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION

Section 7.1        Termination. The registration rights hereunder shall cease to apply to any particular Registrable Security when: (a) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Shares shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such Shares shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement; (b) such Shares shall have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision); (c) such Shares shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates or book-entries for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration or qualification of them under the Securities Act or any similar state law then in force; (d) such Shares shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (e) the Holder of such Registrable Security holds less than one percent (1%) of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (determined as the aggregate number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder with all of its Affiliates), such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) without compliance with the manner of sale, volume and other limitations under such rule and the Holder of such securities is not subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof. The Company shall promptly upon the request of any Holder furnish to such Holder evidence of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1        Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

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Section 8.2        Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement and any action of any kind or any nature (whether at law or in equity, based in contract or in tort or otherwise) that is any way related to this Agreement or any of the transactions related hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that state without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof. Each party to this Agreement (i) consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom located in the State of Delaware (or, only if the Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware), (ii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement brought in such court, (iii) waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (iv) agrees that service of process or of any other papers upon such party by registered mail at the address to which notices are required to be sent to such party under Section 8.5 shall be deemed good, proper and effective service upon such party. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 8.3        Other Registration Rights. If the Company shall at any time hereafter provide to any holder of any securities of the Company rights with respect to the registration of such securities under the Securities Act, such rights shall not be in conflict with or adversely affect any of the rights provided to the holders of Registrable Securities in, or conflict (in a manner that adversely affects holders of Registrable Securities) with any other provisions included in, this Agreement.

Section 8.4        Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 8.4, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties hereto, each of which, in the case of the Holders, shall agree to become subject to the terms of this Agreement by executing an Adoption Agreement and be bound to the same extent as the parties hereto. The Company may not assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.2(b), each of the the Apollo Investor or the Vistria Investor may, at its election and at any time or from time to time, assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder, in whole or in part, to any Transferee of such Holder (each, an “Assignee”); provided, that no such assignment shall be binding upon or obligate the Company to any such Assignee unless and until such Assignee delivers the Company an Adoption Agreement. If a Holder assigns its rights under this Agreement in connection with the Transfer of less than all of its Registrable Securities, the Holder shall retain its rights under this Agreement with respect to its remaining Registrable Securities. If a Holder assigns its rights under this Agreement in connection with the Transfer of all of its Registrable Securities, the Holder shall have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement, except under Article V hereof in respect of offerings in which such Holder participated or registrations in which Registrable Securities held by such Holder were included. Any purported assignment that is not expressly permitted by this provision shall be null and void ab initio.

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Section 8.5        Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered in writing in person, by electronic mail or facsimile or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties. All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be delivered as follows:

(a) if to the Company to:

 

Phoenix Education Partners, INC.

4035 S. Riverpoint Parkway

Phoenix, Arizona 85040

Attention: [•]
Email: [•]

 

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

 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019-6064

Attention: Brian M. Janson
  Luke R. Jennings
Email: bjanson@paulweiss.com
  ljennings@paulweiss.com

 

(b) if to the Apollo Investor to:

 

AP VIIISocrates Holdings, L.P.
c/o Apollo Global Management, Inc.
9 West 57th Street, 42nd Floor

New York, NY 10019

Attention: [•]
Email: [•]

 

with a copy, in each case, (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019-6064

Attention: Brian M. Janson
  Luke R. Jennings
Email: bjanson@paulweiss.com
  ljennings@paulweiss.com

 

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(c) If to the Vistria Investor to:

 

TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP

Vistria-AEG GP, LLC

c/o The Vistria Group, LP

300 E. Randolph St.

Suite 3850

Chicago, IL 60601

Attention: [•]
Email: [•]

 

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

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

300 N. LaSalle Dr.

Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60654

Attention: Steven J. Gavin and Timothy D. Kincaid
Email: sgavin@winston.com; tkincaid@winston.com

 

(d) If to another Holder, to the address set forth under such Holder’s name in Schedule I attached hereto.

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of dispatch by nationally recognized overnight courier, on the next Business Day following such dispatch and (iii) in the case of mailing, on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the posting thereof.

Section 8.6        Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

Section 8.7        Additional Parties. Additional parties to this Agreement shall only include each Holder (a) who has executed an Adoption Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or (b) who (i) is bound by and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) has adopted this Agreement with the same force and effect as if it were originally a party hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall be entitled to add, pursuant to this Section 8.7, any holder of Shares who came to own such Shares as a result of his, her or its equity interests of The University of Phoenix, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of the Company) as an additional Holder in accordance with this Section 8.7.

Section 8.8        Adjustments. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split) or subdivision or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or stock distribution, merger or other similar transaction affecting such Shares or such securities, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to such Shares or such securities as so changed.

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Section 8.9        Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.

Section 8.10        Counterparts; Facsimile or.pdf Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or.pdf signature and a facsimile or.pdf signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.

Section 8.11        Amendment. Other than with respect to amendments to Schedule I attached hereto, which may be amended by the Company from time to time to reflect the Holders at such time, this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented without the written consent of the Apollo Investor (as long as it owns Registrable Securities); provided, however, that, with respect to a particular Holder or group of Holders, any such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect such Holder or group of Holders in any respect relative to other Holders shall not be effective against such Holder or group of Holders unless approved in writing by such Holder or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by such group of Holders, as the case may be.

Section 8.12        Extensions; Waivers. Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any extension or waiver pursuant to this Section 8.12 will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

Section 8.13        Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto shall execute all such further instruments and documents and take all such further action as the Company may reasonably require in order to effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.

Section 8.14        No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except pursuant to Article V, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and other Persons expressly named herein.

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Section 8.15        Interpretation; Construction. This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including the schedules, exhibits and annexes, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. All references to sections, schedules, annexes and exhibits mean the sections of this Agreement and the schedules, annexes and exhibits attached to this Agreement, except where otherwise stated. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the party’s breach of the first covenant.

Section 8.16        Changes in Common Stock. If, and as often as, there are any changes in Common Stock by way of by way of a dividend, distribution, stock split or combination, reclassification, recapitalization, exchange or readjustment, whether in a merger, consolidation, conversion or similar transaction, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to Common Stock as so changed.

* * * *

 

 

 

 

  31  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

  THE COMPANY:  
       
  PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.  
       
By: /s/ Srini Medi
    Name: Srini Medi  
    Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

     

 

  APOLLO INVESTOR:  
       
  AP VIII SOCRATES HOLDINGS, L.P.  
       
  By:

AP VIII Socrates Holdings GP, LLC

its general partner

 
       
By: /s/ James Elworth
    Name: James Elworth  
    Title: Vice President  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

     

 

  VISTRIA INVESTOR:  
       
  TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP  
       
  By: Vistria-AEG GP, LLC, its general partner  
       
By: /s/ Adnan A. Nisar
    Name: Adnan A. Nisar  
    Title: Sole Manager  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

     

EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“Adoption Agreement”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [__], 2025, a copy of which is attached hereto (as amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), by the undersigned (the “Undersigned”) executing this Adoption Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Registration Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein. By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the Undersigned agrees as follows:

1.       Acknowledgment. The Undersigned acknowledges that the Undersigned is acquiring or has acquired certain Shares, subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement.

2.       Agreement. The Undersigned (i) agrees that the Shares acquired by the Undersigned, and certain other Shares and other securities of the Company that may be acquired by the Undersigned in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if the undersigned were originally a party thereto.

3.       Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Registration Rights Agreement shall be given to the Undersigned at the address listed beside the Undersigned’s signature below.

[NAME OF HOLDER]

By: _________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
Address for Notices:

[l]
[l]
Telephone: [l]
Email: [l]
   

 

 

     

SCHEDULE I

List of Holders

Name   Address for Notice   Shares
Apollo Investor  

AP VIII SOCRATES HOLDINGS, L.P.

c/o Apollo Global Management, Inc.
9 West 57th Street, 42nd Floor
New York, NY 10019

  28,980,352 Shares
   

Attention:

Email:

[•]

[•]

   
           
   

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

 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019-6064

   
    Attention:

Brian M. Janson

Luke R. Jennings

   
    Email:

bjanson@paulweiss.com

ljennings@paulweiss.com

   
           
Vistria Investor  

TVG-I-E-AEG HOLDINGS, LP

Vistria-AEG GP, LLC

c/o The Vistria Group, LP

300 E. Randolph St.

Suite 4030

Chicago, IL 60601

  5,743,930 Shares
   

Attention:

Email:

[•]

[•]

   
         
   

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

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

300 N. LaSalle Dr.

Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60654

   
    Attention:

Steven J. Gavin and

Timothy D. Kincaid

   
    Email:

sgavin@winston.com;

tkincaid@winston.com

   

 

     

 

EX-10.3 6 eh250691528_ex1003.htm EXHIBIT 10.3

EXHIBIT 10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, INC.

AMENDED & RESTATED

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 9, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Section 1.   Definitions. 1
   
Section 2.   [RESERVED]. 5
   
Section 3.   [RESERVED]. 5
   
Section 4.   [RESERVED]. 5
   
Section 5.   [RESERVED]. 5
   
Section 6.   Election of Trustees; Certain Waivers. 5
   
Section 7.   Certain Treatment of Company Common Stock. 6
   
Section 8.   Restriction on Transfer. 7
   
Section 9.   Notices. 8
   
Section 10.   [RESERVED]. 8
   
Section 11.   [RESERVED]. 8
   
Section 12.   Piggyback Registration Rights. 8
   
Section 13.   [RESERVED]. 8
   
Section 14.   Confidentiality. 8
   
Section 15.   Distributions in Connection with Merger; Cooperation with Merger, Reorganization and SEC Filings. 9
   
Section 16.   Representations and Warranties. 10
   
Section 17.   Miscellaneous Provisions. 10

 

 

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This AMENDED & RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT is made as of October 9, 2025 (this “Agreement”), by and among THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, INC., an Arizona corporation (the “Company”), PHOENIX EDUCATION OPERATING CORP., an Arizona corporation (“Parent”), and PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdco”).

WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Holdco are parties to that certain Stockholders’ Agreement of the Company, dated as of September 21, 2017 (the “Original Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Parent deems it to be in the best interest of the Company and Parent that provision be made for the continuity and stability of the business and policies of the Company;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 17.3 of the Original Agreement, the Original Agreement may be amended or waived from time to time by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and Parent; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of an initial public offering of the securities of Holdco on or about the date hereof (the “IPO”), the Company and Parent desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement as more fully set forth herein, including to reflect the exchange by certain Holders of Company Common Stock for Holdco Common Stock.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety as follows:

Section 1.        Definitions.

As used in this Agreement:

“Adoption Agreement” means an Adoption Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Original Agreement (or such other form that was satisfactory to Parent).

“Affiliate” of the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor or any other Person (other than a Holder) means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor or such other Person (other than a Holder), as applicable. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to Sections 17.19, 17.20 and 17.22, and the definition of “Control Disposition”, (a) Holdco and its Subsidiaries and their respective joint ventures shall not be considered Affiliates of the Sponsors or their respective Affiliates (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Holdco and its Subsidiaries) and (b) no Sponsor shall be considered an Affiliate of (i) any portfolio company in which such Sponsor or its Affiliates has made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa), (ii) any limited partners, non-managing members or other similar direct or indirect investors in any of such Sponsor, such Sponsor’s investment fund Affiliates or alternative investment vehicle or (iii) any portfolio company in which any limited partner, non-managing member of, or other similar direct or indirect investor in a Sponsor or such Sponsor’s Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (or vice versa), and none of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this definition shall be considered an Affiliate of each other. Without giving effect to the exception set forth in the beginning of the immediately preceding sentence, no Holder shall be considered an Affiliate of any Person described in clauses (a) or (b) of the

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immediately preceding sentence (and vice versa). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that AGS would be considered an “Affiliate” of a Sponsor or any of their respective Affiliates, AGS shall not be considered such an “Affiliate” of such Sponsor or any of its respective Affiliates when AGS acts as a broker-dealer, underwriter, placement agent, initial purchaser, arranger or lender or in any similar role in the ordinary course of its business.

“Affiliate” of a Holder means: (a) the spouse and lineal descendants (including children by adoption and step-children) of the Applicable Employee for an individual Holder, and in any such case, any trust formed in connection with the bona fide estate planning activities of the Applicable Employee for such Holder: (i) the beneficiaries of which may include only the Applicable Employee for such Holder, and the spouse and lineal descendants (including children by adoption and step-children) of the Applicable Employee and (ii) with respect to which such Applicable Employee is the sole trustee or custodian, (b) any limited liability company or partnership: (i) with respect to which at least eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding equity interests are beneficially owned by the Applicable Employee for such Holder, or the spouse and lineal descendants (including children by adoption and step-children) of the Applicable Employee, (ii) with respect to which the Applicable Employee, or the spouse and lineal descendants (including children by adoption and step-children) of such Applicable Employee, is the sole manager or managing member or general partner, as the case may be, and otherwise has the sole power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such limited liability company or partnership, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and (iii) which is not formed for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement.

“AGS” means Apollo Global Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“Applicable Employee” means (a) with respect to any Holder that is or was an employee, officer, director, consultant or trustee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, such employee, officer, director, consultant or trustee and (b) with respect to any Holder that is not and was not an employee, officer, director, consultant or trustee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the current or former employee, officer, director, consultant or trustee of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to whom such Holder received Company Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement or pursuant to an Award that was issued to such current or former employee, officer, director, consultant or trustee of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Sponsor Director be deemed an Applicable Employee for purposes of this Agreement.

“Award” means an award of Options, restricted stock or restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Company’s Management Equity Plan, or any other equity plan approved by the Company.

“Award Shares” means shares of Company Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award.

“Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Company and any duly authorized committee thereof. All determinations by the Board of Trustees required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to be made by the Board of Trustees shall be binding and conclusive.

“Company Common Stock” means: (a) all shares of the voting or non-voting common stock of the Company owned by any Person, and (b) all securities of the Company or any other Person that any Person acquires in respect of his, her or its Company Common Stock in connection with any exchange, merger, conversion, reclassification, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization or other transaction involving the Company or its securities. All references herein to Company Common Stock owned by a Holder include the community interest or similar marital property interest, if any, of the spouse of such Holder in such Company Common Stock. The term “common stock” means any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference over any other class of Equity Securities of the Company in respect of

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dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and which is not subject by the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to redemption by the Company (whether or not shares of such class have voting rights).

“Control Disposition” means a Disposition, (a) following which, a Person or Group other than Socrates and its Affiliates becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, and such combined voting power beneficially owned is greater than the percentage of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Socrates and its Affiliates; or (b) that would have the effect of transferring all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a Person or Group that is not an Affiliate of Socrates; provided, however, that an initial public offering or a merger or other acquisition or combination transaction after which the Socrates and its Affiliates retain control or shared control of the Company, or have otherwise not sold or disposed of more than 50% of its investment in the Company as of the date hereof in exchange for cash or marketable securities, shall not be a Control Disposition.

“Disposition” means any transaction or series of related transactions resulting in direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of Company Common Stock, Parent Common Stock or Holdco Common Stock (or any interest therein or right thereto), as applicable, or of all or part of the voting power (other than the granting of a revocable proxy) associated with the Company Common Stock, Parent Common Stock or Holdco Interests (or any interest therein) whatsoever, as applicable, or any other transfer of legal, economic or beneficial ownership of Company Common Stock, Parent Common Stock or Holdco Interests or any interest therein, as applicable, whether voluntary or involuntary, including (a) as a part of any liquidation of a Holder’s assets or (b) as a part of any reorganization of a Holder pursuant to the United States or other bankruptcy law or other similar debtor relief laws; provided, however, in no event shall (i) any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any Equity Securities of a Sponsor or any of their respective current or prospective direct or indirect members, stockholders, partners or other equity holders (as applicable) or (ii) any transfer, exchange, merger, conversion, reclassification, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization or other similar action or transaction involving Apollo Global Inc. or any of its Subsidiaries be considered a “Disposition” hereunder. The terms “Dispose” or “Disposed” shall have correlative meanings.

“Equity Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

“Group” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Holdco” means Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. or any successor thereof.

“Holdco Common Stock” means the “Common Stock” of Holdco as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of Holdco, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

“Holders” means Persons who from time to time executed an Adoption Agreement prior to the date hereof and hold securities of the Company, other than the Company and Parent.

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“IPO Issuer” means the Company or an Affiliate of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Parent, Holdco or an Affiliate thereof) that will be a successor to the Company or such Affiliate and the issuer in an initial public offering.

“Management Equity Plan” means the University of Phoenix, Inc. Management Equity Plan, as amended from time to time.

“New Equity Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 15.2.

“Newco” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 15.2.

“Option” means the options to purchase or acquire Company Common Stock issued to Applicable Employees pursuant to the Company’s Management Equity Plan, or any other equity plan approved by the Board of Trustees.

“Parent Common Stock” means: (a) all shares of the voting or non-voting common stock of Parent owned by any Person and (b) all common stock of Parent or any other Person that any Person acquires in respect of his, her or its Parent Common Stock in connection with any exchange, merger, conversion, reclassification, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization or other transaction involving Parent or its securities. All references herein to Parent Common Stock owned by a Holder include the community interest or similar marital property interest, if any, of the spouse of such Holder in such Parent Common Stock. The term “common stock” means any stock of any class of Parent which has no preference over any other class of Equity Securities of Parent in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Parent and which is not subject by the terms of Parent’s Articles of Incorporation to redemption by Parent (whether or not shares of such class have voting rights).

“Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include an individual, a partnership (general or limited), a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a limited liability company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdco and the holders party thereto.

“Reorganization” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 15.2.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Socrates” means AP VIII Socrates Holdings, L.P. or any successor thereof.

“Sponsor” means, as of a given date, (i) Socrates, (ii) TVG-I-E-AEG Holdings, LP or (iii) any Affiliate of Apollo Management VIII, L.P. or The Vistria Group, LP to whom securities of the Company are Disposed or that otherwise acquires record or beneficial ownership of the Company, Parent or Holdco.

“Sponsor Director” means any trustee or director, as the case may be, of the Company or its Affiliates who is also a general partner, partner, managing director, manager, officer, director, principal or employee of any of the Sponsors and their Affiliates.

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“Subsidiary” means each Person in which another Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other equity interests representing more than 50% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests.

“Voting Securities” means the Company Common Stock (or, if applicable, Parent Common Stock or Holdco Common Stock, as applicable, based upon an exchange of Company Common Stock for Parent Common Stock or Holdco Common Stock, as applicable, as provided in Section 7.3) and any other securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the Board of Trustees or any successor body or other board of directors under Title 10 of the Arizona Revised Statutes or the Company’s Articles of Incorporation).

Section 2.        [RESERVED].

Section 3.        [RESERVED].

Section 4.        [RESERVED].

Section 5.        [RESERVED].

Section 6.        Election of Trustees; Certain Waivers.

6.1        Agreements with Respect to Election of Trustees. Each Holder, as a holder of Voting Securities, hereby agrees on behalf of itself and any transferee or assignee of any such Voting Securities, to hold all of the Voting Securities held of record by such Holder or beneficially owned by such Holder by virtue of having voting power over such Voting Securities, and any other Voting Securities subsequently acquired by such Holder in the future (including any Voting Securities issued with respect to, upon conversion of, or in exchange or substitution for shares of Company Common Stock), and to vote such Voting Securities at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders (or by written consent) (a) so as to cause to be elected to the Board of Trustees and to continue in office, at any given time, (i) the candidates for Independent Trustees nominated in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company and (ii) the candidates for Other Trustees nominated by Parent (or nominated by the Board of Trustees or a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees for such purposes if such candidate is supported by Parent) and (b) subject to Section 2.2(f) of the Bylaws of the Company, in favor of the removal of any member of the Board of Trustees in the event Parent is voting in favor of such removal.

6.2        Irrevocable Proxy. Solely for purposes of this Section 6, and in order to secure the performance of each Holder’s obligations under this Section 6, each Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints Parent, as the attorney-in-fact and proxy of such Holder (with full power of substitution and re-substitution) to vote (if applicable), provide a written consent (if applicable), or take any other action required to be taken by a Holder with respect to such Holder’s Voting Securities so as to vote such Voting Securities in accordance with this Agreement, and Parent shall have, and is hereby granted, a proxy and power of attorney to vote, provide a written consent or take any other action with respect to each such Holder’s Voting Securities for purposes of taking the actions required by this Section 6. Each Holder agrees that this proxy and power of attorney is given as a condition to this Agreement and intends this irrevocable and unconditional proxy and power of attorney to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and each Holder shall take further action and execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and power of attorney and hereby revoke any proxy and power of attorney previously granted by it with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 6. The irrevocable and unconditional proxy and power of attorney granted hereby is intended to be, and is, attached to the Company Common Stock and any other Voting Securities acquired by such Holder, shall be deemed to have been delivered by a Holder to the Secretary of the Company upon execution of this Agreement, a joinder or Adoption Agreement (as applicable) by such Holder, and shall have a term valid for, and shall survive for, the duration of this Agreement.

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6.3        Certain Waivers.

(a)        Each Holder hereby waives in accordance with Section 4.1(d) of the Bylaws of the Company written notice of any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company (including any adjourned meeting) and acknowledges that such Holder shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.

(b)        To the fullest extent permitted by Title 10 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, each Holder hereby waives any rights it may have to receive notice of the taking of a corporate action without a meeting pursuant to subsection H of Section 10-704 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

(c)        To the fullest extent permitted by Title 10 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, each Holder hereby waives its rights to inspect and copy the records of the Company pursuant to Section 10-602 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and agrees, for the duration of this Agreement, not to make any demand with respect to such rights of inspection.

Section 7.        Certain Treatment of Company Common Stock.

7.1        [RESERVED].

7.2        [RESERVED].

7.3        Conversion, Exchange or Redemption.

(a)        In the event of any exercise of restructuring or reorganization of Holdco or any of its Subsidiaries, if necessary or desirable in connection with such transaction (as determined, in each case, by Parent in its sole discretion), the Company, Parent, and all Holders shall, and Parent shall cause Holdco, the Sponsors and their respective Affiliates to, cause the Company Common Stock held by all Holders to be converted, redeemed or exchanged for Parent Common Stock or Holdco Common Stock of the same class or type held by the Sponsors, as applicable, in an exchange ratio to be determined by the Board of Directors of Parent in good faith, which exchange ratio shall reflect, the equivalent economic rights of the Holders as in effect immediately prior to such conversion, redemption or exchange without any minority discount. For the sake of clarity, the Fair Market Value of the payments or securities received in such conversion, redemption or exchange shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the securities exchanged.

(b)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, if a conversion, redemption or exchange of the Company Common Stock held by the Holders pursuant to this Section 7.3 is in connection with the transactions described in Section 7.3(a) above, (i) the Holders shall have substantially equivalent economic, preemptive (to the extent applicable) and transfer rights, and other rights and obligations, as set forth in this Agreement as in effect immediately prior to such conversion, redemption or exchange and (ii) the Holders, Parent, Holdco shall, or shall cause their respective Affiliates to, as applicable, shall enter into a stockholders’ agreement or similar agreement with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock or Holdco Common Stock received by the Holders in connection with such conversion, exchange or redemption with terms that are substantially equivalent (to the extent practicable) to, mutatis mutandis, the terms of this Agreement.

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(c)        Parent, Holdco and each Holder, shall cooperate in good faith to effect such conversion, redemption or exchange in an efficient manner, including with respect to any regulatory or other requirements.

7.4        Automatic Exchange of Company Common Stock.

(a)        Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and in reliance upon the mutual representations and warranties set forth herein, on the date hereof, each Holder automatically (without a need for any further action on the part of such Holder or any other Person) exchanges, and shall be deemed to have surrendered and exchanged, all of its rights, title and interest in, each share of Company Common Stock that he, she or it holds for, subject to the requirements set forth in Section 7.4(b), one (1) share of Holdco Common Stock (such exchange, the “Exchange”).

(b)        In connection with the Exchange, each Holder shall complete, execute and deliver to the Company lock-up agreements and other documents as may be required by the managing underwriters of the IPO.

7.5        Power of Attorney. Solely for purposes of this Section 7, and in order to secure the performance of each Holder’s obligations under this Section 7, each Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints Parent as the attorney-in-fact and proxy of such Holder (with full power of substitution and re-substitution) to vote (if applicable), provide a written consent (if applicable), or take any other action with respect to such Holder’s Company Common Stock and Award Shares in connection with any proposed transaction contemplated by Section 7.3 or Section 7.4 and Parent shall have, and is hereby granted, a proxy and power of attorney to vote, provide a written consent or take any other action with respect to each such Holder’s Company Common Stock and Award Shares for purposes of taking the actions contemplated by Section 7.3 or Section 7.4. Each Holder agrees that this proxy and power of attorney is given as a condition to this Agreement and intends this irrevocable and unconditional proxy to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and each Holder shall take further action and execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and power of attorney and hereby revoke any proxy and power of attorney previously granted by it with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 7. The irrevocable and unconditional proxy and power of attorney granted hereby is intended to be, and is, attached to the Company Common Stock, shall be deemed to have been delivered by a Holder to the Secretary of the Company upon execution of this Agreement, a joinder or Adoption Agreement (as applicable) by such Holder, and shall have a term valid for, and shall survive for, the duration of this Agreement.

Section 8.        Restriction on Transfer.

8.1        Each Holder acknowledges that no Holdco Common Stock may be transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable local law. Each Holder agrees that he, she or it will not make any Disposition at any time if such action would or would reasonably be likely to constitute a violation of any securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction or a breach of the conditions to any exemption from registration of Holdco Common Stock under any such laws or a breach of any undertaking or agreement of such Holder entered into pursuant to such laws or in connection with obtaining an exemption thereunder.

8.2        Restrictive Legend. Each certificate (or book-entry interest), if any, representing Holdco Common Stock shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form, with such additions and or changes as Holdco may reasonably determine (in its sole discretion) are warranted based on the circumstances:

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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS.”

Section 9.        Notices.

In the event that a notice or other document is required to be sent hereunder to the Company, Parent or any Holder or the spouse or legal representative of a Holder, such notice or other document, if sent by mail, shall be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested (and by air mail in the event that the addressee is not in the continental United States), to the party entitled to receive such notice or other document at the address set forth on Annex I hereto. Any such notice shall be effective and deemed received three (3) days after proper deposit in the mail, but actual notice shall be effective however and whenever received. The Company, Parent or any Holder or spouse or their respective legal representatives may effect a change of address for purposes of this Agreement by giving notice of such change to the Company, and the Company shall, upon the request of any party hereto, notify such party of such change in the manner provided herein. Until such notice of change of address is properly given, the addresses set forth on Annex I hereto shall be effective for all purposes.

Section 10.        [RESERVED].

Section 11.        [RESERVED].

Section 12.        Piggyback Registration Rights.

Each Holder shall have the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) party to the Registration Rights Agreement mutatis mutandis as if such rights, duties and obligations were set forth herein, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement.

Section 13.        [RESERVED].

Section 14.        Confidentiality.

Each Holder agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, at any time during or after such time as such Holder is a holder of securities of the Company, use, take commercial or proprietary advantage of or profit from or disclose in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, or disclose in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, any information (whether or not in written form and whether or not expressly designated as confidential), documents or materials of or concerning the Company, Parent, a Sponsor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of its or their respective former, current or future, direct or indirect, equity holders, controlling persons, general or limited partners, stockholders, members, managers, trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, Affiliates, attorneys, advisors or other representatives received on a confidential basis from the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor or any other Person under or pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, including financial terms

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and financial and organizational information contained in any documents, statements, certificates, materials or information furnished, or to be furnished, by or on behalf of the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor, any of their respective Affiliates or any other Person in connection with the purchase or ownership of any Awards; provided, however, that (a) the foregoing shall not be construed, now or in the future, to prevent such Holder from making any disclosure of any information (i) to such Holder’s legal counsel, (ii) if required to do so by any law, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Holder; provided that such Holder provides the Company with reasonable advance written notice thereof, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, limit the extent of such disclosure and reasonably cooperates with the Company in connection therewith or (iii) pursuant to subpoena and (b) an Applicable Employee may, if and for so long as he or she is an employee or consultant of Company or its Subsidiaries, use such information solely in such capacity as an employee or consultant on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for the sole purpose of the conduct of their respective businesses.

Section 15.        Distributions in Connection with Merger; Cooperation with Merger, Reorganization and SEC Filings.

15.1        In the event of any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or other business combination or reorganization of the Company, on the one hand, with any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, each Holder shall, to the extent necessary, as determined by Parent, execute a stockholders’ agreement with terms that are substantially equivalent (to the extent practicable) to, mutatis mutandis, the terms of this Agreement.

15.2        Upon the election of Parent (including in connection with changes to the structure of Holdco, Parent or the Company), each Holder shall enter into a capital reorganization transaction (a “Reorganization”) in which each such Holder will become a member, partner or stock holder or option holder of a newly formed company (“Newco”), which may be a limited liability company, corporation, or limited partnership or similar entity and shall cease to be holders of their Company Common Stock. The Reorganization may be structured as determined by Parent, in its sole discretion, as a contribution, merger, consolidation, recapitalization or substantially similar transaction in which each Holder exchanges the Company Common Stock for substantially similar equity securities of Newco (collectively, the “New Equity Securities”). The New Equity Securities shall provide each Holder with substantially similar economic and other rights, privileges and restrictions as such Holder had prior to such Reorganization. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization, either (i) Newco shall assume all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and any Awards and all references herein to the Company, the Company Common Stock and the Awards (or terms of similar import) would be deemed changed mutatis mutandis to reflect the issuance of the New Equity Securities by Newco and their attendant rights, privileges and restrictions and the assumption of this Agreement and any Awards by Newco or (ii) upon the election of Sponsor, each Holder and Newco shall enter into a new agreement based on terms that are substantially similar to this Agreement. Each Holder and the Company agree to execute any agreements or other documents in connection with the Reorganization that Parent deems reasonably necessary and proper to consummate the Reorganization.

15.3        In connection with any proposed transaction contemplated by Section 15.1 or Section 15.2, each Holder shall take such actions as may be reasonably required and otherwise cooperate in good faith with the Company, Parent, Holdco and the Sponsors, including taking all actions reasonably requested by the Company, Parent, Holdco and the Sponsors and executing and delivering all agreements, instruments and documents as may be reasonably required or desirable to consummate any such proposed transaction.

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15.4        Each Holder agrees, to the extent practicable and as requested by Parent, to use reasonable efforts following the consummation of an initial public offering of securities of the IPO Issuer, to take or avoid taking (as applicable) actions that would potentially cause liability to such IPO Issuer, the Company, Parent, Holdco, the Sponsors or their Affiliates or any Holder, as the case may be, under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the IPO Issuer, the Company, Parent, Holdco, a Sponsor or their respective Affiliates or any Holder determines that it is obligated to make filings under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, each Holder agrees to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Person that determines that it has such a filing obligation, including by promptly providing information reasonably required by such Person for any such filing.

15.5        Solely for purposes of this Section 15, and in order to secure the performance of each Holder’s obligations under this Section 15, each Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally appoints Parent as the attorney-in-fact and proxy of such Holder (with full power of substitution and re-substitution) to vote (if applicable), provide a written consent (if applicable), or take any other action with respect to such Holder’s Company Common Stock and Award Shares in connection with any proposed transaction contemplated by Section 15.1 or Section 15.2, and Parent shall have, and is hereby granted, a proxy and power of attorney to vote, provide a written consent or take any other action with respect to each such Holder’s Company Common Stock and Award Shares for purposes of taking the actions permitted by proposed transaction contemplated by Section 15.1 or Section 15.2. Each Holder agrees that this proxy and power of attorney is given as a condition to this Agreement and intends this irrevocable and unconditional proxy to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and each Holder shall take further action and execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and power of attorney and hereby revoke any proxy and power of attorney previously granted by it with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 15. The irrevocable and unconditional proxy and power of attorney granted hereby is intended to be, and is, attached to the Company Common Stock, shall be deemed to have been delivered by a Holder to the Secretary of the Company upon execution of this Agreement, a joinder or Adoption Agreement (as applicable) by such Holder, and shall have a term valid for, and shall survive for, the duration of this Agreement.

Section 16.        Representations and Warranties.

Each Holder hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit B to each of the other parties to this Agreement as of the date such Holder executed an Adoption Agreement and as of the date hereof.

Section 17.        Miscellaneous Provisions.

17.1        Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether in 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, except to the extent the laws of the State of Arizona are mandatorily applicable to any provision hereof.

17.2        Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, Parent, the Holders, any spouses of the Holders, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and permitted successors and assigns. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto intend that the applicable provisions of this Agreement constitute an enforceable voting agreement pursuant to Section 10-731 of the Arizona Revised Statutes and that this Agreement constitute a shareholder agreement under Section 10-732 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

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17.3        Amendment; Waiver.

(a)        This Agreement may be amended or waived from time to time by an instrument in writing signed by the Company, Parent and Holdco; provided, that if any amendment, by its terms, would materially, adversely and uniquely affect one or more Holders relative to another Holder or group of Holders, such amendment shall require the written consent of the affected Holders who hold more than 50% of the Company Common Stock (including, for this purpose only, Company Common Stock subject to Options) held by all affected Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, any addition of a transferee as a party hereto pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof, shall not constitute an amendment hereto and the applicable Adoption Agreement need be signed only by the Company and such transferee or recipient.

(b)        No course of dealing between the Company, or its Subsidiaries, and the Holders (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party 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 party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

17.4        Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the earliest to occur of (a) the dissolution of the Company, (b) the consummation of a Control Disposition and (c)(i) the time that there are no Awards outstanding and (ii) no Holders party hereto have any rights remaining under the Registration Rights Agreement (other than with respect to indemnification and/or contribution rights, which rights shall survive the termination of the remainder of this Agreement).

17.5        Dispositions of Company Common Stock. Any Holder who disposes of all of his, her or its Company Common Stock and all securities exercisable, or exchangeable for or convertible into, Company Common Stock in conformity with the terms of this Agreement shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no further rights and obligations hereunder, except for purposes of Section 12 hereof.

17.6        Spousal Consent. The spouses of the individual Holders are fully aware of, understand and fully consent and agree to the provisions of this Agreement and its binding effect upon any community property interests or similar marital property interests in the Company Common Stock that they may now or hereafter own, and agree that the termination of their marital relationship with any Holder for any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Company Common Stock otherwise subject to this Agreement from the coverage of this Agreement and that their awareness, understanding, consent and agreement are evidenced by their signing of this Agreement. Furthermore, unless otherwise determined by the Company or Parent, each individual Holder agrees to cause his or her spouse (and any subsequent spouse) to execute and deliver a counterpart of this Agreement, or an Adoption Agreement.

17.7        Specific Performance. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this Agreement will be inadequate, agrees that each other party to this Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach and further agrees to waive (to the extent legally permissible) any legal conditions required to be met for the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief (including posting any bond in order to obtain equitable relief).

17.8        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same agreement. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. The failure of any Holder to execute this Agreement does not make it invalid as against any other Holder.

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17.9        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, and such invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions shall be null and void. It is the intent of the parties, however, that any invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions be automatically replaced by other provisions which are as similar as possible in terms to such invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable provisions but are valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

17.10        Further Efforts. Each Holder shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed, without further consideration, all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as the Company may request in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

17.11        Exclusive Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery, or in the event (but only in the event) that the Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such legal action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such United States District Court for the District of Delaware also does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such legal action or proceeding, any Delaware state court sitting in New Castle County, in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereof, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement in any court other than the courts of the State of Delaware, as described above. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the addresses set forth in Annex I, or as set forth in Adoption Agreement of a Holder, as applicable, shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the abovenamed courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 17.11, that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper, or that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts and further irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the benefit of any defense that would hinder, fetter or delay the levy, execution or collection of any amount to which a party hereto is entitled pursuant to the final judgment of any court having jurisdiction. Each party hereto expressly acknowledges that the foregoing waiver is intended to be irrevocable under the laws of the State of Delaware and of the United States of America; provided, that each such party’s consent to jurisdiction and service contained in this Section 17.11 is solely for the purpose referred to in this Section 17.11 and shall not be deemed to be a general submission to said courts or in the State of Delaware other than for such purpose.

17.12        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE

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PARTIES WISH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS SET FORTH IN SECTION 16.1 TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND ARBITRATION, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED HERETO.

17.13        Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and cancels all previous and contemporaneous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto, whether written, oral or otherwise. Unless otherwise provided herein, any consent, approval, decision or action of the Company, Parent or Board of Trustees, as the case may be, may be given, withheld, taken or omitted by the Company, Parent or Board of Trustees, as the case may be, in its sole discretion.

17.14        Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, none of the provisions in this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any Person other than the parties to this Agreement, their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns except that (a) each Related Party shall be a third party beneficiary of Section 17.20 (and any other provision or definition of this Agreement to the extent an amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification of such provision or definition would modify the substance of such Section and definition) and (b) each of the Sponsors and their respective Affiliates shall be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

17.15        [RESERVED].

17.16        Personal Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director or trustee, as the case may be, of Parent, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall be personally liable to Parent, the Company or any Holder as a result of any acts or omissions taken under this Agreement in good faith.

17.17        [RESERVED].

17.18        [RESERVED].

17.19        Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Parent may assign its rights or obligations, in whole (and not in part), under this Agreement to one or more of its Affiliates; provided, that such assignment shall not relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder unless (a) Parent has transferred all its Company Common Stock to such Affiliate(s) and (b) such Affiliate(s) have become parties to this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent shall have the right, at its election and without the consent of any other Person, to assign any or all of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person or Persons to whom Parent sells or transfers Company Common Stock. No Holder may, directly or indirectly, assign or transfer (whether in connection with the transfer of Company Common Stock or otherwise) all or any part of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent may be withheld by Parent at its sole discretion).

17.20        Non-Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, and notwithstanding the fact that certain of the parties hereto may be partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations or other entities, each Holder covenants, agrees and acknowledges that any claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) under or that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, any documents or instruments delivered by any Person pursuant

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hereto, or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof or thereof (including any representation or warranty made in or in connection with or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement or such documents and instruments), may be made only against the Persons that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no former, current or future, direct or indirect, equity holder, controlling Person, general or limited partner, stockholder, member, manager, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant, attorney, financing source, advisor, Affiliate, portfolio company in which any such party or any of its investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa), or other representative of Parent or any Sponsor or their respective Affiliates, successors or permitted assigns (including any Person negotiating or executing this Agreement on behalf of a party hereto) (each, a “Related Party” and collectively, the “Related Parties”), unless a party to this Agreement, shall have any liability or obligation with respect to this Agreement, any document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto, or with respect any claim or cause of action (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) that may arise out of or relate to this Agreement any document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto (including any representation or warranty made in or in connection with or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement or such documents and instruments), whether in connection with the enforcement of any assessment or with any legal equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable law or otherwise, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any of the Related Parties, as such, for any obligation or liability of the Company or Parent under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or liabilities or their creation.

17.21        No Partnership Status. Nothing in this Agreement and no actions taken by the parties under this Agreement shall constitute a partnership, association or other co-operative entity between any of the parties or constitute any party the agent of any other party for any purpose.

17.22        Further Acknowledgements. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement are reasonable and have been imposed to accomplish legitimate corporate objectives and may adversely affect the proceeds received by such Holder in any sale, transfer or liquidation of any Company Common Stock, and as a result of such restrictions on transfer and ownership, it may not be possible for the such Holder to liquidate all or any part of such Holder’s interest in Company Common Stock at the time of such Holder’s choosing, in exigent circumstances or otherwise. Each Holder further acknowledges and agrees that none of the Company, Parent, Sponsors and each of their respective Affiliates shall have any liability whatsoever to such Holder arising from, relating to or in connection with the restrictions on transfer of Company Common Stock or any interest therein as set forth in this Agreement, except to the extent the Company fails to comply in any material respect with its obligations to such Holder pursuant to this Agreement.

17.23        Interpretation. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural. The division into sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement and all references in this Agreement to any “article,” “section,” “schedule” or “exhibit” are to the corresponding article, section, schedule or exhibit of or to this Agreement. Words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “including” and any variation thereof means “including without limitation” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. The word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive. All references to currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein shall, unless otherwise indicated, mean U.S. dollars and all payments hereunder shall be made in U.S. dollars. All references to any period of days are to the relevant number of calendar days unless otherwise specified. Each party hereto has participated

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in the drafting of this Agreement, which each such party acknowledges is the result of negotiations among such parties (as sophisticated Persons), and consequently, this Agreement shall be interpreted without reference to any laws to the effect that any ambiguity in a document be construed against the drafter. References to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto. References to acts and statutes shall include the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any reference to any acts, statutes, rules and regulations shall refer to the same as amended from time to time. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

 

 

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This Agreement is executed by the Company, Parent and Holdco to be effective as of the date first above written.

  COMPANY  
       
  UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, INC.  
       
By: /s/ Blair Westblom
    Name: Blair Westblom  
    Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to The University of Phoenix, Inc. Amended & Restated Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

 

  PARENT  
       
  PHOENIX EDUCATION OPERATING CORP.  
       
By: /s/ Srini Medi
    Name: Srini Medi  
    Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to The University of Phoenix, Inc. Amended & Restated Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

 

  HOLDCO  
       
  PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS, INC.  
       
By: /s/ Srini Medi
    Name: Srini Medi  
    Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to The University of Phoenix, Inc. Amended & Restated Stockholders’ Agreement]

     

EXHIBIT A

[RESERVED]

 

 

 

 

 

     

EXHIBIT B

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

1.1        Holder has the requisite power and authority and is of legal age and has the requisite legal capacity to execute and deliver each of the Adoption Agreement and the Stockholders’ Agreement (together, the “Transaction Documents”), to carry out its obligations thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The execution and delivery by Holder of the Transaction Documents, the performance by Holder of its obligations thereunder and the consummation by Holder of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by Holder. The Transaction Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by Holder and each of them is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holder, enforceable against Holder in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability may be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or (b) general principles of equity. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

1.2        The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by Holder, the performance by Holder of its obligations thereunder and the consummation by Holder of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not (a) materially violate or materially conflict with any law or governmental order applicable to Holder or any of Holder’s assets or properties or (b) violate or conflict with in any material respect, result in any material breach of, or constitute a material default (or event that with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, any agreement to which Holder is a party or by which any of its assets or properties is bound.

1.3        Holder is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act, unless such Holder has acquired Company Common Stock and become a Holder only as a result of the settlement of restricted stock units of the Company held by such Holder.

1.4        Holder has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of utilizing the information made available to Holder to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and to make an informed investment decision with respect thereto. Holder is aware that its purchase of Company Common Stock is highly speculative and it is able, without impairing its financial condition, to hold the Company Common Stock for an indefinite period of time and to suffer a complete loss of its investment.

1.5        The Company Common Stock is being acquired by Holder for its own account only for investment and is not being purchased with a view towards its resale or further distribution.

1.6        Holder acknowledges that it is not subscribing for shares of Company Common Stock as a result of or subsequent to (a) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio or the interest or (b) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

1.7        No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (each a “Governmental Entity”), with respect to Holder is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Holder of the Transaction Documents or the consummation by Holder of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

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1.8        There are no suits, actions, claims, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of Holder, threatened against, relating to or involving Holder before any Governmental Entity. Holder is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any court.

1.9        Holder acknowledges that the Company has not rendered any investment advice or securities valuation advice to Holder, and that Holder is neither subscribing for nor acquiring any interest in the Company in reliance upon or with the expectation of, any such advice.

1.10        Holder has been given the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Company concerning the terms and conditions of, and other matters pertaining to, this investment, and has had or been given an opportunity to access such financial and other information concerning the Company as it has considered necessary to make a decision to invest in the Company and has availed itself of this opportunity to the full extent desired.

1.11        Holder is acquiring the Company Common Stock in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and other legal requirements including without limitation, the legal requirements of jurisdictions in which such Holder is resident and in which such acquisition is being consummated.

1.12        If Holder is a non-U.S. Person, Holder has not been solicited to purchase and has not and shall not acquire its Company Common Stock, directly or indirectly, while present in the United States.

1.13        If Holder is a non-U.S. Person, Holder shall notify the Company promptly after it ceases to be a non-U.S. Person.

1.14        Holder agrees to deliver to the Company such information as to certain matters under the Securities Act as the Company may reasonably request in order to ensure compliance with the Securities Act and the availability of any exemptions thereunder.

1.15        All information provided by Holder in connection with the Company Common Stock is true and correct in all material respects.

1.16        Holder acknowledges that the Company has relied and will rely on the representations and warranties of Holder set forth herein and that all such representations and warranties shall survive the date hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, each Holder agrees to give the Company prompt written notice in the event that any representations of such Holder contained herein ceases to be true at any time following the date hereof.

1.17        If any answer provided or background documentation required in connection herewith is found to be false, forged or misleading, Holder understands that the Company may require Holder to fully redeem its shares.

1.18.       Holder is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Company Common Stock.

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