Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CALYXT, INC.

Calyxt, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware , does hereby certify as follows:

 

(1)	The name of the Corporation is Calyxt, Inc (the “Corporation”).

 

(2)	The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 25, 2017.

 

(3)

Pursuant to and in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Certificate of Amendment hereby further amends the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to amend and restate in its entirety Section 1 of Article 4 as follows:

“Section 1. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 325,000,000, consisting of 275,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Upon filing and effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), every five (5) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock shall without further action by this Corporation or the holder thereof be combined into and automatically become one share of Common Stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Corporation and the par value of the Common Stock shall remain as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. In lieu of any fractional shares of Common Stock to which a stockholder would otherwise be entitled (after taking into account all fractional shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to such holder), all fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock. The capital of the Corporation will not be reduced under or by reason of any amendment herein certified.”

 

(4)	This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective as of May 31, 2023 at 4:01 p.m. Eastern Time.

 

(5)	This Certificate of Amendment was duly proposed and adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon.

* * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of this Corporation on this day of May 31, 2023.

 

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CIBUS, INC.

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1.1. Name. The name of the corporation is Cibus, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

Section 2.1. Registered Office and Agent. The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 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 Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

Section 3.1. Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 4.1. Capitalization.

(a) Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 310,000,000 shares, consisting of (i) 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) divided into (A) 210,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (B) 90,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). Upon the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below), each outstanding share of Common Stock as of immediately prior to such time shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder thereof be converted into an equivalent number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation (i.e., on a one-to-one basis) for no consideration.

(b) Changes in Authorized Shares. Subject to the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, the number of authorized shares of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased, in each case by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, and no vote of the holders of any class of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the number of authorized shares of any particular class may not be decreased below the number of shares of such class then outstanding, plus, in the case of Class A Common Stock, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in connection with (A) the exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding Common Units (as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Cibus Global LLC, as such agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof (the “OpCo Operating Agreement”)) (each share of Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding Common Unit, collectively, a “Paired Interest”) pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, dated May 31, 2023, by and among the Corporation, Cibus Global, LLC and the holders from time to time party thereto (the “Exchange Agreement”), and (B) the exercise of outstanding options, warrants, exchange rights, conversion rights or similar rights for Class A Common Stock.

Section 4.2. Classes of Shares. The designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each class of stock are as follows:

(a) Common Stock.

(i) Voting Rights.

(A) Each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, and each holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, except that, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to Section 4.2(a)(ii), holders of shares of each class of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) that relates solely to the terms of any outstanding Preferred Stock if the holders of such Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a separate class thereon under this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or under the DGCL.

(B)

(1) The holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is materially and disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class B Common Stock and (2) the holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such class of Common Stock in a manner that is materially and disproportionately adverse as compared to the Class A Common Stock.

(2) The holders of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately upon any (A) merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization or similar event in connection with any transaction or series of transactions intended to result in the Corporation and its subsidiaries no longer being structured as an umbrella partnership C corporation (an “Up-C Reorganization Transaction”) or (B) amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization or similar event) to effect an Up-C Reorganization Transaction.

(C) Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock).

(ii) Dividends; Stock Splits or Combinations.

(A) 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 senior to or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, such dividends and other distributions of cash, stock or property may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor, at the times and in the amounts as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) in its discretion may determine.

(B) Except as provided in Section 4.2(a)(ii)(C) with respect to stock dividends, dividends of cash or property may not be declared or paid on shares of Class B Common Stock.

(C) In no event will any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of stock, reclassification or recapitalization be declared or made on any class of Common Stock (each, a “Stock Adjustment”) unless (a) a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other classes of Common Stock not so adjusted at the time outstanding is made in the same proportion and the same manner and (b) the Stock Adjustment has been reflected in the same economically equivalent manner on all Common Stock. Stock dividends with respect to each class of Common Stock may only be paid with shares of stock of the same class of Common Stock.

(iii) Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock are entitled, if any, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, pari passu, an amount per share equal to the par value thereof, and thereafter the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Common Stock to exchange their shares of Class B Common Stock, together with the corresponding Common Units constituting the remainder of any Paired Interests in which such shares are included, for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the Exchange Agreement (or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up), the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares, any assets of the Corporation in excess of the par value thereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person (defined below) or Persons, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.2(a)(iii).

(b) Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series of any number of shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued and not retired of any and all such series shall not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock hereinabove authorized, and with such powers, including voting powers, if any, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as shall hereafter be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the designation and issue of such shares of Preferred Stock from time to time adopted by the Board pursuant. The powers, including voting powers, if any, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

(c) Specific Provisions With Respect To Class B Common Stock.

(i) Retirement of Shares of Class B Common Stock. No holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer shares of Class B Common Stock to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity (a “Person”) unless such holder transfers a corresponding number of Common Units to the same Person in accordance with the provisions of the OpCo Operating Agreement. If any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock ceases to be held by a holder of the corresponding Common Unit, such share shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration and retired.

(ii) Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of the issuance in connection with the exchange of Paired Interests, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion of all outstanding Paired Interests, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. The Corporation covenants that all the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon the exchange of such Paired Interests will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(iii) Taxes. The issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise by holders of Paired Interests of their right under the Exchange Agreement to exchange Paired Interests for shares of Class A Common Stock shall be made without charge to such holders for any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties or other similar tax in respect of the issuance; provided, however, that if any such shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that of the then record holder of the Paired Interests being exchanged (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of such holder), then such holder and/or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered, shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that the tax has been paid or is not payable.

(iv) Issuance of Common Units. To the extent Common Units are issued pursuant to the OpCo Operating Agreement to anyone other than the Corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, an equivalent number of shares of Class B Common Stock (subject to adjustment as set forth herein) shall be issued at par to the same Person to which such Common Units are issued.

(v) Certificates. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock, shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board may determine):

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).

Section 4.3. Registered Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the Person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other Person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.

ARTICLE V

Section 5.1. Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board.

Section 5.2. Composition.

(a) Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2(b) of this Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors, the total number of directors of the Corporation (the “Directors”) constituting the entire Board shall, (i) as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation, be six and (ii) thereafter, shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board.

(b) During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional Directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2(b) (“Preferred Stock Directors”), upon the commencement, and for the duration, of the period during which such right continues: (i) the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 4.2(b) applicable thereto, and such Preferred Stock Directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article V unless otherwise provided therein, (ii) the then total authorized number of Directors shall automatically be increased by such specified number of Preferred Stock Directors, and the holders of the related Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the Preferred Stock Directors pursuant to the provisions of the Board’s designation for the series of Preferred Stock, and (iii) each such Preferred Stock Director shall serve until such Preferred Stock Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such Preferred Stock Director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. 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 Preferred Stock Directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such Preferred Stock Directors elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such Preferred Stock Directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total and authorized number of Directors shall be reduced accordingly.

(c) Directors shall be elected annually at each annual meeting for one-year terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

(d) There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Directors.

(e) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the Corporation, as may be amended from time to time in accordance therewith (the “Bylaws”), shall so require, the election of Directors need not be by written ballot.

Section 5.3. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law and the rights of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors or any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders and except as otherwise provided by applicable law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board, and not by the stockholders. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the earlier expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified or until such Director’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any Director then in office.

Section 5.4. Nomination of Director Candidates. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of Directors must be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 6.1. No Action by Written Consent. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only by a vote of the stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, duly noticed and called in accordance with the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation, and may not be taken in writing by such stockholders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a class, may be effected by the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of the Class B Common Stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class in lieu of a duly called annual or special meeting of holders of Class B Common Stock.

Section 6.2. Meetings.

(a) An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board shall determine.

(b) Subject to any special rights of the holder of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Corporation or at the direction of the Board pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of Directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. Any business transacted at a special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting. The ability of holders of Common Stock to call a special meeting of the stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At any annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders, only such business will be conducted or considered as has been brought before such meeting in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

(c) Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of Directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.1. Limitation of Liability. No Director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such a Director or officer as a Director or officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a Director or officer, as applicable, shall be liable to the extent provided by applicable law (a) with respect to any Director or officer, (i) for any breach of the Director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) for any transaction from which such Director or officer derived an improper personal benefit, (b) with respect to any Director, pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, (c) with respect to any officer, in any action by or in the right of the Corporation.

Solely for purposes of this Section 7.1, “officer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL as currently in effect and as it may hereafter be amended. No amendment to or repeal of this Section 7.1 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such Director or officer occurring prior to such amendment.

Section 7.2. Indemnification.

(a) Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise subject to or involved in any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director, officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a Director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a Director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted or required by the DGCL and any other applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, court costs, attorneys’ fees, witness fees, amounts paid in settlement or judgment, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith (“Indemnifiable Losses”); provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.2(d) with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 7.2(a) in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only (i) if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board or (ii) if indemnification is expressly required by the DGCL. An Indemnitee’s right to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.2(a) does not include and is separate from an Indemnitee’s right to Advancement of Expenses (as defined below) under Section 7.2(b).

(b) Each Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Corporation of any and all expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “Advancement of Expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL so requires, an Advancement of Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee 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 Indemnitee, including without limitation service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made pursuant to this Section 7.2(b) only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “Undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay, without interest, all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “Final Adjudication”) that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under Section 7.2(a). An Indemnitee’s right to an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Section 7.2(b) is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and is not conditioned upon any prior determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under Section 7.2(a) with respect to the related Proceeding or the absence of any prior determination to the contrary.

(c) The rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b) shall be separate contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

(d) If a claim under Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 calendar days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an Advancement of Expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 calendar days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to the fullest extent permitted or required by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader reimbursements of prosecution or defense expenses than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an Advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses, without interest, upon a Final Adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including the Board or a committee thereof, its stockholders or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including the Board or a committee thereof, its stockholders or independent legal counsel) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an Advancement of Expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses hereunder pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such Advancement of Expenses, shall be on the Corporation.

(e) The rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in this Section 7.2 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise. Nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit or otherwise affect any such other right or the Corporation’s power to confer any such other right.

(f) The Corporation shall not be liable under this Section 7.2 to make any payment to an Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (net of any expenses incurred in connection therewith and any repayment by the Indemnitee made with respect thereto) under any insurance policy or from any other source in respect of such Indemnifiable Losses.

(g) Any repeal or modification of this Section 7.2 shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights or protections or increase the liability of any Director under this Section 7.2 in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification.

Section 7.3. 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 7.4. Savings Clause. If this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnitee to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall indemnify each Indemnitee to the full extent under any other applicable law.

ARTICLE VIII

FORUM; SEVERABILITY

Section 8.1. Forum.

(a) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall be the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the preceding sentence is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the preceding sentence and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

(b) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

Section 8.2. Notice and Consent. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article VIII.

Section 8.3. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) 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 paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph 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 IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 9.1. Amendments to the Bylaws. 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 shall have the power, without stockholder approval, to adopt, alter, amend, change or repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, subject to any limitation set forth in the Bylaws. The Corporation may in its Bylaws confer powers upon the Board in addition to the foregoing and in addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon the Board by applicable law.

Section 9.2. Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and other provisions authorized by the DGCL and laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed herein or by applicable law; and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, Directors or any other Persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted and held subject to this reservation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation this 31st day of May, 2023.

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

 

 

CIBUS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

As Adopted and Effective

on May 31, 2023

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

				Page
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS					1
1.		Time and Place of Meetings			1
2.		Annual Meetings			1
3.		Special Meetings			1
4.		Notice of Meetings			1
5.		Inspectors			1
6.		Quorum			2
7.		Voting; Proxies			2
8.		Order of Business			3
9.		Notice of Stockholder Proposals			3
10.		Notice of Director Nominations			6
11.		Additional Provisions Relating to the Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations			9
12.		Record Dates			11
13.		Adjournments			12
14.		Voting List			12
DIRECTORS					12
15.		Function			12
16.		Number, Election and Terms			12
17.		Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships			12
18.		Removal			13
19.		Resignation			13
20.		Regular Meetings			13
21.		Special Meetings			13
22.		Quorum			13
23.		Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications			13
24.		Committees			13
25.		Compensation			14
26.		Rules			14
27.		Chairman of the Board			14

 

(i)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

				Page
NOTICES					14
28.		Generally			14
29.		Waivers			15
OFFICERS					16
30.		Generally			16
31.		Compensation			17
32.		Succession			17
33.		Authority and Duties			17
STOCK					17
34.		Certificates			17
35.		Transfer			18
36.		Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates			18
GENERAL					18
37.		Fiscal Year			18
38.		Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records			18
39.		Amendments			18
40.		Electronic Signatures			18

 

(ii)

STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

1. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders will be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cibus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), from time to time or, in the absence of a designation by the Board, by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, and stated in the notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place, but may instead be held by means of remote communications, subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt from time to time in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”). The Board may cancel or reschedule to an earlier or later date any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of stockholders.

2. Annual Meetings. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders will elect the directors from the nominees for director, to succeed those directors whose terms expire at such meeting and will transact such other business, in such case as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with Bylaws 8, 9, 10 and 11.

3. Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to call a special meeting of stockholders under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, a special meeting of stockholders may be called only (i) by the Chairman, (ii) by the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) by the Board pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies on the Board (the “Whole Board”), in each case to transact only such business as is specified in the notice of the meeting or authorized by a majority of the Whole Board to be brought before the meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of stockholders.

4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of stockholders, stating the place, if any, date and time thereof, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, will be given, in a form permitted by Bylaw 28 or by the DGCL, not less than ten nor more than 60 calendar days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided by law. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date, or time, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are provided in a manner permitted by Section 222 of the DGCL (or any successor provision); provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 calendar days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, must be given in conformity herewith or as otherwise provided or permitted by the DGCL.

5. Inspectors. The Board will, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting will appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.

6. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or in a Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction of business thereat. A quorum, once established, will not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Bylaw 13, until a quorum is present or represented.

7. Voting; Proxies.

(a) General. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), or in a Preferred Stock Designation, each stockholder will be entitled at every meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share of stock having voting power standing in the name of such stockholder on the books of the Company on the record date for the meeting and such votes may be cast either in person or by proxy. Every proxy must be authorized in a manner permitted by Section 212 of the DGCL (or any successor provision). 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.

(b) Vote Required for Stockholder Action.

(i) When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders and except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or in a Preferred Stock Designation, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter will be the act of the stockholders with respect to all matters other than the election of directors.

(ii) Each director to be elected by stockholders shall be elected as such by the majority of the votes cast by stockholders upon his or her election at a meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, except that, if the number of nominees for election at any such meeting is determined by the Secretary as of the date that is ten days prior to the scheduled mailing date of the proxy statement for such meeting to exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, each director to be so elected shall be elected as such by a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders at such meeting. For purposes of this Bylaw 7(b)(ii), a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of shares voted “for” a director’s election exceeds 50% of the number of votes cast on the issue of that director’s election (including votes “for,” votes “against” and votes to withhold authority with respect to that director’s election, but excluding any abstentions or broker non-votes). If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.

 

2

(iii) A director who stands for re-election is expected to tender his or her resignation if he or she fails to receive the required number of votes for re-election. The Board shall nominate for election or re-election as director only candidates who agree to tender, promptly following the annual meeting at which they are elected or re-elected as director, irrevocable resignations that will be effective upon (A) the failure to receive the required vote at the next annual meeting at which they stand for re-election and (B) the Board’s acceptance of such resignation in the Board’s exclusive discretion. In addition, the Board shall fill director vacancies and new directorships only with persons who agree to tender, promptly following their appointment to the Board, irrevocable resignations that will be effective upon (X) the failure to receive the required vote at the next annual meeting at which they stand for re-election and (Y) the Board’s acceptance of such resignation in the Board’s exclusive discretion. If an incumbent director fails to receive the required vote for re-election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will act on an expedited basis to determine whether to recommend that the Board accept the director’s resignation and will submit such recommendation for prompt consideration by the Board. A director whose resignation is under consideration is expected to abstain from participating in any decision regarding that resignation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept or reject a director’s resignation.

8. Order of Business. The Chairman, or an officer of the Company designated from time to time by a majority of the Whole Board, will call meetings of stockholders to order and will act as presiding officer thereof. The presiding officer of any meeting may adjourn, recess and convene any meeting of stockholders. Unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to the meeting, the presiding officer of any meeting of stockholders will also determine the order of business and have the authority in his or her sole discretion to determine the rules of procedure and regulate the conduct of the meeting, including without limitation by: (a) imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the Company or their duly appointed proxy holders) that may attend the meeting; (b) ascertaining whether any stockholder or his or her proxy holder may be excluded from the meeting based upon any determination by the presiding officer, in his or her sole discretion, that any such person has disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat; (c) determining the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at the meeting; (d) ruling on all procedural questions that may arise during or in connection with the meeting; (e) determining whether any nomination or business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been properly brought before the meeting; and (f) determining the time or times at which the polls for voting at the meeting will be opened and closed.

9. Notice of Stockholder Proposals.

(a) Business to Be Conducted at Annual Meeting. At an annual meeting of stockholders, only such business may be conducted as has been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Bylaw 10, and, to the extent applicable, Bylaw 11), must (i) be brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise be properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) has complied with all applicable requirements of this Bylaw 9 and Bylaw 11 in relation to such business, (B) was a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of giving the notice required by Bylaw 11(a) and is a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of the annual meeting, and (C) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (iii) relate to an item of business that is a proper subject to stockholder action under applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) will be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit business before an annual meeting of stockholders (other than proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”) and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board).

 

3

(b) Required Form for Stockholder Proposals. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth in writing the following information, which must be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided will be true and correct on the record date of the annual meeting and as of such date that is ten business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; which update shall be delivered to the Secretary no later than five business days after the record date for the annual meeting and not later than eight business days prior to the date of the annual meeting.

(i) Information Regarding the Proposing Person. As to each Proposing Person (as such term is defined in Bylaw 11(d)(ii)):

(A) the name and address of such Proposing Person, as they appear on the Company’s stock transfer book;

(B) the class, series and number of shares of the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held of record by such Proposing Person (including any shares of any class or series of the Company as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time);

(C) a representation (1) that the stockholder giving the notice is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the annual meeting and intends to appear at the annual meeting to bring such business before the annual meeting, (2) as to whether any Proposing Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote and required to approve the proposal and, if so, identifying such Proposing Person and (3) as to whether any Proposing Person intends to engage in or be a participant in a solicitation (within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act) with respect to the proposal and, if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation;

(D) a description of any (1) option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right or similar right or interest (including any derivative securities, as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or other synthetic arrangement having characteristics of a long position), assuming for purposes of these Bylaws presently exercisable, with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement or payment mechanism at a price related to any class or series of securities of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of securities of the Company, whether or not such instrument or right is subject to settlement in whole or in part in the underlying class or series of securities of the Company or otherwise, directly or indirectly held of record or owned beneficially by such Proposing Person and whether or not such Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effects of such security or instrument and (2) each other direct or indirect right or interest that may enable such Proposing Person to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to manage the risk or benefit from, any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities, in each case regardless of whether (x) such right or interest conveys any voting rights in such security to such Proposing Person, (y) such right or interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such security, or (z) such Proposing Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of any such right or interest (any such right or interest referred to in this clause (D) being a “Derivative Interest”);

 

4

(E) any proxy, contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which the Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of the Company or which has the effect of increasing or decreasing the voting power of such Proposing Person;

(F) any contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship including any repurchase or similar so called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss, reduce economic risk or increase or decrease voting power with respect to any capital stock of the Company or which provides any party, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the capital stock of the Company;

(G) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding involving the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any of their respective directors or officers, to which such Proposing Person or its affiliates is a party or has a material interest (excluding an interest that is substantially the same as all stockholders);

(H) any rights directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially by the Proposing Person to dividends on the shares of the Company that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company;

(I) any equity interests, including any convertible, derivative or short interests, in any principal competitor of the Company;

(J) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which the Proposing Person or any affiliate or immediate family member of the Proposing Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Interests;

(K) an accounting of any equity interests, including any convertible, derivative or short interests, in any competitor, as defined for purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, of the Company; and

(L) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting.

(ii) Information Regarding the Proposal: As to each item of business that the stockholder giving the notice proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

(A) a description in reasonable detail of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons why such stockholder or any other Proposing Person believes that the taking of the action or actions proposed to be taken would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; (B) a description in reasonable detail of any material interest of any Proposing Person in such business and a description in reasonable detail of all agreements, arrangements and understandings among the Proposing Persons or between any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal; and

 

5

(C) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaw, the language of the proposed amendment).

The Company may require any Proposing Person to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company or one of its representatives in good faith to determine such Proposing Person’s compliance with these Bylaws or the accuracy and completeness of any notice or solicitation given or made on behalf of such Proposing Person. Such Proposing Person shall provide such other information within ten calendar days after the Company has requested such other information.

(c) No Right to Have Proposal Included. A stockholder is not entitled to have its proposal included in the Company’s proxy materials solely as a result of such stockholder’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw 9.

(d) Requirement to Attend Annual Meeting. If a stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present its proposal, such proposal will be disregarded (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such proposal may have been solicited, obtained or delivered).

10. Notice of Director Nominations.

(a) Nomination of Directors. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to nominate or elect directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw 10 will be eligible to serve as directors. Nominations of persons for election as directors of the Company may be made only at an annual meeting of stockholders and only (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by a stockholder who (A) has complied with all applicable requirements of this Bylaw 10 and Bylaw 11 in relation to such nomination, (B) was a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of giving the notice required by Bylaw 11(a) and is a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of the annual meeting, (C) is entitled to vote in the election of directors at the annual meeting and (D) subject to Bylaw 11, has nominated a number of nominees that does not exceed the number of directors that will be elected at such meeting. In addition to the requirements of this Bylaw 10 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at an annual meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act (including Rule 14a-19 promulgated thereunder) and DGCL with respect to any such nominations.

 

6

(b) Required Form for Director Nominations. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth in writing:

(i) Information Regarding the Nominating Person. As to each Nominating Person (as such term is defined in Bylaw 11(d)(iii)):

(A) the information set forth in Bylaw 9(b)(i) (except that for purposes of this Bylaw 10, the term “Nominating Person” will be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places where it appears in Bylaw 9(b)(i), the term “elect” will be substituted for the term “approve” and any reference to “business” or “proposal” therein will be deemed to be a reference to the “nomination” or “nominee” contemplated by this Bylaw 10(b), as the context requires).

(B) a written representation as to whether such Nominating Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the nominees of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; and

(C) for any Nominating Person that the stockholder’s notice indicates intends, or is part of a group that intends, to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the nominees of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, a written agreement (in substantially the form provided by the Secretary upon written request), on behalf of such Nominating Person and any group of which it is a member, pursuant to which such Nominating Person acknowledges and agrees that (1) the Company shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Nominating Person’s nominees if such Nominating Person (i) notifies the Company that such Nominating Person no longer intends, or is part of a group that no longer intends, to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the nominees of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (ii) fails to comply with Rules 14a-19(a)(2) and (3) under the Exchange Act, and (2) if any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(a)(1) under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable documentary evidence (as determined by the Company or one of its representatives in good faith) that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied.

The Company may require any Nominating Person to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company or one of its representatives in good faith to determine such Nominating Person’s compliance with these Bylaws or the accuracy and completeness of any notice or solicitation given or made on behalf of such Nominating Person. Such Nominating Person shall provide such other information within ten calendar days after the Company has requested such other information.

(ii) Information Regarding the Nominee: As to each person whom the stockholder giving notice proposes to nominate for election as a director:

 

7

(A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to Bylaw 9(b)(i) if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person; (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies for an election of directors in a contested election (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to be named in the proxy materials as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected);

(C) a reasonably detailed description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements or understandings during the past three years, any other material relationships, between or among such Nominating Person and its affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her affiliates, associates or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Items 403 and 404 under Regulation S-K if the stockholder giving the notice or any other Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

(D) a completed questionnaire (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) with respect to the identity, background and qualification of the proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made; and

(A) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that the proposed nominee (1) is qualified and if elected intends to serve as a director of the Company for the entire term for which such proposed nominee is standing for election, (2) is not and will not become a party to (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how the proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (y) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with the proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (3) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company 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 (4) if elected as a director of the Company, the proposed nominee would be in compliance and will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company (including, without limitation, the policy set forth in Bylaw 7(c) and the related agreement of the proposed nominee to tender, promptly following the meeting at which he or she is elected as director, an irrevocable resignation that will be effective as provided in such Bylaw 7(c)).

The Company may require any Nominating Person or proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company or one of its representatives in good faith to determine the qualifications and eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director. Such nominee, or such Nominating Person on behalf of the nominee, shall provide such other information within ten calendar days after the Company has requested such other information. The Company may request that any nominee submit to interviews (which may be conducted via virtual meeting) with the Board or any committee thereof, and such nominee shall, and the Nominating Person shall cause the nominee to, make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten business days following the Company’s request.

 

8

(c) No Right to Have Nominees Included. A stockholder is not entitled to have its nominees included in the Company’s proxy materials solely as a result of such stockholder’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw 10, except to the extent required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act and other applicable requirements of state and federal law.

(d) Requirement to Attend Annual Meeting. If a stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present its nomination, such nomination will be disregarded (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been solicited, obtained or delivered).

(a) Rule 14a-19 Compliance. If (i) any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(a)(1) under the Exchange Act and (ii) such Nominating Person subsequently either (A) notifies the Company that such Nominating Person no longer intends to, or is part of a group that no longer intends to, solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the nominees of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (B) fails to comply with the requirements of Rules 14a-19(a)(2) and (3) under the Exchange Act, then the Company shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Nominating Person’s nominees, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in favor thereof may have been received by the Company. If any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(a)(1) under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable documentary evidence (as determined by the Company or one of its representatives in good faith) that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied.

11. Additional Provisions Relating to the Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations.

(a) Timely Notice. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice required by Bylaw 9(a) or Bylaw 10(a) must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company held the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is scheduled for a date more than 30 calendar days prior to or more than 30 calendar days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th calendar day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th calendar day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event will a recess or adjournment of an annual meeting (or any announcement of any such recess or adjournment) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the number of directors to be elected to the Board at the annual meeting is increased by the Board, and there is no public announcement by the Company naming the nominees for the additional directors at least 100 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company held the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice pursuant to Bylaw 10(a) will be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it is delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.

 

9

(b) Updating Information in Notice. A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting pursuant to Bylaw 9 or notice of any nomination to be made at an annual meeting pursuant to Bylaw 10 must further update and supplement such notice, from time to time, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to Bylaw 9 or Bylaw 10, as applicable, is true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten days prior to the meeting or any recess, adjournment or postponement thereof. Any such update and supplement must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company, as promptly as practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the conclusion of the relevant time period to provide timely notice to the Company pursuant to Bylaw 11(a), a stockholder will not be permitted to update the information provided or required to be provided in such notice to substitute or replace a nominee. For the avoidance of doubt, any information provided pursuant to this Bylaw 11(b) shall not, and shall not be deemed to, cure any deficiencies in any Proposing Person or Nominating Person’s notice, extend any applicable deadlines under these Bylaws or enable or be deemed to permit such Proposing Person or Nominating Person to amend any proposal or nomination or to submit any new or amended proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting, except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws. Business or a nomination proposed to be brought by a stockholder may not be brought before a meeting if such stockholder or any Proposing Person or Nominating Person, as applicable, takes action contrary to the representations made in the stockholder notice applicable to such business or nomination or if the stockholder notice applicable to such business or nomination contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or if after being submitted to the Company, the stockholder notice applicable to such business or nomination was not updated in accordance with these Bylaws.

(c) Determinations of Form, Effect of Noncompliance, Etc. The presiding officer of any annual meeting will, if the facts warrant, determine that a proposal was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Bylaw 9 and this Bylaw 11 or that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Bylaw 10 and this Bylaw 11, and if he or she should so determine, he or she will so declare to the meeting and the defective proposal or nomination, as applicable, will be disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, unless otherwise required by applicable law: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Bylaws 9, 10 and 11, and (ii) if a Proposing Person intending to propose business or a Nominating Person intending to make nominations at an annual meeting or special meeting pursuant to Bylaws 9, 10 and 11, as applicable, does not provide the information required under Bylaws 9, 10 and 11 to the Company in accordance with the applicable timing requirements set forth in these Bylaws, or the Proposing Person or Nominating Person (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Company.

(d) Certain Definitions.

(i) For purposes of Bylaw 9 and Bylaw 10 and this Bylaw 11, “public disclosure” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Bloomberg, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Exchange Act or furnished by the Company to stockholders.

 

10

(ii) For purposes of Bylaw 9 and this Bylaw 11, “Proposing Person” means (A) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (B) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is given, and (C) any Affiliate or Associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

(iii) For purposes of Bylaw 10 and this Bylaw 11, “Nominating Person” means (A) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at an annual meeting, (B) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of nomination proposed to be made at the annual meeting is given, and (C) any Affiliate or Associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

12. Record Dates.

(a) Voting Record Dates. In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders, the Board may fix a record date, which will not precede the date upon which the Board resolution fixing the same is adopted and will not be more than 60 nor less than 10 calendar days before the date of such meeting. If the Board 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 determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders will be at the close of business on the calendar day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the calendar day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders will apply to any recess or adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the recessed or adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to such notice of such recessed or adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw 12(a) at the recessed or adjourned meeting.

(b) Payment Record Dates. In order that the Company 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 stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date will not be more than 60 calendar days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose will be at the close of business on the calendar day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

11

(c) Identity of Registered Holder. The Company will be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, and will not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Company has notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.

13. Adjournments. A meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time by the presiding officer of the meeting. Upon any adjourned meeting being reconvened, any business may be transacted which properly could have been transacted in the absence of such adjournment.

14. Voting List. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of ten days ending on the day before the meeting date, (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Company. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to the stockholders of the Company. Except as otherwise provided by law, such list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Bylaw 14 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders. The Company shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list.

DIRECTORS

15. Function. The business and affairs of the Company will be managed under the direction of the Board.

16. Number, Election and Terms. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, and to the minimum and maximum number of authorized directors provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors may be fixed from time to time only by a resolution adopted from time to time by the Board. Directors will be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to serve as such until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified; provided that any directors that are to be elected by the holders of any series of the Preferred Stock will be so elected in the manner provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.

17. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause, shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board, and not by the stockholders. Any director so chosen will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.

 

12

No decrease in the authorized number of directors will shorten the term of any incumbent director.

18. Removal. Unless otherwise restricted by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

19. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman or the Secretary. Any resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered to the Company unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date that is contingent upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more specified events.

20. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders and at such other time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be determined by the Board. Notice of regular meetings of the Board need not be given.

21. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman on one day’s notice to each director by whom such notice is not waived, given in a manner permitted by Bylaw 28 or by the DGCL, and will be called by the Chairman, in like manner and on like notice, upon the request of a majority of the Whole Board. The time and place of any such special meeting shall be as specified in the notice of such meeting.

22. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the Whole Board will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except for action to be taken by committees of the Board as provided in Bylaw 24, and except for actions required by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation to be taken by a majority of the Whole Board, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum will be the act of the Board. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time to another place, time, or date, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

23. Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications. Members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or any such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting will constitute presence in person at the meeting.

24. Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

13

Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, or in these Bylaws, will have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee will have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) making, adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these Bylaws. Unless the Board provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business. Any resolution of the Board establishing or directing any committee of the Board or establishing or amending the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.

25. Compensation. The Board may establish the compensation of directors, including without limitation compensation for membership on the Board and on committees of the Board, attendance at meetings of the Board or committees of the Board, and for other services provided to the Company or at the request of the Board.

26. Rules. The Board may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings and the oversight of the management of the affairs of the Company.

27. Chairman of the Board. The Board, by a majority vote of the Whole Board, shall elect a Chairman from among the members of the Board. The Chairman shall not be considered an officer of the Company in his or her capacity as such. The Chairman may be removed from that capacity by a majority vote of the Whole Board. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders of the Company and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman, such other director of the Company designated by the Chairman or by the Board shall act as chairman of any such meeting. The Chairman or the Board may appoint a Vice Chairman of the Board to exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Chairman or by the Board.

NOTICES

28. Generally.

(a) Form of Notices.

(i) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Company pursuant to applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Company and shall be given (A) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S.

 

14

mail, postage prepaid; (B) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address; or (C) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Company in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by Bylaw 28(a)(iii). A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Company.

(ii) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, but subject to Bylaw 28(a)(iii), any notice to stockholders given by the Company pursuant to applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Company. The Company may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with Bylaw 28(a)(i) without obtaining the consent required by this Bylaw 28(a)(ii). Notice given pursuant to this Bylaw 28(a)(ii) shall be deemed given (A) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (B) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice; and (C) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (A) the Company is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Company and (B) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

(iv) An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Company that notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(b) Notices to Directors. Notices to directors may be given by mail or courier service, telephone, electronic transmission or as otherwise may be permitted by applicable law or these Bylaws.

29. Waivers. Whenever any notice is required to be given by law or under the provisions of Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, will be deemed equivalent to such notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting will 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.

 

15

OFFICERS

30. Generally.

(a) The officers of the Company will be elected annually by the Board and will consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board. The Board may also choose one or more Vice Presidents (who may be given particular designations with respect to authority, function, or seniority), one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board may from time to time determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may authorize the Chief Executive Officer to appoint any person to any office other than the Secretary or Treasurer. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any of the offices may be left vacant from time to time as the Board may determine. In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company or for any other reason deemed sufficient by a majority of the Board, the Board may delegate the absent or disabled officer’s powers or duties to any other officer or to any director.

(b) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Company subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board.

(c) President. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

(d) Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.

(e) Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.

(f) Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other property of the Company, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and whenever requested by the Board, shall render an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

(g) Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding the provisions herein.

 

16

(h) Voting Securities Owned by the Company. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Company may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any company in which the Company may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Company might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

(i) Chairman of the Board. The Board, in its discretion, may choose a Chairman (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and all meetings of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board.

31. Compensation. The compensation of all directors who are also officers and agents of the Company and the executive officers of the Company will be fixed by the Board or by a committee of the Board. The Board may fix or delegate the power to fix, the compensation of other officers and agents of the Company to an officer of the Company.

32. Succession. The officers of the Company will hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by the Board or by the Chairman as provided in Bylaw 30. Any officer of the Company may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless such notice provides that the resignation is effective at some later time or upon the occurrence of some later event.

33. Authority and Duties. Each of the officers of the Company will have such authority and will perform such duties as are customarily incident to their respective offices or as may be specified from time to time by the Board.

STOCK

34. Certificates. The Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Company shall be uncertificated shares. Certificates, if any, representing shares of stock of the Company will be in such form as is determined by the Board, subject to applicable legal requirements and the Certificate of Incorporation. Each such certificate shall be numbered and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Company by, the Chairman, or Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile signature or electronic signature. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature or electronic signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

17

35. Transfer. Transfers of shares shall be made upon the books of the Company (i) only by the holder of record thereof, or by a duly authorized agent, transferee or legal representative and (ii) in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender to the Company of the certificate or certificates for such shares. No transfer shall be made that is inconsistent with the provisions of applicable law.

36. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Secretary may direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact, satisfactory to the Secretary, by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. As a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the Secretary may require the owners of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Secretary may direct as indemnity against any claims that may be made against the Company with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of the new certificate or uncertificated shares.

GENERAL

37. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company will end on December 31 of each calendar year or such other date as may be fixed from time to time by the Board.

38. Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of a committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Company will, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports, or statements presented to the Company by any of the Company’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person or entity as to matters the director, committee member, or officer believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.

39. Amendments. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, these Bylaws or any of them may be amended in any respect or repealed at any time, either (a) at any meeting of stockholders, provided that any amendment or supplement proposed to be acted upon at any such meeting has been properly described or referred to in the notice of such meeting, or (b) by the Board, provided that no amendment adopted by the Board may vary or conflict with any amendment adopted by the stockholders in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.

40. Electronic Signatures.

(a) Except as otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including as otherwise required by any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws (including, without limitation, as otherwise required by Bylaw 40(b)), any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

18

All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The terms “electronic mail,” “electronic mail address,” “electronic signature” and “electronic transmission” as used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, whenever Bylaws 9, 10, or 11 require one or more persons (including a stockholder) to deliver a document or information (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the Company or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), the Company shall not be required to accept delivery of such document or information unless the document or information is in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the Company required by Bylaws 9, 10, or 11.

 

19

Exhibit 10.1

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of May 31, 2023 by and among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the persons identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto (collectively, the “Investors” and, each individually, an “Investor”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2023, by and between the Company; Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC; Cibus Global LLC; New Ventures I Holdings, LLC; BCGF CB Holdings LLC; BCGFCP CB HOLDINGS LLC; BCGFK CB Holdings LLC; FSBCGF CB Holdings LLC; PYLBCG CB Holdings LLC; FSGRWCO CB Holdings LLC; GROWTHCO CB Holdings LLC; GRTHCOCP CB Holdings LLC; and GRWTHCOK CB Holdings LLC (the “Merger Agreement”), the Company will enter into that certain Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “Amended Certificate of Incorporation”), which will create two classes of the Company’s common stock: (i) Class A Common Stock (as defined below), which shares will have full voting and economic rights and (ii) Class B Common Stock (as defined below), which shares will have full voting, but no economic rights;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Investors may elect to receive a certain number of shares of Class B Common Stock, with an equal number of membership units (“Cibus Common Units”) of Cibus Global LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cibus Global”) (a Cibus Common Unit and a share of Class B Common Stock, collectively, an “Up-C Unit”);

WHEREAS, the Up-C Units will generally be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement to be entered into between the Company, Cibus Global and the Investors, subject to certain procedures set forth therein; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights to the Investors as set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1:

“Additional Investor” has the meaning set forth in Section 9, and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Amended Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“Business Day” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.

“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above.

“Cibus Common Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Cibus Global” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Cibus Global Majority-In-Interest” means, as of any time, those Investors party hereto who hold a majority of the then-outstanding Cibus Common Units (excluding Cibus Common Units held by the Company).

“Class A Common Stock” means the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Class B Common Stock” means the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

 

2

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Exchange Agreement” means Exchange Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among the Company, Cibus Global and the Investors.

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

“Form S-1” means the SEC’s long-form registration form, Form S-1, or any successor or replacement long-form registration form.

“Form S-3” means the SEC’s short-form registration form, Form S-3, or any successor or replacement short-form registration form.

“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Holdback Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i).

“Holder” means any Person who is the registered holder of Registrable Securities.

“Holder Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

“Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

“MNPI” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

“Public Offering” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Corporation pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Company, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Company’s Capital Stock.

“Registrable Securities” means (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with the exchange by any Up-C Unit Holder (as defined below) of Up-C Units for shares of Class A Common Stock, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, and (ii) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date (i) such securities have been sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, or (ii) such securities are sold in a transaction in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

3

For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder, provided that a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that the resale of Registrable Securities in the form of Class A Common Stock of the Company be registered under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Holder holds Registrable Securities that are eligible to be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act (other than the restriction set forth under Rule 144(i)), then, at such Holder’s request the Company shall cause, at the Company’s sole cost and expense, the Company’s transfer agent to remove any restrictive legend set forth on the Registrable Securities held by such Holder in connection with any sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.

“Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

“Rule 144,” “Rule 158,” “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

“Schedule of Investors” means the schedule attached to this Agreement entitled “Schedule of Investors”, which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Share Settlement” means “Share Settlement” as defined in the Exchange Agreement.

“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

“Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

“Shelf Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

“Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

“Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

4

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any Company, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a Company, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or (y) the Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.

“Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

“Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(i).

“Underwritten Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

“Up-C Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Up-C Unit Holders” means the holders of Up-C Units, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

“Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

Section 2. Demand Registrations.

(a) Requests for Registration. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any other appropriate long-form registration form under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten offering, provided that such request must relate to Registrable Securities with a market value of at least $20 million. All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “Demand Registrations.” Within seven days after the filing of the registration statement relating to the Demand Registration, the Company shall give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 2(d), shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 15 days after the receipt of the Company’s notice; provided that the Company shall provide notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders prior to the non-confidential filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Company until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

5

(b) At any time in which the Shelf Registration Statement in Section 2(c)(i) is effective, Section 2(a) shall be inapplicable, and Section 2(c) shall control.

(c) Shelf Registrations.

(i) Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Company receives written notice of a request that a registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”), the Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration to be registered on Form S-3 (or any successor form), and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain eligible to use Form S-3 (including, if applicable, an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”)). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and once effective, the Company shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders, for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the tenth anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Up-C Unit Holders in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement to enable and cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed and maintained with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 days following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; provided that any of the Up-C Unit Holders may, with respect to itself, instruct the Company in writing not to include in such Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Up-C Unit Holder. In order for any of the Up-C Unit Holders to be named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require such Holder to deliver all information about such Holder that is required to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(c)(ii), any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

6

(ii) In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders of Registrable Securities shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Takedown”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, provided that the amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Offering Request (including any Registrable Securities included pursuant to the third succeeding sentence) is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $20 million. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Underwritten Takedown. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Offering Request”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Offering Notice”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Company, subject to Sections 2(d) and 8 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within seven days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 10 days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Company until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering two Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall promptly notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day (i.e., one Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.

 

7

(iv) The Company shall, at the request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.

(d) Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings. The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering. If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, that can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested by Holders to be included that, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein. Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), to the extent applicable, the Company shall include in such registration or offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.

(e) Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings.

(i) The Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3 and in which there was no reduction in the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included.

 

8

The Company may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “Suspension Period”) by providing written notice to the Holders if (A) the Company’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) either (x) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering. The Company may delay a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering hereunder only once in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of the applicable Holder(s). The Company also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of the applicable Holder.

(ii) In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 5(a)(vi) (a “Suspension Event”), the Company shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Company shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders. A Holder shall not affect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Company until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Holders and their counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event.

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(e), the Company agrees that it shall (A) extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice, and (B) provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

9

(f) Selection of Underwriters. Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Company’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Takedown, the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Company’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(g) Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Company. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Company or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the Cibus Global Majority-in-Interest.

Section 3. Piggyback Registrations.

(a) Right to Piggyback. Following the consummation of the Merger Agreement, whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event within three Business Days after its receipt of notice of any request for registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities (other than by the Holders) to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d), shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after delivery of the Company’s notice. A Piggyback Registration shall not be considered a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering Request for purposes of Section 2.

(b) Piggyback Expenses. The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

10

(c) Priority on Primary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their reasonable and good faith opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration (including all Registrable Securities and all other securities proposed to be included in such underwritten offering) exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

(d) Priority on Secondary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities (other than the Holders), and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their reasonable and good faith opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration (including all Registrable Securities and all other securities proposed to be included in such underwritten offering) exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the initial holders requesting such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

(e) Selection of Underwriters. If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Company (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the majority of the holders of other Company securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Company or such other initiating holders of Company securities).

(f) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 6.

 

11

Section 4. Holdback Agreements.

(a) If requested by the Company or the managing underwriter(s), each Holder participating in an underwritten Public Offering shall enter into customary lock-up agreements with the managing underwriter(s) of such Public Offering. In the absence of any such lock-up agreement, each Holder participating in an underwritten Public Offering agrees as follows:

(i) in the event of an underwritten Public Offering by the Company (whether for the account of the Company or otherwise), not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (except as part of such underwritten Public Offering), during the seven days prior to, and during the 90-day period (the “Holdback Period”) beginning on the effective date of the registration statement for such underwritten Public Offering (or, in the case of an underwritten Public Offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415, the pricing date for such underwritten Public Offering);

(ii) in the event that (A) the Company issues an earnings release or discloses other material information or a material event relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries occurs during the last 17 days of any Holdback Period or (B) prior to the expiration of any Holdback Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning upon the expiration of such Holdback Period, then to the extent necessary for a managing or co-managing underwriter of a registered offering hereunder to comply with FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4), if agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Takedown, the Holdback Period shall be extended until 18 days after the earnings release or disclosure of other material information or the occurrence of the material event, as the case may be.

Section 5. Registration Procedures.

(a) Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

(i) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel); (ii) notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

 

12

(iii) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

(iv) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

(v) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

(vi) notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(e), at the request of any such seller, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (vii) use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;

 

13

(viii) use reasonable best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(ix) enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);

(x) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

(xi) take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(xii) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158; (xiii) to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Company, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

 

14

(xiv) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any shares of Class A Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(xv) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(xvi) cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;

(xvii) cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(xviii) use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

(xix) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

(xx) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement and the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, the registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold; (xxi) if the Company has not previously paid the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and

 

15

(xxii) otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

(b) Any officer of the Company who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Company and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

(c) The Company may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Company such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

(d) If the Up-C Unit Holders or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Company shall work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.

Section 6. Registration Expenses.

(a) The Company’s Obligation. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company) (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Company shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

 

16

(b) Counsel Fees and Disbursements. In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, the Company shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering.

Section 7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) By the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “Holder Indemnified Parties”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 7, collectively called an “application”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Company will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Party for any legal or any other documented expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Holder Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Holder Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holder Indemnified Parties.

(b) By Each Holder.

 

17

In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission was furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

(c) Claim Procedure. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations.

 

18

The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(t) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) Release. No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the indemnifying party.

(f) Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival. The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

Section 8. Underwritten Registrations.

(a) Participation. No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4, Section 5 and this Section 8(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 4 and this Section 8(a), the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Company and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 8(a).

 

19

(b) Price and Underwriting Discounts. In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.

(c) Suspended Distributions. Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(a)(vi)(B) or (C), shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi). In the event the Company has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 5(a)(iii) during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section 8(c) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi).

Section 9. Additional Parties; Joinder. Subject to the prior written consent of each Investor, any Person who acquires shares of Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock from the Company after the date hereof (including without limitation any Person who acquires Up-C Units) shall have the right to be made a party to this Agreement by the Company (each such Person, an “Additional Investor”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by executing a joinder to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the shares of Class A Common Stock acquired by such Additional Investor or issuable upon exchange of Up-C Units acquired by such Additional Investor shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Investor shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such shares of Class A Common Stock, and the Company shall add such Additional Investor’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.

Section 10. Rule 144 Compliance; Current Public Information. At all times after the Company has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Company shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

Section 11. Transfer of Registrable Securities.

(a) Restrictions on Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Company, (ii) a transfer by any Holder or any of its Affiliates to its respective equityholders, (iii) a Public Offering, or (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after completion of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any pledge by a Holder of Registrable Securities shall not be deemed a transfer under this Agreement.

 

20

Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Company shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.

(b) Legend. Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 31, 2023, BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof, and shall cause the Company to imprint such legend on certificates, if any, evidencing Up-C Units exchangeable for Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities at the Company’s sole cost and expense.

Section 12. MNPI Provisions.

(a) Each Holder acknowledges that (i) the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Company or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Company’s securities is pending or the number of Company securities or the identity of the selling Holders), and (ii) there is no limitation on the duration of time that such Holder and its Representatives may be in possession of MNPI and no requirement that the Company or other Holders make any public disclosure to cause such information to cease to be MNPI; provided that the Company will use commercially reasonable best efforts to promptly notify each Holder if any proposed registration or offering for which a notice has been delivered pursuant to this Agreement has been terminated or aborted.

 

21

(b) Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“Policies”); provided that a holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “Representatives”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further, that in the case of clause (i), the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 12 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), such disclosure is required by law and you promptly notify the Company of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.

(c) Each Holder, by its execution of a counterpart to this agreement or of a Joinder, hereby (i) acknowledges that it is aware that the U.S. securities laws prohibit any person who has MNPI about a company from purchasing or selling, directly or indirectly, securities of such company (including entering into hedge transactions involving such securities), or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, and (ii) agrees that it will not use or permit any third party to use, and that it will use its reasonable best efforts to assure that none of its representatives will use or permit any third party to use, any MNPI the Company provides in contravention of the U.S. securities laws and you will cease trading in the Company’s and the Company’s securities while in possession of material non-public information.

(d) Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect to not receive any notice that the Company or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Company a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Company and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Company or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Company an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests.

Section 13. General Provisions.

(a) Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and the Cibus Global Majority-In-Interest; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder in a manner materially different than any other Holder (provided that the accession by Additional Investors to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Holder), shall be effective against such Holder without the consent of such Holder that is materially and adversely affected thereby.

 

22

The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

(b) Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

(c) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

(d) Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not). In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.

(f) Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when there shall no longer be any Registrable Securities outstanding; provided, that the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 shall survive any such termination.

 

23

(g) Notices. Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand or (c) on the date delivered in the place of delivery if sent by email or facsimile (with a written or electronic confirmation of delivery) prior to 6:00 p.m. New York City time, otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Company at the address specified below and to any Investor or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Investors, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein. The Company’s address is:

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Wade King, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Dr.,

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Cameron Reese Peter Devlin

Email: [***]; [***]

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

(h) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.

(i) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement

(j) Governing Law. The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

24

(k) MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(l) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, NEW CASTLE COUNTY, OR, IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION, A FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

(m) No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

(n) Headings; Interpretation. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

25

(o) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(p) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(q) Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

(r) Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(s) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

* * * * *

 

26

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

 

Investor Name		Number of Up-C Units
Baker Family Holding		30,120
Barry Habib		40,000
Barry Habib 2022 Trust		54,000
Barry M. Fox		36,369
BDTCP Investments 2022, LLC		60,239
Benjamin S. Butcher		30,119
BWK Investments, LLC (Baker Bros)		31,626
Delta III Partners, LLC		12,048
DG Family Trust		65,123
DJG Associated LLC		450,051
Gary P. Gallagher		23,302
Godney Holdings, LLC		11,000
Harry Glorikian		6,688
Heidel Family Trust		25,602
Incandescent LLC		22,395
JG Family Trust		65,123
John F. Mauldin		79,975
John Lewis		20,505
John P. & Kellyn Krueger		30,119
Keith A. Walker		14,518
Kevin Barr		24,096
Mark Finn		13,348
MKF Family LLC		90,358
New Ventures Agtech Solutions, LLC		1,543,617
Nickelson Properties LP		27,731
Peter Beetham		3,503
Peter S. Voss		22,000
Rory Riggs		1,361,226
Rory Riggs Family Trust		20,891
Smith Brown LLC (Katie Ford)		305,559
Stacey Nicholas Trust UTD June 6, 2006		30,120
The Warren & Gail Hall Trust		10,000
Thomas H. Bishop		30,120
Wade King		8,556
Will Will LLC		30,120
William C. Eacho Revocable Trust		50,119

EXHIBIT A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 31, 2023 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware company (the “Company”), and the other person named as parties therein.

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Company is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day of             , 20

 

				Signature of Stockholder
				Print Name of Stockholder
				Its:
				Address:
Agreed and Accepted as of            , 20
				Cibus, Inc.
				By:

Exhibit 10.2

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 31, 2023, by and among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the holders from time to time party hereto, other than the Corporation (as defined herein), of Common Units (as defined herein) from time to time party hereto.

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide for the redemption and/or exchange of Paired Interests (as defined herein), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and the OpCo LLC Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

SECTION 1.1 Definitions.

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

“Appraiser FMV” means the fair market value of a Class A Common Share as determined by an independent appraiser mutually agreed upon by the Corporation and the relevant Exchanging Member (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld), whose determination shall be final and binding for those purposes for which Appraiser FMV is used in this Agreement. Appraiser FMV shall be the fair market value determined without regard to any discounts for minority interest, illiquidity or other discounts. The cost of any independent appraisal in connection with the determination of Appraiser FMV in accordance with this Agreement shall be borne by OpCo.

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

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.

“Cash Exchange Class A 5-Day VWAP” means the arithmetic average of the VWAP for each of the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Exchange Notice Date (in the case of an Unrestricted Exchange) or the Exchange Date (in the case of any other Exchange).

“Cash Exchange Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement.

“Cash Exchange Payment” means, with respect to the portion of any Exchange for which a Cash Exchange Notice is delivered by the Corporation and the Corporation has elected to make a Cash Exchange Payment in accordance with Section 2.1(c):

(a) if the Class A Common Shares trade on a National Securities Exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, an amount of cash equal to the product of: (x) the number of Class A Common Shares that would have been received by the Exchanging Member in the Exchange for that portion of the Paired Interests subject to a Cash Exchange Notice, had such Paired Interests not been subject to a Cash Exchange Notice and OpCo or the Corporation, as applicable, had paid the Stock Exchange Payment with respect to such number of Paired Interests, and (y) the Cash Exchange Class A 5-Day VWAP; or (b) if Class A Common Shares are not then traded on a National Securities Exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, as applicable, an amount of cash equal to the product of (x) the number of Class A Common Shares that would have been received by the Exchanging Member in the Exchange for that portion of the Paired Interests subject to a Cash Exchange Notice, had such Paired Interests not been subject to a Cash Exchange Notice and OpCo or the Corporation, as applicable, had paid the Stock Exchange Payment with respect to such number of Paired Interests, and (y) the Appraiser FMV of one (1) Class A Common Share that would be obtained in an arms-length transaction between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to buy or sell, respectively, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller.

“Certificate Delivery” means, in the case of any Class B Common Shares to be transferred and surrendered by an Exchanging Member in connection with an Exchange which are represented by a certificate or certificates, the process by which the Exchanging Member shall also present and surrender such certificate or certificates representing such Class B Common Shares during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, or if any agent for the registration or transfer of Class B Common Shares is then duly appointed and acting, at the office of such transfer agent, along with any instruments of transfer reasonably required by the Corporation or such transfer agent, as applicable, duly executed by the Exchanging Member or the Exchanging Member’s duly authorized representative.

“Change of Control” has the meaning given to such term in the Tax Receivable Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any event that constitutes both a Pubco Offer and a Change of Control of the Corporation shall be considered a Pubco Offer for purposes of this Agreement.

“Class A Common Shares” means the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Class B Common Shares” means the shares of Class B Common Stock of the Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any Governmental Entity succeeding to the functions thereof.

“Common Units” means the units of OpCo designated as a “Common Units” pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement.

“Corporation” means Cibus, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

“Direct Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 of this Agreement.

“Direct Exchange Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 of this Agreement.

“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Blackout Period” means (i) any “black out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Exchanging Member is subject (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Shares), which period restricts the ability of such Exchanging Member to immediately resell Class A Common Shares to be delivered to such Exchanging Member in connection with a Stock Exchange Payment and (ii) the period of time commencing on (x) the date of the declaration of a dividend by the Corporation and ending on the first day following (y) the record date determined by the Board with respect to such dividend declared pursuant to clause (x), which period of time shall be no longer than 10 Business Days; provided that, in no event shall an Exchange Blackout Period which respect to clause (ii) of the definition hereof occur more than four (4) times per calendar year.

“Exchange Date” means, subject in all cases to the provisions of Section 2.2(a) hereof, in the case of any Unrestricted Exchange, the date that is five (5) Business Days after the date the Exchange Notice is given pursuant to Section 2.1(b), unless the Exchanging Member submits a written request to extend such date and the Corporation in its sole discretion agrees in writing to such extension, and in any other case, the Quarterly Exchange Date; provided that, if the Exchange Date for any Exchange with respect to which the Corporation elects to make a Stock Exchange Payment would otherwise fall within any Exchange Blackout Period, then the Exchange Date shall occur on the next Business Day following the end of such Exchange Blackout Period; provided, further, that in the event the Corporation is required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise elects, to make a Stock Exchange Payment, the Exchange may be conditioned (including as to timing) by the Exchanging Member on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the Class A Common Shares that may be issued in connection with such proposed Exchange.

“Exchange Notice Date” means, with respect to an Exchange, the date the applicable Exchange Notice is delivered in accordance with Section 2.1(b).

“Exchange Notice Date Value” means, in the case of an Exchange (other than an Unrestricted Exchange), the arithmetic average of the VWAP for each of the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Exchange Notice Date.

“Exchange Rate” means, at any time, the number of Class A Common Shares for which a Paired Interest is entitled to be exchanged at such time. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1 for 1, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

“Exchanged Units” means any Common Unit to be Exchanged (as part of a Paired Interest) for the Cash Exchange Payment or Stock Exchange Payment, as applicable, on the applicable Exchange Date.

“Exchanging Member” means, with respect to any Exchange, the LLC Unitholder exchanging Units pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

“Exchange Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

“Governmental Entity” means any nation or government, any state, province or other political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including any court, arbitrator (public or private) or other body or administrative, regulatory or quasi-judicial authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of any federal, state, local or foreign jurisdiction.

“HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

“Law” means any statute, act, code, law (including common law), ordinance, rule, regulation, determination, guidance or governmental order, in each case, of any Governmental Entity.

“LLC Unitholder” means each holder of one or more Common Units that may from time to time be a party to this Agreement.

“Managing Member” has the meaning given to such term in the OpCo LLC Agreement.

“National Securities Exchange” means a securities exchange that has registered with the Commission under Section 6 of the Exchange Act.

“OpCo” means Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor thereto.

“OpCo LLC Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

“Paired Interest” means one Common Unit and one Class B Common Share.

“Permitted Exchange Event” means any of the following events, which has or is occurring, or is otherwise satisfied, as of the Exchange Date:

(i) The Exchange is part of one or more Exchanges by an LLC Unitholder and any related persons (within the meaning of Section 267(b) or 707(b)(1) of the Code) that is part of a “block transfer” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(e)(2) (for this purpose, treating the Managing Member as a “general partner” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(k)(1)), a “Block Transfer”);

(ii) The Exchange is in connection with a Pubco Offer or Change of Control; provided that, any such Exchange pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the closing of the Pubco Offer or Change of Control date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such Pubco Offer is not consummated or Change of Control does not occur); or

(iii) The Exchange is permitted by the Managing Member, in its reasonable discretion, in connection with circumstances not otherwise set forth herein, if the Managing Member determines, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, that OpCo would not (at a “more likely than not” standard) be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code (or any successor or similar provision) as a result of or in connection with such Exchange.

“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

“Person” means any individual, estate, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Private Placement Safe Harbor” means the “private placement” safe harbor set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1).

“Pubco Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7 of this Agreement.

“Quarterly Exchange Date” means, either (x) for each fiscal quarter, the first (1st) Business Day occurring after the sixtieth (60th) day after the expiration of the applicable Quarterly Exchange Notice Period or (y) such other date as the Corporation shall determine in its sole discretion; provided that, such date is at least sixty (60) days after the expiration of the Quarterly Exchange Notice Period; provided, further, that the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that at least one Quarterly Exchange Date occurs each fiscal quarter.

“Quarterly Exchange Date Value” means the arithmetic average of the VWAP for each of the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Exchange Date; provided that, if such an Exchange (other than an Unrestricted Exchange) is in connection with a Secondary Offering or other negotiated transaction, the Quarterly Exchange Date Value shall be the per share price of Class A Common Shares in such transaction.

“Quarterly Exchange Notice Period” means, for each fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the third (3rd) Business Day after the day on which the Corporation releases its earnings for the prior fiscal period, beginning with the first such date that falls from and after the effectiveness of the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement (or such other date within such quarter as the Corporation shall determine in its sole discretion) and ending ten (10) Business Days thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may change the definition of Quarterly Exchange Notice Period with respect to any Quarterly Exchange Notice Period scheduled to occur in a calendar quarter subsequent to the then-current calendar quarter, if (x) the revised definition provides for a Quarterly Exchange Notice Period occurring at least once in each calendar quarter, (y) the first Quarterly Exchange Notice Period pursuant to the revised definition will occur no less than 10 Business Days from the date written notice of such change is sent to each LLC Unitholder (other than the Corporation) and (z) the revised definition, together with the revised Quarterly Exchange Date resulting therefrom, do not materially adversely affect the ability of the LLC Unitholders to exercise their Exchange rights pursuant to this Agreement.

“Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the other parties thereto.

“Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d) of this Agreement.

“Secondary Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f) of this Agreement.

“Secondary Offering Paired Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Stock Exchange Payment” means, with respect to the portion of any Exchange for which a Cash Exchange Notice is not delivered by the Corporation, on behalf of OpCo, a number of Class A Common Shares equal to the product of the number of Exchanged Units multiplied by the Exchange Rate.

“Taxing Authority” has the meaning set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

“Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the other parties thereto.

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

“Trading Market” means the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other principal United States securities exchange on which Class A Common Shares are listed, quoted or admitted to trading.

“Unrestricted Exchanges” means any Exchange that is in connection with a Permitted Exchange Event or that occurs during a period in which OpCo meets the requirements of the Private Placement Safe Harbor.

“VWAP” means the daily per share volume-weighted average price of Class A Common Shares on the Trading Market, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on the Bloomberg page designated for Class A Common Shares (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on such Trading Day until the close of trading on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, (a) the per share volume-weighted average price of a Class A Common Share on such Trading Day (determined without regard to afterhours trading or any other trading outside the regular trading session or trading hours), or (b) if such determination is not feasible, the market price per Class A Common Share, in either case as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained in good faith for this purpose by the Managing Member).

ARTICLE II

SECTION 2.1 Exchange Procedure

(a) From and after the effectiveness of the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement, each LLC Unitholder (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, to surrender Paired Interests to OpCo and the Corporation, as applicable, in exchange for the delivery by OpCo of the Stock Exchange Payment or, at the election of the Corporation, the Cash Exchange Payment (such exchange, a “Redemption” and, together with a Direct Exchange (as defined below), an “Exchange”); provided, that (absent a waiver by the Managing Member) any such Exchange is for a minimum of the lesser of (i) 25,000 Common Units (which minimum shall be equitably adjusted in accordance with any adjustments to the Exchange Rate) and (ii) all of the Common Units held by such LLC Unitholder; provided, further, that in the event that an Exchanging Member is participating in an underwritten offering or other block sale of Class A Common Shares following such Exchange and a portion of its Paired Interests are being surrendered to OpCo or the Corporation, as applicable, in furtherance thereof (such portion, the “Secondary Offering Paired Interests”), then OpCo and the Corporation shall settle the Exchange of such Secondary Offering Paired Interests by delivery of a Stock Exchange Payment hereunder.

(b) An LLC Unitholder shall exercise its right to make an Exchange as set forth in Section 2.1(a) above by delivering to OpCo, with a copy to the Corporation, a written election of exchange in respect of the Paired Interests to be exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (an “Exchange Notice”) in accordance with this Section 2.1(b). An LLC Unitholder may deliver an Exchange Notice with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange at any time, and, in any other case, during the Quarterly Exchange Notice Period preceding the desired Exchange Date. An Exchange Notice with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange may specify that the Exchange is to be contingent (including, without limitation, as to timing) upon the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering or otherwise) of the Class A Common Shares into which the Paired Interests are exchangeable, or contingent (including, without limitation, as to timing) upon the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event in which such Class A Common Shares would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if, in connection with an Exchange in accordance with this Section 2.1, a filing is required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended ( the “HSR Act”), then the Exchange Date with respect to all Paired Interests which would be exchanged into Class A Common Shares resulting from such Exchange shall be delayed until the earlier of (i) such time as the required filing under the HSR Act has been made and the waiting period applicable to such Exchange under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated or (ii) such filing is no longer required, at which time such Exchange shall automatically occur without any further action by the holders of any such Paired Interests. Each of the LLC Unitholders and the Corporation agree to promptly take all actions required to make such filing under the HSR Act and the filing fee for such filing shall be paid by OpCo.

(c) Subject to Sections 2.1(a) and 2.2(a), within three (3) Business Days of the giving of an Exchange Notice, the Corporation, on behalf of OpCo, may elect to settle all or a portion of the Exchange in cash (in lieu of Class A Common Shares) by giving written notice of such election to OpCo and the Exchanging Member within such three (3) Business Day period (such notice, the “Cash Exchange Notice”). The Cash Exchange Notice shall set forth the portion of the Paired Interests which will be exchanged for cash in lieu of Class A Common Shares. Any portion of the Exchange not settled for a Cash Exchange Payment shall be settled for a Stock Exchange Payment. Subject to Section 2.1(a), at any time following the giving of a Cash Exchange Notice and prior to the Exchange Date, the Corporation may elect (exercisable by giving written notice of such election to the Exchanging Member) to revoke the Cash Exchange Notice with respect to all or any portion of the Paired Interests and make the Stock Exchange Payment with respect to any such Paired Interests on the Exchange Date.

(d) The Exchanging Member may elect to retract its Exchange Notice with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange by giving written notice of such election to OpCo, with a copy to the Corporation, no later than (1) Business Day prior to the Exchange Date. Subject to the terms of this Section 2.1(d), an Exchanging Member may deliver an Exchange Notice with respect to an Exchange (other than an Unrestricted Exchange) during the Quarterly Exchange Notice Period which conditions such Exchange upon the Quarterly Exchange Date Value being equal to or greater than ninety percent (90%) of the Exchange Notice Date Value and if such requirement is not met, then the Exchanging Member may elect to retract its Exchange Notice by giving written notice of such election to OpCo, with a copy to the Corporation, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Trading Day preceding the Exchange Date (a “Retraction Notice”). The delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Exchanging Member’s, the Corporation’s and OpCo’s rights and obligations under this Article II arising from such retracted Exchange Notice (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, from any Exchange Notice not retracted or that may be delivered in the future); provided that, an Exchanging Member may deliver a Retraction Notice only once in every twelve (12)-month period (and any additional Retraction Notice delivered by such Exchanging Member within such twelve (12)-month period shall be deemed null and void ab initio and ineffective with respect to the revocation of the Exchange specified therein).

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Corporation closes an underwritten distribution of the Class A Common Shares and the LLC Unitholders (any of them alone, or together with the Corporation) were entitled to resell Class A Common Shares in connection therewith (by the exercise by such LLC Unitholders of Exchange rights or otherwise) (a “Secondary Offering”), then, except as provided in the following proviso, the immediately succeeding Quarterly Exchange Date shall be automatically cancelled and of no force or effect (and no LLC Unitholder shall be entitled to deliver a Quarterly Exchange Date Notice with respect to an Exchange that is not an Unrestricted Exchange in respect of such Quarterly Exchange Date); provided that, the Corporation and OpCo may effect an Exchange if the Corporation determines (in its reasonable discretion), after consultation with its legal counsel and tax advisors, that such Exchange, together with any other Exchanges that have occurred or are expected to occur, would not be reasonably likely to result in the OpCo being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (a) for such periods that OpCo does not meet the requirements of the Private Placement Safe Harbor, any Secondary Offering (other than that pursuant to which all Exchanges are Unrestricted Exchanges) shall only be undertaken if, during the applicable taxable year, the total number of Quarterly Exchange Dates and prior Secondary Offerings (other than any pursuant to which all Exchanges are Unrestricted Exchanges) on which Exchanges occur is three (3) or fewer and (b) OpCo and the Corporation shall not be deemed to have failed to comply with their respective obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, if a Secondary Offering cannot be undertaken due to the restriction set forth in the preceding clause (a).

SECTION 2.2 Exchange Payment

(a) The Exchange shall be consummated on the Exchange Date; provided that, in the event that an Exchange Notice with respect to an Unrestricted Exchange is delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and specifies that it is predicated upon the settlement of an Exchange of Paired Interests sooner than on the Exchange Date, the Corporation and OpCo shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Exchange on the date specified in such Exchange Notice, which shall thereafter be deemed the Exchange Date for purposes of such Exchange; provided further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event that an Exchange Notice is delivered in connection with a Secondary Offering or a block sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act or other then available exemption from registration thereunder that is not an underwritten distribution but is an Unrestricted Exchange, and the Corporation has at least three (3) Business Days’ notice prior to the settlement date thereof, the Exchange Date shall be the settlement date of such Secondary Offering or such block sale and the Exchange shall be consummated no later than the settlement of such Secondary Offering or such block sale on such date.

(b) In connection with any Exchange, the Exchanging Member shall make any applicable Certificate Delivery requested or required by the Corporation.

(c) On the Exchange Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date), in the case of a Redemption, (i) the Corporation shall contribute to OpCo, for delivery to the Exchanging Member (x) the Stock Exchange Payment with respect to any Exchanged Units not subject to a Cash Exchange Notice and (y) the Cash Exchange Payment with respect to any Exchanged Units subject to a Cash Exchange Notice, (ii) the Exchanging Member shall (A) transfer and surrender the Exchanged Units to OpCo, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances and (B) transfer and surrender the corresponding number of Class B Common Shares to the Corporation, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and the Corporation shall cancel such Class B Common Shares, (iii) OpCo shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Exchanged Units surrendered pursuant to the preceding clause (ii), (iv) solely to the extent necessary in connection with a Redemption, the Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Class A Common Shares to maintain a one-to-one ratio (or such other ratio then in effect) between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding Class A Common Shares, taking into account the issuance in the preceding clause (iii), any Stock Exchange Payment, and any other action taken in connection with this Section 2.2, and (v) OpCo shall (x) cancel the redeemed Exchanged Units and (y) transfer to the Exchanging Member the Cash Exchange Payment and/or the Stock Exchange Payment, as applicable.

(d) On the Exchange Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date), in the case of a Direct Exchange, (i) the Corporation shall deliver to the Exchanging Member, (x) the Stock Exchange Payment with respect to any Paired Interests not subject to a Cash Exchange Notice and (y) the Cash Exchange Payment with respect to any Paired Interests subject to a Cash Exchange Notice, (ii) the Exchanging Member shall transfer to the Corporation the Exchanged Units and the corresponding Class B Common Shares (it being understood that (A) the Corporation shall cancel the surrendered Class B Common Shares and (B) the Exchanged Units shall remain outstanding and the Corporation shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Exchanged Units), free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and (iii) solely to the extent necessary in connection with a Direct Exchange, the Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Class A Common Shares to maintain a one-to-one ratio (or such other ratio then in effect) between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding Class A Common Shares, taking into account any Stock Exchange Payment and any other action taken in connection with this Section 2.2.

(e) Upon the Exchange of all of an LLC Unitholder’s Common Units, such LLC Unitholder shall cease, in accordance with the terms of the OpCo LLC Agreement, to be a Member (as such term is defined in the OpCo LLC Agreement) of OpCo.

SECTION 2.3 Expenses and Restrictions.

(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, OpCo and each Exchanging Member shall bear its own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that OpCo shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any Class A Common Shares are to be issued in a name other than that of the LLC Unitholder that requested the Exchange, then such LLC Unitholder and/or the person in whose name such shares are to be issued shall pay to OpCo the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of OpCo that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that OpCo is otherwise eligible for the Private Placement Safe Harbor in any taxable year, the Corporation and OpCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to restrict issuances of Common Units in an amount sufficient for OpCo to continue to be eligible for the Private Placement Safe Harbor, and, to the extent that the Corporation or OpCo determines that OpCo does not meet the requirements of the Private Placement Safe Harbor at any point in any taxable year, the Corporation or OpCo may impose such additional restrictions on Exchanges (other than Exchanges that are Secondary Offerings) during such taxable year as the Corporation or OpCo may determine to be necessary or advisable so that OpCo is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code; provided that, the restrictions imposed pursuant to this sentence shall not apply to any Unrestricted Exchange. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Exchange shall be permitted (and, if attempted, shall be void ab initio) if, in the good faith determination of the Corporation or of OpCo, such an Exchange would pose a material risk that OpCo would be a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to prohibit a Block Transfer unless a change in applicable Law after the date of the signing of the Merger Agreement (as defined in the OpCo LLC Agreement) modifies the application or availability of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(e)(2).

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, an LLC Unitholder shall not be entitled to effect an Exchange (other than an Exchange in connection with settlement of a Secondary Offering or other Block Transfer) to the extent the Corporation reasonably determines in good faith that such Exchange (i) would be prohibited by law or regulation (including, without limitation, the unavailability of any requisite registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or any exemption from the registration requirements thereunder), or (ii) would not be permitted under any other agreements with the Corporation or its subsidiaries to which such LLC Unitholder is party (including, without limitation, the OpCo LLC Agreement) or any written policies of the Corporation related to unlawful or inappropriate trading applicable to its directors, officers or other personnel.

(d) The Corporation may adopt reasonable procedures for the implementation of the exchange provisions set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, procedures for the giving of notice of an election of exchange.

SECTION 2.4 Adjustment. The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any unit split, unit distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Shares or (b) any subdivision (by any share or stock split, stock dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse share or stock split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Class A Common Shares that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units. If there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Shares are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, an Exchanging Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Exchanging Member would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any share or stock split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse share or stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. Except as may be required in the immediately preceding sentence, no adjustments in respect of distributions shall be made upon the exchange of any Common Unit.

SECTION 2.5 Class A Common Shares to be Issued.

(a) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of Class A Common Shares as may be issued upon any such Exchange; provided that, nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation and OpCo from satisfying its obligations in respect of the Exchange of the Paired Interests by the sale of Class A Common Shares which are held in the treasury of the Corporation or are held by OpCo or any of their subsidiaries or by delivery of purchased Class A Common Shares (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation or held by any subsidiary thereof), or by the sale/issuance of the Cash Exchange Payment in accordance with the terms hereof. The Corporation and OpCo covenant that all Class A Common Shares issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(b) The Corporation and OpCo shall at all times ensure that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Corporation and OpCo and the consummation by each of the Corporation and OpCo of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Class A Common Shares) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as the case may be, on the part of the Corporation and OpCo, including, but not limited to, all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of Class A Common Shares pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of the Board’s power and authority and to the extent permitted by law, shall not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(c) The Corporation and OpCo covenant and agree that, to the extent that a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective and available for Class A Common Shares to be issued with respect to any Exchange, shares that have been registered under the Securities Act shall be issued in respect of such Exchange. In the event that any Exchange in accordance with this Agreement is to be effected at a time when any required registration has not become effective or otherwise is unavailable, upon the request and with the reasonable cooperation of the LLC Unitholder requesting such Exchange, the Corporation and OpCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly facilitate such Exchange pursuant to any reasonably available exemption from such registration requirements. The Class A Common Shares to be issued following completion of an Exchange may, in the reasonable discretion of the Corporation, be restricted and/or legended securities to the extent required under the Securities Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or any other applicable or federal or state securities laws. The Corporation and OpCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Shares required to be issued upon the Exchange prior to such issue upon each National Securities Exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the outstanding Class A Common Shares may be listed or traded at the time of such issue.

SECTION 2.6 Direct Exchange. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article II, the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to effect on the Exchange Date the Exchange of Paired Interests for the Cash Exchange Payment and/or the Stock Exchange Payment, as the case may be (and subject to the terms of Section 2.2(a), (c) and (d)), through a direct exchange of such Paired Interests between the Exchanging Member and the Corporation (a “Direct Exchange”). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.6, the Corporation shall acquire the Exchanged Units (which shall remain outstanding) and the Corporation shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Exchanged Units; provided that, any such election by the Corporation shall not relieve OpCo of its obligation arising with respect to such applicable Exchange Notice. The Corporation may, at any time prior to an Exchange Date, deliver written notice (an “Direct Exchange Election Notice”) to OpCo and the Exchanging Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided that, such election does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate an Exchange or Direct Exchange on the Exchange Date. A Direct Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided that, any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate an Exchange or Direct Exchange on the Exchange Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all of the Paired Interests that would otherwise have been subject to an Exchange. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.6, a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Exchange would have been consummated had the Corporation not delivered a Direct Exchange Election Notice.

SECTION 2.7. Pubco Offer or Change of Control.

(a) In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to any Class A Common Shares (a “Pubco Offer”) is proposed by the Corporation or is proposed to the Corporation or its stockholders and approved by the Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Board or the Corporation will undergo a Change of Control, the LLC Unitholders shall be permitted to deliver an Exchange Notice (which Exchange Notice shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Pubco Offer or Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be contingent upon such Pubco Offer or Change of Control and not be effective if such Pubco Offer or Change of Control is not consummated)). In the case of a Pubco Offer proposed by the Corporation, the Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the LLC Unitholders to participate in such Pubco Offer to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of Class A Common Shares without discrimination (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the LLC Unitholders’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement in determining whether such participation is on an economically equivalent basis).

(b) The Corporation shall send written notice to OpCo and the LLC Unitholders at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the closing date of the transactions contemplated by the Pubco Offer or the Change of Control notifying them of their rights pursuant to this Section 2.7, and setting forth, in the case of a Pubco Offer, (i) a copy of the written proposal or agreement pursuant to which the Pubco Offer will be effected, (ii) the consideration payable in connection therewith, (iii) the terms and conditions of transfer and payment and (iv) the date and location of and procedures for selling Common Units, or in the case of a Change of Control, (x) a description of the event constituting the Change of Control, (y) the date of the Change of Control, and (z) a copy of any written proposals or agreement relating thereto. In the event that the information set forth in such notice changes from that set forth in the initial notice, a subsequent notice shall be delivered by the Corporation as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in any event no less than five (5) days prior to the closing of the Pubco Offer or date of the Change of Control.

ARTICLE III

SECTION 3.1 Additional LLC Unitholders. To the extent an LLC Unitholder validly transfers any or all of such holder’s Common Units to another person in a transaction in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the OpCo LLC Agreement or any other agreement or agreements with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries to which a transferring LLC Unitholder may be party, then such transferee (each, a “Permitted Transferee”) shall execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall become an LLC Unitholder hereunder. To the extent OpCo issues Common Units in the future, OpCo shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to make any holder of such Common Units an LLC Unitholder hereunder through such holder’s execution and delivery of a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

SECTION 3.2 Addresses and Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 3.2):

(a) If to the Corporation, to:

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: [***] and [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121-3134

Attention: Cameron A. Reese

E-mail: [***]

(b) If to OpCo, to:

Cibus Global, LLC

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: [***] and [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121-3134

Attention: Cameron A. Reese

E-mail: [***]

and

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Stuart Leblang and Jonathan Pavlich

Email: [***] and [***]

(c) If to any LLC Unitholder, to the address or other contact information set forth in the records of OpCo from time to time.

SECTION 3.3 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

SECTION 3.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns. No LLC Unitholder may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Corporation and OpCo.

SECTION 3.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

SECTION 3.6 Amendment. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of (i) the Corporation, (ii) OpCo and (iii) LLC Unitholders holding at least a majority of the then outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the Corporation); provided that, for purposes of this clause (iii), in addition to the consent required by clauses (i) and (ii), no amendment may materially, disproportionately and adversely affect the rights of an LLC Unitholder (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) without the consent of such LLC Unitholder (or, if there is more than one such LLC Unitholder that is so affected, without the consent of a majority in interest of such affected LLC Unitholders (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) in accordance with their holdings of Common Units).

SECTION 3.7 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

SECTION 3.8 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably with respect to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any action (at law or in equity), claim, litigation, suit, arbitration, hearing, audit, review, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement or any matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder brought by a party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Chancery Court, or if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in the State of Delaware, or, if neither of such courts shall have jurisdiction, any other Delaware state court. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such dispute for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the sole and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any dispute relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the aforesaid courts. Each party irrevocably consents to service of process in any dispute in any of the aforesaid courts by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized overnight delivery service, to such party at such party’s address referred to in Section 3.2. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action brought by any party with respect to this Agreement (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 3.8; (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the 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); or (iii) any objection which such party may now or hereafter have (A) to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to above; (B) that such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (C) that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

(b) To the extent that any party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself, or to such party’s property, each such party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of such party’s obligations with respect to this Agreement.

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AGREEING TO THE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW TO GOVERN THIS AGREEMENT AND TO THE JURISDICTION OF DELAWARE COURTS IN CONNECTION WITH PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT HEREUNDER. THE PARTIES INTEND THIS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW AND AN EFFECTIVE CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS UNDER 6 DEL. C. § 2708.

(d) EACH PARTY, FOR ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

(e) The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in Section 3.8(a) and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

SECTION 3.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including, without limitation, by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy, by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 3.9.

SECTION 3.10 Tax Treatment. This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of OpCo as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. As required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations, the parties shall report any Exchange consummated hereunder as a taxable sale of the Exchanged Units (together with an equal number of Class B Common Shares) by an LLC Unitholder to the Corporation in exchange for (i) the payment by the Corporation of the Stock Exchange Payment, the Cash Exchange Payment, or other applicable consideration to the Exchanging Member, and, if applicable, (ii) corresponding payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and no party shall take a contrary position on any income tax return, amendment thereof or communication with any Taxing Authority unless an alternate position is permitted under the Code and Treasury Regulations and the Corporation consents in writing to such alternate position, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed. Further, in connection with any Exchange consummated hereunder, OpCo and/or the Corporation shall provide the Exchanging Member with all reasonably necessary information to enable the Exchanging Member to file its income Tax returns for the taxable year that includes the Exchange, including, without limitation, information with respect to assets under Section 751 of the Code (including, without limitation, relevant information regarding “unrealized receivables” or “inventory items”) and basis adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code as soon as practicable and in all events within 60 days following the close of such taxable year (and use commercially reasonable efforts to provide estimates of such information within 90 days of the applicable Exchanges). Within thirty (30) days following the Exchange Date, the Corporation shall deliver a Code Section 743 notification to OpCo in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1(k)(2).

SECTION 3.11 Withholding. The Corporation and OpCo shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payments made to an LLC Unitholder pursuant to any Exchange consummated under this Agreement all taxes that each of the Corporation and OpCo is required to deduct and withhold with respect to such payments under the Code and any other provision of applicable law (including, without limitation, under Section 1445 and Section 1446(f) of the Code). In connection with any Exchange, the Exchanging Member shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to deliver such form, deliver to the Corporation or OpCo, as applicable, a certificate, dated as of the Exchange Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Corporation certifying as to such Exchanging Member’s taxpayer identification number and that such Exchanging Member is a not a foreign person for purposes of Section 1445 and Section 1446(f) of the Code (which certificate may be an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 if then sufficient for such purposes under applicable law) (such certificate, a “Non-Foreign Person Certificate”). If an Exchanging Member is unable to provide a Non-Foreign Person Certificate in connection with an Exchange, then (i) OpCo shall provide a certificate substantially in the form described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(ii)(C) setting forth the liabilities of OpCo allocated to the Exchanged Units subject to the Exchange under Section 752 of the Code or (ii) each of the Exchanging Member and OpCo shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver a certificate reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to permit OpCo and the Corporation to comply with Sections 1445 and 1446(f), and the Corporation or OpCo, as and to the extent applicable, shall be permitted to deduct and withhold on the amount realized by such Exchanging Member in respect of such Exchange if and as provided in Section 1446(f) of the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder. The Corporation or OpCo, as applicable, may at their sole discretion reduce the Class A Common Shares issued to an LLC Unitholder in an Exchange in an amount that corresponds to the amount of the required withholding described in the immediately preceding sentence. All such amounts so deducted and withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to such LLC Unitholder in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made.

SECTION 3.12 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that such parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

SECTION 3.13 Independent Nature of LLC Unitholders’ Rights and Obligations. The obligations of each LLC Unitholder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other LLC Unitholder, and no LLC Unitholder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other LLC Unitholder hereunder. The decision of each LLC Unitholder to enter into this Agreement has been made by such LLC Unitholder independently of any other LLC Unitholder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any LLC Unitholder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the LLC Unitholders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the LLC Unitholders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Corporation acknowledges that the LLC Unitholders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporation will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 3.14 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regards to its principles of conflicts of laws.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

EXHIBIT A

EXCHANGE NOTICE

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail:     [***] and [***]

Cibus Global, LLC

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail:     [***] and [***]

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2023 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), among Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with any successor thereto, “OpCo”), Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”) and managing member of OpCo, and the LLC Unitholders from time to time party thereto (each, a “Holder”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

The undersigned Holder hereby transfers the number of Paired Interests set forth below in Exchange for the Stock Exchange Payment to be issued in its name as set forth below, or the Cash Exchange Payment, as applicable, as set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

The undersigned Holder agrees and acknowledges that as set forth in the Exchange Agreement, the Class A Common Shares to be issued following completion of an Exchange may, in the reasonable discretion of the Corporation, be restricted and/or legended securities under the Securities Act, the regulations promulgated thereunder or any other applicable federal or state securities laws, which may not be sold or transferred without a registration statement filed under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.

 

Legal Name of Holder: _____________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

Number of Paired Interests to be Exchanged: ______________________

Brokerage Account Details: _________________________________________________

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Exchange Notice and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Exchange Notice has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Paired Interests subject to this Exchange Notice are being transferred to the Corporation or OpCo, as applicable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim; and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Paired Interests subject to this Exchange Notice is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Paired Interests to the Corporation or OpCo, as applicable.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation or of OpCo as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Corporation or OpCo, as applicable, the Paired Interests subject to this Exchange Notice and to deliver to the undersigned the Stock Exchange Payment or Cash Exchange Payment, as applicable, to be delivered in exchange therefor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Exchange Notice to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

EXHIBIT B

JOINDER

This Joinder Agreement (“Joinder Agreement”) is a joinder to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2023 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto, the “Corporation”), Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each of the LLC Unitholders from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have their meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement. This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware. In the event of any conflict between this Joinder Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this Joinder Agreement shall control.

The undersigned hereby joins and enters into the Exchange Agreement having acquired Common Units in Cibus Global, LLC. By signing and returning this Joinder Agreement to the Corporation, the undersigned accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of an LLC Unitholder contained in the Exchange Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of an LLC Unitholder thereunder. The parties to the Exchange Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder Agreement by the Corporation and by Cibus Global, LLC, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Exchange Agreement.

 

Name:

Address for Notices:

Attention:

With copies to:

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

among

CIBUS, INC. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.)

and

THE PERSONS NAMED HEREIN

Dated as of May 31, 2023

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
Article I DEFINITIONS					2
Section 1.1		Definitions			2
Article II DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFIT					13
Section 2.1		Exchange Basis Adjustment			13
Section 2.2		Tax Benefit Schedule			13
Section 2.3		Procedures, Amendments			15
Section 2.4		Tax Classifications; Elections			16
Article III TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS					17
Section 3.1		Payments			17
Section 3.2		No Duplicative Payments			17
Section 3.3		Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits With Other Tax Receivable Agreements			18
Section 3.4		Overpayments			18
Article IV TERMINATION					18
Section 4.1		Early Termination and Breach of Agreement			18
Section 4.2		Early Termination Notice			20
Section 4.3		Payment upon Early Termination			20
Article V |SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS					21
Section 5.1		Subordination			21
Section 5.2		Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer			21
Article VI NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION					22
Section 6.1		Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and OpCo’s Tax Matters			22
Section 6.2		Consistency			22
Section 6.3		Cooperation			22
Article VII MISCELLANEOUS					23
Section 7.1		Notices			23
Section 7.2		Counterparts			23
Section 7.3		Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries			24
Section 7.4		Governing Law			24
Section 7.5		Severability			24
Section 7.6		Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers			24
Section 7.7		Titles and Subtitles			25
Section 7.8		Waiver of Jury Trial, Jurisdiction			25
Section 7.9		Reconciliation			26
Section 7.10		Withholding			27
Section 7.11		Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets			27

 

-i-

Section 7.12		Confidentiality			28
Section 7.13		Change in Law			29
Section 7.14		Independent Nature of TRA Parties’ Rights and Obligations			29
Section 7.15		TRA Party Representative			30

 

 

-ii-

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 31, 2023, is hereby entered into by and among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Corporate Taxpayer”), the TRA Party Representative and each of the other persons from time to time party hereto (the “TRA Parties”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have their respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the TRA Parties directly or indirectly hold Units in Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo”), which is classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, or held Blocker Stock immediately prior to the Blocker Mergers;

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo, Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Opco Merger Sub”), the Blockers and the other parties thereto entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 13, 2023 (as further amended or modified in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with such agreement, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, (a) the Blockers will each be merged with and into the Corporate Taxpayer (such mergers, the “Blocker Mergers”), and (b) following the Blocker Mergers, at the Closing, Opco Merger Sub will merge with and into OpCo, with OpCo surviving (such merger, the “Company Merger”);

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the Blocker Mergers, each Blocker was taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS, as of immediately following the Company Merger, the Corporate Taxpayer is the sole managing member of OpCo and holds Units that were (a) received in connection with the Blocker Mergers and Company Merger, (b) received in exchange for the Corporate Taxpayer’s contribution to OpCo in a transaction described under Section 721 of the Code, or (c) otherwise received pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, as a result of the Blocker Mergers, the Corporate Taxpayer will be entitled to utilize Blocker NOLs;

WHEREAS, after the Closing Date, any Units held by the TRA Parties, together with Class B common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer, may be exchanged for Class A common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer (the “Class A Shares”) constituting the Stock Exchange Payment or, alternatively, at the election of the Corporate Taxpayer, the Cash Exchange Payment (a “Future Exchange”), pursuant to the provisions of the LLC Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2023, among the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo, and the holders of Units from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Agreement”), and in either case contributed to OpCo by the Corporate Taxpayer, provided that, at the election of the Corporate Taxpayer in its sole discretion and in accordance with the Exchange Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer may effect a direct exchange of such cash or Class A Shares for such Units (a “Direct Exchange,” which shall also constitute a Future Exchange); WHEREAS, OpCo and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes (but only if such indirect Subsidiaries are held only through Subsidiaries treated as partnerships or disregarded entities) will have in effect (and with respect to any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned, OpCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Subsidiary to have in effect) an election under Section 754 of the Code for the Taxable Year (a “Section 754 Election”) that includes the Closing Date and each subsequent Taxable Year in which an Future Exchange occurs, in each case, to the extent eligible to do so;

 

-1-

WHEREAS, as a result of the Blocker Mergers, Future Exchanges, and Section 754 Elections, the income, gain, deduction, loss, expense and other tax items of the Corporate Taxpayer may be affected by (i) the Exchange Basis Adjustments, (ii) Blocker NOLs; and (iii) any deduction attributable to any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this Agreement (collectively, the “Tax Attributes”);

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to the effect of the Tax Attributes on the liability for Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

“Acquired Units” means the Units acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in the Blocker Mergers or an Future Exchange.

“Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for Taxes, which shall not be less than zero, of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer and (ii) without duplication, OpCo and its Subsidiaries, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo and its Subsidiaries and allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is the parent, provided, that, if applicable, such amounts shall be determined in accordance with a Determination (including interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable law); provided, further, that the actual liability for Taxes described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall be calculated using the Assumed Rate, solely for purposes of calculating the U.S. state and local Actual Tax Liability of the Corporate Taxpayer.

“Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, its capacity as a sole or managing member or otherwise, including any private equity fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no TRA Party shall be considered to be an Affiliate of the Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo.

 

-2-

“Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate equal to SOFR plus 100 basis points.

“Assumed Rate” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the tax rate equal to the sum of the product of (x) OpCo’s tax apportionment percentage(s) for each U.S. state and local jurisdiction in which OpCo or the Corporate Taxpayer files Tax Returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate tax rate(s) for each such U.S. state and local jurisdiction in which OpCo or the Corporate Taxpayer files Tax Returns for each relevant Taxable Year.

“Attributable” means the portion of any Tax Attribute of the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries or, without duplication, OpCo or its Subsidiaries, that is attributable to a TRA Party and shall be determined by reference to the Tax Attributes, under the following principles:

(i) any Exchange Basis Adjustments shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and are Attributable to a TRA Party in an amount equal to the total Exchange Basis Adjustments relating to the Units that are exchanged by such TRA Party as part of a Future Exchange;

(ii) any Blocker NOLs shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and are Attributable to each TRA Party in an amount equal to the Blocker NOLs relating to the Blocker Stock acquired (via the Blocker Mergers) from such TRA Party (pro-rata based on the number of shares owned by such TRA Party in such Blocker); and

(ii) any deduction to the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, with respect to a Taxable Year in respect of any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this Agreement is Attributable to the Person that is required to include the Imputed Interest or other payment in income (without regard to whether such Person is actually subject to Taxes thereon).

A “Beneficial Owner” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The terms “Beneficially Owned” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings.

“Blocker” means any New Ventures I Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 1”); BCGF CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 2”); BCGFCP CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 3”); BCGFK CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 4”); FSBCGF CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 5”); PYLBCG CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 6”); FSGRWCO CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 7”); GROWTHCO CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 8”); GRTHCOCP CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 9”); and GRWTHCOK CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 10”; and, collectively with Blocker 1, Blocker 2, Blocker 3, Blocker 4, Blocker 5, Blocker 6, Blocker 7, Blocker 8 and Blocker 9, the “Blockers”).

 

-3-

“Blocker NOLs” means any U.S. federal, state, or local net operating losses, capital losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards under Section 163(j) of the Code (and any comparable provision of state or local tax law), and credit carryforwards of the Blockers relating to taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date that the Corporate Taxpayer is entitled to utilize as a result of the Blocker Mergers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Blocker NOLs” shall not include any tax attribute of a Blocker that is used to offset Taxes attributable to such Blocker, if such offset Taxes are attributable to taxable periods ending on or prior to the date of the Blocker Mergers.

“Blocker Shareholder” means, a Person who, prior to a Blocker Merger, holds Blocker Stock, and as a result of such Blocker Merger, holds stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

“Blocker Stock” means, with respect to any Blocker, the membership interests or stock of such Blocker, as applicable, outstanding immediately prior to the Blocker Mergers.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, San Francisco, California or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or required by Law to close.

“Cash Exchange Payment” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

“Class A Shares 5-Day VWAP” means, on any date, the arithmetic average of the VWAP for each of the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on such date, or if such date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) any Person or any group of Persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto (excluding any Excluded Party) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of Corporate Taxpayer representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Corporate Taxpayer’s then outstanding voting securities (assuming the full exercise for cash and settlement in shares of all outstanding warrants, if any, issued by Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo or any OpCo PIUs issued by OpCo at such time irrespective of any conditions or limitations thereon), other than in connection with any merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change of Control under clause (ii) below; or

(ii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of Corporate Taxpayer with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the Beneficial Owners of voting securities of Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such merger or consolidation (assuming that all outstanding options, warrants, rights and other convertible or exchangeable securities issued by Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo (whether or not then currently exercisable) have been exercised and the holders thereof are holders of voting securities of Corporate Taxpayer) do not represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or the ultimate parent entity thereof (calculated on a fully-diluted basis using the treasury stock method); or

 

-4-

(iii) the shareholders of Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale, lease or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the assets of Corporate Taxpayer, taken as a whole, other than such sale or other disposition by Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the assets of Corporate Taxpayer, taken as a whole, to an entity of which at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of such entity (calculated on a fully diluted basis using the treasury stock method) are Beneficially Owned by the Beneficial Owners of voting securities of Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such merger or consolidation (assuming that all outstanding options, warrants, rights and other convertible or exchangeable securities issued by Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo (whether or not then currently exercisable) have been exercised and the holders thereof are holders of voting securities of Corporate Taxpayer).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

“Closing Date” means the date of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“Corporate Taxpayer Return” means the United States federal and/or state and/or local and/or foreign Tax Return, as applicable, of the Corporate Taxpayer filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year.

“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedules or Amended Schedules, if any, in existence at the time of such determination; provided that the computation of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit shall be adjusted to reflect any applicable Determination with respect to any Realized Tax Benefits and/or Realized Tax Detriments.

“Default Rate” means a per annum rate equal to SOFR plus 500 basis points.

 

-5-

“Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, foreign or local tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Taxes.

“Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

“Early Termination Rate” means a per annum rate equal to SOFR plus 400 basis points.

“Exchange Basis Adjustment” means the adjustment to the tax basis of a Reference Asset under Sections 732, 734(b) and/or 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Future Exchanges, OpCo becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes) or under Sections 734(b), 743(b), 754 and/or 755 of the Code (in situations where, following a Future Exchange, OpCo remains in existence as an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) and, in each case, comparable sections of United States state and local tax laws, as a result of a Future Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement in respect of such Future Exchange. The amount of any Exchange Basis Adjustment shall be determined using the Market Value with respect to such Future Exchange, except, for the avoidance of doubt, as otherwise required by a Determination. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in an Exchange Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest, and the amount of any Exchange Basis Adjustment resulting from a Future Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.

“Exchange Date” means the date of any Future Exchange.

“Excluded Holders” mean the initial TRA Party Representative and his immediate family members, together with their respective Affiliates.

“Excluded Party” means a Person or group of Persons relevant to an event described in clause (i) of the definition of “Change of Control” in which the Excluded Holders (x) directly or indirectly hold Beneficial Ownership of securities representing more than 50% of the total voting power in such Person or held by such group or (y) participate, through a plan or arrangement between the Excluded Holders and such Person or group of Persons, as “roll-over” equity investors in respect of which such Excluded Holders directly or indirectly receive or retain Beneficial Ownership of rights or securities representing more than 10% of the economic interests in OpCo (or its successor) following such event.

“Future Exchange” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, an amount, not less than zero, equal to the liability for Taxes of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer and (ii) without duplication, OpCo and its Subsidiaries, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on OpCo and its Subsidiaries and allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is the parent, in each case determined using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used in computing the Actual Tax Liability, but, in each case, (a) calculating depreciation, amortization or similar deductions and income, gain or loss using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule including amendments thereto for the Taxable Year, (b) without taking into account any Blocker NOLs, and (c) excluding any deduction attributable to any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this Agreement for the Taxable Year.

 

-6-

For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined: (i) without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to a Tax Attribute, as applicable, and (ii) using the Assumed Rate solely for purposes of calculating the U.S. state and local Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporate Taxpayer.

“Imputed Interest” in respect of a TRA Party shall mean any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state or local tax law with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations in respect of such TRA Party under this Agreement.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“LLC Agreement” means, with respect to OpCo, the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo, dated on or about the date hereof, as amended from time to time.

“Market Value” shall mean on any date, (a) if the Class A Shares trade on a national securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, the Class A Shares 5-Day VWAP or (b) if the Class A Shares are not then traded on a national securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, as applicable, the “Appraiser FMV” (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) on such date of one (1) Class A Share that would be obtained in an arms-length transaction between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to buy or sell, respectively, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller.

“Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis” means with respect to any Reference Asset at any time, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Exchange Basis Adjustments had been made.

“OpCo PIU” means Units of OpCo, which are “profits interests” (as described in IRS Revenue Procedure 93-27 and IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-43) in OpCo.

“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

-7-

“Pre-Exchange Transfer” means any transfer (including upon the death of a holder of Units) or distribution in respect of one or more Units (a) that occurs after the Closing Date but prior to a Future Exchange of such Units, and (b) to which Section 743(b) or 734(b) of the Code applies.

“Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination, provided that the Corporate Taxpayer may set aside any payment hereunder and defer payment thereof to any TRA Party (only to the extent of the reasonably expected reduction in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, as applicable) until such Determination or a Determination with respect to any Realized Tax Detriment if in the reasonable discretion of the Corporate Taxpayer the full amount of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, as applicable, is not expected to be so realized as a result of such audit. Any such deferred payments shall bear interest at the Agreed Rate.

“Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

“Reference Asset” means an asset that is held by OpCo, or by any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries treated as a partnership or disregarded entity (but only if such indirect Subsidiaries are held only through Subsidiaries treated as partnerships or disregarded entities) for purposes of the applicable tax, at the time of a Future Exchange or the Blocker Mergers, as applicable. A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, for purposes of the applicable tax, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

“Schedule” means any of the following: (a) a Basis Schedule, (b) a Tax Benefit Schedule, or (c) the Early Termination Schedule, and, in each case, any amendments thereto.

“SOFR” means with respect to any day, a rate per annum equal to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website. In no event will SOFR plus an applicable margin be less than 0% (for example, SOFR with respect to the Early Termination Rate shall not be less than (-4%)).

“Stock Exchange Payment” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

“Subsidiary Stock” means any stock or other equity interest in any subsidiary entity of OpCo that is treated as a C corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

-8-

“Tax Attributes” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“Tax Benefit Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Taxes.

“Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state, local or foreign tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the Closing Date.

“Taxes” means any and all United States federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, whether as an exclusive or an alternative basis, and including franchise taxes that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, and any interest, penalties, or additions related to such amounts or imposed in respect thereof under applicable law.

“Taxing Authority” shall mean any domestic, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising tax regulatory authority.

“TRA Party Representative” means, initially, Rory Riggs, and thereafter, if Rory Riggs becomes unable to perform the TRA Party Representative’s responsibilities hereunder or resigns from such position, either (i) a replacement TRA Party Representative selected by Rory Riggs at or prior to the time of such inability or resignation, or (ii) if Rory Riggs has not selected a replacement TRA Party Representative at or prior to the time of such inability or resignation, that TRA Party or a committee of TRA Parties determined from time to time by a plurality vote of the TRA Parties ratably in accordance with their right to receive Early Termination Payments under this Agreement determined as if all TRA Parties directly holding Units had fully exchanged their Units for Class A Shares or other consideration and the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Future Exchange; provided, however, that if the TRA Parties fail to appoint a TRA Party Representative within ninety (90) days of the Corporate Taxpayer’s request in writing to do so, the TRA Party having the right to receive the largest Early Termination Payment (in accordance with this sentence) shall be the TRA Party Representative.

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

“Trading Market” means the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other principal United States securities exchange on which Class A Shares are listed, quoted or admitted to trading.

 

-9-

“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

“Units” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Valuation Assumptions” shall mean, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, (a) the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the tax items arising from the Tax Attributes (other than any items addressed in clause (b)) during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, deductions and other tax items arising from Tax Attributes that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming that such applicable future payments would be paid on the due date (including extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Tax Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available, (b) any Blocker NOLs and loss carryovers generated by deductions arising from any Tax Attributes, which Blocker NOLs and/or loss carryovers are available in the Taxable Year that includes such Early Termination Date, will be used by the Corporate Taxpayer on a pro rata basis from the Early Termination Date through (A) the scheduled expiration date of such Blocker NOLs and/or loss carryovers (if any) or (B) if there is no such scheduled expiration date, then the 15th year anniversary of the Early Termination Date, (c) the United States federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, the Assumed Rate will be calculated based on such rates and the apportionment factors applicable in the most recently ended Taxable Year, in each case, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year has already been enacted into law as of the Early Termination Date, and SOFR that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be the rate in effect on the Early Termination Date, (d) any non-amortizable, non-depreciable Reference Assets (other than any Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the fifteenth anniversary of a Future Exchange which gave rise to the applicable Exchange Basis Adjustment and any short-term investments will be disposed of 12 months following the Early Termination Date; provided that, in the event of a Change of Control, such non-amortizable, non-depreciable assets shall be deemed disposed of at the time of sale of the relevant asset (if earlier than such fifteenth anniversary), (e) any Subsidiary Stock will never be disposed of and (f) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been exchanged, then each such Unit is exchanged in a fully taxable transaction for the Market Value of the Class A Shares that would be transferred if the Future Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date.

“VWAP” means the daily per share volume-weighted average price of Class A Shares on the Trading Market, as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on the Bloomberg page designated for Class A Shares (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on such Trading Day until the close of trading on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, (a) the per share volume-weighted average price of a Class A Share on such Trading Day (determined without regard to afterhours trading or any other trading outside the regular trading session or trading hours), or (b) if such determination is not feasible, the market price per Class A Share, in either case as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained in good faith for this purpose by the Corporate Taxpayer).

 

-10-

Glossary of Defined Terms		Section
Acquired Units		Section 1.1
Actual Tax Liability		Section 1.1
Affiliate		Section 1.1
Agreed Rate		Section 1.1
Agreement		Recital
Amended Schedule		Section 2.3(b)
Assumed Rate		Section 1.1
Attributable		Section 1.1
Basis Schedule		Section 2.1
Beneficially Owned		Section 1.1
Beneficial Owner		Section 1.1
Beneficial Ownership		Section 1.1
Blocker		Section 1.1
Blocker Mergers		Recital
Blocker NOLs		Section 1.1
Blocker Shareholder		Section 1.1
Blocker Stock		Section 1.1
Board		Section 1.1
Business Day		Section 1.1
Cash Exchange Payment		Section 1.1
Change of Control		Section 1.1
Class A Shares		Recital
Closing Date		Section 1.1
Company Merger		Recital
Control		Section 1.1
Corporate Taxpayer		Recital
Corporate Taxpayer Return		Section 1.1
Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit		Section 1.1
Default Cap		Section 3.1(a)
Default Rate		Section 1.1
Determination		Section 1.1
Direct Exchange		Recital
Early Termination Date		Section 1.1
Early Termination Effective Date		Section 4.2
Early Termination Notice		Section 4.2
Early Termination Payment		Section 4.3(b)
Early Termination Rate		Section 1.1
Early Termination Schedule		Section 4.2
Exchange Agreement		Recital
Exchange Basis Adjustment		Section 1.1
Exchange Date		Section 1.1
Expert		Section 7.9
Future Exchange		Recital

 

-11-

Glossary of Defined Terms		Section
Hypothetical Tax Liability		Section 1.1
Imputed Interest		Section 1.1
Interest Amount		Section 3.1(b)
IRS		Section 1.1
Joinder Requirement		Section 7.6(a)
LIBOR		Section 1.1
Liquidity Exceptions		Section 4.1(b)
LLC Agreement		Section 1.1
Mandatory Assignment		Section 7.6(c)
Market Value		Section 1.1
Material Objection Notice		Section 4.2
Material Payment Default		Section 4.1(b)
Merger Agreement		Recital
Net Tax Benefit		Section 3.1(b)
Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis		Section 1.1
Non-TRA Portion		Section 2.2(b)
Objection Notice		Section 2.3(a)
OpCo		Recital
Opco Merger Sub		Recital
OpCo PIU		Section 1.1
Other Tax Receivable Obligations		Section 3.3(c)
Payment Date		Section 1.1
Permitted Transferee		Section 1.1
Person		Section 1.1
Pre-Exchange Transfer		Section 1.1
Realized Tax Benefit		Section 1.1
Realized Tax Detriment		Section 1.1
Reconciliation Dispute		Section 7.9
Reconciliation Procedures		Section 2.3(a)
Reference Asset		Section 1.1
Schedule		Section 1.1
Senior Obligations		Section 5.1
SOFR		Section 1.1
Section 754 Election		Recital
Stock Exchange Payment		Section 1.1
Subsidiaries		Section 1.1
Subsidiary Stock		Section 1.1
Taxable Year		Section 1.1
Tax Attributes		Recital
Tax Benefit Payment		Section 1.1
Tax Benefit Schedule		Section 2.2(a)
Taxes		Section 1.1
Taxing Authority		Section 1.1
Tax Return		Section 1.1
TRA Parties		Recital

 

-12-

Glossary of Defined Terms		Section
TRA Party Representative		Section 1.1
TRA Portion		Section 2.2(b)
Treasury Regulations		Section 1.1
Units		Section 1.1
Valuation Assumptions		Section 1.1

ARTICLE II

DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

Section 2.1 Exchange Basis Adjustment. Within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the filing of the United States federal income tax return of the Corporate Taxpayer for the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date and each Taxable Year thereafter while this Agreement (or any amended and/or restated version thereof) remains in effect, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each TRA Party who received (or is deemed to receive) cash or Class A Shares in such Taxable Year pursuant to a Future Exchange, as applicable, and, with respect to the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date, to each Blocker Shareholder, a schedule (the “Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, (a) the actual tax basis and the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis of the Reference Assets as of the Closing Date or the applicable Exchange Date (as applicable) occurring during such Taxable Year, (b) the Exchange Basis Adjustment with respect to the Reference Assets Attributable to such TRA Party as a result of the Future Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year and prior Taxable Years by such TRA Party, calculated in the aggregate, (c) the Blocker NOLs Attributable to such TRA Party for the Taxable Year of the Closing, if any, (d) the period (or periods) over which the Reference Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable and (e) the period (or periods) over which each Exchange Basis Adjustment in respect of such TRA Party is amortizable and/or depreciable, in each case, with respect to schedules provide to the TRA Party Representative calculated in the aggregate for all TRA Parties and with respect to schedules provided to a TRA Party, calculated with respect to the TRA Party to which such Basis Schedule is delivered. Each TRA Party shall bear no costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision and preparation of the Basis Schedules and Tax Benefit Schedules for each TRA Party in compliance with this Agreement, as well as the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b), if applicable. Each Basis Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).

Section 2.2 Tax Benefit Schedule.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after the filing of the United States federal income tax return of the Corporate Taxpayer for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment Attributable to a TRA Party, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to such TRA Party a schedule showing, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, the calculation of the Tax Benefit Payment (and any Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment) or the lack of a Tax Benefit Payment (and any Realized Tax Detriment), as applicable, Attributable to such TRA Party for such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”). Each Tax Benefit Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).

 

 

-13-

(b) Applicable Principles. Subject to Section 3.3(a), the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year attributable to the Tax Attributes, determined using a “with and without” methodology. For the avoidance of doubt, the Actual Tax Liability will take into account the deduction of the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment that must be accounted for as interest under the Code based upon the characterization of Tax Benefit Payments as additional consideration payable by the Corporate Taxpayer for the Units acquired in a Future Exchange or Blocker Merger. Carryovers or carrybacks of any Tax item attributable to the Tax Attributes shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of United States state and local and foreign income and franchise tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any tax item includes a portion that is attributable to any Tax Attribute (“TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not (“Non-TRA Portion”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized, to the extent available, prior to the amount of any TRA Portion, to the extent available (with the TRA Portion being applied on a proportionate basis consistent with the provisions of Section 3.3). The parties agree that (i) all Tax Benefit Payments (other than Imputed Interest) made to TRA Parties that exchanged shares of a Blocker for Class A Shares of the Corporate Taxpayer in a Blocker Merger will be treated as non-qualifying property or money received in the Blocker Merger for purposes of Sections 356 of the Code, (ii) all Tax Benefit Payments (other than the portion of Tax Benefit Payments treated as Imputed Interest) made to transferors in a Future Exchange will be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that have the effect of creating additional Exchange Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the Taxable Year of payment, (iii) as a result, such additional Exchange Basis Adjustments described in clause (ii) will be incorporated into the calculation for the Taxable Year of the applicable payment and into the calculations for subsequent Taxable Years, as appropriate, (iv) the Actual Tax Liability shall take into account the deduction of the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment that must be accounted for as Imputed Interest under applicable law and (v) the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer and the amount of taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes as determined for purposes of calculating the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall include, without duplication, such U.S. federal income liability for Taxes and such U.S. federal taxable income that is economically borne by or allocated to the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of the provisions of Sections 5.06 and 5.07 of the LLC Agreement; provided, however, that such liability for Taxes and such taxable income shall be included in the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability subject to the adjustments and assumptions set forth in the definitions thereof and, to the extent any such amount is taken into account on an Amended Schedule, such amount shall adjust a Tax Benefit Payment, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.3(b).

(c) Administrative Assumptions.

 

-14-

For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to make reasonable simplifying assumptions in making determinations contemplated by this Agreement, including reasonable assumptions regarding basis recovery periods based on available balance sheet information (and the parties hereby agree that that the Corporate Taxpayer’s determination of the Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment with respect to U.S. state and local Taxes may or may not take into account jurisdiction-specific U.S. state and local adjustments to the U.S. federal taxable income base or to the U.S. federal rules regarding the utilization of tax attribute carryovers based on the administrative burden of such calculation, as reasonably determined by the Corporate Taxpayer after consultation with its accounting and tax advisors and the TRA Party Representative). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to the extent the Corporate Taxpayer reasonably determines (in consultation with its accounting and tax advisors and the TRA Party Representative) that the administrative burden and costs associated with calculating the Tax Attributes with respect to any subsidiary of OpCo would materially outweigh the Tax Benefit Payment attributable to such Tax Attributes, the Corporate Taxpayer shall be permitted to determine that such Tax Attributes shall not be treated as Tax Attributes for all purposes of this Agreement.

Section 2.3 Procedures, Amendments.

(a) Procedure. Every time the Corporate Taxpayer delivers to a TRA Party an applicable Schedule under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.3(b), and any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule, the Corporate Taxpayer shall also (x) deliver to such TRA Party supporting schedules, valuation reports, if any, and work papers, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer or reasonably requested by such TRA Party, providing reasonable detail regarding data and calculations that were relevant for the preparation of the Schedule, and (y) allow the TRA Party Representative and its advisors reasonable access to the appropriate representatives at the Corporate Taxpayer or its advisors, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer, at the relevant accounting firm that prepared the applicable Schedule, if applicable, in connection with the review of such Schedule. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporate Taxpayer shall ensure that each Tax Benefit Schedule or Early Termination Schedule delivered to a TRA Party, together with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability (the “with” calculation), the Hypothetical Tax Liability (the “without” calculation), and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations. An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which all relevant TRA Parties are treated as having received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1 unless the TRA Party Representative (i) within thirty (30) calendar days from such date provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of an objection to such Schedule or amendment setting forth in reasonable detail the basis of such objection (“Objection Notice”) or (ii) provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto shall become binding on the date such waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of an Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall employ the reconciliation procedures described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “Reconciliation Procedures”). The TRA Party Representative will represent the interests of each of the TRA Parties and shall raise and pursue, in accordance with this Section 2.3(a), any objection to a Schedule or amendment thereto timely given in writing to the TRA Party Representative by a TRA Party unless the TRA Party Representative determines in its sole discretion that such objection is unlikely to be accepted.

 

-15-

(b) Amended Schedule. The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule, including those identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to a TRA Party, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year, or (vi) to adjust an applicable Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to each TRA Party within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence. In the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a) or, if applicable, Section 7.9, (A) the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs, and (B) as a result of the foregoing, any increase of the Net Tax Benefit attributable to an Amended Schedule shall accrue the Interest Amount (or any other interest hereunder) after the due date (without extensions) for filing the United States federal income tax return of the Corporate Taxpayer for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

Section 2.4 Tax Classifications; Elections.

(a) Exchange Basis Adjustments. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree to treat (A) to the fullest extent permitted by law each Direct Exchange as giving rise to Exchange Basis Adjustments and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law each other Future Exchange using cash or Class A Shares contributed to OpCo by the Corporate Taxpayer as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporate Taxpayer from the applicable TRA Party pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code and as giving rise to Exchange Basis Adjustments.

(b) Section 754 Election. For the Taxable Year that includes the date hereof and for each Taxable Year in which a Future Exchange occurs and with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer has obligations under this Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer, in its capacity as the sole managing member of OpCo, shall ensure that OpCo and each of OpCo’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes (but only if such indirect Subsidiaries are held only through Subsidiaries treated as partnerships or disregarded entities) have in effect (and with respect to any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned, OpCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Subsidiary to have in effect) an election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for each such Taxable Year to the extent eligible to make such election.

 

-16-

ARTICLE III

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Section 3.1 Payments.

(a) Payments. Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Schedule delivered to a TRA Party becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a), or, if applicable, Section 7.9, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay such TRA Party for such Taxable Year the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) that is Attributable to such TRA Party. Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such TRA Party to the Corporate Taxpayer or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Party. The payments provided for pursuant to the above sentence shall be computed separately for each TRA Party. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated tax payments, including federal estimated income tax payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to each Future Exchange by or with respect to any TRA Party, if such TRA Party notifies the Corporate Taxpayer in writing of a stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 15A.453-1(c)(2)), then the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to such TRA Party in respect of such Future Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed such stated maximum selling price.

(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” in respect of a TRA Party for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Party and the Interest Amount with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Interest Amount shall not be treated as interest (to the extent permitted by applicable law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) but instead shall be treated as additional consideration for the applicable Blocker Merger or Future Exchange, unless otherwise required by law. Subject to Section 3.3(a), the “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of eighty-five percent (85%) of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year, over the total amount of payments previously made under the first sentence of Section 3.1(a) (excluding payments attributable to Interest Amounts); provided that if there is no such excess (or a deficit exists) no TRA Party shall be required to make a payment (or return a payment) to the Corporate Taxpayer in respect of any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Party. The “Interest Amount” shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return with respect to Taxes for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date under Section 3.1(a). The Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount shall be determined separately with respect to each Blocker Merger and each Future Exchange. The Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount with respect to each Future Exchange shall be determined on a Unit by Unit basis by reference to the resulting Exchange Basis Adjustment to the Corporate Taxpayer.

Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will result in the payments specified in Section 3.1 being made to the TRA Parties and will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to ensure such intentions are realized.

 

-17-

Section 3.3 Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits With Other Tax Receivable Agreements.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate Realized Tax Benefit of the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to the Tax Attributes is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income, the Net Tax Benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall be allocated among all TRA Parties eligible for Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement in proportion to the respective amounts of Net Tax Benefit that would have been allocated to each such TRA Party if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income so that there were no such limitation.

(b) If for any reason (including as contemplated by Section 3.3(a)) the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Parties agree that (i) Tax Benefit Payments for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to all parties eligible for Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement in proportion to the relative amounts of Tax Benefit Payments that would have been allocable to each TRA Party if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient cash available to make such Tax Benefit Payments and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any subsequent Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

(c) Any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by the Corporate Taxpayer to the TRA Parties under this Agreement shall rank senior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any similar agreement (“Other Tax Receivable Obligations”). The effect of any other similar agreement shall not be taken into account in respect of any calculations made hereunder.

Section 3.4 Overpayments. To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Party in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Party in respect of such Taxable Year (taking into account Section 3.3) under the terms of this Agreement, then such TRA Party shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Party has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess. For clarity, the operation of this Section 3.4 with respect to any particular TRA Party shall not affect the rights or obligations of any other TRA Party under this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

TERMINATION

Section 4.1 Early Termination and Breach of Agreement.

(a) The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement with respect to all amounts payable to the TRA Parties and with respect to all of the Units held by the TRA Parties at any time by paying to each TRA Party the Early Termination Payment in respect of such TRA Party; provided, however, that this Agreement shall only terminate upon the receipt of the entire Early Termination Payment by all TRA Parties and payments described in the next sentence, if any and provided further that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.

 

-18-

Upon payment of the entire Early Termination Payment by the Corporate Taxpayer to all of the TRA Parties, none of the TRA Parties or the Corporate Taxpayer shall have any further payment rights or obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (i) Tax Benefit Payment due and payable that remains unpaid as of the Early Termination Date and as of the date of payment of the Early Termination Payment and (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to, ending with or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (i) or this clause (ii) are included in the Early Termination Payment). If a Future Exchange occurs after the Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Future Exchange other than the obligations under this Section 4.1.

(b) In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer (1) materially breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code (or other similar law), all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but not be limited to, (i) the Early Termination Payments calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach, (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of a TRA Party agreed to by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Party as due and payable but unpaid as of the date of such breach, and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of any TRA Party due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to, with or including the date of such breach (except to the extent included in clause (i) or clause (ii)); provided, that procedures similar to the procedures of Section 4.3(b) shall apply with respect to the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches a material obligation under this Agreement (and, in the case of a breach of a material obligation other than a Material Payment Default, does not cure such breach reasonably promptly upon written notice thereof), each TRA Party shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof. The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement on the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement if the TRA Party Representative provides written notice of breach of a material obligation to the Corporate Taxpayer and such breach has not been remedied within three (3) months of the date of such notice (such breach, a “Material Payment Default”), and that it will not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer (x) has insufficient funds, or cannot make such payment as a result of obligations imposed in connection with any Senior Obligations, and cannot take commercially reasonable actions to obtain sufficient funds, to make such payment or (y) would become insolvent as a result of making such payment (in each case, as determined by the Board in good faith) (clause (x) and this clause (y) together, the “Liquidity Exceptions”); provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment and any such payment obligation shall nonetheless accrue for the benefit of the TRA Parties and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payment at the first opportunity that the Liquidity Exceptions do not apply, and provided, further, that if the Liquidity Exceptions apply and the Corporate Taxpayer declares or pays any dividend of cash to its shareholders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable and remains unpaid, then the Liquidity Exceptions shall no longer apply.

 

-19-

In the case of a breach of a material obligation other than a Material Payment Default, the Corporate Taxpayer will not be considered to have breached such obligation for purposes of this Section 4.1(b) until the Corporate Taxpayer shall have been provided by the TRA Party Representative a written notice of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such breach and shall have failed to cure such breach.

(c) In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder will be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such Change of Control and shall include, without duplication, (1) the Early Termination Payments calculated with respect to the TRA Parties as if the Early Termination Date is the date of such Change of Control, (2) any Tax Benefit Payment due and payable and that remains unpaid as of the date of such Change of Control, and (3) any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of any TRA Party due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to, with or including the date of such Change of Control (except to the extent included in clause (1) or clause (2)). In the event of a Change of Control, (i) the TRA Parties shall be entitled to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the preceding sentence, (ii) any Early Termination Payment described in the preceding sentence shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions by substituting the phrase “date of a Change of Control” in each place “Early Termination Date” appears and (iii) Section 4.2 and Section 4.3 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with respect to payments to the TRA Parties upon the Change of Control. Upon payment by the Corporate Taxpayer of the full amount prescribed by this Section 4.1(c) pursuant to a Change of Control, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no further payment obligations under this Agreement.

Section 4.2 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination in accordance with Section 4.1(a) above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each TRA Party a notice (the “Early Termination Notice”) and a schedule (the “Early Termination Schedule”) specifying the Corporate Taxpayer’s intention to exercise such right and showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment(s) due for each TRA Party. Each Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all TRA Parties are treated as having received such Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1 unless, prior to such thirtieth calendar day, the TRA Party Representative (a) provides the Corporate Taxpayer with written notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such objection (“Material Objection Notice”) or (b) provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice, in which case such Schedule will become binding on the date the waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer (the “Early Termination Effective Date”). If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures in which case such Schedule shall become binding in accordance with Section 7.9.

Section 4.3 Payment upon Early Termination.

(a) Within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Party an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment in respect of such TRA Party. Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by each TRA Party or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Party.

 

-20-

(b) “Early Termination Payment” in respect of a TRA Party shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the applicable Early Termination Effective Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of such TRA Party that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that (i) the Valuation Assumptions in respect of such TRA Party are applied, (ii) for each Taxable Year, the Tax Benefit Payment is paid on the last day of such Taxable Year and (iii) for purposes of calculating the Early Termination Rate, SOFR shall be SOFR as of the date of the Early Termination Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, an Early Termination Payment shall be made to each applicable TRA Party regardless of whether such TRA Party has exchanged all of its Units as of the Early Termination Effective Date.

ARTICLE V

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

Section 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by the Corporate Taxpayer to the TRA Parties under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries (“Senior Obligations”), shall rank senior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any Other Tax Receivable Obligation, and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations or Other Tax Receivable Obligations. To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of TRA Parties and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations and Section 5.2 shall apply to such payment. To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries (including OpCo and its Subsidiaries) incur, create or assume any Senior Obligations after the date hereof, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to not, agree to any provision that restricts in any material respect the amounts payable hereunder if a principal purpose of the Corporate Taxpayer agreeing to such provision is to circumvent the payment of amounts payable hereunder.

Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the TRA Parties when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was due and payable.

 

-21-

ARTICLE VI

NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and OpCo’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo, including the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer shall notify the TRA Party Representative in writing of the commencement of, and keep the TRA Party Representative reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit of the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo or any of OpCo’s Subsidiaries by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to significantly and adversely affect the rights and obligations of a TRA Party under this Agreement, and shall provide to the TRA Party Representative (at its sole cost and expense) reasonable opportunity to participate in or provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit; provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo shall not be required to take any action requested by the TRA Party Representative that is inconsistent with any provision of the LLC Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

Section 6.2 Consistency. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Parties agree to report and cause their respective Affiliates to report for all purposes, including United States federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all tax-related items (including the Exchange Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that set forth in this Agreement or specified by the Corporate Taxpayer in any Schedule (or Amended Schedule, as applicable) required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement that is final and binding on the parties unless otherwise required by law. The Corporate Taxpayer shall (and shall cause OpCo and its other Subsidiaries to) use commercially reasonable efforts (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account the interests and entitlements of all TRA Parties under this Agreement) to defend the tax treatment contemplated by this Agreement and any Schedule (or Amended Schedule, as applicable) in any audit, contest or similar proceeding with any Taxing Authority.

Section 6.3 Cooperation. Each of the TRA Parties shall (a) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (b) make itself available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (a) above, and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse each such TRA Party for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section (excluding any costs or expenses which OpCo is obligated to bear pursuant to the LLC Agreement or the Merger Agreement) .

 

-22-

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile or email with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

If to the Corporate Taxpayer, to:

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD, Chief Financial

Officer

E-mail: [***] and [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121-3134

Attention: Cameron A. Reese

E-mail: [***]

and

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Stuart Leblang and Jonathan Pavlich

Email: [***] and [***]

If to the TRA Parties, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of OpCo from time to time.

Any party may change its address, fax number or email by giving the other party written notice of its new address, fax number or email in the manner set forth above.

Section 7.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement. No party shall raise the use of e-mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of e-mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each party forever waives any such defense.

 

-23-

Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (together with all Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement), the Merger Agreement (together with the transaction documents contemplated thereby), the LLC Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 7.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

Section 7.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

Section 7.6 Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers.

(a) Each TRA Party may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to any Person as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer (the “Joinder Requirement”), agreeing to become a TRA Party for all purposes of this Agreement. If any TRA Party sells, exchanges, distributes, or otherwise transfers Units to any Person (other than the Corporate Taxpayer or the OpCo) in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and/or LLC Agreement, such TRA Party shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units; provided, further, that such transferee has satisfied the Joinder Requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Party transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and/or LLC Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Party shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Future Exchange of such Units and such transferee may not enforce the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, an assignee of only rights to receive a Tax Benefit Payment in connection with a Future Exchange has no rights under this Agreement other than to enforce its right to receive a Tax Benefit Payment pursuant to this Agreement. The Corporate Taxpayer may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person (other than in connection with a Mandatory Assignment) without the prior written consent of the TRA Party Representative (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

-24-

Any purported assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 7.6 shall be null and void. The implementation of this Section 7.6(a) is intended to be a “book entry system” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c), and this Section 7.6(a) shall be interpreted consistently therewith, so that rights under this Agreement are at all times maintained in “registered form” for purposes of the Code and Treasury Regulations. The Corporate Taxpayer shall maintain a register of any Person entitled to payments under this Agreement, and no Person shall be entitled to any payment under this Agreement unless such Person’s name appears on such register.

(b) No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by the Corporate Taxpayer and by the TRA Party Representative and no provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective (or, in the case of a waiver by all TRA Parties, signed by the TRA Party Representative); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall be effective if such amendment or waiver will have a disproportionate and adverse effect on the payments certain TRA Parties will or may receive under this Agreement unless such amendment or waiver is consented in writing by the TRA Parties disproportionately and adversely affected who would be entitled to receive at least majority of the total amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Parties disproportionately and adversely affected hereunder if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Future Exchange prior to such amendment or waiver (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Party pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Future Exchange).

(c) All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporate Taxpayer shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place (any such assignment, a “Mandatory Assignment”).

Section 7.7 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

Section 7.8 Waiver of Jury Trial, Jurisdiction.

(a) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER.

 

-25-

THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

(b) Subject to Section 7.9, each of the parties submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of first, the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware or if such court declines jurisdiction, then to the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, agrees that all claims in respect of such action, suit or proceeding shall be heard and determined in any such court and agrees not to bring any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other courts. Nothing in this Section 7.8, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or at equity. Each party agrees that a final judgment in any action, suit or proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law or at equity. The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in this Section 7.8 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

Section 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the matters (x) governed by Section 2.3 and 4.2 or (y) described in the definition of “SOFR” within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “Expert”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both parties. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative agree in writing otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Party Representative, any relevant TRA Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the TRA Party Representative’s position, in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the TRA Party Representative for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position, in which case the TRA Party Representative shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding.

 

-26-

Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.9 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and each of the TRA Parties and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

Section 7.10 Withholding. The Corporate Taxpayer and its agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law; provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify and shall reasonably cooperate with the applicable TRA Party prior to the making of such deductions and withholding payments to determine whether any such deductions or withholding payments (other than any deduction or withholding required by reason of such TRA Party’s failure to comply with the last sentence of this Section 7.10) are required under applicable law and in obtaining any available exemption or reduction of, or otherwise minimizing to the extent permitted by applicable law, such deduction and withholding. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such withholding was made. Each TRA Party shall promptly provide the Corporate Taxpayer with any applicable tax forms and certifications (including IRS Form W-9 or the applicable version of IRS Form W-8) reasonably requested by the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law.

Section 7.11 Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

(a) If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of corporations that files a consolidated, combined or unitary income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign tax law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated, combined or unitary taxable income of the group as a whole.

(b) If any Person the income of which is included in the income of the Corporate Taxpayer or the Corporate Taxpayer’s affiliated or consolidated group transfers one or more Reference Assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign tax law and which such entity’s income is not included in the income of the Corporate Taxpayer or the Corporate Taxpayer’s affiliated or consolidated group, such Person, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer.

 

-27-

The consideration deemed to be received in a transaction contemplated in the prior sentence shall be equal to the fair market value of the deemed transferred asset (as determined by an independent expert mutually agreed upon by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative, unless such condition is waived by the TRA Party Representative) on a gross basis, i.e., disregarding (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest. The transactions described in this Section 7.11(b) shall be taken into account in determining the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, as applicable, for such Taxable Year based on the income, gain or loss deemed allocated to the Corporate Taxpayer using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis of the Reference Assets in calculating its Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year and using the actual tax basis of the Reference Assets in calculating its Actual Tax Liability, determined using the “with and without” methodology. Thus, for example, in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporate Taxpayer the taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer shall be determined by treating OpCo as having sold the applicable Reference Asset for its fair market value, recovering any basis applicable to such Reference Asset (using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis), while the Actual Tax Liability of the Corporate Taxpayer would be determined by recovering the actual tax basis of the Reference Asset that reflects any Exchange Basis Adjustments. For purposes of this Section 7.11, a transfer of a partnership interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Unit) or an election by any Person the income of which is included in the income of Corporate Taxpayer to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (or other applicable provisions of state and local and non-U.S. tax laws) shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

Section 7.12 Confidentiality.

(a) Each TRA Party and each of their respective assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in confidence in accordance with this Agreement, and not disclose to any Person, any confidential matters acquired pursuant to this Agreement of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning OpCo and its Affiliates and successors or the holders of Units, learned by the TRA Party heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the TRA Party in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for the TRA Party to assert its rights hereunder or defend itself in connection with any action or proceeding arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement, (iii) any information that was in the possession of, or becomes available to, the TRA Party from a source other than the Corporate Taxpayer, its Affiliates or its or their respective representatives (provided that such source is not known by the TRA Party to be bound by a legal, contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligation not to disclose such information) and (iv) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for the TRA Party to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any governmental or taxing authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any governmental or taxing authority with respect to such returns.

 

-28-

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each TRA Party and each of their assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of the TRA Party or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the TRA Party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(b) If a TRA Party or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to seek to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates and that money damages alone will not provide an adequate remedy. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

Section 7.13 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Party reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by the TRA Party upon any Future Exchange by such TRA Party to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for United States federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Party, then at the election of such TRA Party and to the extent specified by such TRA Party, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to such TRA Party, (ii) shall not apply to a Future Exchange by such TRA Party occurring after a date specified by such TRA Party, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Party; provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

Section 7.14 Independent Nature of TRA Parties’ Rights and Obligations. The obligations of each TRA Party hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other TRA Party, and no TRA Party shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other TRA Party hereunder. The decision of each TRA Party to enter into this Agreement has been made by such TRA Party independently of any other TRA Party. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any TRA Party pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Parties as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Parties are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporate Taxpayer acknowledges that the TRA Parties are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporate Taxpayer will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

-29-

Section 7.15 TRA Party Representative.

(a) Without further action of any of the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Party Representative or any TRA Party, and as partial consideration in respect of the benefits conferred by this Agreement, the TRA Party Representative is hereby irrevocably constituted and appointed as the TRA Party Representative, with full power of substitution, to take any and all actions and make any decisions required or permitted to be taken by the TRA Party Representative under this Agreement. The TRA Party Representative agrees that with respect to any material notice, information or other communication it receives from the Corporate Taxpayer in its capacity as a TRA Party Representative, it will promptly share such notice, information or communication with each TRA Party.

(b) If at any time the TRA Party Representative shall incur out of pocket expenses in connection with the exercise of its duties hereunder, upon written notice to the Corporate Taxpayer from the TRA Party Representative of documented costs and expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants) incurred by the TRA Party Representative in connection with the performance of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and the taking of any and all actions in connection therewith, the Corporate Taxpayer shall reduce the future payments (if any) due to the TRA Parties hereunder pro rata by the amount of such expenses which it shall instead remit directly to the TRA Party Representative (provided that, for applicable tax purposes, such amounts will be deemed to be distributed first to the TRA Parties and then paid over to the TRA Party Representative by the TRA Parties). In connection with the performance of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the taking of any and all actions in connection therewith, the TRA Party Representative shall not be required to expend any of its own funds (though, for the avoidance of doubt but without limiting the provisions of this Section 7.15(b), it may do so at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion).

(c) The TRA Party Representative shall not be liable to any TRA Party for any act of the TRA Party Representative arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Agreement, except to the extent any liability, loss, damage, penalty, fine, cost or expense is actually incurred by such TRA Party as a proximate result of the bad faith or willful misconduct of the TRA Party Representative (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of legal counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith judgment). The TRA Party Representative shall not be liable for, and shall be indemnified by the TRA Parties (on a several but not joint basis) for, any liability, loss, damage, penalty or fine incurred by the TRA Party Representative (and any cost or expense incurred by the TRA Party Representative in connection therewith and herewith and not previously reimbursed pursuant to subsection (b) above) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Agreement, and such liability, loss, damage, penalty, fine, cost or expense shall be treated as an expense subject to reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) above, except to the extent that any such liability, loss, damage, penalty, fine, cost or expense is the proximate result of the bad faith or willful misconduct of the TRA Party Representative (it being understood that any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of legal counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith judgment); provided, however, in no event shall any TRA Party be obligated to indemnify the TRA Party Representative hereunder for any liability, loss, damage, penalty, fine, cost or expense to the extent (and only to the extent) that the aggregate amount of all liabilities, losses, damages, penalties, fines, costs and expenses indemnified by such TRA Party hereunder is or would be in excess of the aggregate payments under this Agreement actually remitted to such TRA Party.

 

-30-

(d) Subject to Section 7.6(b), a decision, act, consent or instruction of the TRA Party Representative shall constitute a decision of all TRA Parties and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each TRA Party, and the Corporate Taxpayer may rely upon any decision, act, consent or instruction of the TRA Party Representative as being the decision, act, consent or instruction of each TRA Party. The Corporate Taxpayer is hereby relieved from any liability to any person for any acts done by the Corporate Taxpayer in accordance with any such decision, act, consent or instruction of the TRA Party Representative.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally blank]

 

-31-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Party Representative and each TRA Party have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Party Representative and each TRA Party have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Party Representative and each TRA Party have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

 

[Signature Page – Tax Receivable Agreement]

Exhibit 10.4

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CIBUS GLOBAL, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company

Dated as of May 31, 2023

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY UNITS OF CIBUS GLOBAL, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT, AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE COMPANY AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, MEMBERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS					3
1.01		Definitions			3
ARTICLE II FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS					13
2.01		Formation			13
2.02		Name			14
2.03		Term			14
2.04		Offices			14
2.05		Agent for Service of Process; Existence and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification			14
2.06		Business Purpose			15
2.07		Powers of the Company			15
2.08		Members; Reclassification; Admission of New Members			15
2.09		Resignation			15
2.10		Representations of Members			15
2.11		Amendment and Restatement of Existing Agreement			17
ARTICLE III MANAGEMENT					17
3.01		Managing Member			17
3.02		Compensation			18
3.03		Expenses			18
3.04		Officers			18
3.05		Authority of Members			19
3.06		Action by Written Consent or Ratification			19
3.07		Investment Company Act Restrictions.			19
3.08		Transactions between the Company and the Managing Member
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS					19
4.01		Distributions			19
4.02		Liquidation Distribution			21
4.03		Limitations on Distribution			22
4.04		Use of Distribution Funds
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS					22
5.01		Initial Capital Contributions			22
5.02		No Additional Capital Contributions			22
5.03		Capital Accounts			22
5.04		Allocations of Profits and Losses			23
5.05		Special Allocations			23
5.06		Tax Allocations			25
5.07		Tax Advances			25

 

-i-

5.08		Partnership Representative			26
5.09		Other Allocation Provisions			28
5.10		Survival			28
5.11		Unitholder Representative Matters			28
ARTICLE VI BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS					28
6.01		Books and Records			28
6.02		Confidentiality			30
ARTICLE VII COMPANY UNITS					31
7.01		Units			31
7.02		Register			33
7.03		Registered Members			33
7.04		Issuances, Repurchases and Redemptions, Recapitalizations			33
ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS					36
8.01		Member Transfers			36
8.02		Purported Transfers Void			37
8.03		Mandatory Exchanges			37
8.04		Encumbrances			38
8.05		Approved Qualified Transaction			38
8.06		Further Restrictions			40
8.07		Rights of Assignees			42
8.08		Admissions, Resignations and Removals			42
8.09		Admission of Assignees as Substitute Members			42
8.10		Resignation and Removal of Members			43
8.11		Withholding			43
8.12		Allocations in Respect of Transferred Units			43
ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION					44
9.01		No Dissolution			44
9.02		Events Causing Dissolution			44
9.03		Distribution upon Dissolution			44
9.04		Time for Liquidation			45
9.05		Termination			45
9.06		Claims of the Members			45
9.07		Survival of Certain Provisions			46
ARTICLE X LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION					46
10.01		Liability of Members			46
10.02		Indemnification			47
10.03		Survival			50
ARTICLE XI VALUATION					50
11.01		Fair Market Value			50
11.02		Determination			50

 

-ii-

ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS					50
12.01		Severability			50
12.02		Notices			50
12.03		Cumulative Remedies			52
12.04		Binding Effect			52
12.05		Interpretation			52
12.06		Counterparts			52
12.07		Further Assurances			52
12.08		Entire Agreement			52
12.09		Governing Law			52
12.10		Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial			52
12.11		Expenses			54
12.12		Amendments and Waivers			54
12.13		No Third Party Beneficiaries			55
12.14		Headings			55
12.15		Power of Attorney			55
12.16		Separate Agreements; Schedules			56
12.17		Partnership Status			56
12.18		Delivery by Facsimile or Email			56

 

-iii-

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF

CIBUS GLOBAL, LLC

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of Cibus Global, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is made as of May 31, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and among Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as the Managing Member of the Company, the Company and the Members set forth on Exhibit A hereto and each other person who is or at any time becomes a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Act (as defined below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company was originally formed as Cibus Global, Ltd., a British Virgin Islands company (in such capacity, “Cibus BVI”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 18-212 of the Delaware Act, and Section 388 of the BVI Business Companies Act, and through the filing of a Certificate of Limited Liability Company Domestication and a Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations (such Certificate of Formation, collectively with each amendment thereto, the “Certificate”), on May 10, 2019 Cibus BVI was continued and/or converted as the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company entered into that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated May 10, 2019, by and between the Company and certain of the Members, as amended by that certain First Amendment to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated August 7, 2019 (together, the “Original Agreement”);

WHEREAS, on June 23, 2021, the Original Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (the “Amended Agreement”);

WHEREAS, on December 2, 2022, in connection with the issuance of certain preferred units, the Amended Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety by that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (the “Existing Agreement”);

 

-1-

WHEREAS, concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 13, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Managing Member; Calypso Merger Subsidiary, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Managing Member (“Merger Subsidiary”); the Company; New Venture I Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 1”); BCGF CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 2”); BCGFCP CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 3”); BCGFK CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 4”); FSBCGF CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 5”); PYLBCG CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 6”); FSGRWCO CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 7”); GROWTHCO CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 8”); GRTHCOCP CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 9”); and GRWTHCOK CB Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Blocker 10” and, collectively with Blocker 1, Blocker 2, Blocker 3, Blocker 4, Blocker 5, Blocker 6, Blocker 7, Blocker 8 and Blocker 9, the “Blockers”): (i) Blocker 1 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 1 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “First Blocker Merger”), (ii) Blocker 2 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 2 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Second Blocker Merger”), (iii) Blocker 3 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 3 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Third Blocker Merger”), (iv) Blocker 4 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 4 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Fourth Blocker Merger”), (v) Blocker 5 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 5 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Fifth Blocker Merger”), (vi) Blocker 6 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 6 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Sixth Blocker Merger”), (vii) Blocker 7 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 7 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Seventh Blocker Merger”), (viii) Blocker 8 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 8 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Eighth Blocker Merger”), (ix) Blocker 9 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 9 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Ninth Blocker Merger”), (x) Blocker 10 merged with and into the Managing Member, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Blocker 10 ceased and the Managing Member became the surviving entity (the “Tenth Blocker Merger” and, collectively with the First Blocker Merger, Second Blocker Merger, Third Blocker Merger, Fourth Blocker Merger, Fifth Blocker Merger, Sixth Blocker Merger, Seventh Blocker Merger, Eighth Blocker Merger, and Ninth Blocker Merger, the “Blocker Mergers”), and (xi) immediately following the Blocker Mergers, the Merger Subsidiary merged with and into the Company, whereupon the separate corporate existence of the Merger Subsidiary ceased and the Company became the surviving entity (the “Company Merger” and together with the Blocker Mergers, the “Mergers”) and continued its existence under the Act and in accordance with this Agreement;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company Merger, each of the Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units, Series C Preferred Units, Series D Preferred Units, Series E Preferred Units, Series F Preferred Units, Voting Common Units and Common Units (as each is defined in the Existing Agreement) outstanding prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement were cancelled and certain of the holders thereof received the number of Common Units set forth opposite such Member’s name on Exhibit A hereto, in each case, in accordance with Section 2.1 of the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the Mergers, the Managing Member repaid the outstanding balance owed to the Company in connection with the Interim Funding through the transfer of a portion of the assets of the Managing Member to the Company and, immediately thereafter, the Managing Member contributed the residual of its assets and liabilities to the Company as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Common Units (the “Managing Member Initial Contribution”) and the Company reduced the outstanding Interim Funding subject to repayment thereafter to zero ($0); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) the Members have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein and (ii) Cibus, Inc., by its execution and delivery of this Agreement, is hereby admitted to the Company as the Managing Member, and shall have the rights and obligations as provided in this Agreement.

 

-2-

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements of the parties set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Members and the Managing Member hereby agree to amend and restate the Existing Agreement to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.01 Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

“Act” means, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.

“Adjusted Capital Account Balance” means, with respect to each Member, the balance in such Member’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), and any amounts such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable Law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person.

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Allocation Schedule” has the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

“Amended Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Approved Qualified Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

“Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.

 

-3-

“Assumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate (including the tax imposed under Section 1411 of the Code on net investment income) for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in California or New York, New York (whichever results in the application of the highest state and local tax rate for a given type of income), and taking into account (a) the limitations imposed on the deductibility of expenses and other items, (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income, and (c) the deductibility of state and local income taxes, to the extent applicable, but not taking into account any deduction under Section 199A of the Code or any similar state or local law), as determined in good faith by the Managing Member. For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate shall be the same for all Members.

“Available Cash” means, as of a particular date, the amount of cash on hand which the Managing Member, in its reasonable discretion, deems available for distribution to the Members, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company then due and amounts that the Managing Member, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Company’s operations.

“Blocker 1” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 10” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 2” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 3” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 4” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 5” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 6” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 7” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 8” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker 9” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blocker Mergers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Blockers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Managing Member.

“Capital Account” means the separate capital account maintained for each Member in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.

 

-4-

“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Company and the initial Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Company upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Company pursuant to Article V.

“Carrying Value” means, with respect to any Company asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Company shall be their respective gross Fair Market Values on the date of contribution as determined by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion, and the Carrying Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective Fair Market Values, in accordance with the rules set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional limited liability company interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the Distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets to a Member as consideration for an interest in the Company; (c) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); (d) in connection with the grant of an interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company by an existing member acting in a partner capacity, or by a new Member acting in a partner capacity in anticipation of being a Member, (e) the acquisition of an interest in the Company upon the exercise of a noncompensatory option in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); (f) on the Effective Date in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or (g) any other date specified in the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b), and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members; and provided further, if any noncompensatory option is outstanding, Carrying Values shall be adjusted in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The Carrying Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted immediately before such Distribution to equal its Fair Market Value. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis. The Carrying Value of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however, that Carrying Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this sentence to the extent that the Managing Member reasonably determines that an adjustment pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) the first sentence of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with the transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this sentence.

“Certificate” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Change of Control” has the meaning given to such term in the Tax Receivable Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any event that constitutes both a Managing Member Offer and a Change of Control of the Managing Member shall be considered a Managing Member Offer for purposes of this Agreement.

 

-5-

“Cibus BVI” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Class” means the classes of Units into which the limited liability company interests in the Company may be classified or divided from time to time by the Managing Member pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, the only Classes are Common Units. Subclasses within a Class shall not be separate Classes for purposes of this Agreement. For all purposes hereunder and under the Act, only such Classes expressly established under this Agreement, including by the Managing Member in accordance with this Agreement, shall be deemed to be a class of limited liability company interests in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Managing Member holds limited liability company interests of any Class, the Managing Member shall not be deemed to hold a separate Class of such interests from any other Member because it is the Managing Member.

“Class A Common Shares” means the shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Managing Member, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Managing Member, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Class A Restricted Common Stock Consideration” means the restricted Class A Common Shares issued pursuant to the Company Plan to holders of Merger Partner PIUs in the Company Merger in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(i)(E)(II) of the Merger Agreement.

“Class B Common Shares” means the shares of the Class B Common Stock of the Managing Member, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock of the Managing Member, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Closing” has the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

“Closing Date” has the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Member, the quotient obtained by dividing the aggregate number of Common Units then owned by such Member by the aggregate number of Common Units then owned by all Members.

“Common Units” means the Units of limited liability company interest in the Company designated as the “Common Units” herein and having the rights pertaining thereto as are set forth in this Agreement.

 

-6-

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Company Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

“Company Plan” means the Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.) 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(a).

“Contingencies” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).

“Control” (including the terms “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 securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

“Conversion” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Covered Transaction” means any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (whether occurring through one transaction or a series of related transactions, and whether voluntary or involuntary) and any other sale, redemption or Transfer of Units.

“Designated Individual” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08(a).

“Distribution” means the transfer of any money or other property to a Member or its Assignee in respect of its Units or other Equity Interests in the Company.

“Drag Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

“Drag-Along Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(b).

“Drag-Along Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

“Eighth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, hypothecation, claim, lien, encumbrance, conditional sales or other title retention agreement, right of first refusal, preemptive right, pledge, option, charge, security interest or other similar interest, easement, judgment or imperfection of title of any nature whatsoever, other than encumbrances arising under applicable securities Laws.

 

-7-

“Equity Interests” means (a) capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests, other equity interests, rights to profits or revenue and any other similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, (b) any security or other interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of some future event and (c) any warrant, option or other right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire any of the foregoing.

“ERISA” means The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

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

“Exchange Agreement” means the exchange agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Company, Managing Member, the other Members of the Company from time to time party thereto, and the other parties thereto, as amended from time to time.

“Exchange Transaction” means an exchange of Common Units and Class B Common Shares for Class A Common Shares of the Managing Member pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement (including pursuant to a Direct Exchange (as defined in the Exchange Agreement)).

“Exempt Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(c).

“Existing Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Fair Market Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.

“Family Group” means, with respect to a Person who is an individual, (a) such Person’s spouse and direct descendants (whether natural or adopted) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, “relatives”), and (b) any trust, the trustee of which is such Person and which at all times is and remains solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

“Fifth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“First Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Fiscal Year” means, unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion in accordance with Section 12.12(b), any twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

“Fourth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.

“Income Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c)(i).

 

-8-

“Indemnitee” means (a) the Managing Member, (b) any additional or substitute Managing Member, (c) any Person who is or was a Partnership Representative, officer or director of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member, (d) any Person that is required to be indemnified by the Managing Member as an “indemnitee” in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws of the Managing Member as in effect from time to time, (e) any officer or director of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member who is or was serving at the request of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member as an officer, director, employee, member, Member, Partnership Representative, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) any Officer, (g) any other Person the Managing Member in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement, (h) any former officer or Manager of the Company pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Merger Agreement and (i) any heir, executor or administrator with respect to Persons named in clauses (a) through (h).

“Interim Funding” has the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

“Issuance Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.05(h).

“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Company or any Member, as the case may be.

“Liquidation Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.

“Liquidity Limitations” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c)(i).

“Managing Member” means Cibus, Inc. (f/k/a Calyxt, Inc.), a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor Managing Member admitted to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in its capacity as the managing member of the Company.

“Managing Member Initial Contribution” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Managing Member Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

“Mandatory Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

“Member” means, at any time, each person listed as a Member (including the Managing Member) on the books and records of the Company, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a Member of the Company as provided hereunder.

“Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

-9-

“Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

“Member’s Required Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c)(i).

“Merger Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Mergers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Merger Partner PIU” has the meaning given to such term in the Merger Agreement.

“Merger Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Ninth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Company for a Fiscal Year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain of the Company during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

“Officer” means each Person designated as an officer of the Company by the Managing Member pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.04, subject to any resolutions of the Managing Member appointing such Person as an officer of the Company or relating to such appointment.

“Original Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Original Member Representative” means Rory Riggs or, if Rory Riggs no longer holds any Units of the Company, such other Person as may be appointed from time to time by holders of a majority of Units held by Original Members who hold Units at the time of determination.

“Original Members” means the Members of the Company as of immediately prior to the Closing.

“Partnership Representative” has means any Person acting as “tax matters partner” or the “partnership representative” pursuant to Section 5.08.

“Permitted Transferee” means any transferee in an Exempt Transfer.

 

-10-

“Person” means any individual, estate, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(a).

“Profits” and “Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Company, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss (but the amounts of items to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in the remainder of this definition of “Profits” and “Losses”); (b) any income of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis (provided that, if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the Managing Member may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); (f) to the extent that an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a Distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing such taxable income or loss and (g) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Company not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

“Qualified Transaction” means a Change of Control.

“Required Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

“Restricted Securities” means any Units in the Company or any equity interests of the Managing Member (including any Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares) received or retained as consideration under the Merger Agreement, including any securities held in escrow or otherwise issued or delivered after the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

-11-

“Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Code Sections 6221 through 6241, as in effect for taxable years of the Company beginning after December 31, 2017, together with any subsequent amendments thereto, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and published administrative interpretations thereof, and any comparable provisions of state or local tax Law.

“Second Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

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

“Seventh Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Similar Law” means any law or regulation that could cause the underlying assets of the Company to be treated as assets of the Member by virtue of its limited liability company interest in the Company and thereby subject the Company and the Managing Member (or other persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Company’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

“Sixth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.

“Tax Advances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.

“Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c)(ii).

“Tax Estimation Period” shall mean each period from January 1 through March 31, from April 1 through May 31, from June 1 through August 31, and from September 1 through December 31 of each taxable year.

 

-12-

“Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Company, Managing Member and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time.

“Tenth Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Third Blocker Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“TRA Party” has the meaning given to such term in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

“Transfer” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, distribution, exchange, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, including the exchange of any Unit for any other security or the entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Unit, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise. The term “Transferred” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing.

“Transferee” means any Person that is a permitted transferee of a Member’s interest in the Company, or part thereof.

“Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

“Unitholder Representative” means Rory Riggs, or any successor to such Person pursuant to the Unitholder Representative Agreement.

“Unitholder Representative Agreement” that certain Unitholder Representative Engagement Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Unitholder Representative and the Company.

“Units” means the Common Units and any other Class of Units that is established in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute limited liability company interests in the Company as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Company at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Member as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Member to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS

2.01 Formation. The Company was formed as a limited liability company under the provisions of the Act by the filing of the Certificate on May 10, 2019.

 

-13-

If requested by the Managing Member, the Members shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the Managing Member to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the Managing Member in its sole discretion deems it advisable, the operation of the Company as a limited liability company, or entity in which the Members have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Company proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Company. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. To the extent that the rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be in the absence of such provision, this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by the Act, control. The execution, delivery and filing of the Certificate and each amendment thereto is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed by the Members.

2.02 Name. The name of the Company shall be, and the business of the Company shall be conducted under the name of “Cibus Global, LLC” and all Company business shall be conducted in that name or in such other names that comply with applicable Law as the Managing Member in its sole discretion may select from time to time. Subject to the Act, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company (and amend this Agreement to reflect such change) at any time and from time to time without the consent of any other Person. Prompt notification of any such change shall be given to all Members.

2.03 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Company in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Company shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.

2.04 Offices. The Company may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the Managing Member from time to time may select in its sole discretion. As of the date hereof, the principal place of business and office of the Company is located at 6455 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, California, 92121.

2.05 Agent for Service of Process; Existence and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification.

(a) The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be located at 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808. The name of the registered agent of the Company for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such address shall be Corporation Service Company.

(b) The Managing Member in its sole discretion may take all action which may be necessary or appropriate (i) for the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the Laws of the State of Delaware (and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is engaged) and (ii) for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the business of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may file or cause to be filed for recordation in the proper office or offices in each other jurisdiction in which the Company is formed or qualified, such certificates (including certificates of formation and fictitious name certificates) and other

 

-14-

documents as are required by the applicable statutes, rules or regulations of any such jurisdiction or as are required to reflect the identity of the Members. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may cause the Company to comply, to the extent procedures are available and those matters are reasonably within the control of the Officers, with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company to do business in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

2.06 Business Purpose. The Company was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Company is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act.

2.07 Powers of the Company. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Company will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including the ownership and operation of the assets and other property contributed to the Company by the Members, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Company set forth in Section 2.06.

2.08 Members; Reclassification; Admission of New Members. Each of the Persons listed on Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of its execution of this Agreement, are admitted as Members of the Company. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Members shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Members consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. Subject to Section 8.08 with respect to substitute Members, a Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Member with the written consent of the Managing Member in its sole discretion. Each new Member shall execute and deliver to the Managing Member an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Member agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time. A new Managing Member or substitute Managing Member may be admitted to the Company solely in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof.

2.09 Resignation. No Member shall have the right to resign as a member of the Company other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Member in accordance with Article VIII.

2.10 Representations of Members. Each Member severally (and not jointly), on behalf of itself and its successors and assigns, hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each other Member that as of the date of such Member’s admittance to the Company (or as of the date hereof for any Member as of the date hereof) and as of each subsequent date that such Member acquires any additional Units that:

(a) Organization; Authority.

(i) To the extent it is not a natural person, (x) it is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing (if applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and if required by Law is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing in the jurisdiction of its principal place of business (if not formed in such jurisdiction), and (y) has full corporate, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other applicable power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and all necessary actions by the board of directors, shareholders, managers, members, partners, trustees, beneficiaries or other Persons necessary for the due authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by that Member have been duly taken.

 

-15-

(ii) It has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement is enforceable against such Member in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency and other Laws generally affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding in a court of law or equity).

(b) Non-Contravention. Its authorization, execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement does not breach or conflict with or constitute a default under (x) such Member’s charter or other governing documents to the extent it is not a natural person, (y) any material obligation under any other material agreement to which that Member is a party or by which it is bound or (z) applicable Law.

(c) Due Inquiry. It has had, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained, and received all such information about the Company and the Units as it has requested.

(d) Purpose of Investment. It is acquiring and holding its Units solely for investment purposes, for its own account and not for the account or benefit of any other Person and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof, did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 of Regulation D under the Securities Act, and acknowledges and understands that no United States federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of any Units.

(e) Transfer Restrictions. It understands that the Units and the Class B Common Shares are each being Transferred in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the Units and Class B Common Shares will comprise “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act which shall not be sold, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise Transferred except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and applicable Law. It agrees that, if in the future it decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise Transfer any portion of its Units or Class B Common Shares, such Units and/or Class B Common Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise Transferred only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from registration and/or qualification under the Securities Act and applicable state securities Laws, and as a condition precedent to any such Transfer, it may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, and agrees, absent registration or an exemption with respect to its Units, not to resell any such Units and/or Class B Common Shares.

 

-16-

(f) Investor Status. It (i) has adequate means of providing for its current needs and possible contingencies, is able to bear the economic risks of its investment for an indefinite period of time and has a sufficient net worth to sustain a loss of its entire investment in the Company in the event such loss should occur, (ii) is sophisticated in financial matters and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company, (iii) is, or is controlled by, an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D, promulgated under the Securities Act, and acknowledges the issuance of Units under this Agreement is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under federal and state Law, and (iv) is treated as a single partner within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).

2.11 Amendment and Restatement of Existing Agreement. Each of the Members agrees and acknowledges that this Agreement amends and restates the Existing Agreement, which is no longer in effect.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

3.01 Managing Member.

(a) The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the Managing Member, which may from time to time delegate authority to Officers or to others to act on behalf of the Company.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the Managing Member shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Company (which may be delegated to Officers of the Company), including the following powers:

(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year which will set forth the operating goals and plans for the Company;

(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Company;

(iii) to make any expenditures, to lend or borrow money, to assume or guarantee, or otherwise contract for, indebtedness and other liabilities, to issue evidences of indebtedness and to incur any other obligations;

(iv) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;

(v) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Company;

(vi) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Company’s books of account; and

(vii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Members in writing from time to time.

 

-17-

3.02 Compensation. The Managing Member shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Company in its capacity as Managing Member.

3.03 Expenses. The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company. The Company shall also bear and/or reimburse the Managing Member for (i) any costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Managing Member in connection with serving as the Managing Member and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Company or otherwise incurred by the Managing Member in connection with operating the Company’s business (including expenses allocated to the Managing Member by its Affiliates). To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the Managing Member, including compensation and meeting costs of any board of directors or similar body of the Managing Member, any salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the Managing Member to perform services for the Company, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs and franchise taxes, provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of the Managing Member or any obligations of the Managing Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the Managing Member as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 10.02.

3.04 Officers. Subject to the direction and oversight of the Managing Member, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Company may be carried out by persons who may be designated as officers by the Managing Member, with titles including “assistant secretary,” “assistant treasurer,” “chairman,” “chief executive officer,” “chief financial officer,” “chief operating officer,” “director,” “general counsel,” “general manager,” “managing director,” “president,” “principal accounting officer,” “secretary,” “senior chairman,” “senior managing director,” “treasurer,” “vice chairman,” “executive vice president” or “vice president,” and as and to the extent authorized by the Managing Member in its sole discretion. The officers of the Company shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Managing Member and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its sole discretion, the Managing Member may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable. All officers and other persons providing services to or for the benefit of the Company shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Managing Member and may be removed, with or without cause, from such office by the Managing Member and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Company may be suspended by the Managing Member from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the Managing Member. The Managing Member shall not cease to be a Managing Member of the Company as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Company, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a Managing Member of the Company by agreement, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.

 

-18-

3.05 Authority of Members. No Member (other than the Managing Member), in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Company. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Members to participate in the affairs of the Company described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member (other than the Managing Member) shall have any right to vote on any matter involving the Company, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Company, or any other matter that a Member might otherwise have the ability to vote on or consent with respect to under the Act, at law, in equity or otherwise. The conduct, control and management of the Company shall be vested exclusively in the Managing Member. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Company, the decision of the Managing Member shall be the decision of the Company. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Company, no Member who is not also the Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Company in its capacity as a Member, nor shall any Member who is not also the Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Company in his or its capacity as a Member in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Company or of any other Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may from time to time appoint one or more Members as officers or employ one or more Members as employees, and such Members, in their capacity as officers or employees of the Company (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Members of the Company), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Company to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Company has been delegated to them by the Managing Member.

3.06 Action by Written Consent or Ratification. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Members whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a consent or ratification in writing. Any action required, required to be approved or permitted to be taken by the Managing Member pursuant to this Agreement may be taken or approved, as applicable, by the Managing Member acting pursuant to a writing which evidences its approval of or consent to such action.

3.07 Investment Company Act Restrictions. The Managing Member shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS

4.01 Distributions.

 

-19-

(a) Distributions Generally. The Managing Member, in its sole discretion, may, subject to (i) any restrictions contained in the financing agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, (ii) having Available Cash, and (iii) any other restrictions set forth in this Agreement, make Distributions at any time and from time to time. If any assets of the Company are to be Distributed in kind, they shall be Distributed on the basis of their Fair Market Value. The Members’ Capital Accounts shall be appropriately adjusted before any such Distribution to reflect the increases or decreases to the Capital Accounts which would have occurred if the property Distributed in kind had been sold for its Fair Market Value by the Company prior to the Distributions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Distribution, Tax Distribution or other payment in respect of Units shall be required to be made to any Member if, and to the extent that, such Distribution, Tax Distribution or other payment in respect of Units would not be permitted under the Act or other applicable Law.

(b) Operating Distributions. The Managing Member, in its sole discretion, may authorize Distributions (to the extent of Available Cash) by the Company to the Members at any time and from time to time. Subject to Section 4.01(c) with respect to Tax Distributions, all Distributions by the Company other than those made in connection with dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 4.02, shall be made or allocated to holders of Common Units pro rata based on the number of Common Units held by each such holder.

(c) Tax Distributions

(i) With respect to each Member, the Company shall calculate the excess of (x)(A) the Income Amount allocated or allocable to such Member for the Tax Estimation Period in question and for all preceding Tax Estimation Periods, if any, within the taxable year containing such Tax Estimation Period multiplied by (B) the Assumed Tax Rate over (y) the aggregate amount of all prior Tax Distributions in respect of such taxable year and any Distributions made to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(b) and Section 4.02, with respect to the Tax Estimation Period in question and any previous Tax Estimation Period falling in the taxable year containing the applicable Tax Estimation Period referred to in (x)(A) (the amount so calculated pursuant to this sentence is herein referred to as a “Member’s Required Tax Distribution”); provided, however, that the Managing Member may make adjustments in its reasonable discretion to reflect transactions occurring during the taxable year; provided, further, that if the amount of a Tax Distribution actually made with respect to a Tax Estimation Period is greater than or less than such Member’s Tax Distribution that would have been made under this Section 4.01(c)(i) for such period based on subsequent tax information and assuming no limitations based on prohibitions under applicable Law, Available Cash, or insolvency (such limitations, the “Liquidity Limitations”) (e.g., because the estimated Tax Distribution for a Tax Estimation Period was greater than or less than the amount calculated based on actual taxable income for such Tax Estimation Period or because such Tax Distribution would have rendered the Company insolvent), then, for subsequent Tax Estimation Periods, the Managing Member shall cause the Company to adjust each Member’s Required Tax Distribution for the next Tax Estimation Period downward (but not below zero) or upward (but the resulting Tax Distribution shall in all cases remain pro rata in accordance with each Member’s Common Percentage Interest) to reflect such excess or shortfall; provided, further, that with respect to the Managing Member and its wholly owned Subsidiaries, the Member’s Required Tax Distribution for any Tax Estimation Period shall be an amount sufficient for the Managing Member and its wholly owned Subsidiaries to receive a Distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(b) and this Section 4.01(c) sufficient to enable the Managing Member and its wholly owned Subsidiaries to meet their U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax obligations and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement for such Tax Estimation Period (but the resulting Tax Distribution shall in all cases remain pro rata in accordance with each Member’s Common Percentage Interest). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Income Amount” for a Tax Estimation Period shall equal, with respect to any Member, the net taxable income (or, if applicable, gross taxable income, except to the extent offset by items of loss thereof) of the Company allocated or allocable to such Member for such Tax Estimation Period (excluding any compensation paid to a Member outside of this Agreement). For purposes of computing the Income Amount, the taxable income shall be determined (i) without regard to any special adjustments of tax items required as a result of any election under Section 754 of the Code, including adjustments required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code, and (ii) by including adjustments to taxable income in respect of Section 704(c) of the Code (including “reverse Section 704(c) allocations”). For the avoidance of doubt, taxable income will include any amounts required to be included in taxable income by a Member as a result of ownership by the Company of an entity classified as a: (i) PFIC (including by reason of a QEF election or a mark-to-market election) or (ii) “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code in which a Member (or any of its direct or indirect owners) could be a “United States shareholder” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

-20-

(ii) At least five (5) days before the quarterly due date for payment of estimated tax payments by corporations or individuals (whichever is earlier) on a calendar year under the Code, the Company shall distribute (to the extent of Available Cash and unless prohibited by applicable Law or by any restrictions applicable to tax distributions contained in the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ then applicable bank financing agreements by which the Company or its Subsidiaries are bound) to the Members pro rata in accordance with their Common Percentage Interest, an aggregate amount of cash sufficient to provide each such Member with a Distribution at least equal to such Member’s Required Tax Distribution (amounts distributed pursuant to this Section 4.01(c), “Tax Distributions”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall make, in its reasonable discretion, equitable adjustments (downward (but not below zero) or upward) to the Members’ Required Tax Distributions for a Tax Estimation Period (but the resulting Tax Distribution shall in all cases remain pro rata in accordance with each Member’s Common Percentage Interest) to take into account increases or decreases in the number of Common Units held by each Member solely with respect to any relevant period (or portion thereof) following the Closing Date. Any Tax Distributions shall be treated in all respects as advances against future Distributions pursuant to Section 4.01(b) and Section 4.02 and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid pursuant to Section 4.01(b) and Section 4.02.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Tax Distributions will be required to be made with respect to items arising with respect to any Covered Transaction.

4.02 Liquidation Distribution. Subject to Section 4.01(c) with respect to Tax Distributions, all Distributions by the Company, and all proceeds (whether received by the Company or directly by the Members) in connection with dissolution of the Company shall be made or allocated among the holders of Common Units pro rata based on the number of Common Units held by each such holder.

 

-21-

4.03 Limitations on Distribution. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not make a Distribution to any Member if such Distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;

TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

5.01 Initial Capital Contributions. The Members have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and, in exchange, the Company has issued to the Members the number of Common Units as specified in the books and records of the Company.

5.02 No Additional Capital Contributions. No Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the consent of such Member or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Company without the consent of the Managing Member, which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion.

5.03 Capital Accounts.

(a) A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and this Section 5.03. The Company may adjust the Capital Accounts of its Members to reflect revaluations of the property of any Subsidiary of the Company that is treated as a partnership (or entity disregarded from a partnership) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Capital Account of each Member shall be credited with such Member’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Company specially allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Member and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Company to such Member. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Member shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any Transfer of any interest in the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest. The Managing Member shall also (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q) and (ii) make any appropriate modifications for unanticipated events that might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), provided that, to the extent that any such adjustment is inconsistent with any other provisions of this Agreement and would have a disproportionate (compared to the Managing Member) and material adverse effect on any Member, such adjustment shall require the consent of such Member (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

-22-

5.04 Allocations of Profits and Losses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Company) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Member after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the Distributions that would be made pursuant to Section 4.02 if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Company liabilities were satisfied in cash in accordance with their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and all remaining or resulting cash was distributed to the Members, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its reasonable discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company.

5.05 Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. If there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain or Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Company Fiscal Year, the Members shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Qualified Income Offset. If any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that, an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Member would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(c) Gross Income Allocation. If any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.

 

-23-

(d) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Members holding Common Units in accordance with their respective Common Percentage Interest.

(e) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).

(f) Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a Distribution to a Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Member to whom such Distribution was made in the event Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

(g) Ameliorative Allocations. Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(a), 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(g), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Member shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(a), 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.

(h) Allocations Relating to Taxable Issuance of Company Units. Any income, gain, loss, or deduction realized as a direct or indirect result of the issuance of Units by the Company to a Member (the “Issuance Items”) shall be allocated among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such Issuance Items, together with all other allocations under this Agreement to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Member if the Issuance Items had not been realized. The forfeiture allocations described in Proposed Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(c) (2005), and the allocations to which they relate, shall be treated as Issuance Items.

(i) Forfeiture Allocation. In the event that the Units of any Member are forfeited, then for the Fiscal Year of such forfeiture or other period (as determined by the Managing Member):

(i) items of income, gain, loss, and deduction shall be excluded from the calculation of Profits and Losses and shall be specially allocated to the Member whose Units have been forfeited so as to cause such Member’s Capital Account to equal such Member’s Distribution entitlements under Section 4.01 after giving effect to the adjustment in the Member’s Common Percentage Interest resulting from the applicable forfeiture; or

 

-24-

(ii) the Managing Member may elect to apply another allocation or Capital Account adjustment method to a Unit forfeiture as it reasonably deems appropriate in lieu of the method set forth in this Section 5.05(i).

(j) Noncompensatory Options. If, as a result of an exercise of a noncompensatory option to acquire an interest in the Company, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the Company shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

5.06 Tax Allocations. For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that, in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (including under “reverse” Section 704(c) principles) in any manner determined by the Managing Member with the consent of the Original Member Representative (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed) and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations, provided that the consent of the Original Member Representative shall only be required for so long as the Original Member Representative owns at least 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date. The Managing Member shall make such other allocations for tax purposes as it determines in its reasonable discretion, subject to, for so long as the Original Member Representative owns at least 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date, the prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, of the Original Member Representative (and its successors or assigns), to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company.

5.07 Tax Advances. If the Company or any other Person in which the Company holds an interest is required by Law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Member, or the Company is subjected to tax itself (including any amounts withheld from amounts directly or indirectly payable to the Company or to any other Person in which the Company holds an interest) by reason of the status of any Member as such or that is specifically attributable to a Member (including U.S. federal, state, or local or non-U.S. withholding, personal property, unincorporated business or other taxes, the amount of any taxes arising under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, the amount of any taxes imposed under Code Section 1446(f), and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, and expenses related to any such amounts) (“Tax Advances”), the Managing Member may cause the Company to withhold such amounts and cause the Company to make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Member shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding Distribution or Distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Member or, if such Distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Member. For all purposes of this Agreement such Member shall be treated as having received the amount of the Distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance.

 

-25-

Each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from and against any liability (including any liability for taxes, penalties, additions to tax or interest) with respect to income attributable to or Distributions or other payments to such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any income taxes, penalties, additions to tax and interest payable by the Company or any fiscally transparent entity in which the Company owns an interest shall be treated as specifically attributable to the Members and shall be allocated among the Members such that the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such amounts is borne by those Members to whom such amounts are specifically attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise, including pursuant to an allocation made under Section 5.08), in each case as reasonably determined by the Managing Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any taxes, penalties, and interest payable under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions by the Company or any fiscally transparent entity in which the Company owns an interest shall be treated as specifically attributable to the Members of the Company, and the Managing Member shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such taxes, penalties or interest to those Members to whom such amounts are specifically attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as reasonably determined by the Managing Member.

5.08 Partnership Representative.

(a) The Managing Member is hereby designated as the “partnership representative” as that term is defined in Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for taxable years of the Company beginning with the taxable year including the Effective Date. In addition, the Managing Member is hereby authorized to designate or remove any other Person selected by the Managing Member as the Partnership Representative. For each Fiscal Year in which the Partnership Representative is an entity, the Company shall appoint an individual identified by the Partnership Representative for such Fiscal Year to act on its behalf (the “Designated Individual”) in accordance with the applicable regulations or analogous provisions of state or local Law. Each Member hereby expressly consents to such designations and agrees to take, and the Managing Member is authorized to take (or cause the Company to take), such other actions as may be necessary or advisable pursuant to Treasury Regulations or other Internal Revenue Service or Treasury guidance or state or local Law to cause such designations or evidence such Member’s consent to such designations.

(b) Subject to this Section 5.08, the Partnership Representative shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the Company in connection with, make all relevant decisions regarding application of, and to exercise the rights and powers provided for in the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, including making any elections under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions or any decisions to settle, compromise, challenge, litigate or otherwise alter the defense of any action, audit or examination before the IRS or any other tax authority (each, an “Audit”), and to expend Company funds for professional services and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

 

-26-

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Partnership Representative shall give prompt written notice to the Original Member Representative of the commencement of any Audit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the resolution of which would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (compared to the Managing Member) and material adverse effect on the Original Members (a “Specified Audit”). The Partnership Representative shall (i) keep the Original Member Representative reasonably informed of the material developments and status of any such Specified Audit, (ii) permit the Original Member Representative (or its designee) to participate (including using separate counsel), in each case at the Original Members’ sole cost and expense, in any such Specified Audit, and (iii) promptly notify the Original Member Representative of receipt of a notice of a final partnership adjustment (or equivalent under applicable Laws) or a final decision of a court or IRS Independent Office of Appeals panel (or equivalent body under applicable Laws) with respect to such Specified Audit. The Partnership Representative or the Company shall promptly provide the Original Member Representative with copies of all material correspondence between the Partnership Representative or the Company (as applicable) and any governmental entity in connection with such Specified Audit and shall give the Original Member Representative a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any material correspondence, submission (including settlement or compromise offers) or filing in connection with any such Specified Audit. Additionally, for so long as the Original Member Representative owns at least 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date, the Partnership Representative shall not (and the Company shall not (and shall not authorize the Partnership Representative to)) settle, compromise or abandon any Specified Audit in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (compared to the Managing Member) and material adverse effect on the Original Members without the Original Member Representative’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). The Partnership Representative shall, for so long as the Original Member Representative owns at least 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date, obtain the prior written consent of the Original Member Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) before (i) making an election under Section 6226(a) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local Law) or (ii) taking any material action under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions that would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (compared to the Managing Member) and material adverse effect on the Original Members, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii); provided that, no consent from the Original Member Representative is required in order to make an election under Section 6226(a) of the Code with respect to taxable periods that began on or before the Closing.

(d) All expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative in connection with its duties as partnership representative or designated individual or Original Member Representative, as applicable, shall be expenses of the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any costs and expenses incurred in connection with any claims asserted against the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative, as applicable, except to the extent the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual is determined to have performed its duties in the manner described in the final sentence of this Section 5.08(d)), and the Company shall reimburse and indemnify the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative, as applicable, for all such expenses and costs. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative from engaging lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, or other professional advisers or experts to assist the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative in discharging its duties hereunder. Neither the Partnership Representative nor Designated Individual nor Original Member Representative shall be liable to the Company, any Member or any Affiliate thereof for any costs or losses to any Persons, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of the performance of its duties pursuant to this Section 5.08 absent (i) willful breach of any provision of this Section 5.08 or (ii) bad faith, fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Partnership Representative or Designated Individual or Original Member Representative, as applicable.

 

-27-

(e) The Company, the Partnership Representative, and the Members expressly agree to be bound by the terms of Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of any conflict between Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement and this Agreement, Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement shall control.

5.09 Other Allocation Provisions. Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. In addition to amendments effected in accordance with Section 12.12 or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement, Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may also, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Members, be amended at any time by the Managing Member if necessary, in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion after consultation with its tax advisers, to comply with such regulations or any applicable Law.

5.10 Survival. Sections 5.07 and 5.08 shall be interpreted to apply to Members and former Members and shall survive the Transfer of a Member’s Units and the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company and, for this purpose to the extent not prohibited by applicable Law, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence.

5.11 Unitholder Representative Matters. Each of the provisions of the Unitholder Representative Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Member hereby acknowledges and agrees that amounts otherwise payable to such Member hereunder may instead be remitted to the Unitholder Representative (as defined in the Unitholder Representative Agreement) in the circumstances, and at the times and in the amounts, set forth in the Unitholder Representative Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS

6.01 Books and Records.

(a) At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Company in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Member shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member in the Company, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Member’s own expense, a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed.

 

-28-

(c) Intentionally Omitted.

(d) The Managing Member shall cause to be prepared and filed all necessary federal and state income tax returns for the Company, including making any tax elections. At the Company’s expense, the Managing Member, within 120 days of the close of the Fiscal Year, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to each Member that was a Member during such Fiscal Year a Schedule K-1 and such other tax information reasonably required for U.S. federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Person that was a Member during the Fiscal Year (a) by May 15th, August 15th and November 15th of such Fiscal Year, with an estimate of the taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and other items for, respectively, the first, second and third fiscal quarters that such Person will be required to include in its taxable income and (b) by March 1st of such Fiscal Year, with an estimate of the taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and other items of such Person to be reflected on the Schedule K-1 of such Person for the prior Fiscal Year (it being understood such estimated information is subject to change based on the final Form K-1 made available by the Company). The Company also shall provide the Members with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Members to prepare and file their own tax returns; provided that, any costs or expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne by the requesting Member.

(e) The Managing Member shall make the following elections on the appropriate tax returns and shall not rescind them without the prior written consent of the Original Member Representative (provided that, the election described in clause (ii) below cannot be rescinded without the prior written consent of the all the Members):

(i) to adopt an appropriate federal income tax method of accounting and to keep the Company’s books and records on such income-tax method;

(ii) to have in effect (and to cause each direct or indirect Subsidiary that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and over 50% owned and controlled by the Company to have in effect, to the extent eligible to do so) an election, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and any similar election for state or local tax purposes), to adjust the tax basis of Company properties, for the taxable year of the Company that includes the Effective Date and each subsequent taxable year in which an Exchange Transaction occurs; and

(iii) any other available election that the Managing Member deems appropriate; provided that, for so long as the Original Member Representative owns at least 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date, the Managing Member shall consult in good faith with the Original Member Representative with respect to any material tax election with respect to the Company that could reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate (as compared to the Managing Member) and adverse effect on the Original Members, and not make such election without the Original Member Representative’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). No Member may make an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state Law, and no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to sanction or approve such an election.

 

-29-

6.02 Confidentiality.

(a) Each of the Members (other than the Managing Member) agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose or use such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Managing Member. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes all non-public information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (i) before or after it has been disclosed to such Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Member in violation of this Agreement; (ii) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel of the Company or of the Managing Member, or any other officer designated by the Managing Member; (iii) is disclosed to such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of such Member, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company, the Managing Member or any of their respective Subsidiaries with respect to such information; or (iv) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or their respective representatives without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

(b) Solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement, each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such Member is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential; provided that, such Member shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 6.02 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 6.02).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information:

(i) to the extent that such Member is required by Law (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information,

(ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders (each of whom are bound by customary confidentiality obligations) the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; or

 

-30-

(iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Units held by such Member (provided, in each case, that such Member determines in good faith that such prospective purchaser would be a Permitted Transferee), or a prospective merger partner of such Member (provided that, (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 6.02 by any such Persons (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 6.02)).

(d) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Managing Member to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.

ARTICLE VII

COMPANY UNITS

7.01 Units.

(a) Limited liability company interests in the Company shall be represented by Units. At the execution of this Agreement, the Units are comprised of only Common Units. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, each Member holds the number of Units set forth opposite such Member’s name on Exhibit A attached hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Class A Restricted Common Stock Consideration issued by the Managing Member to certain holders of Merger Partner PIUs, the Company has issued to the Managing Member a corresponding number of Common Units. Such Common Units shall be subject to the same vesting or forfeiture terms as the corresponding restricted Class A Common Shares; if any restricted Class A Common Shares vest or are forfeited, then a corresponding number of the Common Units issued by the Company to the Managing Member shall automatically vest or be forfeited. Common Units which correspond to the Class A Restricted Common Stock Consideration shall participate in Distributions pursuant to Article IV the extent that the holders of the corresponding restricted Class A Common Shares are entitled to receive dividends thereon pursuant to the terms of the Company Plan. Any cash or property held by either the Managing Member or the Company or on either’s behalf in respect of dividends paid on restricted Class A Common Shares that fail to vest shall be returned to the Company upon the forfeiture of such restricted Class A Common Shares.

 

-31-

(b) Subject to Section 7.04, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may establish and issue, from time to time in accordance with such procedures as the Managing Member shall determine from time to time, additional Units, in one or more classes or series of Units, or other Company securities, at such price, and with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Units, classes and series of Units or other Company securities), as shall be determined by the Managing Member without the approval of any Member or any other Person who may acquire an interest in any of the Units, including (i) the right of such Units to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right of such Units to share in Distributions; (iii) the rights of such Units upon dissolution and winding up of the Company; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Company may or shall be required to redeem such Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Units are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which such Units will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Common Percentage Interest as to such Units; (viii) the terms and conditions of the issuance of such Units (including the amount and form of consideration, if any, to be received by the Company in respect thereof, the Managing Member being expressly authorized, in its sole discretion, to cause the Company to issue such Units for less than Fair Market Value); and (ix) the right, if any, of the holder of such Units to vote on Company matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Units. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Member in its sole discretion, without the approval of any Member or any other Person, is authorized (i) to issue Units or other Company securities of any newly established class or any existing class to Members or other Persons who may acquire an interest in the Company, including Equity Interests which constitute a “profits interest” to Persons within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43 and IRS Notice 2005-43 and which will be issued with the intention that under current interpretations of the Code the recipient will not realize income upon the issuance of such Equity Interests, and that neither the Company nor any Member is entitled to any deduction either immediately or through depreciation or amortization as a result of the issuance of such Equity Interest; (ii) to amend this Agreement to reflect the creation of any such new class, the issuance of Units or other Company securities of such class, and the admission of any Person as a Member which has received Units or other Company securities; and (iii) to effect the combination, subdivision and/or reclassification of outstanding Units as may be necessary or appropriate to give economic effect to equity investments in the Company by the Managing Member that are not accompanied by the issuance by the Company to the Managing Member of additional Units and to update the books and records of the Company accordingly. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include the Common Units and Units of any other class or series that may be established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not cause or permit the Company to issue, or authorize the issuance of, any Units unless the Managing Member has a sufficient number of Class A Common Stock authorized, available and reserved for issuance upon an exchange of such newly issued Units for Class A Common Stock pursuant to an Exchange Transaction.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not, and the Managing Member shall not cause the Company to, issue any Units if such issuance would result, in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion, in the Company having more than one-hundred (100) “partners”, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) or if the Company already has more than one-hundred (100) “partners” but such issuance would further increase the number of “partners” in the Company; provided that, for such purposes, the Company and the Managing Member shall be entitled to assume that each person who is a Member immediately before the Closing is treated as a single partner within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), unless otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

-32-

7.02 Register. The books and records of the Company shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Member. Unless the Managing Member in its sole discretion shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Company.

7.03 Registered Members. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Act or other applicable Law.

7.04 Issuances, Repurchases and Redemptions, Recapitalizations.

(a) Issuances by the Managing Member

(i) Subject to Section 7.04(a)(ii) and the Exchange Agreement, if, at any time after the Closing Date, the Managing Member sells or issues Class A Common Shares or any other Equity Interests of the Managing Member (other than Class B Common Stock), (x) the Company shall concurrently issue to the Managing Member an equal number of Common Units (if the Managing Member issues Class A Common Stock), or an equal number of such other Equity Interests of the Company corresponding to the Equity Interests issued by the Managing Member (if the Managing Member issues Equity Interests other than Class A Common Stock), and with substantially the same rights to dividends and Distributions (including Distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Interests of the Managing Member so issued and (y) the Managing Member shall concurrently contribute to the Company, the net proceeds or other property received by the Managing Member, if any, for such Class A Common Stock or other Equity Interest.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.04(a)(i) or Section 7.04(a)(iii), this Section 7.04(a) shall not apply to (x) the issuance and distribution to holders of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Interests of the Managing Member of rights to purchase Equity Interests of the Managing Member under a “poison pill” or similar shareholder rights plan (and upon exchange of Common Units for Class A Common Stock, such Class A Common Stock will be issued together with a corresponding right under such plan) or (y) the issuance under the Managing Member’s employee benefit plans of any warrants, options, stock appreciation right, restricted stock units, performance based award or other rights to acquire Equity Interests of the Managing Member, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Interests of the Managing Member in connection with the exercise or settlement of such warrants, options, stock appreciation right, restricted stock units, performance based awards (including as set forth in clause (iii) below, as applicable).

 

-33-

(iii) In the event any outstanding Equity Interest of the Managing Member is exercised or otherwise converted and, as a result, any Class A Common Shares or other Equity Interests of the Managing Member are issued (including as a result of the exercise of warrants of the Managing Member), (x) the corresponding Equity Interest outstanding at the Company, if any, shall be similarly exercised or otherwise converted, if applicable, (y) an equivalent number of Common Units or equivalent Equity Interests of the Company shall be issued to the Managing Member as required by the first sentence of Section 7.04(a)(i), and (z) the Managing Member shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds received by the Managing Member from any such exercise or conversion.

(b) New Company Equity Interests. Except pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, (x) the Company may not issue any additional Common Units or Equity Interests of the Company to the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) unless substantially simultaneously therewith the Managing Member or such Subsidiary issues or Transfers an equal number of newly-issued Class A Common Shares of the Managing Member (or relevant Equity Interest of such Subsidiary) to another Person or Persons and contributes the net proceeds therefrom to the Company, and (y) the Company may not issue any other Equity Interests of the Company to the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) unless substantially simultaneously therewith the Managing Member or such Subsidiary issues or Transfers, to another Person, an equal number of newly-issued shares of Equity Interests of the Managing Member or such Subsidiary with substantially the same rights to dividends and Distributions (including Distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Interests of the Company and contributes the net proceeds therefrom to the Company.

(c) Repurchases and Redemptions.

(i) Neither the Managing Member nor any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) may redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (A) Class A Common Stock pursuant to a Board approved repurchase plan or program (or otherwise in connection with a transaction approved by the Board) unless substantially simultaneously therewith the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Managing Member or such Subsidiary an equal number of Common Units for the same price per security, if any, or (B) any other Equity Interests of the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) pursuant to a Board approved repurchase plan or program (or otherwise in connection with a transaction approved by the Board) unless substantially simultaneously therewith the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from the Managing Member or such Subsidiary an equal number of the corresponding class or series of Equity Interests of the Company with the same rights to dividends and Distributions (including Distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Interests of the Managing Member or such Subsidiary for the same price per security, if any.

(ii) The Company may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (x) any Common Units from the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) unless substantially simultaneously the Managing Member or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires pursuant to a Board approved repurchase plan or program (or otherwise in connection with a transaction approved by the Board) an equal number of Class A Common Shares for the same price per security from holders thereof or (y) any other Equity Interests of the Company from the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) unless substantially simultaneously the Managing Member or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires pursuant to a Board approved repurchase plan or program (or otherwise in connection with a transaction approved by the Board) for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Interests of the Managing Member (or such Subsidiary) of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and Distributions (including Distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Interests of the Managing Member or such Subsidiary.

 

-34-

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (a) and (c) of this Section 7.04, to the extent that any consideration payable by the Managing Member in connection with the redemption, repurchase or acquisition of Class A Common Shares or other equity securities of the Managing Member or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) consists (in whole or in part) of Class A Common Shares or such other Equity Interests (including in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant (or other convertible right or security)) other than under the Managing Member’s employee benefit plans for which there are no corresponding Common Units or other Equity Interests of the Company, the redemption, repurchase or acquisition of the corresponding Common Units or other Equity Interests of the Company shall be effectuated in a substantially similar manner.

(d) Equity Subdivisions and Combinations.

(i) The Company shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Company unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding related class or series of Equity Interest of the Managing Member, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible Equity Interests of the Company and the Managing Member.

(ii) the Managing Member shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of any class or series of Equity Interests of the Managing Member, unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding related class or series of Equity Interest of the Company, with corresponding changes made with respect to any applicable exchangeable or convertible Equity Interests of the Company and the Managing Member.

(e) General Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, but subject to Section 7.01, Section 7.02, and Section 7.04, the Company and the Managing Member shall be permitted to undertake all actions, including an issuance, cancellation, redemption, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units as the Managing Member determines is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between (i) the number of Class A Units owned by the Managing Member, directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding Class A Common Shares, and (ii) the number of outstanding Class B Common Shares held by any Member other than the Managing Member and the number of Class A Units held, directly or indirectly, by such Member disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratios in clause (i) and clause (ii), (A) options, rights or securities of the Managing Member issued under any plan involving the issuance of any Equity Interests that are convertible into or

 

-35-

exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Shares, (B) treasury stock, or (C) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by the Managing Member that are convertible or into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (but in each case prior to such conversion, exercise or exchange).

ARTICLE VIII

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

8.01 Member Transfers.

(a) Except as otherwise agreed to in writing between the Managing Member and the applicable Member and reflected in the books and records of the Company or as otherwise provided in this Article VIII, no Member or Assignee thereof may Transfer all or any portion of its Units or other interest in the Company (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the Managing Member, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the Managing Member may require) as are determined by the Managing Member, in each case in the Managing Member’s sole discretion, and which consent may be in the form of a plan or program entered into or approved by the Managing Member, in its sole discretion. Any such determination in the Managing Member’s sole discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Members, whether or not such Members are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void. If a Member Transfers all or a portion of its Common Units to a Transferee in compliance with this Agreement, the Member shall surrender a number of Class B Common Shares to the Managing Member equal to the number of Transferred Common Units, such Class B Common Shares will be immediately cancelled, and the Managing Member shall issue the same number of Class B Common Shares to such Transferee upon its admittance to the Company as a Member.

(b) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary in this Agreement, each Member may Transfer Units in Exchange Transactions pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement; provided that in the case of any Member other than a Member holding at least 3% of the Common Percentage Interest, that (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member (if any) or any Subsidiary of the Managing Member (if any)) such Exchange Transactions shall be effected in compliance with reasonable policies that the Managing Member may adopt or promulgate from time to time and advise the Members of in writing (including policies requiring the use of designated administrators or brokers) in its reasonable discretion; provided, further, that if such policies conflict with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the provisions of the Exchange Agreement shall apply in lieu thereof to any Exchange Transaction to the extent of such conflict.

(c) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary in this Section 8.01, an individual Member may Transfer all or any portion of his, her or its Restricted Securities without consideration to (i) any member of his or her Family Group or (ii) any Affiliate of such Member (including any direct or indirect partner, shareholder, equityholder of such Member or any

 

-36-

Affiliated investment fund or vehicle of such Member or such Member’s direct or indirect partners, shareholders or equityholders), but excluding any Affiliate under this clause (ii) who operates or engages in a business which competes with the business of Managing Member or the Company, and (iii) to a trust solely for the benefit of such Member and such Member’s Family Group (or a re-Transfer of such Restricted Securities by such trust back to such Member upon the revocation of any such trust) or pursuant to the applicable Laws of descent or distribution among such Member’s Family Group, in each case, in a Transfer that complies with Section 8.06 (each of clauses (i)-(iii), an “Exempt Transfer”); provided that the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to the Restricted Securities after any Exempt Transfer and each Transferee of Restricted Securities shall agree in writing, by entering into an appropriate supplemental agreement in such form and terms as the Managing Member may reasonably specify, prior to and as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of such Exempt Transfer, to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, without modification or condition, subject only to the consummation of such Exempt Transfer. Upon the Exempt Transfer of Restricted Securities, the transferor will deliver written notice to the Company, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of such Transferee(s) and shall include an executed original counterpart of this Agreement in a form acceptable to the Managing Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto shall avoid the provisions of this Agreement by making one or more Exempt Transfers to one or more Transferees and then disposing of all or any portion of any such party’s interest in such Transferee if such disposition would result in such Transferee ceasing to be a Permitted Transferee. The Managing Member may implement other policies and procedures to permit the Transfer of Restricted Securities by the other Members for personal planning purposes and any such Transfer effected in compliance with such policies and procedures shall not require the prior consent of the Managing Member.

8.02 Purported Transfers Void. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be null and void ab inito, and the Company will not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported Transferee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.

8.03 Mandatory Exchanges. The Managing Member may in its sole discretion at any time and from time to time, without the consent of any Member or other Person, cause to be Transferred to the Managing Member in an Exchange Transaction any and all Units, except for Units held by any Member holding at least 3% of the Common Percentage Interest (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member or any Subsidiary of the Managing Member) (a “Mandatory Exchange”); provided that, if at any time:

(a) the Company has more than one-hundred (100) “partners”, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), and

(b) there are not binding agreements by and among Members and the Company and/or its assignees to sell Units in a manner that will not cause the Company to be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code that would cause the Company to have one-hundred (100) or fewer “partners”, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreements (including, agreements to tender Units to the Company or one or more purchasers approved by the Company),

 

-37-

then the Company shall promptly cause a Mandatory Exchange to be effected with respect to a number of Member holding less than 3% of the Common Percentage Interest (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member) sufficient to cause the Company to have no more than one-hundred (100) “partners”, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), upon the consummation of such Mandatory Exchange. Any Mandatory Exchange need not be uniform and may be made by the Company and Managing Member selectively among the Members, whether or not such Members are similarly situated; provided that, in the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to any Class A Common Shares (a “Managing Member Offer”) is proposed by the Managing Member or is proposed to the Managing Member or its stockholders and approved by the Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Board that would result in Managing Member undergoing a Change of Control, then the Managing Member shall require, and each Member shall be deemed to effect, an Exchange Transaction with respect to any and all Units held by all Members conditioned upon, and subject to, the consummation of such Managing Member Offer or Change of Control, in each case, to the extent that such Member has not effected an Exchange Transaction with respect to all of its Units prior to the consummation of such transaction.

8.04 Encumbrances. No Member or Assignee may create an Encumbrance with respect to all or any portion of its Units (or any beneficial interest therein) other than Encumbrances that run in favor of the Member unless the Managing Member consents in writing thereto, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the Managing Member, in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. Consent of the Managing Member shall be withheld until the holder of the Encumbrance acknowledges the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Any purported Encumbrance that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

8.05 Approved Qualified Transaction.

(a) In the event that the Managing Member and the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding capital stock of the Managing Member entitled to vote thereon approve a Qualified Transaction (the “Approved Qualified Transaction”), each other Member (each, a “Required Member”) agrees to Transfer all of such Required Member’s Units in connection with such Approved Qualified Transaction (the “Drag-Along Right”) for an amount of consideration per Unit and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock equal (before taking into account any rights such Required Member may have under the Tax Receivable Agreement) to the amount of consideration to be received per share of Class A Common Stock by the holders thereof (the “Drag Price”), and otherwise with respect to such Units on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Class A Common Shares in such Approved Qualified Transaction, with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Managing Member, solely to reflect the fact that Units and corresponding Class B Common Shares rather than Class A Common Shares will be Transferred in the first instance by such Member. Any Transfer effected in connection with the Drag-Along Right shall be structured in the sole discretion of the Managing Member and, without limitation to any other structure, the Managing Member will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Members to participate in such Approved Qualified Transaction to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of Class A Common Shares without discrimination; provided that, without limiting the generality of this sentence, the Managing Member will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Members may participate in each such Approved Qualified Transaction without being required to have their Common Units and Class B Common Shares redeemed (or, if so required, to ensure that any such redemption shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of such Approved Qualified Transaction, or, as applicable, to the extent necessary to exchange the number of Common Units being repurchased).

 

-38-

(b) The Managing Member shall send written notice (the “Drag-Along Notice”) to the Company and the Required Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction notifying them that such Required Members will be required to sell all (but not less than all) of their Units in such sale, and setting forth (i) a copy of the written proposal or agreement pursuant to which the Approved Qualified Transaction will be effected, (ii) the Drag Price, (iii) the terms and conditions of Transfer and payment and (iv) the date and location of and procedures for selling the Units. In the event that the information set forth in the Drag-Along Notice changes from that set forth in the initial Drag-Along Notice, a subsequent Drag-Along Notice shall be delivered by the Managing Member no less than seven (7) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any of the foregoing information to be included in the Drag-Along Notice is publicly available, the Managing Member shall not be required to include such information in the Drag-Along Notice or deliver a subsequent Drag-Along Notice. Each Required Member shall thereafter be obligated to sell their Units and corresponding Class B Common Shares on the terms set forth in the Drag-Along Notice.

(c) Upon receipt of a Drag-Along Notice, each Required Member receiving such notice shall be obligated to sell all of its Units and corresponding Class B Common Shares in the Approved Qualified Transaction as contemplated by the Drag-Along Notice for the Drag Price, on the terms and conditions described in this Section 8.05, including by executing any document containing customary representations, warranties and agreements with respect to itself and its ownership of the Units or Class B Common Shares, as applicable, as requested by the Managing Member in connection with the Approved Qualified Transaction, which representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements shall be substantially the same as those contained in any letter of transmittal to be executed by the holders of Class A Common Shares with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Managing Member, solely to reflect the fact that Units or Class B Common Shares, as applicable, rather than Class A Common Shares will be transferred by such Required Member. The Managing Member and each Required Member shall cooperate in good faith in connection with the consummation of the Approved Qualified Transaction.

 

-39-

8.06 Further Restrictions.

(a) Units issued from time to time after the date of this Agreement, including Units issued under equity incentive plans of the Company or the Managing Member (or upon settlement of awards granted under such plans), may be subject to such additional or other terms and conditions, including with regard to vesting, forfeiture, minimum retained ownership and Transfer, as may be agreed between the Managing Member and the applicable Member and reflected in the books and records of the Company. Such requirements, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform and may be waived or released by the Managing Member in its sole discretion with respect to all or a portion of the Units owned by any one or more Members at any time and from time to time, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

(b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit (other than, in each case, in accordance with the Exchange Agreement) be made by any Member or Assignee if the Managing Member determines that:

(i) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;

(ii) except pursuant to an Exchange Transaction, such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable U.S. federal or state securities Laws (including the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) or other non-U.S. securities Laws or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities Laws;

(iii) such Transfer would cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Company to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Member, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the Managing Member to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Member, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;

(iv) to the extent requested by the Managing Member, the Company does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the Managing Member, as determined in the Managing Member’s sole discretion; provided that no such legal and/or tax opinions shall be required for a Transfer by a Member holding at least 3% of the Common Percentage Interest (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member (if any) or any Subsidiary of the Managing Member (if any));

(v) such Transfer would cause the Company to be treated as having more than one-hundred (100) “partners” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) or if the Company already has more than one-hundred (100) “partners” but such issuance would further increase the number of “partners” in the Company; or

(vi) the Managing Member shall reasonably determine that such Transfer would pose a material risk that the Company would be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

-40-

All determinations with respect to this Section 8.06 shall be made by the Managing Member in its sole discretion; provided, however, that all such determinations with respect to a Member holding at least 3% of the Common Percentage Interest (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member (if any) or any Subsidiary of the Managing Member (if any)) shall be made by the Managing Member exercising its reasonable discretion.

(c) In addition, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, to the extent the Managing Member shall reasonably determine that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3) in a taxable year, provided that, for such purpose, the Company and the Managing Member shall assume that each Original Member is treated as a single partner within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) unless otherwise required by applicable Law), in no event may any Transfer or assignment of Units by any Member be made if such Transfer would, in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion, (i) be considered to be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof” as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1, (ii) materially increase the possibility of the Company becoming a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code, or (iii) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code or to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation pursuant to the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, any Transfer that constitutes a “block transfer” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(e)(2) shall not be considered to be (i) effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof” as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1, (ii) materially increase the possibility of the Company becoming a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code, or (iii) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership.” Notwithstanding anything contrary in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer, assignment of Units, or other Transfer of beneficial entitlement to Units by any Member be made if such Transfer would cause the Company to be treated as having more than one-hundred (100) “partners” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) or if the Company already has more than one-hundred (100) “partners” but such issuance would further increase the number of “partners” in the Company. For purposes of determining whether a Transfer is a “block transfer” if at any time the Company is managed by a Managing Member such Managing Member shall be treated as a “general partner.”

(d) Transfers of Units (other than pursuant to an Exchange Transaction) that are otherwise permitted by this Article VIII may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Company, unless the Managing Member otherwise agrees.

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Transfer in violation of this Article VIII shall be deemed null and void ab initio and of no effect.

 

-41-

8.07 Rights of Assignees. Subject to Section 8.06(b), the Transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“Assignee”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the Distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Member which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Member, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such interest remaining with the transferring Member. The transferring Member will remain a Member even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 8.08.

8.08 Admissions, Resignations and Removals.

(a) No Person may be admitted to the Company as an additional Managing Member or substitute Managing Member without the prior written consent of each incumbent Managing Member, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by each incumbent Managing Member, in each case in the sole discretion of each incumbent Managing Member. A Managing Member will not be entitled to resign as a Managing Member of the Company unless another Managing Member shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or resigned).

(b) No Member will be removed or entitled to resign from being a Member of the Company except in accordance with Section 8.09 hereof. Any additional Managing Member or substitute Managing Member admitted as a Managing Member of the Company pursuant to this Section 8.08 is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the Company without dissolution.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, resignation or removal of a Member will cause the dissolution of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, resignation or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

8.09 Admission of Assignees as Substitute Members. An Assignee will become a substitute Member only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the Managing Member, in each case in the Managing Member’s sole discretion;

(b) if required by the Managing Member, the Managing Member receives written instruments (including copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Member) that are in a form satisfactory to the Managing Member (as determined in its sole discretion);

(c) if required by the Managing Member, the Managing Member receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Managing Member to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable Law; and

 

-42-

(d) if required by the Managing Member, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Company’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Company).

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Person who acquires in any manner whatsoever any Units, irrespective of whether such Person has accepted and adopted in writing the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be deemed by acceptance of the benefits of the acquisition thereof to have agreed to be subject to and bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement to which any predecessor in such Units was subject or by which such predecessor was bound.

8.10 Resignation and Removal of Members. Subject to Section 8.06, if a Member (other than the Managing Member) ceases to hold any Units then such Member shall cease to be a Member and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a member of the Company, and shall be deemed to have resigned from the Company.

8.11 Withholding. In the event any transfer is permitted pursuant to this Article VIII, the transferring parties shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Managing Member either that no withholding is required in connection with such transfer under applicable U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. law (including under Section 1445 or 1446 of the Code) or that any amounts required to be withheld in connection with such transfer under applicable U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. law (including under Section 1446 of the Code, other than by reason of Section 1446(f)(4)) have been so withheld. The transferring parties shall furnish any forms, certifications or other documentation reasonably requested by the Managing Member for purposes of determining whether withholding is required in connection with such transfer or the amount of tax, if any, required to be withheld has been remitted to the applicable governmental authority.

8.12 Allocations in Respect of Transferred Units. With regard to the Managing Member’s acquisition of Common Units in connection with the Company Merger, Profits or Losses shall be allocated to the Members of the Company so as to take into account the varying interests of the Members in the Company using an “interim closing of the books” method in a manner that complies with the provisions of Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. If during any taxable year there is any other change in any Member’s Units in the Company, the Managing Member shall consult in good faith with the Original Member Representative and the tax advisors to the Company and allocate the Profits or Losses to the Members of the Company so as to take into account the varying interests of the Members in the Company using an “interim closing of the books” method in a manner that complies with the provisions of Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder; provided, however, that such allocations may instead be made in another manner that complies with the provisions of Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder and that is selected by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion (after consulting in good faith with the Original Member Representative); provided that, the Original Member Representative shall not have the consultation right described in this Section 8.11 in the event that the Original Member Representative owns less than 50% of the Units owned by the Original Member Representative immediately following the Closing Date.

 

-43-

ARTICLE IX

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION

9.01 No Dissolution. Except as required by the Act, the Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Members or resignation of Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company may be dissolved, liquidated, wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Members hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Company or a sale or partition of any or all of the Company assets.

9.02 Events Causing Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the business of the Company in conformity with this Agreement;

(b) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Company to be carried on by the Members;

(c) the written consent of all Members;

(d) at any time, there are no Members, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act; or

(e) the determination of the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion; provided that, in the event of a dissolution pursuant to this clause (e), the relative economic rights of each Class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to Distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 9.03 below in connection with the winding up of the Company, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties hereto and subject to compliance with applicable Laws and regulations, unless, and to the extent that, with respect to any Class of Units, holders of not less than 90% of the Units of such Class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.

9.03 Distribution upon Dissolution. Upon dissolution, the Company shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Company is completed. Upon the winding up of the Company, the Managing Member, or any other Person designated by the Managing Member (the “Liquidation Agent”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Company and shall, unless the Managing Member determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Company as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Company (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Members and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Company (“Contingencies”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for Distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03;

 

-44-

(b) Second, to the payment to the Members of any debts (and any accrued interest thereon), owed by the Company to such Members; and

(c) The balance, if any, to the Members in accordance with Section 4.02.

9.04 Time for Liquidation. A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Company and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.03, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the Liquidation Agent determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the Liquidation Agent may, in its sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the winding up of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 9.03, the Liquidation Agent may, in its sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (i) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.03, (ii) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.03, undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (iii) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (x) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the Liquidation Agent deems reasonable and equitable and (y) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The Liquidation Agent shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XI.

9.05 Termination. The Company shall terminate when all of the assets of the Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.

9.06 Claims of the Members. The Members shall look solely to the Company’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Company remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Members shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Member or any other Person. No Member with a negative balance in such Member’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Company or to the other Members or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Company, upon dissolution or termination of the Company or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.

 

-45-

9.07 Survival of Certain Provisions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 5.07, 10.01, 10.02, 12.09 and 12.10 shall survive the termination of the Company.

ARTICLE X

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

10.01 Liability of Members.

(a) No Member and no Affiliate, manager, member, employee or agent of a Member shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company or of any other Member or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Member of the Company, except to the extent required by the Act.

(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any duty (including any fiduciary duty) on any of the Members (including the Managing Member) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, the parties hereto agree that no Member or Managing Member shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have duties (including fiduciary duties) to any other Member or to the Company, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Company are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that each Member shall have the duty to act in accordance with the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (including the Managing Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company, to another Member or to another Person who is a party to or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, the Members (including the Managing Member) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Company, to any such other Member or to any such other Person who is a party to or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Member (including the Managing Member) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Members relating thereto (including the Managing Member).

(d) The Managing Member may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors selected by it, and any act or omission taken by the Managing Member on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such Person as to matters the Managing Member reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion or advice, and the Managing Member will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.

 

-46-

(e) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to (a) any Member that is not a director, manager, officer or employee of the Managing Member or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in which case solely acting in their capacity as such, (b) any of their respective Affiliates (other than the Company, the Managing Member or any of their respective Subsidiaries), (c) any Person that was a Member immediately before the Closing or any of its respective Affiliates (including its respective investors and equityholders and any associated Persons or investment funds or any of their respective portfolio companies or investments) or (d) any of the respective officers, managers, directors, agents, shareholders, members, and equityholders of any of the foregoing (but in each case excluding any director, manager, officer or employee of the Managing Member or any of their respective Subsidiaries solely acting in their capacity as such) (each a “Business Opportunities Exempt Party”). The Company and each of the Members, on its own behalf and on behalf of their respective Affiliates and equityholders, hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any Business Opportunities Exempt Party and irrevocably waives any right to require any Business Opportunity Exempt Party to act in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 10.01(e). No Business Opportunities Exempt Party who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Managing Member, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates or equityholders shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Company and none of the Managing Member, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates or equityholders will acquire or be entitled to any interest or participation in any such transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter or opportunity as a result of participation therein by a Business Opportunity Exempt Party. This Section 10.01(e) shall not apply to, and no interest or expectancy of the Company is renounced with respect to, any opportunity offered to any director or officer of the Managing Member or its Subsidiaries if such opportunity is expressly offered or presented to, or acquired or developed by, such Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Managing Member or its Subsidiaries. No amendment or repeal of this Section 10.01(e) shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Business Opportunities Exempt Party for or with respect to any opportunities of which any such Business Opportunities Exempt Party becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any Units shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 10.01(e). Neither the amendment or repeal of this Section 10.01(e), nor the adoption of any provision of this Agreement inconsistent with this Section 10.01(e), shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Section 10.01(e) in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action that, but for this Section 10.01(e), would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption. No action or inaction taken by any Business Opportunities Exempt Party in a manner consistent with this Section 10.01(e) shall be deemed to be a violation of any fiduciary or other duty owed to any Person.

10.02 Indemnification.

 

-47-

(a) Exculpation and Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, whether express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company or any Member for any act or omission in relation to the Company or this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby taken or omitted by an Indemnitee unless such Indemnitee’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. To the fullest extent permitted by law, as the same exists or hereafter be amended (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), the Company shall indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Company or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), including appeals, by reason of his or her or its status as an Indemnitee or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder if, but only to the extent that, such Indemnitee’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Company shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) (i) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Indemnitee was authorized by the Managing Member, and (ii) by or in the right of the Company only if the Managing Member has provided its prior written consent. The indemnification of any Indemnitee shall, to the extent not in conflict with such policy, be secondary to any and all payment to which such Indemnitee is entitled from any relevant insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of the Company or any Indemnitee.

(b) Advancement of Expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall promptly pay reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Company shall be required to pay expenses of an Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or part thereof) (i) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Indemnitee was authorized by the Managing Member and (ii) by or in the right of the Company only if the Managing Member has provided its prior written consent.

(c) Unpaid Claims. If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by any Indemnitee has been received by the Company, such Indemnitee may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Company shall have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable Law.

(d) Insurance.

(i) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.

 

-48-

(ii) In the event of any payment by the Company under this Section 10.02, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee from any relevant other Person or under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of the Company, such relevant other Person, or any Indemnitee. Each Indemnitee agrees to execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce any such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy or other relevant document. The Company shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

(iii) The Company shall not be liable under this Section 10.02 to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and excise taxes with respect to an employee benefit plan or penalties) if and to the extent that the applicable Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Section 10.02 or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable Law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Company that indemnification of any person whom the Company is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.

 

-49-

This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Company, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).

10.03 Survival. The provisions of this Article X shall survive the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Company.

ARTICLE XI

VALUATION

11.01 Fair Market Value. For all purposes of this Agreement, “Fair Market Value” of any asset, property or equity interest means the amount which a seller of such asset, property or equity interest would receive in a sale of such asset, property or equity interest in an arms-length transaction with an unaffiliated third party consummated on a date determined by the Managing Member (which may be the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value) (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale).

11.02 Determination. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Managing Member (or, if pursuant to Section 9.03, the Liquidation Agent) in its good faith judgment in such manner as it deems reasonable and using all factors, information and data deemed to be pertinent; provided that, no determination of Fair Market Value shall give effect or take into account any “minority discount” or “liquidity discount” (or any similar discount arising out of the fact that the Units are restricted or is not registered with the Commission, publicly traded or listed on a securities exchange), but shall value the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses in their entirety on an enterprise basis using any variety of industry recognized valuation techniques commonly used to value businesses.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

12.01 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

12.02 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service (delivery receipt requested), by electronic mail or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 12.02):

 

-50-

(a) If to the Company, to:

Cibus Global, LLC

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD,

Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: [***] and [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121-3134

Attention: Cameron A. Reese

E-mail: [***]

and

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Stuart Leblang and Jonathan Pavlich

Email: [***] and [***]

(b) If to any Member other than the Managing Member, to such Member at the address of such Member as set forth on Exhibit A.

(c) If to the Managing Member, to:

Cibus, Inc.

6455 Nancy Ridge Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Rory Riggs, Chief Executive Officer, and Wade King, MD,

Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: [***] and [***]

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

Jones Day

4655 Executive Drive, Suite 1500

San Diego, CA 92121-3134

Attention: Cameron A. Reese

E-mail: [***]

 

-51-

12.03 Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.

12.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

12.05 Interpretation. Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement. The word “including” or 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.

Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the parties hereto have participated collectively in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and that he or she or it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement; accordingly, it is the intention of the parties that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.

12.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by email or facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 12.06.

12.07 Further Assurances. Each Member shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

12.08 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements referred to herein constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, pertaining thereto (including the Existing Agreement).

12.09 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware.

12.10 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

-52-

(a) Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably with respect to this Agreement, including any action (at law or in equity), claim, litigation, suit, arbitration, hearing, audit, review, inquiry, proceeding or investigation or ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement or any matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder brought by a party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Chancery Court, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in the State of Delaware, or, if neither of such courts shall have jurisdiction, any other Delaware state court. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such dispute for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the sole and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any dispute relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the aforesaid courts. Each party irrevocably consents to service of process in any dispute in any of the aforesaid courts by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized overnight delivery service, to such party at such party’s address referred to in Section 12.02. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action brought by any party with respect to this Agreement (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 12.10; (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the 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); or (iii) any objection which such party may now or hereafter have (A) to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to above; (B) that such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (C) that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

(b) To the extent that any party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself, or to such party’s property, each such party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of such party’s obligations with respect to this Agreement.

(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AGREEING TO THE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW TO GOVERN THIS AGREEMENT AND TO THE JURISDICTION OF DELAWARE COURTS IN CONNECTION WITH PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT HEREUNDER. THE PARTIES INTEND THIS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW AND AN EFFECTIVE CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS UNDER 6 DEL. C. § 2708.

(d) EACH PARTY, FOR ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.

 

-53-

12.11 [Intentionally Omitted].

12.12 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the Managing Member in its sole discretion without the approval of any other Member or other Person so long as such amendment is executed and delivered to the Company by (i) so long as Rory Riggs owns at least 50% of the Common Units owned by him immediately following the Closing, Rory Riggs or (ii) if Rory Riggs no longer owns at least 50% of the Common Units owned by him immediately following the Closing, Members holding greater than 50% of the Common Percentage Interest (excluding, for purposes of this calculation, Common Units then owned by the Managing Member); provided that, no amendment, including any amendment effected by way of merger, consolidation or Transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, may (i) materially and adversely affect the rights of a holder of Units, as such, other than on a pro rata basis with other holders of Units of the same Class without the consent of such holder (or, if there is more than one such holder that is so affected, without the consent of a majority in interest of such affected holders in accordance with their holdings of such Class of Units), provided that, the creation or issuance of any new Unit or Equity Interest of the Company permitted pursuant to Section 7.04 and any amendments or modifications to Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect such creation or issuance shall not be deemed to disproportionately and adversely affect a Member or remove a right or privilege specifically granted to a Member in any event; (ii) modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities of any Member, in each case, without the prior written consent of each such affected Member; or (iii) alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Units in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other Units in the same class of Units, without the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of such Units.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Managing Member may, without the written consent of any Member or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement, including Exhibit A, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (1) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of Units or any Class or series of equity interest in the Company pursuant to Section 7.01 hereof; (2) the admission, substitution, or withdrawal of Members in accordance with this Agreement, pursuant to Section 8.08 hereof; (3) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of the Company or the registered office of the Company; (4) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; and/or (5) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Managing Member determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company including a change in the dates on which Distributions are to be made by the Company. If an amendment has been approved in accordance with this agreement, such amendment shall be adopted and effective with respect to all Members. Upon obtaining such approvals as may be required by this Agreement, and without further action or execution on the part of any Member or other Person, any amendment to this Agreement may be implemented and reflected in a writing executed solely by the Managing Member and the Members shall be deemed a party to and bound by such amendment.

 

-54-

(c) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.

(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Company, each Member hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Company’s property.

12.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof); provided, however, that each employee, officer, director, agent or indemnitee of any Person who is bound by this Agreement or its Affiliates is an intended third party beneficiary of Section 12.10 and shall be entitled to enforce its rights thereunder.

12.14 Headings. The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

12.15 Power of Attorney. Each Member, by its execution hereof, hereby makes, constitutes and appoints the Managing Member as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been consented to and adopted as herein provided; (b) all amendments to the Certificate required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Members have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Members) deemed advisable by the Managing Member to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and Law or to permit the Company to become or to continue as a limited liability company or entity wherein the Members have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Company may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the Managing Member deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Company in accordance with this Agreement, including the admission of additional Members or substituted Members pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the Managing Member to effect the liquidation and termination of the Company; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Company’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Company.

 

-55-

12.16 Separate Agreements; Schedules. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, including Section 12.12, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may, or may cause the Company to, without the approval of any Member or other Person, enter into separate subscription, letter or other agreements with individual Members that have become or will become Members after the date hereof with respect to any matter, which have the effect of establishing rights under, or altering, supplementing or amending the terms of, this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that any terms contained in any such separate agreement shall govern with respect to such future Member(s) party thereto notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may from time to time execute and deliver to the Members schedules which set forth information contained in the books and records of the Company and any other matters deemed appropriate by the Managing Member. Such schedules shall be for information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement for any purpose whatsoever. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, this Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and any other separate agreement described in this Section 12.16 shall constitute a “partnership agreement” within the meaning of Section 761 of the Code.

12.17 Partnership Status. The Members intend to treat the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no election to the contrary shall be made.

12.18 Delivery by Facsimile or Email. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or email with scan or facsimile attachment, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or email as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract, and each such party forever waives any such defense.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

-56-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

 

 

[Signature Page—Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement Cibus Global, LLC]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

 

[Signature Page—Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement Cibus Global, LLC]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.

 

 

[Signature Page—Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement Cibus Global, LLC]

 

[Signature Page—Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement Cibus Global, LLC]