UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): September 18, 2024
CHEWY, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 001-38936 | 90-1020167 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
7700 West Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation, Florida | 33322 | |||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(786) 320-7111
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | CHWY | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Secondary Offering
On September 19, 2024, Chewy, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Buddy Chester Sub LLC (the “Seller”), an entity affiliated with funds advised by BC Partners Advisors LP (“BC Partners”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the “Underwriter”), relating to the offer and sale by the Seller of 16,666,667 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”), at a price to the public of $30.00 per share (the “Offering”). In addition, the Seller granted the Underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company did not sell any shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares offered by the Seller. The Offering closed on September 23, 2024.
The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, agreements and obligations, closing conditions and termination provisions. The Company and the Seller have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in the event of any such liabilities.
The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP has issued an opinion, dated September 23, 2024, regarding certain legal matters with respect to the Offering, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.
Stock Repurchase
On September 18, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Stock Repurchase Agreement”) with the Seller, to purchase $300 million of shares of Class A Common Stock from the Seller, at a price per share equal to the per share purchase price paid by the underwriter in the Offering specified above (the “Stock Repurchase”). The Stock Repurchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the parties. The Stock Repurchase closed on September 23, 2024 and in connection therewith the Company repurchased 10,204,081 shares of Class A Common Stock from the Seller. These repurchased shares have been cancelled and retired.
A special committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), consisting solely of independent and disinterested directors not affiliated with BC Partners or the Seller, pursuant to authority delegated to it by the Board, approved the Stock Repurchase. The Board, acting on the recommendation of the special committee, approved the Stock Repurchase without utilizing capacity under the Company’s existing share repurchase program.
The foregoing description of the Stock Repurchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Stock Repurchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and the terms of which is incorporated herein by reference. For more information on BC Partners’ relationship to the Company, please refer to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed on May 24, 2024.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit |
Description |
|
1.1 | Underwriting Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2024, among Chewy, Inc., Buddy Chester Sub LLC, and Morgan Stanley and Co. LLC. | |
5.1 | Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, relating to the Offering. | |
10.1 | Stock Repurchase Agreement, dated September 18, 2024 by and between Chewy, Inc. and Buddy Chester Sub LLC. | |
23.1 | Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1). | |
104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CHEWY, INC. | ||||||
Date: September 23, 2024 | By: | /s/ Da-Wai Hu |
||||
Da-Wai Hu | ||||||
General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 1.1
CHEWY, INC.
16,666,667 Shares of Class A Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
September 19, 2024
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
As representative of the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Buddy Chester Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Selling Stockholder”), a stockholder of Chewy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of 16,666,667 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Underwritten Shares”).
The Selling Stockholder also proposes to sell to the several Underwriters up to an additional 2,500,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Option Shares”), if and to the extent that Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representative of the offering (the “Representative”), shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares.” The Selling Stockholder proposes to convert a number of shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company equal to the number of Underwritten Shares and Firm Shares, as applicable, into shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to sell to the Underwriters in accordance with the terms hereof (collectively, the “Class B Shares,” and such conversion, the “Class B Share Conversion”). The shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein collectively as the “Stock.” To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term “Representatives” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms “Representatives” and “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.
1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274535), including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), relating to certain securities of the Company including the Shares.
Such registration statement, as amended as of the date of this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”,) including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness, is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the Shares in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus, the term “Prospectus” means the final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus and the Base Prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares, and the term “Pricing Disclosure Package” means the documents and pricing information set forth in Annex A hereto. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents on or filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
“Applicable Time” means 4:15 P.M., New York City time, on September 19, 2024.
The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. (a) The Selling Stockholder hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $29.40 (the “Purchase Price”) from the Selling Stockholder the number of Underwritten Shares (to be adjusted by the Representatives so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters from the Selling Stockholder hereunder.
In addition, the Selling Stockholder agrees to sell, the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Selling Stockholder the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 12 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Selling Stockholder by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.
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The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.
(b) The Company and the Selling Stockholder understand that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.
(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Selling Stockholder, to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at 10:00 A.M. New York City time on September 23, 2024, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Selling Stockholder may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”, and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date”.
Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Selling Stockholder. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
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(d) The Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Selling Stockholder with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and each shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company or the Selling Stockholder with respect thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Representatives and the other Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Selling Stockholder.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Selling Stockholder that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus did not, at the time of filing thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information (as defined below).
(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
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(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto forming part of the Pricing Disclosure Package, or (iii) each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information.
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(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as otherwise stated therein; the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; and all disclosures included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
(g) No Material Adverse Change.
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Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, (ii) there has not been any material adverse change or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(h) Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized, is validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all requisite corporate and other organizational power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, the Company will not have any subsidiaries other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
(i) Capitalization. The Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis had, as of the date indicated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and will have as of the Closing Date, the issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus after giving effect to adjustments set forth thereunder; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Class B Shares) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options.
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All of the issued shares of capital stock or other ownership interest of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and, in the case of capital stock, are fully paid and non-assessable and all such shares or other ownership interests owned directly or indirectly by the Company are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Stock Options. The Company has not granted any, and there are no outstanding, stock options.
(k) Underwriting Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(l) The Shares. The Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued upon the conversion of the Class B Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares upon the Class B Share Conversion is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(m) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) No Conflicts. The Class B Share Conversion, the offer and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each subsidiary of the Company, to the extent a party thereto, of this Agreement, as applicable, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, thereby and by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in any violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(o) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with any U.S. court or governmental agency or body, or to the knowledge of the Company, any non-U.S. court or governmental agency or body, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the Class B Share Conversion, the offer and sale of the Shares and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, except for (i) the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters, (ii) as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (iii) any such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or materially affect the ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(p) Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, thereby or by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, no such Actions are threatened by governmental authorities or others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or in any of the documents incorporated by reference therein, and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations, or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or in any of the documents incorporated by reference therein.
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(q) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, whose report appears or is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and who have delivered an initial letter referred to in Section 8(e) hereof, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(r) Title to Real and Personal Property. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 3(f) hereof, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities, claims or defects (i) as do not materially interfere with the current use made or proposed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(s) Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or otherwise possesses adequate rights (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”) to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights and registrations and applications thereof, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information or systems) and other intellectual property reasonably necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of infringement of, or conflict with, asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
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(u) Investment Company Act. The Company is not required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(v) Taxes. Except, in each case, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax returns required to be filed by them through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due and payable by them (other than taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(w) Accuracy of Statements. The statements set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Common Stock,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock, and under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the United States federal tax laws, fairly and accurately summarize in all material respects the matters described therein.
(x) Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to conduct its respective businesses in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any proceedings related to the revocation or modification of any such Permits that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.
(y) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Certain Environmental Matters.
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(i) There are no proceedings that are pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety (to the extent related to exposure to hazardous or toxic substances), the environment, or natural resources, including with respect to the use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants and (iii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries anticipates capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws, in the case of each of clause (ii) and (iii) above, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 (b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and for the purpose of Section 302 of ERISA and/or Section 412, 4971, 4977, 4980D, 4980E and/or each “applicable section” under Section 414(t)(2) of the Code, with the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has had, or would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; (v) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) that would have a Material Adverse Effect; (vi) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S.
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Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (vii) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year, other than an increase in contributions due solely to ordinary course hiring which results in an increase in the number of Company employees participating in Plans; or (y) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year.
(bb) Disclosure Controls. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(cc) Accounting Controls. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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(dd) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are insured against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company reasonably believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business in all material respects.
(ee) Cybersecurity; Data Protection. (i)(x) To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no security breach, violation, outage, unauthorized access or use, or other compromise of, or relating to, any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) which could have a Material Adverse Effect and (y) the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data, except of any event or condition that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data used in connection with their businesses; and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws and statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations, in each case, relating to the privacy and security of the IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in the case of this clause (iii), individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit.
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The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(gg) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(hh) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is, or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is controlled by an individual or entity that is, currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, or so-called Luhansk People’s Republic or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, and the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”). For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(ii) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except as may be limited by applicable state corporation law or comparable laws or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company will, as of the Closing Date, be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other ownership interests, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company, or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
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(jj) No Broker’s Fees. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that could give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(kk) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the offer and sale of the Shares.
(ll) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(mm) Margin Rules. None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares), the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus will violate or result in a violation of Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(nn) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(oo) Statistical and Market Data. Any third-party statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(pp) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, to the extent compliance is required as of the date of the Agreement.
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(qq) Status Under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(rr) No Ratings. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.
(ss) Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than Morgan Stanley to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that Morgan Stanley has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 163B of the Securities Act.
(tt) Accuracy of Disclosure. As of the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, none of (A) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (B) any free writing prospectus, when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, and (C) any individual Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such party, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Company that:
(a) Required Consents; Authority. All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and for the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, have been obtained; the Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder; and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder.
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(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement, the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder and the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein or therein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or asset of the Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Selling Stockholder or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency; other than in the cases of clauses (i) and (iii), for such breaches, violations, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, affect the validity of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder or impair the ability of the Selling Stockholder to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Title to Shares. The Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to the Class B Shares and, when issued upon the conversion of the Class B Shares, will have good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; and, upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8 105 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”)) to such Shares), (1) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (2) under Section 8 501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Shares and (3) no action based on any “adverse claim”, within the meaning of Section 8 102 of the UCC, to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement.
(d) No Stabilization. The Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.
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(e) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package, at the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph (e) apply only to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Selling Stockholder consists of the Selling Stockholder Information (as defined below).
(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Selling Stockholder (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto forming part of the Pricing Disclosure Package, or (iii) each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Company and the Representatives.
(g) Registration Statement and Prospectus. As of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such representation and warranties set forth in this paragraph (g) apply only to the statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information and Selling Stockholder makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(h) Material Information. As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, that the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder is not and will not be prompted by any material information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
(i) No Unlawful Payments.
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Neither the Selling Stockholder nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Selling Stockholder, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Selling Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Selling Stockholder and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(j) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Selling Stockholder and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Selling Stockholder or its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Selling Stockholder, threatened.
(k) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Selling Stockholder nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Selling Stockholder, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Selling Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, OFAC or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the UNSC, the European Union, HMT or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Selling Stockholder, nor any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, or so-called Luhansk People’s Republic or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, and the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Selling Stockholder will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Selling Stockholder and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
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(l) Organization and Good Standing. The Selling Stockholder has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdictions of organization.
(m) ERISA. The Selling Stockholder is not (i) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, (ii) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plan or account the Department of Labor regulations located at 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA.
The Selling Stockholder specifically agrees that its obligations hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the death or incapacity, or, in the case of an estate or trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such estate or trust, or in the case of a partnership, corporation or similar organization, by the dissolution of such partnership, corporation or organization, or by the occurrence of any other event. If the Selling Stockholder or any such executor or trustee should die or become incapacitated, or if any such estate or trust should be terminated, or if any such partnership, corporation or similar organization should be dissolved, or if any other such event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, certificates representing such Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
5. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and 430B under the Securities Act (and in any event prior to the Closing Date), will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; the Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
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(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, three copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements, Free Writing Prospectuses. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object. The Company will not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing (which may be by electronic mail), (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (viii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
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(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with the law.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
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(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will be deemed to comply with such requirement by filing such earnings statements on the Commission’s Electronic, Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or any successor system).
(h) Clear Market. For a period of 60 days (“Restricted Period”) after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition, submission or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder; (B) any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise or settlement of awards granted under any stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the “Company Stock Plans”); (C) the grant by the Company of awards under Company Stock Plans, (D) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 (or equivalent form) in connection with any Company Stock Plan, (E) the issuance of shares of Stock or other securities (including securities convertible into shares of Stock) in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, businesses, properties or other assets of another person or entity or pursuant to any employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with any such acquisition, (F) any shares of Class A common stock to be issued upon conversion of Class B common stock outstanding on the Closing Date and disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in accordance with the terms of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or (G) the issuance of shares of Stock or other securities (including securities convertible into shares of Stock) in connection with joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions; provided that, in the case of clauses (E), (F) and (G), the aggregate number of shares of Stock issued in all such acquisitions and transactions does not exceed 5% of the outstanding Stock of the Company following the offering of the Shares and any recipients of such Shares shall execute and deliver to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC a lock-up agreement for the remainder of the Restricted Period substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
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(i) Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.
(j) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.
(k) Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the NYSE.
(l) Reports. For a period of five years following the date hereof, so long as the Shares are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.
(m) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
(n) Shelf Renewal. If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Shares remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representative. If the Company is not eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representative, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the issuance and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.
(o) If at any time following the distribution of any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
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6. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Lock-up Agreements. The Selling Stockholder has duly executed and delivered to the Representatives a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
(b) No Stabilization. The Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.
(c) Tax Form. It will deliver to the Representatives prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and duly executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof) in order to facilitate the Underwriters’ documentation of their compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated.
(d) Beneficial Ownership Certification. It will deliver to the Representatives, on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Selling Stockholder undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Representatives may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.
(e) Use of Proceeds. It will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to a subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. Neither the Selling Stockholder nor any of its subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.
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7. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby severally represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 5(c) above (including any electronic road show approved in advance by the Company), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).
(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the offering of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission.
(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
8. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholder contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers and of the Selling Stockholder and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
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(c) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives is so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(d) Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (x) a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Company set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) above and (y) a certificate of the Selling Stockholder, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, (A) confirming that the representations of the Selling Stockholder set forth in Sections 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) hereof is true and correct and (B) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder in this agreement are true and correct and that the Selling Stockholder has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(e) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives at the request of the Company, a letter, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(f) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
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(g) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholder. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Selling Stockholder, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Selling Stockholder, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and/or Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance of the Shares by the Company upon conversion of the Class B Shares or the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance of the Shares by the Company upon conversion of the Class B Shares or the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder.
(j) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(k) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.
(l) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and each of the shareholders (including the Selling Stockholder) and officers and directors of the Company named on Schedule II hereto relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(m) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
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All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are reasonably incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information.
(b) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company in writing by the Selling Stockholder through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by Selling Stockholder consists of the following information in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus furnished on behalf of the Selling Stockholder: (i) the legal name, address and the number of shares owned by the Selling Stockholder; and (ii) the other information (excluding percentages) with respect to the Selling Stockholder which appears in the table (and corresponding footnotes) under the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholder” (the “Selling Stockholder Information”).
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The liability of the Selling Stockholder under the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 shall be limited to an amount equal to (i) the number of Shares sold by the Selling Stockholder under this Agreement multiplied by (ii) the Public Offering Price (minus related underwriting discounts and commissions).
(c) Indemnification of the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Selling Stockholder, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholder in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information contained in the paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Price Stabilization, Short Position and Penalty Bids” relating to distributions, price stabilization, short positions and penalty bids (the “Underwriter Information”).
(d) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9.
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If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as reasonably incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded based on the advice of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and it can be reasonably concluded that representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed promptly as they are reasonably incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company and any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholder shall be designated in writing by any one of them. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
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The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling Stockholder or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(f) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (e) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (e) and (f), in no event shall (i) an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or (ii) the aggregate liability of the Selling Stockholder under Section 9(b) and Section 9(e) exceed the limit set forth in Section 7(b). No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (e) and (f) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(g) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 paragraphs (a) through (e) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
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10. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.
11. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, on or prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
12. Defaulting Underwriter.
(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company and the Selling Stockholder may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company, counsel for the Selling Stockholder or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 12, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
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(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 12 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 9 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
13. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares upon conversion of the Class B Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (v) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vi) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (vii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; except that it is understood that 50% of the cost of any chartered aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the “road show” shall be the responsibility of the Underwriters; and (viii) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the NYSE.
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(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11, (ii) the Company or the Selling Stockholder for any reason fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. The Company shall not be required to pay or reimburse any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any Underwriter that defaults on its obligations to purchase the Shares.
14. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 9 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
15. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 9 hereof.
16. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
17. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company and the Selling Stockholder, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
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18. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division (fax: (212) 507-8999). Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 7700 West Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation, Florida 33322; Attention: General Counsel, with a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice): Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, 10022, Attention: Joshua N. Korff and Asher Qazi. Notices to the Selling Stockholder shall be given to them at 650 Madison Avenue, 23rd floor, New York, NY, 10022; Attention: Jason Schaefer.
(b) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(c) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company and the Selling Stockholder waive any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. The Company and the Selling Stockholder agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Selling Stockholder, as applicable, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company and the Selling Stockholder, as applicable, is subject by a suit upon such judgment.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
(e) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
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As used in this Section 18(e):
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
(f) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com or www.echosign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
(h) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(i) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
CHEWY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Da-Wai Hu | |
Name: | Da-Wai Hu | |
Title: | General Counsel and Secretary |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
BUDDY CHESTER SUB, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Michael Chang | |
Name: | Michael Chang | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted: As of the date first written above | ||
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto. |
||
By: | /s/ Aderike Ajao | |
Name: | Aderike Ajao | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule I
Underwriter |
Number of Shares | |||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
16,666,667 | |||
Total: |
16,666,667 |
Schedule I
Schedule II
Lock-up Parties
1. | Sumit Singh |
2. | David Reeder |
3. | Satish Mehta |
4. | William Billings |
5. | Raymond Svider |
6. | Fahim Ahmed |
7. | Mathieu Bigand |
8. | Marco Castelli |
9. | Michael Chang |
10. | David Leland |
11. | Lisa Sibenac |
12. | Kristine Dickson |
13. | James Nelson |
14. | Martin Nesbitt |
15. | James A. Star |
16. | Buddy Chester Sub LLC. |
17. | Citrus Intermediate Topco LLC |
18. | Citrus Intermediate Holdings L.P. |
19. | Argos Holdings L.P. |
Schedule II
Annex A
a. Pricing Disclosure Package
Prospectus dated September 19, 2023, relating to the Shelf Securities
Preliminary Prospectus dated September 19, 2024, relating to the Shares
b. Free Writing Prospectuses Included in the Pricing Disclosure Package
None
c. Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters Re: Chewy, Inc. — Public Offering
Underwritten Shares: 16,666,667 shares
Option Shares: 2,500,000 shares
Price per share: $30.00
Exhibit A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
September 19, 2024
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you, as Representative of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Chewy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Selling Stockholder party thereto, providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of shares (the “Securities”) of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the “Lock-up Release Agent”) on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any of its affiliates to, during the period from the date hereof and ending 60 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus” and such period, the “Lock-up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company (“Class B Common Stock”, and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
Exhibit A
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Letter Agreement shall not apply to or prohibit:
(A) | the Securities to be sold by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and any conversion in connection with such sale of Securities; |
(B) | transfers of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to any immediate family member of the undersigned or any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or any immediate family member of the undersigned (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (iii) to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests; or (iv) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iii) above; |
(C) | if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, transfers or distributions of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock to (i) its limited or general partners, members or stockholders or (ii) its affiliates or other entities controlled or managed by the undersigned or any of its affiliates (other than the Company and its subsidiaries); |
(D) | the transfer or disposition of any shares of Common Stock purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the Public Offering; |
(E) | the entering into by the undersigned of a written trading plan (“Rule 10b5-1 Plan”) pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) during the Lock-up Period, provided that no sales or transfers of shares of the undersigned’s Common Stock shall be made pursuant to such Rule 10b5-1 Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period and no filing under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or voluntarily made by the undersigned or any other person in connection therewith without the permission of the Representative, prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period; |
Exhibit A
(F) | the transfer of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all or substantially all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a change of control of the Company (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “change of control” shall mean any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction approved by the board of directors of the Company the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, shall become, after the closing of the transaction, the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of total voting power of the voting securities of the Company), provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall remain subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement during the Lock-up Period; |
(G) | the transfer or disposition of any shares of Common Stock (i) as a result of the operation of law, or pursuant to an order of a court (including a domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree, or separation agreement) or regulatory agency or (ii) by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession; |
(H) | the repurchase of the Common Stock or such other securities by the Company pursuant to equity award agreements or other contractual arrangements providing for the right of said repurchase in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or service with the Company; |
(I) | transfers or sales of the Common Stock pursuant to any Rule 10b5-1 Plan that has been entered into by the undersigned prior to the date of this Letter Agreement, provided that any filing required to be made under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act as a result of such transfer or sale shall state that such transfer or sale is pursuant to a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1; and |
(J) | (i) transfers of Common Stock (or any security convertible into Common Stock) to the Company upon the vesting or settlement of restricted stock units or other equity-based awards granted under an equity incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein), in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis or to cover tax withholding and remittance obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or settlement or (ii) transfer or sales of Common Stock (or any security convertible into Common Stock) following the vesting or settlement of restricted stock units or other equity-based awards granted under an equity incentive plan of the Company disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein) to cover tax obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or settlement, provided, in each case, that any filing required under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that such transfer or sale is to satisfy income tax obligations in connection with the vesting or settlement of equity-based awards; |
Exhibit A
provided that the restrictions described in the paragraphs above do not apply to (i) the transfer of Common Stock pursuant to the concurrent repurchase transaction disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (ii) the transfer of Common Stock to charitable organization transferees or recipients in an aggregate amount, together with any other such transfers made pursuant to an analogous exception included in substantially similar letter agreements executed in connection with the Public Offering, not to exceed 1.00% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the date of the date of the Underwriting Agreement, provided that with respect to any transfer made pursuant to (ii), it will be a condition of such transfer or distribution that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth above; (iii) any pledge, hypothecation or other granting of security interest in the Common Stock to one or more lending institutions as collateral or security for any loan, advance or extension of credit that, in each case, is outstanding as of the date of this Letter Agreement, and any transfer upon foreclosure upon such Common Stock, provided that no filing under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be made voluntarily in connection with such pledge, and if any filing is required to be made under the Exchange Act, the stockholder shall provide Lock-up Release Agent prior written notice; and (iv) any transfer of Common Stock to the Company pursuant to escrow arrangements outstanding on the date of the Underwriting Agreement and any amendments thereof, provided that, with respect to any transfer made pursuant to clause (iv), if the transferor is required to file a report under the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer during the restricted period, such report shall disclose the nature of such transfer;
provided further that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B) or (C), each donee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (B), (1) such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value and (2) no filing by the undersigned or any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that the filing relates to a bona fide gift or that such transfer or other disposition of shares of Common Stock, as applicable, or any security convertible into Common Stock, is to an immediate family member, an entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests, or a nominee or custodian of an immediately family member or such entity, and not a disposition for value; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (C), no filing by the undersigned or any party (transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that the filing relates to a transfer or other disposition of shares of Common Stock, as applicable, or any security convertible into Common Stock, to such entity’s limited or general partners, members or stockholders or its affiliates or other entities controlled or managed by the undersigned; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (D), no filing by the undersigned or any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-up Period referred to above); provided, further, that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (G), no filing by the undersigned or any party (transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act related thereto during the Lock-Up Period, such report shall disclose that such transfer was as a result of the operation of law, or pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency or by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (H), no filing by the undersigned under the Exchange Act, or other public announcement, shall be voluntarily made in connection with any such transfer, and if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act related thereto during the Lock-Up Period, such report shall disclose that such transfer was a result of the repurchase of the Common Stock or such other securities by the Company pursuant to equity award agreements or other contractual arrangements in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or service with the Company.
Exhibit A
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Securities and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representatives may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to you in connection with the Public Offering, the Representatives and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Letter Agreement, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representatives or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.
The undersigned understands that, (i) if prior to signing the Underwriting Agreement, the Company notifies the Underwriters in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iii) if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by October 31, 2024, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
Exhibit A
This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Very truly yours, |
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[NAME OF STOCKHOLDER] | ||
By: |
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Name: Title: |
Exhibit A
Exhibit 5.1
601 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States
+1 212 446 4800
www.kirkland.com |
Facsimile: +1 212 446 4900 |
Chewy, Inc.
7700 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, Florida 33322
Re: | Chewy, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-274535) (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) filed by Chewy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on September 15, 2023, as amended by the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed by the Company with the Commission on September 19, 2024 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).
Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholder has proposed to sell 16,666,667 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), all of which are proposed to be sold to the Underwriter (as defined below) pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the selling stockholder party thereto (the “Selling Stockholder”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (the “Underwriter”). The Shares proposed to be sold by the Selling Stockholder will be issued upon the conversion of an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), of the Company.
For the purposes of this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company with respect to the registration of the Shares and the sale of the Shares, (iii) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, (iv) the base prospectus, dated September 15, 2023, (v) the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated September 19, 2024 , in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act relating to the offering of the Shares (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), (vi) the final prospectus supplement, dated September 19, 2024 , in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act relating to the offering of the Shares (the “Final Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus Supplement”) and (vii) the Underwriting Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other
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Chewy, Inc.
September 23, 2024
Page 2
than the Company and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. We have also assumed any shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Selling Stockholder upon conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock will be issued in accordance with the organizational documents of the Company. We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, but have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company.
Based upon and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth herein, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares issuable upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock have been duly authorized and, when issued upon conversion of Class B Common Stock in accordance with the Company’s organizational documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Our opinion expressed above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, and (iv) any laws except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. In addition, we do not express any opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to contribution or indemnification which may be violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or the enforceability of any so-called fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer “savings clause” (and any similar provision in any other document or agreement) to the extent such provisions purport to limit the amount of the obligations of any party or the right to contribution of any other party with respect to such obligations. We did not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the sale of the Shares.
This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise after the date hereof.
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person for any other purpose. No opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.
Chewy, Inc.
September 23, 2024
Page 3
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K and its incorporation into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP |
Exhibit 10.1
STOCK REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of September 18, 2024 by and among Chewy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Buddy Chester Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Seller”). Each of the Company and the Seller shall be a “Party” and together, “Parties” for purposes of this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Seller holds 235,361,538 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Class B Stock”), which are convertible into shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Class A Stock”);
WHEREAS, the Seller, the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the several underwriters party thereto, intend to enter into an Underwriting Agreement with respect to an underwritten offering (the “Offering”) by the Seller of certain shares of Class A Stock;
WHEREAS, the Seller desires to sell, and the Company desires to repurchase, contingent on the closing of the Offering, a certain number of Class A Shares, rounded down to the nearest whole share (the “Seller Class A Shares”), for an aggregate amount of $300 million, on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement (the “Stock Repurchase”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Stock Repurchase, the Seller shall convert a number of shares of Class B Stock held by the Seller equal to the Seller Class A Shares (the “Seller Class B Shares”) into an equivalent number of shares of Class A Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Seller Class A Shares will be cancelled and retired by the Company upon the consummation of the Stock Repurchase, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) formed a special committee of the Board (the “Special Committee”) comprised solely of disinterested and independent directors to determine whether or not to authorize and to negotiate the terms of the Stock Repurchase;
WHEREAS, the Special Committee has approved the Stock Repurchase and related transactions that may be required in connection with the Stock Repurchase;
WHEREAS, the Board acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee has approved the Stock Repurchase; and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that the Stock Repurchase be a private sale of securities that is exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Stock.
1.1 Sale of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Seller agrees to sell to the Company, and the Company agrees to purchase, on the Closing Date (as defined below) the Seller Class A Shares at a price per share equal to the Share Purchase Price (as defined below) for an aggregate amount of $300 million (the “Aggregate Repurchase Price”). As used herein, the parties hereto acknowledge that the “Share Purchase Price” shall equal the per share purchase price to be paid by the underwriters in the Offering (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will be equal to the per share proceeds, before expenses, to the selling securityholder as reflected on the cover of the final prospectus supplement for the Offering).
1.2 Closing Date. The purchase and sale of the Seller Class A Shares shall take place remotely via the electronic exchange of documents and signatures on the date of the closing of the Offering or at such other time and date as the Company and the Seller shall mutually agree (which time and place are designated as the “Closing Date”). At the Closing Date: (i) the Company shall pay to the Seller in cash the Aggregate Repurchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account that the Seller shall designate in writing and (ii) the Seller and the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Company’s transfer agent a duly executed instruction letter relating to the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares into the Seller Class A Shares and the cancellation of the Seller Class A Shares upon conversion.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller hereby represents and warrants that:
2.1 Ownership of Shares. Upon the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) the Seller shall: (i) own all right, title and interest (legal and beneficial) in and to all of the Seller Class A Shares, free and clear of all liens, including, but not limited to, any lien, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, mortgage, assessment, charge, restriction or limitation of any kind, whether arising by agreement, operation of law or otherwise, except for those imposed by applicable federal and state securities laws; (ii) have good and marketable title to the Seller Class A Shares and (iii) have the full power and authority to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the Company the Seller Class A Shares being sold by Seller to the Company, and upon payment for the Seller Class A Shares, the Company shall acquire valid and unencumbered title to the Seller Class A Shares.
2.2 Authorization; Approval; Enforceability. The Seller has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
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2.3 Consents. To the knowledge of the Seller, no consent, waiver, approval, order, permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any person or entity is required on the part of the Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consents obtained on or before the Closing Date). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company consents to the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares pursuant to Section IV.II.F.1 of the Certificate of Incorporation.
2.4 No Conflicts. To the knowledge of the Seller, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof on the part of the Seller will breach any statutes or regulations of any governmental authority, domestic or foreign, or will conflict with or result in a breach of the Seller’s organizational documents or of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any judgment, order, injunction, decree, agreement or instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller or its assets may be bound, or constitute a default thereunder or an event which with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute a default thereunder, which, in each of the foregoing cases, would have any material adverse impact on the Seller’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
2.5 Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Seller’s knowledge, currently threatened that questions the validity of this Agreement, or the right of the Seller to enter into this Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
2.6 Sophistication of the Seller. The Seller (i) is a sophisticated investor familiar with transactions similar to those contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company to make an informed decision regarding the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares and the sale of the Seller Class A Shares, (iii) has independently and without reliance upon the Company or any of its officers, directors or other affiliates, and based on such information and the advice of such advisors as the Seller has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Seller acknowledges that neither the Company nor any of its affiliates is acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser to the Seller, and has not given the Seller any investment advice, opinion or other information on whether the sale of the Seller Class A Shares is prudent. The Seller acknowledges that (x) the Company currently may have, and later may come into possession of, information with respect to the Company that is not known to the Seller and that may be material to a decision to convert the Seller Class B Shares and sell the Seller Class A Shares (the “Excluded Information”), (y) the Seller has determined to convert the Seller Class B Shares and sell the Seller Class A Shares notwithstanding its lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information and (z) the Company shall have no liability to the Seller, and the Seller waives and releases any claims that it might have against the Company whether under applicable securities laws or otherwise, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information in connection with the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares, the sale of the Seller Class A Shares and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Seller understands that the Company will rely on the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations, and the Seller hereby consents to such reliance. The Seller has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed decision with respect to the Stock Repurchase.
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2.7 Consideration. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement provide good, valuable, and sufficient consideration for every promise, duty, agreement, obligation, and right contained in this Agreement.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants that:
3.1 Authorization; Approval; Enforceability. The Company has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.
3.2 No Consent. To the knowledge of the Company, no consent, waiver, approval, order, permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any person or entity is required on the part of the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (other than consents obtained on or before the Closing Date).
3.3 No Conflicts. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof on the part of Company will breach any statutes or regulations of any governmental authority, domestic or foreign, or will conflict with or result in a breach of the Company’s organizational documents or of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any judgment, order, injunction, decree, agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its assets may be bound, or constitute a default thereunder or an event which with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute a default thereunder, which, in each of the foregoing cases, would have any material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
3.4 Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, currently threatened that questions the validity of this Agreement, or the right of the Company to enter into this Agreement, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.5 Consideration. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement provide good, valuable, and sufficient consideration for every promise, duty, agreement, obligation, and right contained in this Agreement.
4. Conditions of the Obligations of the Seller and the Company. The obligations of the Seller to deliver the Class A Stock and of the Company to purchase and pay for the Class A Stock, in each case as provided herein, shall be subject to the prior or substantially concurrent closing of the Offering.
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If the conditions specified in this Section 4 are not satisfied by September 23, 2024, this Agreement shall automatically terminate without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.13, 5.14 and 5.16 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Conversion of Seller Class B Shares. Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in the Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2023 (the “IRA”), by and among the Company, the Seller and Citrus Intermediate Topco LLC, the conversion of the Seller Class B Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a conversion of shares of Class B Stock for the purposes of Section 6.4 of the IRA.
5.2 Seller’s Tax Obligations. The Seller shall be solely responsible for paying any and all taxes and any tax related penalties, fines and interest related to sale of the Seller Class A Shares pursuant to this Agreement that the Seller is responsible for under the law.
5.3 Indemnification. Each Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its affiliates and their respective representatives (the “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), judgements, fines and losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon the Indemnified Party based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of: (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Indemnifying Party contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement; and (ii) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement.
5.4 Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties.
5.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws.
5.6 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties hereto (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit itself to the sole and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if the subject matter of the action is one over which exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the courts of the United States of America, a federal court sitting in the State of Delaware (collectively, the “Delaware Courts”) in connection with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such litigation in any of the Delaware Courts, (c) agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum and agrees not otherwise to attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (d) agrees that it will not bring any action in connection with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in any court or other tribunal, other than any of the Delaware Courts.
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All actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Delaware Courts. Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that service of process in connection with any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be made upon such Party by prepaid certified or registered mail, with a validated proof of mailing receipt constituting evidence of valid service, directed to such Party at the address specified in Section 5.16 hereof. Service made in such manner, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such Party personally within the State of Delaware. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or prohibit service of process by any other manner as may be permitted by applicable law.
5.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Electronically executed and/or transmitted signature pages shall be accepted as originals for all purposes hereof.
5.8 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
5.9 Finder’s Fee. Each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finders’ fee or commission in connection with the Stock Repurchase. Each Party also represents that it has not entered into any agreements for which such Party would be liable for finders’ fees or commissions in connection with this transaction or any other contemplated transaction. Each Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other Party from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finders’ fee (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which such Party or any of its directors, stockholders, employees or representatives is responsible.
5.10 Amendment and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written consent of the Company and the Seller. Any waiver by any Party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a Party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that Party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.
5.11 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
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5.12 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations, warranties and covenants made by the Seller and the Company shall survive the Closing Date. Notwithstanding any knowledge of facts determined or determinable by any Party by investigation, each Party shall have the right to fully rely on the representations, warranties and covenants of the other Party contained in this Agreement or in any other documents or papers delivered in connection herewith. Each representation, warranty and covenant of the Parties contained in this Agreement is independent of each other representation, warranty and covenant. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Party has made any representation, warranty or covenant.
5.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings related to such subject matter.
5.14 Expenses. Irrespective of whether the Closing Date is effected, each of the Company and the Seller shall pay all costs and expenses that such Party incurs with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions thereby contemplated (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Seller shall bear all underwriting discounts and commissions in respect of the Offering, as well as any transfer taxes in accordance with Section 5.7 of the IRA). If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.
5.15 Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the Parties hereto agrees to execute such additional documents, to use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate or make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.16 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered (a) three (3) business days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (b) one (1) business day after being sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service guaranteeing next business day delivery, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to the Company, at the address set forth below, or at such other address as may have been furnished in writing by the Company to the other parties hereto.
Chewy, Inc.
7700 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, FL 33322
Attention: General Counsel
Email: [***]
If to the Seller, at the address set forth below, or at such other address as may have been furnished in writing by the Seller to the other parties hereto.
Buddy Chester Sub LLC
650 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Michael Chang
Email: [***]
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Joshua Korff, P.C.
Asher Qazi
Email: [***]
[***]
Any Party may give any notice, request, consent or other communication under this Agreement using any other means (including, without limitation, personal delivery, messenger service, first class mail or electronic mail), but no such notice, request, consent or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it is actually received by the Party for whom it is intended. Any Party may change the address to which notices, requests, consents or other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties notice in the manner set forth in this Section 5.16.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE COMPANY:
CHEWY, INC. |
||
By: | /s/ Da-Wai Hu | |
Name: Da-Wai Hu Title: General Counsel and Secretary |
[Signature Page to Stock Repurchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE SELLER:
BUDDY CHESTER SUB LLC |
||
By: | /s/ Michael Chang | |
Name: Michael Chang |
||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Stock Repurchase Agreement]