8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 18, 2021

 

 

Vivid Seats Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40926   86-3355184

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

111 N. Canal Street

Suite 800

Chicago, Illinois

  60606
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(312) 291-9966

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   SEAT   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock   SEATW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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.  ☐

 

 

 


INTRODUCTORY NOTE

As previously announced, Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), previously entered into a transaction agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Horizon”), Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Horizon Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Topco”), Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Intermediate”) and the Company.

On October 18, 2021, as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement and described in the section titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 80 of the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated September 23, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) and filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”):

(a) prior to the Merger (as defined below), Horizon Sponsor irrevocably tendered to Horizon all of its Horizon Class B ordinary shares for cancellation in exchange for (i) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants”), (ii) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares at an exercise of $15.00 per share (the “Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants”) and (iii) 50,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares;

(b) prior to the Merger, Hoya Topco and its subsidiaries effected the Pre-Closing Restructuring (as defined in the Transaction Agreement);

(c) Horizon merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), upon which the separate corporate existence of Horizon ceased and the Company remained as the surviving entity, and by virtue of the Merger, (i) each Horizon ordinary share was converted into a share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (ii) each whole warrant of Horizon was converted into a corresponding whole warrant of the Company (the “Warrants”);

(d) the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Hoya Intermediate was amended and restated (as amended and restated, the “Second A&R LLCA”);

(e) the Company purchased all the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of CM6B Vivid Equity, Inc., CM6C Vivid Equity, Inc., CM7B VS Equity, LLC and CM7C VS Equity, LLC;

(f) Hoya Intermediate issued the Company common units of Hoya Intermediate (the “Intermediate Common Units”) and warrants to purchase Intermediate Common Units;

(g) Hoya Intermediate redeemed all of the Intermediate Common Units held by each of Crescent Mezzanine Partners VI, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII (LTL), L.P. and CBDC Universal Equity, Inc.;

(h) the Company issued 118,200,000 shares of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”) and 6,000,000 warrants to purchase Class B Common Stock to Hoya Topco;

(i) certain investors (including an affiliate of Horizon Sponsor) (the “PIPE Investors”) purchased 47,517,173 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to subscription agreements (as amended from time to time, the “Subscription Agreements”); and

(j) Hoya Intermediate contributed a portion of the funds received from the Company to Hoya Midco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the transactions referred to in clauses (a) through (j), collectively, the “Transactions”).


Following the Transactions, the Company’s ownership is as follows:

 

   

Horizon’s former public stockholders own approximately 7.1% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, all of which is in the form of Class A Common Stock, which represents approximately 7.1% of the voting power of the Company;

 

   

the PIPE Investors (other than any affiliate of Horizon Sponsor) own approximately 5.6% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, all of which is in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents approximately 5.6% of the voting power of the Company;

 

   

Horizon Sponsor and its affiliates own approximately 26.7% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, all of which is in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents approximately 26.7% of the voting power of the Company; and

 

   

Hoya Topco owns approximately 60.6% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, all of which is in the form of shares of Class B Common Stock, which represents approximately 60.6% of the voting power of the Company.

As a result of the Transactions, the Company owns approximately 39.4% of the outstanding equity interests of Hoya Intermediate and Hoya Topco owns approximately 60.6% of Hoya Intermediate.

The foregoing description of the Transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Transaction Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4 of which the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forms a part, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Stockholders’ Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company, Horizon Sponsor and Hoya Topco entered into a stockholders’ agreement (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”). The material terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 99 titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Related Agreements — Stockholders’ Agreement.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Stockholders’ Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) and is incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company, Horizon Sponsor and Hoya Topco entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The material terms of the Registration Rights Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 99 titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Related Agreements — Registration Rights Agreement.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Tax Receivable Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company, Hoya Topco, Hoya Intermediate, GTCR Management XI, LLC and the other TRA Holders (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”). The material terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 102 titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Related Agreements — Tax Receivable Agreement.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Tax Receivable Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.3 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


Second A&R LLCA

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company and Hoya Topco entered into the Second A&R LLCA. The material terms of the Second A&R LLCA are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 97 titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Related Agreements — Second A&R LLCA.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Second A&R LLCA, which is included as Exhibit 10.4 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Class B Warrant Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Company and Hoya Topco entered into a private warrant agreement (the “Class B Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company issued to Hoya Topco 6,000,000 warrants to purchase Class B Common Stock, subject to the conditions set forth therein. The material terms of the Class B Warrant Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 256 titled “Description of Vivid Seats PubCo Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrants.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Class B Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.6 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement

On October 14, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Horizon and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), Horizon’s warrant agent, amended and restated its existing Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2020 (as amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement” and, such amendment, the “Warrant Amendment”), pursuant to which certain changes were implemented that are intended to result in the Horizon IPO Warrants (as defined in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) being accounted for as equity within the balance sheet of Horizon, instead of as a liability measured at fair value with non-cash fair value adjustments recorded in earnings at each reporting period. On October 14, 2021, the warrant holders of Horizon approved and consented to the Warrant Amendment. The material terms of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement are described in the sections of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 160 titled “Warrant Holder Proposal 1: Warrant Amendment Proposal,” beginning on page 248 titled “Description of Vivid Seats PubCo Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Exchange Warrants — Public” and beginning on page 254 titled “Description of Vivid Seats PubCo Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Vivid Seats PubCo IPO Exchange Warrants — Private.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.7 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Vivid Seats $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement

On October 15, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Horizon issued to Horizon Sponsor 17,000,000 Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants, subject to the conditions set forth in that certain private warrant agreement (the “$10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement”), by and between Horizon and Continental. On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants were converted into warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock, subject to the same terms as in the $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement. The material terms of the $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 255 titled “Description of Vivid Seats PubCo Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.8 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Vivid Seats $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement

On October 15, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Horizon issued to Horizon Sponsor 17,000,000 Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants, subject to the conditions set forth in that certain private warrant agreement (the “$15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement”), by and between Horizon and Continental. On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants were converted into warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock, subject to the same terms as in the $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement. The material terms of the $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement are described in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 255 titled “Description of Vivid Seats PubCo Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants.” Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.9 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


$10.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, the Company and Hoya Topco entered into a private warrant agreement (the “$10.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which Hoya Intermediate issued to Hoya Topco 3,000,000 warrants to purchase Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $10.00 per unit, subject to the conditions set forth therein. The material terms of the $10.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement are substantially similar to those of the $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement. Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the $10.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.10 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

$15.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Hoya Intermediate and Hoya Topco entered into a private warrant agreement (the “$15.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which Hoya Intermediate issued to Hoya Topco 3,000,000 warrants to purchase Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $15.00 per unit, subject to the conditions set forth therein. The material terms of the $15.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement are substantially similar to those of the $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement. Such description is qualified in its entirety by the text of the $15.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.11 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, the Company made the following sales of unregistered securities, as further described in the disclosure set forth under the Introductory Note above:

 

   

47,517,173 shares of Class A Common Stock to the PIPE Investors for aggregate consideration of approximately $443.7 million;

 

   

118,200,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and 6,000,000 warrants to purchase Class B Common Stock to Hoya Topco for nominal cash consideration;

 

   

6,519,791 warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock to Horizon Sponsor upon conversion of their warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of Horizon; and

 

   

17,000,000 warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, and 17,000,000 warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock at $15.00 per share to Horizon Sponsor upon conversion of the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants, respectively, in exchange for irrevocably tendering to Horizon all of its Class B ordinary shares of Horizon for cancellation.

The Company issued the foregoing securities in transactions not involving an underwriter and not requiring registration under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on the exemption afforded by Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Upon the consummation of the Transactions, Stanley Chia, Jane DeFlorio, Craig Dixon, Julie Masino, Martin Taylor, Todd Boehly and Tom Ehrhart were appointed as directors of the Company, joining Mark Anderson, David Donnini on the board of directors, to serve until the end of their respective terms and until their successors are elected and qualified. Julie Masino, Craig Dixon and Jane DeFlorio were appointed to serve on the Company’s audit committee, with Jane DeFlorio serving as the chair and qualifying as an audit committee financial expert, as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. David Donnini was appointed as Chairman of the board of directors.


Reference is also made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Officers and Directors of Vivid Seats PubCo Upon Consummation of the Business Combination” beginning on page 264 for biographical information about each of the directors following the Transactions, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Certain relationships and related person transactions of the Company and its directors are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” beginning on page 291 and are incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, each of the Company’s executive officers and directors entered into an indemnification agreement with the Company, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 to this Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On October 18, 2021, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and as contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company amended and restated its certificate of incorporation (as amended, the “Amended & Restated Charter”) and amended and restated its bylaws (as amended, the “Amended & Restated Bylaws”) to, among other things,

(i) change its authorized capital stock to 500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 250,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share,

(ii) authorize that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to cast one vote per share of common stock and

(iii) authorize that certain provisions of the Amended & Restated Charter and Amended & Restated Bylaws, in each case, will be subject to the Stockholders’ Agreement. The Amended & Restated Charter and the Amended & Restated Bylaws are set forth in Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to this Report, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Reference is also made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section “Organizational Documents Proposals” beginning on page 144, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

The unaudited financial statements of Hoya Intermediate as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for such period and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the audited financial statements of Hoya Intermediate as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are set forth in Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 to this Report, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

The unaudited financial statements of Horizon as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and the audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are set forth in Exhibits 99.4 and 99.5 to this Report, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Pro forma financial information.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Horizon and Hoya Intermediate as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 is set forth in Exhibit 99.6 to this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.


(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

3.1    Amended and Restated Charter of the Company.
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
10.1*    Stockholders’ Agreement.
10.2    Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement.
10.3*    Tax Receivable Agreement.
10.4    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Hoya Intermediate, LLC.
10.5    Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.6    Class B Warrant Agreement.
10.7    Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement.
10.8    $10.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement.
10.9    $15.00 Exercise Warrant Agreement.
10.10    $10.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement.
10.11    $15.00 Intermediate Warrant Agreement.
99.1    Unaudited financial statements of Hoya Intermediate, LLC as of and for the three and six months ended June  30, 2021 (incorporated by reference to the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated September 23, 2021, filed by the Company).
99.2    Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Hoya Intermediate, LLC.
99.3    Audited financial statements of Hoya Intermediate, LLC as of and for the years ended December  31, 2020 and 2019 (incorporated by reference to the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated September 23, 2021, filed by the Company).
99.4    Unaudited financial statements of Horizon Acquisition Corporation as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Horizon Acquisition Corporation’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021).
99.5    Audited financial statements of Horizon Acquisition Corporation as of and for the years ended December  31, 2020 and 2019 (incorporated by reference to the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated September 23, 2021, filed by the Company).
99.6    Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

*

Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Company agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Vivid Seats Inc.
Date: October 22, 2021    
    By:  

/s/ Lawrence Fey

    Name: Lawrence Fey
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

VIVID SEATS INC.

Stanley Chia, being the Chief Executive Officer of Vivid Seats Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY as follows:

FIRST: The present name of the Corporation is Vivid Seats Inc. The Corporation was incorporated under the name Vivid Seats Inc. by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State on March 29, 2021 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

SECOND: The Board of Directors of the Corporation, pursuant to a unanimous written consent, adopted resolutions authorizing the Corporation to amend, integrate and restate the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof (the “Restated Certificate”).

THIRD: The Restated Certificate restates and integrates and further amends the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation.

FOURTH: That the stockholders of the Corporation, pursuant to written consent, approved and adopted the Restated Certificate in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FIFTH: The Restated Certificate has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Vivid Seats Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 18th day of October, 2021.

 

VIVID SEATS INC.
By: /s/ Stanley Chia                                                       
Name:Stanley Chia
Title: Chief Executive Officer

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vivid Seats Inc.


Exhibit A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

VIVID SEATS INC.

ARTICLE ONE.

The name of the corporation is Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE TWO.

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE THREE.

The nature and purpose of the business of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).

ARTICLE FOUR.

Section 4.01 Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 800,000,000 shares, consisting of:

 

  1.

50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”);

 

  2.

500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); and

 

  3.

250,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”).

The Preferred Stock and the Common Stock shall have the designations, rights, powers and preferences and the qualifications, restrictions and limitations thereof, if any, set forth below.

Section 4.02 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide, by resolution or resolutions for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers (including voting powers), preferences, and relative, participating,

 

1


optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the approval of the Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

Section 4.03 Common Stock.

(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided by or pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation:

(i) Each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder.

(ii) Each holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder.

(iii) Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote (and, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock).

(iv) The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

(v) The holders of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote separately as a class upon any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event or otherwise) that would alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of a class of stock so as to affect them adversely. The number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, without a separate vote of the holders of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends in cash, stock or property of the Corporation, such dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock.

 

2


(c) Liquidation, Dissolution, etc. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation as required by law and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.

(d) Reclassification. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock may be subdivided, split, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed unless contemporaneously therewith the other class of Common Stock and the common units (the “LLC Units”) of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”) are subdivided, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in the same manner.

(e) Restriction on Issuance of Class B Common Stock. No shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued by the Corporation except to a holder of LLC Units, such that after such issuance the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock holds an identical number of LLC Units and shares of Class B Common Stock.

(f) Restriction on Transfer of Class B Common Stock. A holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer or assign shares of Class B Common Stock (or any legal or beneficial interest in such shares) (directly or indirectly, including by operation of law) only to a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the LLC Agreement) of such holder, and only if such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s LLC Units to such Permitted Transferee in compliance with the LLC Agreement. Any purported transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock to any Person other than a Permitted Transferee, or not accompanied by a simultaneous transfer of such holder’s LLC Units to such Permitted Transferee shall be null and void ab initio and shall not be recognized or given effect by the Corporation, the Corporation’s transfer agent or the Secretary of the Corporation. “LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Intermediate, dated on or about the date hereof, as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

(g) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.

Section 4.04 Certain Provisions Related to Redemption Rights.

(a) Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock for Redemptions or Exchanges. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, for the purposes of effecting any redemptions or exchanges pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable in connection with the redemption or exchange of all outstanding LLC Units as a result of any Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement (including for this purpose any LLC

 

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Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or similar rights to acquire LLC Units), as applicable (without regard to any restrictions on Redemption contained therein and assuming no Redemptions for Cash Payment). All the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange of such LLC Units will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(b) Retirement of Class B Common Stock. In the event that (a) a share of Class A Common Stock is issued as a result of any Redemption or Direct Exchange of an LLC Unit held by a Unitholder pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement or (b) a Redemption by Cash Payment is effected with respect to any LLC Unit held by a Unitholder pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement, a share of Class B Common Stock held by such Unitholder chosen by the Corporation in its sole discretion will automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or the holder thereof be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration and thereupon shall automatically be retired and cease to exist, and such share thereafter may not be reissued by the Corporation.

(c) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the following terms have the meaning given to them in the LLC Agreement: “Cash Payment”, “Direct Exchange”, “Redemption” and “Unitholder”.

ARTICLE FIVE.

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

Section 5.02 Number of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances or otherwise, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall initially be 9 and, thereafter, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution of the Board.

Section 5.03 Classes of Directors. The directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III.

Section 5.04 Election and Term of Office. The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares cast; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one or more directors pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by such holders. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date hereof, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders following the date hereof and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders following the date hereof. For the purposes hereof, the Board of Directors may assign directors already in office to Class I, Class II and Class III. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the date hereof, directors elected to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual

 

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meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting after their election and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which such director’s term expires and a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Nothing in this Certificate of Incorporation shall preclude a director from serving consecutive terms. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended and/or restated, the “Bylaws”) shall so provide.

Section 5.05 Newly-Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except as otherwise set forth in that certain Stockholders’ Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the investors named therein (as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or any other cause may be filled only by resolution of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and may not be filled in any other manner. A director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. A director elected or appointed to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been elected or appointed and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 5.06 Removal and Resignation of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except as otherwise set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least a majority in voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class (“Voting Stock”) and (ii) on and after the Trigger Date, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders called for that purpose. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. “Trigger Date” means the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least thirty percent (30%) of the Voting Stock. “Principal Stockholder” means, collectively, Hoya Topco, LLC, GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., GTCR Golder Rauner II, L.L.C., GTCR Management XI LLC and GTCR LLC. “Affiliated Companies” means (a) in respect of the Principal Stockholder, any entity that Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Principal Stockholder (other than the Corporation and any entity that is Controlled by the Corporation) and any investment funds managed by the Principal Stockholder and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any entity Controlled by the Corporation. “Control” is defined in ARTICLE NINE.

 

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Section 5.07 Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the provisions of this ARTICLE FIVE, whenever the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately or together by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be subject to the rights of such series of Preferred Stock. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

Section 5.08 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

Section 5.09 Chair of the Board. So long as the Principal Stockholder beneficially owns in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least thirty percent (30%) or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors shall be designated solely by a majority of the directors nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder.

ARTICLE SIX.

Section 6.01 Limitation of Liability.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader exculpation than permitted prior thereto), no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any act, omission or other matter occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN.

Section 7.01 Action by Written Consent. Prior to the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Stock, any action which is required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice (except as otherwise set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement) and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of the Corporation’s stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. From and after the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Stock, any action which is required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied without a meeting; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided the resolutions creating such series of Preferred Stock.

Section 7.02 Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies, or (ii) prior to the Trigger Date, by the Chair of the Board of Directors at the written request of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock in the manner provided for in the Bylaws. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE EIGHT.

Section 8.01 Certain Acknowledgments. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain of the directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees of the Principal Stockholder or its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation and (ii) the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies may engage in material business transactions with the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies, and that the Corporation is expected to benefit therefrom, the provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT are set forth to regulate and define to the fullest extent permitted by law the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve the Principal Stockholder

 

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and/or its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies and/or their respective directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation (collectively, the “Exempted Persons”), and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its officers, directors and stockholders in connection therewith. “Sponsor” means Horizon Sponsor, LLC. “Sponsor Affiliated Companies” means (a) in respect of the Sponsor, any entity that Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Sponsor (other than the Corporation and any entity that is Controlled by the Corporation) and any investment funds managed by the Sponsor and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any entity Controlled by the Corporation.

Section 8.02 Competition and Corporate Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Exempted Persons shall have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies, and no Exempted Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of any such activities of the Principal Stockholder, its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies or such Exempted Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its Affiliated Companies, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its Affiliated Companies might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, the Sponsor and the Sponsor Affiliated Companies and each Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation or its Affiliated Companies and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation, any of its Affiliated Companies or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that the Principal Stockholder, one of its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies or any such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, sells, assigns, transfers or directs such business opportunity to another Person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or any of its Affiliated Companies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.02, the Corporation does not renounce any interest or expectancy it may have in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to any Exempted Person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and not in any other capacity.

Section 8.03 Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

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Section 8.04 Amendment of this Article. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this ARTICLE EIGHT; provided however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this ARTICLE EIGHT nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this ARTICLE EIGHT shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption.

Section 8.05 Deemed Notice. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any shares of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT.

ARTICLE NINE.

Section 9.01 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation expressly elects not to be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL.

Section 9.02 Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined hereinafter) at any point in time at which the Class A Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with any Interested Stockholder (as defined hereinafter) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

(a) prior to such time the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

(b) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, such stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Voting Stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the Voting Stock outstanding (but not the outstanding Voting Stock owned by such Interested Stockholder) those shares owned (i) by Persons (as defined hereinafter) who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans of the Corporation in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

(c) at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.

Section 9.03 Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions. The restrictions contained in this ARTICLE NINE shall not apply if:

 

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(a) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an Interested Stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

(b) the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Section 9.03(b); (ii) is with or by a Person who either was not an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or who became an Interested Stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any Person becoming an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required); (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent (50%) or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock (as defined hereinafter) of the Corporation; or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all Interested Stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Section 9.03(b).

Section 9.04 Definitions. As used in this ARTICLE NINE and, solely with respect to the term “Control,” as also used in Section 5.06, only, and unless otherwise provided by the express terms of this ARTICLE NINE, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as set forth in this Section 9.04:

(a) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person;

(b) “Associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such Person is a director, officer or general partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of Voting Stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person;

(c) “Business Combination” means:

 

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(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with (A) the Interested Stockholder, or (B) any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 9.02 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock of the Corporation;

(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any Stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the Interested Stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to an exchange of LLC Units into Class A Common Stock, to the extent provided in the LLC Agreement, (C) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (D) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of Stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the Interested Stockholder became such; (E) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Stock made on the same terms to all holders of such Stock; or (F) any issuance or transfer of Stock by the Corporation; provided however, that in no case under items (D)-(F) of this Section 9.04(c)(iii) shall there be an increase in the Interested Stockholder’s proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the Voting Stock of the Corporation;

(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the Stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the Stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of Stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Stockholder; or

(v) any receipt by the Interested Stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in Section 9.04(c)(i)-(iv)) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation;

 

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(d) “Control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise. A Person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary; notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such Person holds Voting Stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this ARTICLE NINE, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such Rule is in effect as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation) have control of such entity;

(e) “Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this ARTICLE NINE to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (w) the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies, (x) the Principal Stockholder or any of its Affiliated Companies, or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of Stock of the Corporation, (y) any Person who would otherwise be an Interested Stockholder either in connection with or because of a transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation (in one transaction or a series of transactions) by the Principal Stockholder or any of its Affiliated Companies, or any of its Affiliates or Associates to such Person; provided, however, that such Person was not an Interested Stockholder prior to such transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition; or (z) any Person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that, for purposes of this clause (z) only, such Person shall be an Interested Stockholder if thereafter such Person acquires additional shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further action by the Corporation not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person;

(f) “Owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any Stock, means a Person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns such Stock, directly or indirectly, or has (A) the right to acquire such Stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of Stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered Stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any Stock

 

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because of such Person’s right to vote such Stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such Stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more Persons; or (C) any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in (B) of this Section 9.04(f)), or disposing of such Stock with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such Stock; provided, that, for the purpose of determining whether a Person is an Interested Stockholder, the Voting Stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include Stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of this definition of “owned” but shall not include any other unissued Stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;

(g) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity;

(h) “Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, any capital stock of such corporation and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest of such entity; and

(i) “Voting Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, Stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of Voting Stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such Voting Stock.

ARTICLE TEN.

Section 10.01 Amendments to the Bylaws. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, prior to the Trigger Date, the Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board, (ii) the stockholders by, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock) and any other vote otherwise required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, on and after the Trigger Date, the Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board or (ii) by the stockholders by, in addition to the vote of any holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

Section 10.02 Amendments to this Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock required by law or otherwise, no provision of ARTICLE FIVE, ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE

 

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TEN or ARTICLE ELEVEN of this Certificate of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE ELEVEN.

Section 11.01 Exclusive Forum. Unless this Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (A) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, this provision, including for any “derivative action”, will not apply to suits to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and (B) the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Section 11.02 Notice. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including, without limitation, shares of Class A Common Stock) shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE ELEVEN.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE.

Section 12.01 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

[FINAL]

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

VIVID SEATS INC.

A Delaware corporation

(Adopted as of October 18, 2021)

ARTICLE I.

OFFICES

Section 1.01 Offices. Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be as stated in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

ARTICLE II.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may designate a place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such date and time as is specified by resolution of the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, stockholders shall elect directors to succeed those whose terms expire at such annual meeting and transact such other business as properly may be brought before the annual meeting pursuant to Section 2.11 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (these “Bylaws”). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.04 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take action at a meeting, notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders not physically present may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”)) or the Certificate of Incorporation.


(a) Form of Notice. All such notices shall be delivered in writing or in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his, her or its address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If delivered by courier service, notice shall be deemed given at the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address as the same appears on the records of the Corporation. If given by electronic mail, notice shall be deemed given when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the DGCL. Notice to stockholders may also be given by other forms of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder. If given by facsimile telecommunication, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice by facsimile. If given by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, such notice shall be deemed given upon the later of (x) such posting and (y) the giving of such separate notice. If notice is given by any other form of electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(b) Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the stockholder entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission given by the stockholder entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a stockholder of the Corporation at a meeting of such stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and does not further participate in the meeting.

(c) Notice by Electronic Transmission. Notwithstanding Section 2.04(a), a notice may not be given by electronic transmission from and after the time: (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation; and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice. However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. For purposes of these Bylaws, except as otherwise limited by applicable law, the term “electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such recipient through an automated process. A notice by electronic mail must

 

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include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information.

Section 2.05 List of Stockholders. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder. Nothing contained in this section shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.06 Quorum. The holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present, the chair of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another time and/or place from time to time until a quorum shall be present in person or represented by proxy. When a specified item of business requires a vote by a class or series (if the Corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more than one class or series) voting as a separate class or series, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such class or series) for the transaction of such item of business. A quorum once established at a meeting shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 2.07 Adjourned Meetings. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place. When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 2.08 Vote Required. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, when a quorum has been established, all matters other than the election of directors shall be determined by the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter, unless by express provisions of the DGCL or other an applicable law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a minimum or different vote is required, in which case such minimum or different vote shall be the required vote for such matter. Except as otherwise provide in the Certificate of Incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Section 2.09 Voting Rights. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.

Section 2.10 Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.

Section 2.11 Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations.

(a) Business at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(i) Only such business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 2.11(b)) shall be conducted at an annual meeting of the stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting (A) as specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly

 

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authorized committee thereof, (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 2.11(a)(iii), on the record date for determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) at the time of the meeting, is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.11(a)(iii). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (C) of this Section 2.11(a)(i) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose such business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or business brought by the Principal Stockholder (as defined below) and any entity that controls, is controlled by or under common control with the Principal Stockholder (other than the Corporation and any company that is controlled by the Corporation) and any investment vehicles or funds managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by or otherwise affiliated with the Principal Stockholder (the “Principal Stockholder Affiliates”) at any time prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date (as defined below)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii) For any business (other than (A) nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 2.11(b) or (B) business brought by any of Hoya Topco, LLC, GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.L., GTCR Golder Rounder II, L.L.C., GTCR Management XI LLC and/or GTCR LLC (collectively, the “Principal Stockholder”) and the Principal Stockholder Affiliates at any time prior to the date when the Principal Stockholder ceases to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least 10% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Advance Notice Trigger Date”)) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 2.11(a)(iii) to the Secretary; any such proposed business must be a proper matter for stockholder action and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person (as defined in Section 2.11(e)) must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined in Section 2.11(a)(iii)) required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for such business (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time prior to the mailing of the definitive proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act related to the next annual meeting of stockholders) must be delivered by hand and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on June 10, 2021); provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than for purposes of the Corporation’s first

 

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annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded), such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of (A) the tenth (10th) day following the day the Public Announcement (as defined in Section 2.11(e)) ) of the date of the annual meeting is first made or (B) the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 2.11(a) will be deemed received on any given day only if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day).

(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter of business the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

(A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting (including the specific text of any resolutions or actions proposed for consideration and if such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the specific language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting;

(B) the name and address of the stockholder proposing such business, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person;

(C) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person, a description of any Derivative Positions (as defined in Section 2.11(e)) directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and to the extent to which a Hedging Transaction (as defined in Section 2.11(e))) has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person;

(D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder, any Stockholder Associated Person or such other person or entity in such business;

(E) a representation that such stockholder is a stockholder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting;

 

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(F) any other information related to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents (even if a solicitation is not involved) by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder; and

(G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to the holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the proposal or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of the proposal (such representation, a “Solicitation Statement”).

In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to Section 2.11(a) is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 2.11(d).

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business (other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, which must be made in compliance with and are governed exclusively by Section 2.11(b)) shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.11(a).

(b) Nominations at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(i) Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11(b) shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof or (B) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.11(b) on the record date for determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11(b). For the avoidance of doubt, clause (A) of this Section 2.11(b)(ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 2.11(b)(iii) to the Secretary and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time up to thirty-five (35) days prior to the next annual meeting of stockholders) must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the

 

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Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on June 10, 2021); provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded), such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of the tenth (10th) day following the day the Public Announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made and the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise on the next succeeding day). For the avoidance of doubt, a stockholder shall not be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in these Bylaws.

(iii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(A) as to each person that the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (3) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by the person, (4) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (5) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or is otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee of the stockholder, if applicable, and to serving as a director if elected);

(B) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, the name and address (if different from the Corporation’s books) of such proposing stockholder, and the name and address of any Stockholder Associated Person;

(C) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities, a description of any Derivative Positions directly or indirectly held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, and whether and the extent to which a Hedging Transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person;

 

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(D) a description of all arrangements or understandings (including financial transactions and direct or indirect compensation) between or among such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and each proposed nominee and any other person or entity (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder;

(E) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice;

(F) any other information relating to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents for a contested election of directors (even if an election contest or proxy solicitation is not involved), or otherwise required, pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder; and

(G) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to the holders of a sufficient number of the Corporation’s outstanding shares reasonably believed by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, as the case may be, to elect each proposed nominee or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of the nomination (such representation, a “Nomination Solicitation Statement”).

In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 2.11(d) and shall comply with Section 2.11(f).

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.11(b)(ii) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 2.11(b)(ii) and there is no Public Announcement naming the nominees for additional directorships at least ten (10) days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(ii), a stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.11(b) of this Article II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting.

 

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(c) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting. Only persons who are nominated in accordance and compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11(c) shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the notice of meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, any duly authorized committee thereof, or stockholders (if stockholders are permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Certificate of Incorporation) or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors or stockholders (if stockholders are permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Certificate of Incorporation) has determined that directors are to be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.11(c) and at the time of the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures provided for in this Section 2.11(c). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) of this Section 2.11(c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at a special meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in this Section 2.11(c) to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time up to the later of (i) thirty-five (35) days prior to the special meeting of stockholders and (ii) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the Close of Business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which a Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise on the next succeeding day). To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice shall set forth all of the information required by, and otherwise be in compliance with, Section 2.11(b)(iii). In addition, any stockholder who submits a notice pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, in accordance with Section 2.11(d) and shall comply with Section 2.11(f). The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting.

 

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(d) Update and Supplement of Stockholder’s Notice. Any stockholder who submits a notice of proposal for business or nomination for election pursuant to this Section 2.11 is required to update and supplement the information disclosed in such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting of stockholders and as of the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to such meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the Close of Business on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the record date for the meeting of stockholders (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the Close of Business on the eighth (8th) Business Day prior to the date for the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) Business Days prior to the meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 2.11, the term:

(i) “Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, NY are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close;

(ii) “Close of Business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and if an applicable deadline falls on the Close of Business on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable deadline shall be deemed to be the Close of Business on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(iii) “Derivative Positions” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any derivative positions including, without limitation, any short position, profits interest, option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise and any performance-related fees to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled based, directly or indirectly, on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of capital stock of the Corporation;

(iv) “Hedging Transaction” means, with respect to a stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, any hedging or other transaction (such as borrowed or loaned shares) or series of transactions, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding, the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power or economic or pecuniary interest of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the Corporation’s securities;

(v) “Public Announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

 

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(vi) “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (A) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder or (C) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

(f) Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be qualified to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in the case of a person nominated by a stockholder in accordance with Section 2.11(b) or Section 2.11(c), in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under such sections) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five (5) Business Days of such written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request written request of any stockholder of record identified by name within five (5) Business Days of such) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and (iii) would be in compliance, and if elected as a director of the Corporation will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

(g) Update and Supplement of Nominee Information. The Corporation may also, as a condition to any such nomination or business being deemed properly brought before an annual meeting, require any Stockholder Associated Person or proposed nominee to deliver to the Secretary, within five (5) Business Days of any such request, such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Corporation, including such other information as may be reasonably required by the Board, in its sole discretion, to determine (A) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, (B) whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, Securities and Exchange Commission and stock exchange rules or regulation, or any publicly disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation and (C) such other information that the Board of Directors determines could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

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(h) Authority of Chair; General Provisions. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether any nomination or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or brought in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws (including whether the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by Section 2.11(a)(iii)(G) or Section 2.11(b)(iii)(G), as applicable, of these Bylaws) and, if any nomination or other business is not made or brought in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such nomination or proposal of other business be disregarded and not acted upon. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(i) Compliance with Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules, regulations and schedules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 2.11.

(j) Effect on Other Rights. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to (A) affect any rights of the stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) confer upon any stockholder a right to have a nominee or any proposed business included in the Corporation’s proxy statement, except as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, (C) affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or (D) limit the exercise, the method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation to nominate directors (including pursuant to that Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of on or about October 18, 2021, by and among the Corporation and the investors named therein, which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.11.

Section 2.12 Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date

 

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of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting in conformity herewith; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 at the adjourned meeting.

Section 2.13 Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting. So long as stockholders of the Corporation have the right to act by written consent in accordance with Section 7.01 of the Certificate of Incorporation, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting as may be permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the certificate of designation relating to any outstanding class or series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days after the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by written notice delivered to the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal place of business during regular business hours, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date, which notice shall include the text of any proposed resolutions. Notices delivered pursuant to Section 2.13(a) will be deemed received on any given day only if received prior to the close of business on such day (and otherwise shall be deemed received on the next succeeding business day). The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which such written notice is properly delivered to and deemed received by the Secretary, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.13(a)). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 2.13(a) or otherwise within ten (10) days of receipt of a valid request by a stockholder, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required pursuant to applicable law, shall be the first date after the expiration of such ten (10) day time period on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.13(b); provided, however, that if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting shall in such an event be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(b) Generally. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 2.13, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the first date on which a consent is

 

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delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by applicable law. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to an electronic transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given by the Corporation (at its expense) to those stockholders who have not consented and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

Section 2.14 Conduct of Meetings.

(a) Generally. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board, if any, or in the Chair’s absence or disability, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or disability, by the President, or in the President’s absence or disability, by a Vice President (in the order as determined by the Board of Directors), or in the absence or disability of the foregoing persons by a chair designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence or disability of such person, by a chair chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence or disability the chair of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (vi) restrictions on the use of mobile phones, audio or video recording devices and similar devices at the meeting. The chair of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chair should so determine, such chair shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance

 

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with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chair of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chair of the meeting shall have the power, right and authority, for any or no reason, to convene, recess and/or adjourn any meeting of stockholders.

(c) Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.

Section 2.15 Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder; (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

ARTICLE III.

DIRECTORS

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

Section 3.02 Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that the annual meeting of stockholders takes place telephonically or through any other means by which the stockholders do not convene in any one location, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal offices of the Corporation immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

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Section 3.03 Regular Meetings and Special Meetings. Regular meetings, other than the annual meeting, of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by (i) the Chair of the Board, if any, (ii) by the Secretary upon the written request of a majority of the directors then in office or (iii) if the Board of Directors then includes a director nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder, by any director nominated or designated for nomination by the Principal Stockholder, or (iv) if the Board of Directors then includes a director nominated or designated for nomination by Horizon Sponsor, LLC, by any director nominated or designated by Horizon Sponsor, LLC, and in each case shall be held at the place, if any, on the date and at the time as he, she or they shall fix. Any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.04 Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of each regular and annual meeting of the Board of Directors for which notice is required, shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 3.04. Such notice shall state the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting. Notice of any special meeting, and of any regular or annual meeting for which notice is required, shall be given to each director at least (a) twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if by telephone or by being personally delivered or sent by overnight courier, telecopy, electronic transmission, email or similar means or (b) five (5) days before the meeting if delivered by mail to the director’s residence or usual place of business. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage prepaid, or when transmitted if sent by telex, telecopy, electronic transmission, email or similar means. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

Section 3.05 Waiver of Notice. Any director may waive notice of any meeting of directors by a writing signed by the director or by electronic transmission. Any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof who is present at a meeting shall have waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and does not further participate in the meeting. Such member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such action.

 

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Section 3.06 Chair of the Board, Quorum, Required Vote and Adjournment. The Board of Directors may elect a Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board must be a director and may be an officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chair of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors at which he or she is present and have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If the Chair of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chair of the Board) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of the directors present at the meeting to so preside. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that a quorum shall never be less than one-third the total number of directors. Unless by express provision of an applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws a different vote is required, the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 3.07 Committees.

(a) The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, including an executive committee, consisting of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, and any committees required by the rules and regulations of such exchange as any securities of the Corporation are listed. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided by the DGCL and in the resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors upon request.

(b) Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

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Section 3.08 Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After the action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in the same paper form or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

Section 3.09 Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees, reimbursement of expenses and equity compensation, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity, including for attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors or participation on any committees. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 3.10 Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such member’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 3.11 Telephonic and Other Meetings. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

ARTICLE IV.

OFFICERS

Section 4.01 Number and Election. Subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer to appoint officers as set forth in Section 4.11, the officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.

Section 4.02 Term of Office. Each officer shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.

Section 4.03 Removal. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the Board of Directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by a resolution of the Board of Directors, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 4.11 may also be removed by the Chief Executive Officer in his or her sole discretion.

 

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Section 4.04 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 4.11.

Section 4.05 Compensation. Compensation of all executive officers shall be approved by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of his or her also being a director of the Corporation.

Section 4.06 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the powers and perform the duties incident to that position. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of the Chair of the Board, or if a Chair of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at each meeting of (a) the Board of Directors if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and (b) the stockholders. Subject to the powers of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be in general and active charge of the entire business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall be its chief policy making officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or provided in these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. Whenever the President is unable to serve, by reason of sickness, absence or otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform all the duties and responsibilities and exercise all the powers of the President.

Section 4.07 The President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the powers of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, have general charge of the business, affairs and property of the Corporation, and control over its officers, agents and employees. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President is authorized to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The President shall, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, act with all of the powers and be subject to all of the restrictions of the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or as may be provided in these Bylaws or otherwise are incident to the position of President.

Section 4.08 Vice Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board, shall, perform such duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Vice President. The Vice Presidents may also be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

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Section 4.09 The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors (other than executive sessions thereof) and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose or shall ensure that his or her designee attends each such meeting to act in such capacity. Under the Board of Directors’ supervision, the Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, all notices required to be given by these Bylaws or by law; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Secretary; and shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, any of the assistant secretaries, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 4.10 The Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with applicable law or generally accepted accounting principles; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors; shall receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be disbursed when such disbursements have been duly authorized, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Board of Directors, at its regular meeting or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the financial condition and operations of the Corporation; shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or these Bylaws may, from time to time, prescribe or which otherwise are incident to the position of Chief Financial Officer. The Treasurer, if any, shall in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chief financial officer, subject to the power of the board of directors. The Treasurer, if any, shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may, from time to time, prescribe.

Section 4.11 Appointed Officers. In addition to officers designated by the Board in accordance with this Article IV, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to appoint other officers below the level of Board-appointed Vice President as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time deem expedient and may designate for such officers titles that appropriately reflect their positions and responsibilities. Such appointed officers shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the senior officer to whom they report, consistent with corporate policies. An appointed officer shall serve until the earlier of such officer’s resignation or such officer’s removal by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors at any time, either with or without cause.

 

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Section 4.12 Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these Bylaws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.13 Officers’ Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.

Section 4.14 Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may by resolution delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director, or to any other person whom it may select.

ARTICLE V.

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

Section 5.01 Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that, the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by two authorized officers of the Corporation including, but not limited to, the Chair of the Board (if an officer), the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation at the date of issue. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books

 

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of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall, if required by applicable law, send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

Section 5.02 Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue or direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Corporation may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

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

Section 5.04 Fixing a Record Date for Purposes Other Than Stockholder Meetings or Actions by Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action (other than stockholder meetings and stockholder written consents which are expressly governed by Section 2.12 and Section 2.13 hereof), the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 6.01 Dividends. Subject to and in accordance with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and any certificate of designation relating to any series of preferred stock, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared and paid by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which they were created.

Section 6.02 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.

Section 6.03 Contracts. In addition to the powers otherwise granted to officers pursuant to Article IV hereof, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 6.04 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 6.05 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no seal shall be required by virtue of this Section.

Section 6.06 Voting Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in any other corporation or entity held by the Corporation shall be voted by the Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which authority may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.

Section 6.07 Facsimile/Electronic Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws and subject to applicable law, facsimile and other forms of electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used.

 

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Section 6.08 Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

Section 6.09 Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL, any other applicable law or the Nomination Agreement, the provision (or part thereof) of these Bylaws shall be construed and deemed to have been revised to conform to the applicable provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL, other applicable law or the Nomination Agreement, as the case may be, the applicable provisions of which shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference so as to eliminate any such inconsistency.

ARTICLE VII.

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.01 Right to Indemnification and Advancement. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (“ERISA”) and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 7.02 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advance of expenses (as defined below), the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 7.01 or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its

 

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Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement to employees and agents of the Corporation. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chair of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article IV, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article IV of these By-laws, and any reference to an officer of any other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other enterprise for purposes of this Article VII unless such person’s appointment to such office was approved by the board of directors pursuant to Article VII.

Section 7.02 Procedure for Indemnification. Any claim for indemnification or advance of expenses by an indemnitee under this Section 7.02 shall be made promptly, and in any event within forty-five (45) days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty (20) days; provided that the director or officer has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 7.01 if required), upon the written request of the indemnitee. If the Corporation denies a written request for indemnification or advance of expenses, in whole or in part, or if payment in full pursuant to such request is not made within forty-five (45) days (or, in the case of an advance of expenses, twenty (20) days; provided that the indemnitee has delivered the undertaking contemplated by Section 7.01 if required), the right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article VII shall be enforceable by the indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such person’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of expenses where the undertaking required pursuant to Section 7.01, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proof shall be on the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, a committee thereof, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

Section 7.03 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another

 

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corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Section 7.04 Service for Subsidiaries. Any person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, at least 50% of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for purposes of this Article VII) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.

Section 7.05 Reliance. Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this Article VII in entering into or continuing such service. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this Article VII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

Section 7.06 Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Continuation of Rights of Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement and payment of expenses conferred in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation or under any statute, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Notwithstanding the existence of any of the foregoing rights, the Corporation (a) is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., the Corporation’s obligations to any indemnitee under these Bylaws are primary and any duplicative, overlapping or corresponding obligations of any other party are secondary), (b) shall be required to make all advances of expenses and other payments required under this Article VII, and shall be fully liable therefor, without regard to any rights any indemnitee may have against any affiliate or associate of such indemnitee and (c) irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases all affiliates and associates of such indemnitee for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. All rights to indemnification under this Article VII shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each person who is an indemnitee under this Article VII at any time while this Article VII is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Article VII or repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the DGCL or any other applicable laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to any proceeding arising out of, or relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such repeal or modification.

 

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Section 7.07 Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article VII, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

Section 7.08 Savings Clause. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 7.01 as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification and advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this Article VII to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated.

ARTICLE VIII.

AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed or new Bylaws adopted only in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

FINAL

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

This Stockholders’ Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of October 18, 2021, by and among:

(i) Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”);

(ii) Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Topco”); and

(iii) Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Horizon” and, together with Topco, each a “Voting Party” and together the “Voting Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Voting Parties, Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Horizon Corp”), pursuant to which the parties thereto have agreed to consummate the Transactions (as defined in the Transaction Agreement);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, the Company and the Voting Parties are party to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, supplemented, restated and/or modified from time to time, the “Registration Rights Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, the Voting Parties have agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement;

WHEREAS, as of immediately following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) each Voting Party Beneficially Owns (as defined below) the respective number of shares of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) and Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), set forth on Annex A hereto;

WHEREAS, the number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (as defined below) by each Voting Party may change from time to time, in accordance with the terms of (x) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as it may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time (the “Charter”), (y) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as it may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time (the “Bylaws”) and (z) the Registration Rights Agreement, which changes shall be reported by each Voting Party in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, Topco Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the Company;

 


WHEREAS, each Voting Party believes that it is in their respective best interests to qualify the Company as a “controlled company” under the listing standards of Nasdaq; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain nomination rights with respect to elections of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and restrictions on transfers of the Common Stock.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the promises and covenants contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Transaction Agreement. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.

Beneficially Owned” or “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.

Board” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Bylaws” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Charter” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Closing” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Closing Amount” means the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding on the date hereof, as such number may be adjusted from time to time for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar changes in the Company’s capitalization. For the avoidance of doubt, the Common Stock issued in connection with the PIPE Subscription shall be included with the Closing Amount.

Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Transaction Agreement.

Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

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Company” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.

Exchange Act” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Horizon” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.

Horizon Designees” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

Horizon Equityholders” shall mean Horizon and any investment vehicles or funds managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any of Horizon’s Affiliates.

Horizon Sunset Date” means the date the Horizon Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own a number of Voting Shares representing less than five percent (5%) of the Original Amount.

Horizon Transferee” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15(b).

Lock-up” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7(a).

Lock-up Period” shall mean the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending twelve (12) months following the Closing Date.

Lock-up Shares” shall mean (i) any shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders, other than, with respect to the Horizon Equityholders, the Common Stock received in connection with the PIPE Subscription (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) and (ii) any warrants Beneficially Owned by the Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders that are exercisable for shares of Common Stock.

Necessary Action” means, with respect to any party and a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are not prohibited by applicable law, within such party’s control and do not directly conflict with any rights expressly granted to such party in this Agreement, the Transaction Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Charter or the Bylaws) reasonably necessary and desirable within his, her or its control to cause such result, including, without limitation (i) calling special meetings of the Board and the stockholders of the Company, (ii) voting or providing a proxy with respect to the Voting Shares beneficially owned by such party, (iii) voting in favor of the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the Charter or Bylaws, including executing written consents in lieu of meetings, (iv) requesting members of the Board (to the extent such members were elected, nominated or designated by the party obligated to undertake such action) to act (subject to any applicable fiduciary duties) in a certain manner or causing them to be removed in the event they do not act in such a manner and (v) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such a result.

Nasdaq” means the [Nasdaq Global Market].

 

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Original Amount” means the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock held, directly or indirectly, by the Topco Equityholders (with respect to any calculation of Common Stock held by the Topco Equityholders) or the Horizon Equityholders (with respect to any calculation of Common Stock held by the Horizon Equityholders) on the date hereof, as such number may be adjusted from time to time for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar changes in the Company’s capitalization. For the avoidance of doubt, the Common Stock received by the Horizon Equityholders in connection with the PIPE Subscription shall be included with the Original Amount.

Permitted Transferees” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7(b).

Registration Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Representatives” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.

Topco Equityholders” shall mean (a) Topco or (b) after the distribution (in the aggregate pursuant to one or more distributions) by Topco of more than 50% of the Voting Shares held by Topco on the date hereof, (i) GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., GTCR Golder Rauner II, L.L.C., GTCR Management XI LLC and/or GTCR LLC and (ii) any investment vehicles or funds managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by or otherwise affiliated with the foregoing entities.

Topco Sunset Date” means the date the Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own a number of Voting Shares representing less than five percent (5%) of the Original Amount (assuming, for this purpose, that all outstanding Intermediate Common Units (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) held or controlled by the Topco Equityholders are and were exchanged at the applicable times of measurement by the Topco Equityholders for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the A&R LLCA and without regard to the Lock-Up or any other restriction on exchange).

Topco Transferee” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15(b).

Transaction Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Transfer” means the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

Voting Party” or “Voting Parties” shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

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Voting Shares” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.

2. Agreement to Vote. During the term of this Agreement, each Voting Party shall vote or cause to be voted all securities of the Company that may be voted in the election of the Company’s directors registered in the name of, or beneficially owned (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, including by the exercise or conversion of any security exercisable or convertible for shares of Common Stock, but excluding shares of stock underlying unexercised options or warrants) (“Beneficially Owned” or “Beneficial Ownership”) by such Voting Party, including any and all securities of the Company acquired and held in such capacity subsequent to the date hereof (hereinafter referred to as the “Voting Shares”), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including voting or causing to be voted all Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Voting Party so that the Board is comprised of the Persons designated pursuant to Section 3(a). Except as explicitly provided in this Agreement, each Voting Party is free to vote or cause to be voted all Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Voting Party. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 2 shall require a Voting Party to exercise or convert any security exercisable or convertible for voting securities of the Company.

3. Board of Directors.

(a) Board Representation. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement, the Company and each Voting Party shall take all Necessary Action to cause, effective immediately following the Closing Date, the Board to be comprised of nine (9) directors, comprised of (i) the chief executive officer of the Company, (ii) five (5) directors designated by the Topco Equityholders (the “Topco Designees” and each a “Topco Designee”), of which at least one (1) shall qualify as an “independent director” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company and (iii) three (3) director designated by the Horizon Equityholders (the “Horizon Designees”), of which at least two (2) shall qualify as “independent directors” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company. From the Closing Date, the Horizon Equityholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate (I) three (3) Horizon Designees, so long as the Horizon Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 12% of the Closing Amount, of which at least two (2) shall qualify as “independent directors” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company, (II) two (2) Horizon Designees, so long as the Horizon Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 6% but less than 12% of the Closing Amount, each of which shall qualify as “independent directors” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company, and (III) until the Horizon Sunset Date, one (1) Horizon Designee, who shall qualify as an “independent director” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company; provided that, the loss of the right to designate the Horizon Designee pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall not shorten the term of such Horizon Designee then-serving on the Board. From the Closing Date, the Topco Equityholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate (A) five (5) Topco Designees, so long as the Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 24% of the Closing Amount, of which at least one (1) shall qualify as an “independent director” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Company, (B) four (4) Topco Designees, so long as the Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 18% but less than 24% of the Closing Amount, (C) three (3) Topco Designees, so long as the Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 12% but less than 18% of the Closing Amount, (D) two (2) Topco Designees, so long as the

 

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Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own at least 6% but less than 12% of the Closing Amount and (E) until the Topco Sunset Date, one (1) Topco Designee; provided that, no reduction in the number of Topco Designees that the Topco Equityholders are entitled to designate pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall shorten the term of any Topco Designee then-serving on the Board; provided further that, once the Topco Equityholders, in the aggregate, Beneficially Own less than 40% of the Closing Amount, none of the Topco Designees shall be required to qualify as “independent directors” under any stock exchange regulations. In the event the size of the Board is increased in accordance with applicable law and the Company’s organizational documents, the Topco Equityholders shall have the right to designate a number of directors of the Board which give the Topco Equityholders the same percentage of total directors on the Board as permitted to be designated pursuant to this Section 3(a), rounded up to the next whole number.

(b) Sunset on Designees. From the date of this Agreement until the Topco Sunset Date, the Company shall, and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to, include the Topco Designees in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, including at every adjournment or postponement thereof, at which directors are to be elected. From the date of this Agreement until the Horizon Sunset Date, the Company shall, and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to, include the Horizon Designees in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, including at every adjournment or postponement thereof, at which directors are to be elected. Once the Topco Equityholders and Horizon Equityholders, as applicable, lose the right to nominate a director in accordance with Section 3(a) above, the selection of such director shall be conducted in accordance with applicable law and with the Charter, Bylaws and the other corporate governance documents of the Company.

(c) Resignation; Removal; Vacancies.

(i) Any Topco Designee or Horizon Designee may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board.

(ii) (A) The Topco Equityholders shall have the exclusive right to remove one or more of the Topco Designees from the Board, and the Company and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to cause the removal of any such Topco Designee(s) at the written request of the Topco Equityholders and (B) the Topco Equityholders shall have the exclusive right, in accordance with Section 3(a), to designate directors for election to the Board to fill any vacancies created by reason of death, removal or resignation of the Topco Designees, and the Company and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to cause any such vacancies to be filled by replacement Topco Designees as promptly as reasonably practicable.

(iii) (A) The Horizon Equityholders shall have the exclusive right to remove the Horizon Designee from the Board, and the Company and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to cause the removal the Horizon Designee at the written request of the Horizon Equityholders and (B) the Horizon Equityholders shall have the exclusive right, in accordance with Section 3(a), to designate a director for election to the Board to fill any vacancy created by reason of death, removal or resignation of the Horizon Designee, and the Company and the Voting Parties shall take all Necessary Action to cause any such vacancy to be filled by a replacement Horizon Designee as promptly as reasonably practicable.

 

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(d) Committees. Until the Topco Sunset Date, the Topco Equityholders shall have the right to designate a number of members of each committee of the Board equal to the nearest whole number greater than the product obtained by multiplying (a) the percentage of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by the Topco Equityholders and (b) the number of positions, including any vacancies, on the applicable committee, provided that any such designee shall be eligible to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law or listing standards of Nasdaq, including any applicable independence requirements (subject in each case to any applicable exceptions, including those for newly public companies and for “controlled companies,” and any applicable phase-in periods). Until the Horizon Sunset Date, Horizon shall have the right to appoint one (1) member of each committee of the Board, provided that any such designee shall be eligible to serve on the applicable committee under applicable law or listing standards of Nasdaq, including any applicable independence requirements (subject in each case to any applicable exceptions, including those for newly public companies and for “controlled companies,” and any applicable phase-in periods). Any additional members shall be determined by the Board. Nominees designated to serve on a Board committee shall have the right to remain on such committee until the next election of directors, regardless of any decrease in the percentage of the total voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by the Topco Equityholders following such designation. Unless the Topco Equityholders notify the Company prior to the time the Board takes action to change the composition of a Board committee, and to the extent the Topco Equityholders have the right to nominate a Board committee member in accordance with this Section 3(d) at the time the Board takes action to change the composition of any such Board committee, any director currently designated by the Topco Equityholders to serve on a committee shall be presumed to be re-designated for such committee.

(e) Board Observer. In addition to the nomination rights set forth in Section 3(a) above, (i) until the Topco Sunset Date, Topco Equityholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate a person (a “Non-Voting Observer”), and (ii) until the Horizon Sunset Date, Horizon shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate a Non-Voting Observer, in each case, to attend meetings of the Board (including any meetings of any committees thereof) or any board of directors or similar governing body of any subsidiary of the Company (a “Subsidiary Board”) in a non-voting observer capacity. Any such Non-Voting Observer shall be permitted to attend all meetings of the Board or such Subsidiary Board. The Topco Equityholders and Horizon shall each have the right to remove and replace its Non-Voting Observer at any time and from time to time. The Company shall furnish to any Non-Voting Observer (i) notices of Board or Subsidiary Board meetings no later than, and using the same form of communication as, notice of Board or Subsidiary Board meetings are furnished to directors and (ii) copies of any materials prepared for meetings of the Board or Subsidiary Board that are furnished to the directors no later than the time such materials are furnished to the directors. Any such Non-Voting Observers shall be required to execute or otherwise become subject to any codes of conduct or confidentiality agreements of the Company or such subsidiary generally applicable to directors of the Company or such subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company (or such subsidiary) reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude the Non-Voting Observers from receiving any materials and/or attending any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company (or such subsidiary) and its counsel.

 

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(f) Voting. Each of the Company and the Voting Parties agree not to take, directly or indirectly, any actions (including removing directors in a manner inconsistent with this Agreement) that would knowingly frustrate, obstruct or otherwise affect the provisions of this Agreement and the intention of the parties hereto with respect to the composition of the Board as herein stated. Each Voting Party, to the extent not prohibited by the Charter, shall vote all Voting Shares held by such Voting Party in such manner as may be necessary to elect and/or maintain in office as members of the Board those individuals designated in accordance with this Section 3 and to otherwise effect the intent of the provisions of this Agreement. Each Voting Party further agrees until the Topco Sunset Date and Horizon Sunset Date, as applicable, (i) to take all Necessary Action reasonably available within their power, including casting all votes to which such Voting Party is entitled in respect of its Voting Shares, whether at any annual or special meeting, by written consent or otherwise, so as to vote its Voting Shares on all matters submitted to the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the recommendation of the Board and (ii) not to grant, or enter into a binding agreement with respect to, any proxy to any Person in respect of such party’s Common Stock that would prohibit such party from casting such votes in accordance with clause (i).

4. Controlled Company.

(a) The Voting Parties agree and acknowledge that by virtue of the Topco Equityholders’ voting power of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Company outstanding as of the date hereof, the Company will, as of the date hereof, qualify as a “controlled company” within the meaning of Section 303A of the Nasdaq Listed Company Manual.

(b) From and after the date hereof, the Company agrees and acknowledges that, unless otherwise agreed by the Topco Equityholders, it shall elect, to the extent permitted under the Nasdaq Listed Company Manual, to be treated as a “controlled company” within the meaning of Section 303A of the Nasdaq Listed Company Manual.

5. Representations and Warranties of each Voting Party. Each Voting Party on its own behalf hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the other Voting Party, severally and not jointly, with respect to such Voting Party and such Voting Party’s ownership of his, her or its Voting Shares set forth on Annex A, as of the date of this Agreement, as follows:

(a) Organization; Authority. Such Voting Party (i) is duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and (ii) has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Voting Party. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Voting Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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(b) No Consent. Except as provided in this Agreement and for filing requirements under applicable securities laws, no consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority or other Person on the part of Voting Party is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or to make such designations, declarations or filings would not materially interfere with a Voting Party’s ability to perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) No Conflicts; Litigation. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance with the terms hereof, will (A) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of Voting Party or (B) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under any provision of, any trust agreement, loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, notice, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Voting Party or to Voting Party’s property or assets, except, in the case of clause (B), that would not reasonably be expected to impair, individually or in the aggregate, Voting Party’s ability to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of such Voting Party, threatened, against such Voting Party or any of Voting Party’s Affiliates or any of their respective assets or properties that would materially interfere with such Voting Party’s ability to perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement or that would reasonably be expected to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Ownership of Shares. Voting Party Beneficially Owns its Voting Shares free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions under applicable securities laws or this Agreement. Except pursuant to this Agreement, the Transaction Agreement, the A&R LLCA and the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no options, warrants or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character to which Voting Party is a party relating to the pledge, acquisition, disposition, Transfer or voting of Voting Shares and there are no voting trusts or voting agreements with respect to the Voting Shares. Voting Party does not Beneficially Own (i) any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Voting Shares set forth on Annex A and (ii) any options, warrants or other rights to acquire any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any security exercisable for or convertible into shares of capital stock of the Company, other than as set forth on Annex A.

6. Covenants of the Company.

(a) The Company shall: (i) take any and all action reasonably necessary to effect the provisions of this Agreement and the intention of the parties with respect to the terms of this Agreement and (ii) not take any action that would reasonably be expected to adversely frustrate, obstruct or otherwise affect the rights of the Voting Parties under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Voting Parties.

 

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(b) The Company shall (i) purchase and maintain in effect at all times directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount and pursuant to terms determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary, (ii) for so long as any Topco Designee or Horizon Designee nominated pursuant to this Agreement serves as a director on the Board, maintain such coverage with respect to such Topco Designee and Horizon Designee, and (iii) cause the Charter and Bylaws to at all times provide for the indemnification, exculpation and advancement of expenses of all directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law; provided, that upon removal or resignation of any Topco Designee or Horizon Designee for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six (6) years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.

(c) The Company shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Topco Designees and Horizon Designee in connection with the performance of his or her duties as a director and in connection with his or her attendance at any meeting of the Board. The Company shall enter into customary indemnification agreements with each Topco Designee, Horizon Designee and officer of the Company from time to time. The Company shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Non-Voting Observers in connection with the performance of his or her duties in connection with his or her attendance at any meeting of the Board.

7. Lock-up.

(a) Subject to Sections 7(b) and except as otherwise determined by the Board, each of the Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders agree that they shall not Transfer any of their Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-up Period (the “Lock-up”); provided that, (i) 50% of their respective Lock-up Shares shall be released on the date that is six (6) months following the Closing and (ii) the remaining Lock-up Shares shall be released on any date, at least six (6) months following the Closing, on which (A) the price per Lock-up Share exceeds $15.00 per share for twenty (20) trading days within a consecutive thirty (30) day trading period and (B) the average daily trading volume exceeds one (1) million shares of Common Stock during such consecutive thirty (30) trading day period. Any waiver of the restrictions set forth in this Section 7(a) shall require the approval of a majority of the directors of the Board; provided, however, (i) any waiver of the restrictions in this Section 7(a) in respect of Lock-up Shares held by any of the Topco Equityholders shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Board who are not Topco Designees and (ii) any waiver of the restrictions in this Section 7(a) in respect of Lock-up Shares held by any of the Horizon Equityholders shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Board excluding the Horizon Designee.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 7(a), each of the Topco Equityholders, the Horizon Equityholders and any of their respective Permitted Transferees shall be permitted to Transfer their Lock-up Shares during the Lock-up Period (i) to (A) the Company’s officers or directors, (B) any affiliates or family members of the Company’s officers or directors or (C) with respect to any Topco Equityholder and its Permitted Transferees, any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of the Topco Equityholders, any Affiliates of the Topco Equityholders or any related investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such persons or their respective Affiliates or, with respect to any Horizon Equityholder and its Permitted

 

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Transferees, any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of the Horizon Equityholders, any Affiliates of the Horizon Equityholders or any related investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such persons or their respective Affiliates; (ii) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person; (iii) by gift to a charitable organization; (iv) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (v) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) in connection with any bona fide mortgage, encumbrance or pledge to a financial institution in connection with any bona fide loan or debt transaction or enforcement thereunder; (vii) to the Company (provided that any Transfers to the Company are pro rata as between the Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders, except as otherwise approved by the Board (including at least one Topco Designee and one Horizon Designee)); or (viii) in connection with a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization, tender offer approved by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date (each such transferee in clauses (i) – (vii) collectively, a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (v) these Permitted Transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Section 7.

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Lock-up Period shall expire, and each Topco Equityholder, Horizon Equityholder and its respective Permitted Transferees, shall be entitled to Transfer all of its Lock-up Shares, immediately upon the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property.

8. Confidentiality. The Company acknowledges that the Topco Designees and Horizon Designees may, including through one-on-one conversations, communicate confidential information obtained in each of their respective capacities as a director of the Company (other than information whose provision would reasonably be expected to pose a conflict of interest) to the officers, employees, external counsel or other third-party advisors (collectively, “Representatives”) of the Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders with a duty to keep such information confidential, in each case, in accordance with and subject to this Section 8. The Topco Equityholders and the Horizon Equityholders will, and will cause their respective Affiliates and direct their respective Representatives who actually receive Confidential Information to, except as otherwise required by applicable law, keep confidential any information (including oral, written and electronic information) concerning the Company, its subsidiaries or its Affiliates that may be furnished to any Topco Equityholder, Horizon Equityholder or their respective Representatives by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Representatives pursuant to this Section 8 (“Confidential Information”); provided, that Confidential Information will not include information that (a) was or becomes available to the public other than as a result of a breach of any confidentiality obligation in this Agreement, (b) was or becomes available to the Topco Equityholders, the Horizon Equityholders or their respective Representatives from a source other than the Company or its Representatives or (c) was independently developed by the Topco Equityholders, the Horizon Equityholders or their respective representatives without reference to, incorporation of, or other use of any Confidential Information.

 

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9. No Other Voting Trusts or Other Arrangement. Each Voting Party shall not, and shall not permit any entity under such Voting Party’s control to (i) deposit any Voting Shares or any interest in any Voting Shares in a voting trust, voting agreement or similar agreement, (ii) grant any proxies, consent or power of attorney or other authorization or consent with respect to any of the Voting Shares or (iii) subject any of the Voting Shares to any arrangement with respect to the voting of the Voting Shares, in each case, that conflicts with or prevents the implementation of this Agreement.

10. Additional Shares. Each Voting Party agrees that all securities of the Company that may vote in the election of the Company’s directors that such Voting Party purchases, acquires the right to vote or otherwise acquires Beneficial Ownership of (including by the exercise or conversion of any security exercisable or convertible for shares of Common Stock) after the execution of this Agreement shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement and shall constitute Voting Shares for all purposes of this Agreement.

11. Specific Enforcement. It is agreed and understood that monetary damages would not adequately compensate an injured party for the breach of this Agreement by any party hereto and, accordingly, that this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable, in addition to any other remedy to which such injured party is entitled at law or in equity, and that any breach of this Agreement shall be the proper subject of a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order. Further, each party hereto waives any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law for such breach or threatened breach or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity and agrees that a party’s rights would be materially and adversely affected if the obligations of the other parties under this Agreement were not carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. Each party further agrees that no party shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtain any remedy referred to in this Section 11, and each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

12. Termination. Following the Closing, (a) Sections 2, 3, and 6 of this Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) on the first date on which no Voting Party has the right to designate a director to the Board under this Agreement; provided, that the provisions in Section 6(b) shall survive such termination; (b) Section 4 of this Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) on the first date on which the combined voting power of the Topco Equityholders no longer exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Company then outstanding; (c) Section 8 of this Agreement shall terminate (i) as to Topco one (1) year after the last Topco Designee no longer serves on the Board and (ii) as to Horizon one (1) year after the Horizon Designee no longer serves on the Board; and (d) the remainder of this Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) (i) as to Topco when the Topco Equityholders cease to Beneficially Own any Voting Shares and (ii) as to Horizon when the Horizon Equityholders cease to Beneficially Own any Voting Shares.

 

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13. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Company and the Voting Parties. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

14. Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, etc. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization or the like, any securities issued with respect to Voting Shares held by Voting Parties shall become Voting Shares for purposes of this Agreement. During the term of this Agreement, all dividends and distributions payable in cash with respect to the Voting Shares shall be paid, as applicable, to each of the undersigned Voting Parties and all dividends and distributions payable in Common Stock or other equity or securities convertible into equity with respect to the Voting Shares shall be paid, as applicable, to each of the undersigned Voting Parties, but all dividends and distributions payable in Common Stock or other equity or securities convertible into equity shall become Voting Shares for purposes of this Agreement.

15. Assignment.

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, duties, interests or obligations of the Company hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

(b) Prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, no Voting Party may assign or delegate such Voting Party’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Voting Shares by such Voting Party to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and this Section 15; provided, that the rights hereunder that are personal to the Voting Parties may not be assigned or delegated in whole or in part, except that (i) the Topco Equityholders shall be permitted to transfer rights hereunder as the Topco Equityholders to one or more other Topco Equityholders or any of their respective Affiliates or direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders (each, a “Topco Transferee”), (ii) the Horizon Equityholders shall be permitted to transfer rights hereunder as the Horizon Equityholders to one or more other Horizon Equityholders or any of their respective Affiliates or direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders (each, a “Horizon Transferee”)and (iii) the Topco Equityholders shall be permitted to designate any Topco Transferee as a “Topco Equityholder” and the Horizon Equityholders shall be permitted to designate any Horizon Transferee as a “Horizon Equityholder”, in each case, for purposes of this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were an initial signatory hereto.

(c) This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall, subject to Section 15(c), inure to the benefit of, shall be enforceable by and shall be binding upon the respective assigns and successors in interest of the Voting Parties, including with respect to any of such Voting Party’s Voting Shares that are transferred to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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(d) No assignment in accordance with this Section 15 by any party hereto (including pursuant to a transfer of any Voting Party’s Voting Shares) of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company or any other party hereto unless and until each of the other parties hereto shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 23 and (ii) the executed written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to each of the other parties hereto, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement) as fully as if it were an initial signatory hereto. Each Voting Party shall not permit the transfer of any such Voting Party’s Voting Shares to a Permitted Transferee unless and until the person to whom such securities are to be transferred has executed a written agreement as provided in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

(e) Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 15 shall be null and void.

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of determining the number of shares of capital stock of the Company held by the Voting Parties, the aggregate number of shares so held by the Voting Parties shall include any shares of capital stock of the Company transferred or assigned to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 15; provided, that any such Permitted Transferee has executed a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement as contemplated by Section 15(d) above, including agreeing to vote or cause to be voted the Voting Shares Beneficially Owned by such Permitted Transferee as required of a Voting Party hereunder.

16. Treatment of Warrants. In the event the terms of the Horizon Warrants (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) are not modified prior to the Closing in a manner resulting in the treatment of such Horizon Warrants as equity under the rules and guidelines of the SEC at and after the Closing, the Horizon Equityholders and the Topco Equityholders shall support any action taken by the Board to cause the outstanding warrants of the Company immediately following the closing to be treated as equity under the rules and guidelines of the SEC, including by voting (in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders or warrantholders of the Company, or by written consent) its Common Stock and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock in favor of any such changes to the extent such a vote is required.

17. Actions by the Topco Equityholders and Horizon Equityholders. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) any action to be taken hereunder by the Topco Equityholders shall be taken by the action of the Topco Equityholders holding a majority of the Common Stock then-owned by such Topco Equityholders and (b) any action to be taken hereunder by the Horizon Equityholders shall be taken by the action of the Horizon Equityholders holding a majority of the Common Stock then-owned by such Horizon Equityholders.

18. Other Rights. Except as provided by this Agreement, each Voting Party shall retain the full rights of a holder of shares of capital stock of the Company with respect to the Voting Shares, including the right to vote the Voting Shares subject to this Agreement.

19. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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20. Governing Law. This Agreement, the rights and duties of the parties hereto, any disputes (whether in contract, tort or statute), and the legal relations between the parties arising hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to its conflicts of laws provisions.

21. Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be brought against any of the parties in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or any Delaware state court located in Wilmington, Delaware, and each of the parties hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.

22. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

24. Notices. Any notices provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery or (iii) transmission by electronic mail. Notices provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided, (x) if to the Company, Hoya Topco or Horizon, in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement or (y) to any other address or email address, as a party designates in writing to the other parties in accordance with this Section 23.

25. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties, and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among the parties, with regard to the subject matter hereof, and no party shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any warranties, representations or covenants except as specifically set forth herein.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow]

 

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

 

COMPANY:
Vivid Seats Inc.
a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
VOTING PARTIES:
Hoya Topco, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

/s/ Stanly Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
Horizon Sponsor, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

/s/ Todd Boehly

  Name: Todd Boehly
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

[Final Form]

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 18, 2021, is made and entered into by and among Vivid Seats, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Topco”), and Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor,” and, together with Topco and any person or entity who is identified on the signature pages hereto as a “Holder” or hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, the “Holders” and each, a “Holder”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company and predecessor to the Company (“Horizon”), and the Sponsor are party to that certain Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2020 (the “Original Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company, Topco, the Sponsor, Horizon and Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”) have entered into that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, Horizon merged with and into the Company, with Horizon ceasing to exist as a separate corporation and the Company surviving the merger as the surviving corporation;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company (as may be amended and restated from time to time, the “Company Certificate of Incorporation”), the Company is authorized to issue the following classes of stock: (a) Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (b) Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share and (c) Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share;

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the closing of its initial public offering, Horizon issued and sold certain of its redeemable private placement warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares of Horizon, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), to the Sponsor or its Affiliates as part of Horizon’s private placement units (the “Private Placement Warrants”);

WHEREAS, Horizon and Sponsor have entered into that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, effective prior to the Merger, Sponsor irrevocably surrendered to Horizon 13,599,608 Class B ordinary shares of Horizon, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), in exchange for (a) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “New $10.00 Exercise Warrants”), (b) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $15.00 per share (the “New $15.00 Exercise Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and the New $10.00 Exercise Warrants, the “Warrants”) and (c) 50,000 Class A Ordinary Shares;


WHEREAS, upon the Effective Time, each Class A Ordinary Share was converted into one share of Class A Common Stock, as set forth in the Transaction Agreement, and each Warrant issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time became a warrant exercisable to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant agreement;

WHEREAS, upon the closing of the Transactions, certain investors (collectively, the “PIPE Investors”) purchased an aggregate of 22,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act (as defined below) pursuant to certain subscription agreements, each dated as of April 21, 2021, and entered into by Horizon and each of the PIPE Investors (each, a “Subscription Agreement” and, collectively, the “Subscription Agreements);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Intermediate (“Second A&R LLCA”), Intermediate has provided Topco with a redemption right pursuant to which Topco may redeem its Intermediate Common Units (as defined below) for cash or, at the option of the Board of Managers of Intermediate, exchange Intermediate Common Units for an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Second A&R LLCA and the Company Certificate of Incorporation; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions described above, the Company (as successor to Horizon) and the Sponsor desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein, and the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Transaction Agreement. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

Action” means any claim, action, suit, charge, audit, examination, assessment, arbitration, mediation or inquiry, or any proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the chief executive officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a

 

2


material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (c) as to which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any other person who directly or indirectly, through one (1) or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative thereto.

Agreement” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Class A Common Stock” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Closing Date” means October 18, 2021.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.

Company Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Demanding Holder” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

Form S-1 Shelf” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Form S-3 Shelf” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, state, provincial or municipal government, or any political subdivision thereof, and any agency, commission, department, board, bureau, official, minister, arbitral body (public or private), tribunal or court, whether national, state, provincial, local, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of a nation, state, province or municipal government, or any political subdivision thereof, including any authority having governmental or quasi-governmental powers, domestic or foreign.

 

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Holders” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.

Holder Information has the meaning given in subsection 4.1.2.

Horizon” has the meaning given in the preamble hereto.

Intermediate” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Intermediate Common Units” means the common units of Intermediate.

Lock-Up Period” shall mean the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending twelve (12) months following the Closing Date.

Maximum Number of Securities” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

Minimum Takedown Threshold” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Misstatement” means an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

Original Agreement” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Permitted Transferee” means, in the case of any Holder, a person to whom, or entity to which, Registrable Securities are transferred by such Holder; provided that (a) such transfer does not violate the Company’s governing documents, or any agreements between such Holder and the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries and (b) such transferee shall only be a Permitted Transferee if and to the extent the transferor designates the transferee as a Permitted Transferee entitled to rights hereunder pursuant to subsection 5.2.3.

Piggyback Registration” has the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

PIPE Investors” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance on Rules 430A or 430B under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Registrable Security” means (a) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock held by a Holder immediately following the Closing (which shall include all shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of Intermediate Common Units (including Intermediate Common Units issued in the future pursuant to the exercise of any Topco Intermediate Warrants) outstanding on the date of this Agreement or upon the exercise of any Warrants outstanding on the

 

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date of this Agreement and all shares of Class A Common Stock originally issued as Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and later converted into Class A Common Stock, but exclude any security received pursuant to an incentive plan adopted by the Company or its subsidiaries on or after the Closing Date); (b) any Warrants held by a Holder immediately following the Closing; (c) any shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company to a Holder in connection with the exchange of Intermediate Common Units acquired by a Holder following the date hereof; (d) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrant) of the Company acquired by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and (e) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a conversion, distribution, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to constitute Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the date on which such securities have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other exemption from registration under the securities laws of the United States; and (ii) the date on which such securities cease to be outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, while Intermediate Common Units may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to register Intermediate Common Units, and only shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon redemption or exchange of Intermediate Common Units will be registered.

Registration” means a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a registration statement, prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

Registration Expenses” means the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

  (a)

all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed;

 

  (b)

fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

  (c)

printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

  (d)

reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

  (e)

reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

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  (f)

reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders in an Underwritten Offering.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Requesting Holder” means any Holder requesting piggyback rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to an Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

Second A&R LLCA” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

Shelf Registration” means a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).

Shelf Takedown means an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.

Sponsor” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

Stockholders’ Agreement” means that certain Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2021, by and among the Sponsor, Topco and the Company.

Subscription Agreements” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Subsequent Shelf Registration” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.

Topco” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

Topco Intermediate Warrants” means warrants to purchase (i) 3,000,000 Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $10.00 per share and (ii) 3,000,000 Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, in each case issued to Topco in connection with the Transactions.

Transaction Agreement” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Transactions” has the meaning given in the Transaction Agreement.

Transfer” means the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, or (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

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Underwriter” means any investment banker(s) and manager(s) appointed to administer the offering of any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering.

Underwritten Offering” means a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

Underwritten Shelf Takedown” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

Warrants” has the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

Withdrawal Notice” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATIONS

2.1 Shelf Registration.

2.1.1 Filing. The Company shall file, within 30 days of the Closing Date, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or, if the Company is eligible to use a Registration Statement on Form S-3, a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf,” and together with the Form S-1 Shelf, as applicable (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration), the “Shelf”), in each case, covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing) on a delayed or continuous basis. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing. The Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. The Company shall maintain the Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.

2.1.2 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4 use its reasonable best efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its reasonable best efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend

 

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such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement if the Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer) and (b) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form. In the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon request of a Holder shall promptly use its reasonable best efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, the Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or a Subsequent Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered once annually after inquiry of the Holders.

2.1.3 Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. At any time and from time to time after the Shelf has been declared effective by the Commission, Topco or the Sponsor (in such case, a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50,000,000 (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Holders that requested such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one (1) or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the initial Demanding Holder’s prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Topco, on the one hand, and the Sponsor, on the other hand, may each demand not more than three (3) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns pursuant to this Section 2.1.3 in any twelve-(12-) month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.

 

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2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advise the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggyback rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and all other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights held by any other shareholders, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: At all times (a) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (b) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (a), the equity securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (c) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) such other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

2.1.5 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Shelf Takedown; provided that Topco or the Sponsor may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown by Topco or the Sponsor, as applicable. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown for purposes of subsection 2.1.3, unless either (a) such withdrawal occurs during a period the Company has deferred taking action pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof or (b) the withdrawing Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that, if Topco or the Sponsor elects to continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown demanded by Topco or the Sponsor, as applicable, for purposes of subsection 2.1.3. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to the second sentence of this subsection 2.1.5.

 

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2.2 Piggyback Registration.

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If the Company (for its own account or for the account of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities) or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of equity securities of the Company, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities of the Company, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (a) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (b) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (c) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (d) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (e) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than five (5) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the launch date of such offering, which notice shall (i) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any and if known, in such offering, and (ii) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within two (2) days after receipt of such written notice (such registered offering, a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder’s agreement to abide by the terms of Section 3.3 below.

2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of the equity securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (a) the Registrable Securities, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof and (b) the equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

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(i) If the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the equity securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Registration, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

(ii) If the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the equity securities of such requesting persons or entities that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the equity securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback arrangements with such persons or entities that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

(iii) If the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities pursuant to subsection 2.1.4.

2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.5) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration (which, in no circumstance, shall include the Shelf) at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.5), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

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2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to subsection 2.1.5, any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under subsection 2.1.3 hereof.

2.3 Restrictions on Transfer. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company, each Holder that holds more than 10% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Stock (on a fully-exchanged basis after giving effect to the exchange of all Intermediate Common Units for Class A Common Stock) and each Holder participating in the Underwritten Offering, agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the seven (7) days prior (to the extent notice of such Underwritten Offering has been provided) to and the 90-day period beginning on the date of pricing of such offering, except in the event the Underwriter managing the offering otherwise agrees by written consent. Each Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Underwritten Offering, a Holder shall not be subject to this Section 2.3 with respect to an Underwritten Offering unless each shareholder of the Company that (together with their Affiliates) hold at least 10% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Stock (on a fully-exchanged basis after giving effect to the exchange of all Intermediate Common Units for Class A Common Stock) and each of the Company’s directors and executive officers have agreed to a lock-up on terms at least as restrictive with respect to such Underwritten Offering as requested of the Holders. A Holder’s obligations under the second sentence of this Section 2.3 shall only apply for so long as such Holder (together with its Affiliates) holds at least 10% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Stock (on a fully-exchanged basis after giving effect to the exchange of all Intermediate Common Units for Class A Common Stock).

ARTICLE III

COMPANY PROCEDURES

3.1 General Procedures. In connection with effecting any Shelf Registration, Shelf Takedown and/or other disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement contemplated herein (to the extent applicable), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities;

 

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3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least five (5) percent of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

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3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable), furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein);

3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

3.1.10 permit representatives of the Holders, the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating each transaction, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives, Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering or other disposition pursuant to a registration statement contemplated herein that is facilitated by a financial institution which the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters or financial institution, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, Underwriter or financial institution may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;

3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering or other disposition pursuant to a registration statement contemplated herein that is facilitated by a financial institution or similar agent, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering or such applicable financial institution;

 

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3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

3.1.15 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.3, use its reasonable best efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and

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

3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting and other arrangements approved by the Company and (b) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Subject to the minimum thresholds set forth in Section 2.1.3 and 3.1.15 of this Agreement, the exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.

3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.

 

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3.4.2 If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board, be seriously detrimental to the Company, and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than 45 days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose; provided that such right to delay or suspend shall be exercised by the Company not more than two (2) times, which may be consecutive, in any 12-month period. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.

3.4.3 (a) During the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.3, a Demanding Holder has requested an Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the Company and such Demanding Holder are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.3.

3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5.

3.6 Other Obligations. In connection with a sale or transfer of Registrable Securities exempt from Section 5 of the Securities Act or through any broker-dealer transactions described in the plan of distribution set forth within the Prospectus and pursuant to the Registration Statement of which such Prospectus forms a part, the Company shall, subject to the receipt of any customary documentation reasonably required from the applicable Holders and/or their broker(s) in connection therewith, (a) promptly instruct its transfer agent to remove any restrictive legends applicable to the Registrable Securities being sold or transferred and (b) cause its legal counsel to deliver the necessary legal opinions, if any, to the transfer agent in connection with the instruction under subclause (a). In addition, the Company shall cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with the aforementioned sales or transfers; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to participate in any “road shows” or assist with the preparation of any offering memoranda or related documentation with respect to any sale or transfer of Registrable Securities in any transaction that does not constitute an Underwritten Offering.

 

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ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

4.1 Indemnification.

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) caused by any (a) untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other applicable federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder application and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, except, in each case, insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders, and the liability of each such Holder shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (b) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one (1) counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under this Section 4.1 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or electronic mail or postage prepaid mail (registered or certified) or nationally recognized overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or electronic mail, or if mailed, three (3) days after mailing (one (1) business day in the case of overnight courier service), as follows:

If, to the Company, to:

Vivid Seats LLC

111 N. Canal Street, Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Email: stan@vividseats.com

lawrence.fey@vividseats.com

Attention: Stanley Chia

Lawrence Fey

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

Email: bradley.faris@lw.com

justin.hamill@lw.com

owen.alexander@lw.com

Attention: Bradley C. Faris

Justin G. Hamill

Owen Alexander

If, to Sponsor or any of its Affiliates:

c/o Eldridge Industries

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 200

Greenwich, CT 06830

Email: robert.ott@eldridge.com

Attn: Robert Ott

 

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

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

2049 Century Park East, 37th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Damon Fisher, P.C.

Email: dfisher@kirkland.com

and

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Christian Nagler

Wayne Williams

Email: cnagler@kirkland.com

wwilliams@kirkland.com

If to any other Holder, at such Holder’s address or facsimile number as set forth in the Company’s books and records.

Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective ten (10) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.

5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except to (a) an Affiliate of such Holder, (b) direct and/or indirect equity holders of any Holder pursuant to a distribution as described in Section 5.14 of this Agreement or (c) any person with the prior written consent of the Company. A sale or transfer that qualifies pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act shall not be deemed to have been made pursuant to a Registration Statement.

5.2.3 After the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, a Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to (a) up to five (5) Permitted Transferees, provided, however, that each such Permitted Transferee holds, after giving effect to such assignment or delegation, at least two percent (2%) of the then-outstanding Class A Common Stock, (b) an Affiliate of such Holder, (c) direct and/or indirect equity holders of any Holder pursuant to a distribution as described in Section 5.14 of this Agreement or (d) any person with the prior written consent of the Company.

5.2.4 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders.

 

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5.2.5 Other than as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied shall give or be construed to give to any person or entity, other than the parties hereto and such successors and permitted assigns, any legal or equitable rights under this Agreement.

5.2.6 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

5.3 Execution of Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one (1) and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one (1) or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. Facsimile or electronic mail transmission of counterpart signatures to this Agreement shall be acceptable and binding.

5.4 Governing Law; Venue.

5.4.1 This Agreement and all disputes, claims or controversies relating to, arising out of, or in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of laws, rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

5.4.2 Any proceeding or Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any proceeding or Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 5.4.2.

5.5 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably, unconditionally and voluntarily waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any Action, suit or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

21


5.6 Amendments and Waivers. Only upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the total Registrable Securities at the time in question as determined in good faith by the Company, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party or parties against whom such waiver is to be effective. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have hereunder.

5.7 Other Registration Rights. Other than the PIPE Investors who have registration rights pursuant to their respective Subscription Agreements with respect to equity securities of the Company to be issued on the Closing Date, the Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to any Holder of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

5.8 Rule 144. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the Company covenants that it will (a) make available information necessary to comply with Rule 144, if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act, at all times, and (b) take such further action as the Holders may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities), as such rule may be amended from time to time. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to it a written statement as to whether they have complied with such information requirements, and, if not, the specific reasons for non-compliance.

 

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5.9 Term. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any Holder on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

5.10 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder, including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 5.8 hereof.

5.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

5.12 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Company shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement by a Holder and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof.

5.13 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. Upon the Closing, the Original Agreement shall no longer be of any force or effect. Upon any amendment or restatement, this Agreement shall no longer be of any force or effect.

5.14 Distributions. In the event that any Holder distributes, or has distributed, any of its Registrable Securities to its direct and/or indirect equity holders, such distributees shall be treated as the applicable Holder hereunder; provided that only the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities held by all such distributees, as determined in good faith by the Company, shall be entitled to take any action under this Agreement that such Holder is entitled to take, provided, further, that such distributees, taken as a whole, shall not be entitled to rights in excess of those conferred to the applicable Holder, as if it remained a single entity party to this Agreement.

5.15 Adjustments. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Registrable Securities by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or sale, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Registrable Securities as so changed.

 

23


5.16 Further Assurances. From time to time, at another party’s request and without further consideration (but at the requesting party’s reasonable cost and expense), each party shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

24


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

 

COMPANY:
Vivid Seats Inc.
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
TOPCO:
Hoya Topco, LLC
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
SPONSOR:
Horizon Sponsor, LLC
By:  

/s/ Todd Boehly

  Name: Todd Boehly
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]

EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

by and among

VIVID SEATS INC.

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC

GTCR MANAGEMENT XI, LLC, as TRA HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE,

HOYA TOPCO, LLC,

the several BLOCKER TRA HOLDERS (as defined herein)

and

OTHER TRA HOLDERS (as defined herein)

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Dated as of October 18, 2021

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

   Definitions      2  

Section 1.2

   Rules of Construction      12  

Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

     13  

Section 2.1

   Basis Adjustments; LLC 754 Election      13  

Section 2.2

   Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule      14  

Section 2.3

   Basis Schedules      14  

Section 2.4

   Tax Benefit Schedules      14  

Section 2.5

   Procedures; Amendments      15  

Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

     16  

Section 3.1

   Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments      16  

Section 3.2

   No Duplicative Payments      19  

Section 3.3

   Late Payments      19  

Section 3.4

   Optional Estimated Tax Benefit Payment Procedure      19  

Section 3.5

   Overpayments      21  

Section 3.6

   Threshold Exchange      21  

Article IV. TERMINATION

     21  

Section 4.1

   Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement      21  

Section 4.2

   Early Termination Notice      23  

Section 4.3

   Payment Upon Early Termination      24  

Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

     24  

Section 5.1

   Subordination      24  

Section 5.2

   Late Payments by the Corporation      25  

Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

     25  

Section 6.1

   Participation in the Corporation’s Tax Matters      25  

Section 6.2

   Consistency      26  

Section 6.3

   Cooperation      26  

 

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Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS

     26  

Section 7.1

   Notices      26  

Section 7.2

   Counterparts      28  

Section 7.3

   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries      28  

Section 7.4

   Governing Law      28  

Section 7.5

   Severability      28  

Section 7.6

   Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver      28  

Section 7.7

   Titles and Subtitles      29  

Section 7.8

   Resolution of Disputes      29  

Section 7.9

   Reconciliation      30  

Section 7.10

   Withholding      31  

Section 7.11

   Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets      32  

Section 7.12

   Change in Law      32  

Section 7.13

   Interest Rate Limitation      33  

Section 7.14

   Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations      33  

Section 7.15

   LLC Agreement      33  

Section 7.16

   TRA Holder Representative      33  

Section 7.17

   Non-Effect of Other Tax Receivable Agreements      34  
  

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A

   -   

Form of Joinder Agreement

Exhibit B

   -   

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization

 

ii


TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of October 18, 2021, is hereby entered into by and among Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”), the TRA Holder Representative (as defined below), Hoya TopCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Initial TRA Holder”), the Blocker TRA Holders (as defined below), and each of the other Exchange TRA Holders (as defined below) from time to time party hereto (collectively, and together with the Initial TRA Holder, the Blocker TRA Holders and their respective transferees, the “TRA Holders”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS, each of the members of the LLC who are parties hereto, and their respective assignees who become parties hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, directly or indirectly owns limited liability company interests in the LLC (the “Units”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement by and among (i) the LLC, (ii) the Initial TRA Holder, (iii) Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and predecessor to the Corporation (“Horizon”), and (iv) Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Horizon Sponsor”), the Corporation will acquire newly-issued Units in exchange for [·] (such Transaction Agreement, the “Transaction Agreement,” and the foregoing transactions, the “Business Combination”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination, the LLC will revalue its property for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any corresponding U.S. state or local tax purposes) pursuant to Section 1.704-1 of the Treasury Regulations;

WHEREAS, the Corporation, each Blocker Corporation (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and such Blocker Corporation’s shareholders (the “Blocker TRA Holders”) have entered into a Plan of Reorganization in the form attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement, pursuant to which, and subject to the terms of the LLC Agreement, no later than three (3) years after the later of (i) the date of the Business Combination and (ii) the date of the first Secondary Sale (as defined below), each Blocker Corporation shall merge with and into the Corporation in a Blocker Merger Transaction (as defined by the LLC Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by such Plan of Reorganization, the “Reorganization Transactions”);

WHEREAS, as a result of each Reorganization Transaction, the Corporation will acquire the Units and interests in this Agreement then held by the applicable Blocker Corporation, and the Corporation may obtain or be entitled to certain tax attributes as further described herein, and in partial consideration of acquiring the Blocker Corporation pursuant to such Reorganization Transaction, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Corporation agrees to make certain payments to the Blocker TRA Holders party thereto;

 

1


WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms of the LLC Agreement, from time to time, each holder of Units (other than the Corporation or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries) has the right to require the LLC to redeem (a “Redemption”) all or a portion of such holder’s Units for cash or, at the Corporation’s election, Class A Common Stock, in either case contributed to the LLC by the Corporation; provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion, the Corporation may effect a direct exchange (a “Direct Exchange”) of such cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Units (holders described in this clause, the “Exchange TRA Holders”);

WHEREAS, the LLC and any direct or indirect Subsidiary (owned through a chain of entities each of which is treated as a partnership or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of the LLC that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (together with the LLC and any direct or indirect Subsidiary (owned through a chain of entities each of which is treated as a partnership or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of the LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the “LLC Group”) will, to the extent such direct or indirect Subsidiary is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Corporation controls the preparation of the relevant Tax Return and elections made on such Tax Return, have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (as defined below) for the Taxable Year (as defined below) in which any Exchange (as defined below) occurs, in each case, to the extent that such election would result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by the LLC Group as of the date of the Exchange; and

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to certain tax benefits derived by the Corporation as a result of the Business Combination, any Exchanges or any Reorganization Transactions and the receipt of payments under this Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

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

Advisory Firm” means any accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being an expert in Covered Tax matters and is not an Affiliate of the Corporation, provided that such Advisory Firm that is used by the Corporation shall be selected by the Corporation and shall be reasonably acceptable to the TRA Holder Representative.

Actual Interest Amount” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vi) of this Agreement.

 

2


Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the sum of (A) the actual liability for U.S. federal income taxes of the Corporation and (B) without duplication, the portion of any actual liability for U.S. federal income taxes imposed directly on the LLC (and any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) under Section 6225 of the Code that is allocable to the Corporation in accordance with the LLC Agreement and the Code, (ii) the product of (A) the net positive amount of the U.S. federal taxable income (for the avoidance of doubt, determined without taking into account any U.S. federal benefit of any applicable state or local tax deduction and taking into account any net operating losses) for such Taxable Year reported on the Corporation’s IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) and (B) the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and (iii) the actual liability of the Corporation for any Covered Taxes other than U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the amount described in clause (i) shall take into account any U.S. federal income tax benefit realized by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit determined by taking into account an assumed deduction based on the amount computed under clause (ii), and disregarding the actual deduction for state and local jurisdiction income taxes reflected on the Corporation’s income tax return).

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

Aggregate TRA Rights” means 118,200,000.

Agreed Rate” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Amended Schedule” is defined in Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement.

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means the tax rate equal to the sum of (i) for each state that imposes income or franchise taxes on the Corporation on its allocable share of income with respect to its interest in the LLC, the product of (x) the Corporation’s income tax apportionment factor for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation files income or franchise tax returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate in effect for such Taxable Year for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation files income tax returns for each relevant Taxable Year, and (ii) for each state that imposes income or franchise taxes directly on the LLC (and any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries treated as a partnership for state income tax purposes), the product of (x) the income tax apportionment factor for such LLC or Subsidiary, as applicable, for each such state in which the LLC or such Subsidiary files income or franchise tax returns for the relevant taxable year of such LLC or Subsidiary ending on or after the Business Combination Date and (y) the highest income tax rate in effect applicable to the LLC or such Subsidiary, as applicable, for such taxable year for each such state in which the LLC or such Subsidiary files income or franchise tax returns.

Bankruptcy Code” is defined in Section 4.1(c) of this Agreement.

 

3


Basis Adjustment” means the increase or decrease to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, the LLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and (ii) under Sections 732 and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, the LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), in each case, as a result of any Exchange and any payments made under this Agreement. As relevant, Basis Adjustments are to be calculated pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.

Basis Schedule” is defined in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

Blocker Attributes” means any U.S. federal, state, or local net operating losses, capital losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards under Section 163(j) of the Code (and any comparable provision of U.S. federal, state, or local tax law), credit carryforwards, and foreign tax credits of a Blocker Corporation, in each case, relating to taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending at the close of business on the closing date of the Business Combination and the availability of which are determined as of the applicable Reorganization Transaction.

Blocker Corporation” is defined in the LLC Agreement.

Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule” is defined in Section 2.2.

Blocker Merger Transactions” is defined in the LLC Agreement.

Blocker TRA Holder Sharing Percentages” means, for each Blocker TRA Holder with respect to a given Blocker Corporation, (i) at the time of a Reorganization Transaction involving a Blocker Corporation owned by such Blocker TRA Holder, a percentage equal to the TRA Holder Sharing Percentage of such Blocker Corporation immediately prior to such Reorganization Transaction, and (ii) thereafter such percentage as determined by the TRA Holder Representative to reflect any transfers by a Blocker TRA Holder of its TRA Rights. The TRA Holder Representative shall provide a written schedule to the Corporation reflecting any changes to the Blocker TRA Holder Sharing Percentages.

Blocker TRA Holders” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Business Combination” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Business Combination Date” means the closing of the Business Combination.

Business Day” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in New York are closed.

 

4


Change of Control” shall have the same meaning defined in the LLC Agreement, other than clause (iv) of such definition which shall be disregarded for purposes of this definition.

Class A Common Stock” means the class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

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

Common Basis” means the existing tax basis of the Reference Assets that are depreciable or amortizable (including assets that will eventually be subject to depreciation or amortization, once placed in service) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, Common Basis shall not include any Basis Adjustments.

Common Basis Addback Amount” means, with respect to a Taxable Year, for each Exchange or Reorganization Transaction occurring in such Taxable Year or that occurred in any of the fourteen (14) Taxable Years preceding the Taxable Year for which Hypothetical Tax Liability is determined, the aggregate of the products of (i) the Common Basis, at the time of such Exchange or Reorganization Transaction, of each Subsequently Acquired Asset as of the time of such Exchange or Reorganization Transaction, (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Units transferred in such Exchange or Reorganization Transaction, and the denominator of which is the total number of outstanding Units immediately following such Exchange or Reorganization Transaction, and (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is one (1) and the denominator of which is fifteen (15).

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

Corporation” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Covered Person” is defined in Section 7.16 of this Agreement.

Covered Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits and any interest related thereto.

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

Default Rate” means LIBOR plus 450 basis points.

Default Rate Interest” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vii) of this Agreement.

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

 

5


Direct Exchange” is defined in the recitals to this agreement.

Dispute” is defined in Section 7.8(a) of this Agreement.

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

Early Termination Notice” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

Early Termination Payment” is defined in Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement.

Early Termination Rate” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Early Termination Reference Date” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

Early Termination Schedule” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

Estimated Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

Exchange” means any Direct Exchange or Redemption.

Exchange Date” means the date of any Exchange.

Exchange TRA Holders” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Expert” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

Final Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Final Payment Date in respect of a Tax Benefit Payment is determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the sum of (A) the hypothetical liability for U.S. federal income taxes of the Corporation and (B) without duplication, the portion of any hypothetical liability for U.S. federal income taxes imposed directly on the LLC (and any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) under Section 6225 of the Code that is allocable to the Corporation in accordance with the LLC Agreement and the Code, (ii) the product of (A) the net positive amount of the U.S. federal taxable income (for the avoidance of doubt, determined without taking into account any U.S. federal benefit of any applicable state or local tax deduction and taking into account any net operating losses) for purposes of determining such hypothetical liability for U.S. federal income taxes, and (B) the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and (iii) the hypothetical liability of the Corporation for any Covered Taxes other than U.S. federal, state and local income taxes, but for purposes of determining the liability in clauses (i) through (iii) above, without duplication, (1) with respect to any Originally Held Asset, calculating depreciation, amortization, or other similar deductions, or otherwise calculating any items of income, gain, deduction or loss, by reference to the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis as reflected on the applicable Basis Schedule, including amendments thereto, for the Taxable Year, (2) excluding

 

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the effect of any and all Basis Adjustments, (3) excluding the effect of any and all Blocker Attributes, (4) including in income of the Corporation the Common Basis Addback Amount for the Taxable Year, (5) excluding the impact of Section 704(c) Items (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not duplicate the effects of clause (1)), and (6) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item attributable to any of the items described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of the previous sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the amount described in clause (i) shall take into account any U.S. federal income tax benefit that would be realized by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit determined by taking into account an assumed deduction based on the amount computed under clause (ii), and disregarding the hypothetical deduction for state and local jurisdiction income taxes of the Corporation).

Imputed Interest” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(v) of this Agreement.

IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Joinder” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

Joinder Requirement” is defined in Section 7.6(a) of this Agreement.

LIBOR” means for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two Business Days prior to the first Business Day of such month, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or other commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR) for one-month London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits for such month (or portion thereof). If LIBOR ceases to be published in accordance with the definition thereof, SOFR shall be used in lieu of LIBOR for so long as LIBOR is not so published.

LLC” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

LLC Group” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Maximum Rate” is defined in Section 7.13 of this Agreement.

Net Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.

Non-Adjusted Tax Basis” means, in the case of any Originally Held Asset that is depreciable or amortizable (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amortizable Section 197 intangible (as such term is used in the Code)), for purposes of U.S. federal income tax law, treating such Originally Held Asset as having a Common Basis of zero at all times.

 

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Non-TRA Portion” is defined in Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.

Objection Notice” is defined in Section 2.5(a)(i) of this Agreement.

Original Liability” means any liability described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-7(b)(3) of any member of the LLC Group as of the Business Combination.

Originally Held Asset” means any Reference Asset that was a Reference Asset at the time of the Business Combination.

Parties” means the parties named on the signature pages to this agreement and each additional party that satisfies the Joinder Requirement, in each case with their respective successors and assigns.

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

Pre-Exchange Transfer” means any transfer of one or more Units (including upon the death of a TRA Holder) (i) that occurs after the Business Combination but prior to an Exchange of such Units and (ii) to which Section 743(b) of the Code applies.

Realized Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

Realized Tax Detriment” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iv) of this Agreement.

Reconciliation Dispute” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

Reconciliation Procedures” is defined in Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement.

Redemption” has the meaning in the recitals to this Agreement.

Reference Asset” means any tangible or intangible asset of any member of the LLC Group or any of their respective successors or assigns, whether held directly by the LLC or indirectly by the LLC through any entity in which the LLC now holds or may subsequently hold an ownership interest (but only if such entity is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for purposes of state or local income tax law). A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.

Reorganization Transactions” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Reorganization Transaction Date” means the date of any applicable Reorganization Transaction.

Rules” is defined in Section 7.8(a) of this Agreement.

 

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Schedule” means any of the following: (i) a Basis Schedule, (ii) a Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule, (iii) a Tax Benefit Schedule, or (iv) the Early Termination Schedule, and, in each case, any amendments thereto.

Secondary Sale” means any exchange of Units by the Initial TRA Holder for Class A Common Stock and subsequent sale of such Class A Common Stock after the date of this Agreement.

Section 704(c) Items” means the additional allocations of tax items of income, gain, deduction and loss to, or away from, the Corporation pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including pursuant to any “reverse Section 704(c)” allocations) in respect of (i) any difference between the fair market value and the tax basis of any Originally Held Asset immediately following the Business Combination and (ii) any Original Liabilities, in each case as compared to the tax items of income, gain, deduction and loss to, or away from, the Corporation that would have been allocated if Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder were not taken into account. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing would include disproportionate allocations (if any) of tax items of income, gain, deduction and loss to a TRA Holder and away from the Corporation.

Senior Obligations” is defined in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

SOFR” means for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two Business Days prior to the first Business Day of such month, on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or other commercially available source providing quotations of SOFR) for the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for such month (or portion thereof). In no event will SOFR be less than 0%.

Subsequently Acquired Asset” means any Reference Asset that became a Reference Asset after the Business Combination.

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

Subsidiary Stock” means any stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Corporation that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and applicable state and local tax purposes.

Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

Tax Benefit Schedule” is defined in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement.

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement filed or required to be filed with any Taxing Authority in respect to taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated tax.

 

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

Taxing Authority” means any national, federal, state, county, municipal, or local government, or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body, or any other authority of any kind, exercising regulatory or other authority in relation to tax matters.

Termination Objection Notice” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

Threshold Exchange Units” is defined in Section 3.6 of this Agreement.

TRA Holders” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

TRA Holder Representative” is defined in Section 7.16 of this Agreement.

TRA Holder Sharing Percentages” means (i) initially 100% for the Initial TRA Holder, and (ii) thereafter, as of a specific date and with respect to a TRA Holder, a number, represented as a percentage, equal to (A) the number of TRA Rights held by such TRA Holder, divided by (B) the Aggregate TRA Rights, multiplied by (C) 100. The TRA Holder Representative shall provide a written schedule to the Corporation reflecting any changes to the TRA Holder Sharing Percentages.

TRA Right” means a right representing an interest in the rights of the TRA Holders under this agreement, including the right to receive a Tax Benefit Payment. The aggregate number of TRA Rights hereunder shall be the Aggregate TRA Rights, each of which shall be held as of the date hereof by the Initial TRA Holder. After the date hereof, if the number of outstanding Units shall have been changed into a different number of units or a different class, by reason of any distribution, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange, or any similar event, then the number of TRA Rights held by each TRA Holder and the Aggregate TRA Rights will each be equitably adjusted to reflect such change.

Transaction Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

True-Up” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

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Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Effective Date, the assumptions that:

(1) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments, Common Basis (limited, in the case of Subsequently Acquired Assets, to the Common Basis Addback Amount for such Taxable Year), Blocker Attributes, Section 704(c) Items, and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions) in which such deductions would become available, taking into account clause (4) below;

(2) (i) the U.S. federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Effective Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law, and (ii) the combined U.S. state and local income tax rates (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, U.S. federal income tax rates) for each such Taxable Year shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Effective Date;

(3) all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period; provided, the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local income taxes (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, federal income taxes) shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate);

(4) any loss or disallowed interest or other loss carryovers or carryforwards generated by any Basis Adjustments, Common Basis, Blocker Attributes, Section 704(c) Items, or Imputed Interest (including any such Basis Adjustments, and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) and available as of the Early Termination Effective Date, and any Blocker Attributes that have not been previously utilized in determining a Tax Benefit Payment as of the Early Termination Effective Date, will be used by the Corporation on a pro rata basis over a fifteen-year period beginning on the Early Termination Effective Date, or up through their scheduled expiration under applicable law (if earlier) (provided that, in any year that the Corporation is prevented from fully utilizing net operating losses or other tax attributes attributable to a Blocker Corporation pursuant to Section 382, 383, or 384 of the Code (or any successor provision or similar provision under state or local law), the amount utilized for purposes of this provision shall not exceed the amount that would otherwise be utilizable under Section 382, 383, or 384 of the Code (or any successor provision or similar provision under state or local law));

 

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(5) any non-amortizable assets (other than Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the earlier of (i) the fifteenth anniversary of the applicable Basis Adjustment (or, if such Basis Adjustment occurred more than fifteen years before the Early Termination Effective Date, the Early Termination Effective Date) and (ii) the fifteenth anniversary of the Early Termination Effective Date;

(6) any Subsidiary Stock will be deemed never to be disposed of except if Subsidiary Stock is directly disposed of in the Change of Control;

(7) if, on the Early Termination Effective Date, any TRA Holder has Units that have not been Exchanged, then such Units shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the fair market value of the cash or Class A Common Stock that would be received by such TRA Holder if such Units had been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date (including Units held by Blocker Corporations that have not consummated a Reorganization Transaction, in which case, the relevant Blocker Corporation would be treated as having Exchanged its Units, in the manner set forth above in this clause, and would be an Exchange TRA Holder (and not a Blocker TRA Holder) with respect to such Units), and such TRA Holder shall be deemed to receive the amount of cash such TRA Holder would have been entitled to pursuant to Section 4.3(a) had such Units actually been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date; and

(8) any payment obligations pursuant to this Agreement will be satisfied on the date that any Tax Return to which such payment obligation relates is required to be filed under applicable law as of the Early Termination Effective Date excluding any extensions.

Section 1.2 Rules of Construction. Unless otherwise specified herein:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) For purposes of interpretation of this Agreement:

(i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(ii) References in this Agreement to a Schedule, Article, Section, clause or sub-clause refer to the appropriate Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or subclause in, this Agreement.

(iii) References in this Agreement to dollars or “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America.

(iv) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(v) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

 

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(vi) The term “or” shall not be exclusive and shall instead mean “and/or.”

(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(d) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organization documents (including the LLC Agreement), agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted hereby; and (b) references to any law (including the Code and the Treasury Regulations) shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such law.

ARTICLE II.

DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

Section 2.1 Basis Adjustments; LLC 754 Election; Revaluation.

(a) Basis Adjustments. The Parties acknowledge and agree to treat (A) to the fullest extent permitted by law each Direct Exchange as giving rise to Basis Adjustments and (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law each Redemption using cash or Class A Common Stock contributed to the LLC by the Corporation as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporation from the applicable Exchange TRA Holder pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code as giving rise to Basis Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

(b) Section 754 Election. The Corporation shall ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, the LLC and each other member of the LLC Group that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and for which the Corporation controls the preparation of the relevant Tax Return and elections made on such Tax Return) will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for each Taxable Year, in each case, to the extent that such election would result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by the LLC Group as of the date of the relevant Exchange.

(c) Revaluation. Pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 1.704-1 of the Treasury Regulations, for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any corresponding U.S. state or local tax purposes), the LLC shall revalue its property to fair market value as of the time of the Business Combination. The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that such revaluation may result in subsequent Section 704(c) Items.

 

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Section 2.2 Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule. At least thirty (30) days prior to any Reorganization Transaction, the relevant Blocker Corporation shall deliver to the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative a schedule (a “Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule”) of (a) the Blocker Attributes of the Blocker Corporation as of the closing date of the Business Combination and (b) any current or anticipated applicable limitations on the use of the Blocker Attributes for tax purposes (including under Section 382 of the Code). Any Blocker Corporation Attribute Schedule so delivered will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Section 2.3 Basis Schedules. Within ninety (90) days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to the TRA Holder Representative a schedule developed in consultation with the Advisory Firm (the “Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail as necessary in order to understand the calculations performed under this Agreement: (a) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year, (b) the period (or periods) over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable, (c) the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis with respect to the Reference Assets described in clause (a) as of each relevant Exchange, (d) the Common Basis that remains (if any) and may give rise to payments pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (e) the period (or periods) over which the Common Basis is amortizable and/or depreciable. The Basis Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Section 2.4 Tax Benefit Schedules.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within ninety (90) days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the TRA Holder Representative a schedule developed in consultation with the Advisory Firm showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”). The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(a), and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(b).

(b) Applicable Principles. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Common Basis (limited, in the case of Subsequently Acquired Assets, to the Common Basis Addback Amount for such Taxable Year), Blocker Attributes, Section 704(c) Items, and Imputed Interest, as determined using a “with and without” methodology described in Section 2.5(a). To the extent any portion of a Realized Tax Benefit could be attributed to both Common Basis and a Section 704(c) Item, the Realized Tax Benefit shall be attributed to Common Basis. Carryovers, carryforwards, or carrybacks, of any tax item attributable to any Basis Adjustment, Common Basis, Blocker Attributes, Section 704(c) Items, or Imputed Interest or any other tax item in respect thereof shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of U.S. state or local tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation, and expiration of carryovers, carryforwards,

 

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carrybacks, or other tax items of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any tax item includes a portion that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Common Basis, Blocker Attributes, Section 704(c) Items, or Imputed Interest (a “TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not (a “Non-TRA Portion”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion (calculated by taking into account the provisions of Section 3.3(a) to the extent applicable); and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the prior Taxable Year. The Parties agree to treat (i) all Tax Benefit Payments (other than Imputed Interest) solely to the extent attributable to an Exchange and to the extent permitted by applicable law (A) as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments in respect of an applicable Exchange and (B) have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments arising in the Taxable Year in which the applicable Tax Benefit Payment is made and (ii) as a result, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any additional Basis Adjustments arising from such a Tax Benefit Payment shall be treated as giving rise to a Basis Adjustment in the Taxable Year in which the Tax Benefit Payment is made on an iterative basis continuing until any incremental Basis Adjustment is immaterial as reasonably determined by the TRA Holder Representative and the Corporation in good faith and in consultation with the Advisory Firm.

Section 2.5 Procedures; Amendments.

(a) Procedures. Each time the Corporation delivers an applicable Schedule to the TRA Holder Representative, under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.5(b), but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule delivered pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 4.2, the Corporation shall also: (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers from an Advisory Firm and any additional materials reasonably requested by the TRA Holder Representative that are reasonably necessary in order to understand the calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule; and (y) allow the TRA Holder Representative and its advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as reasonably requested by the TRA Holder Representative, at the Corporation and the applicable Advisory Firm in connection with its review of such Schedule. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall ensure that any Tax Benefit Schedule that is delivered to the TRA Holder Representative, along with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability (the “with” calculation) and the Hypothetical Tax Liability (the “without” calculation), and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations. An applicable Schedule shall become final and binding on the Parties thirty (30) days from the date on which the TRA Holder Representative first receives the applicable Schedule unless:

(i) the TRA Holder Representative within thirty (30) days after receiving the applicable Schedule provides the Corporation with written notice of a material objection to such Schedule that is made in good faith and that sets forth in reasonable detail the TRA Holder Representative’s material objection (an “Objection Notice”) or

 

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(ii) the TRA Holder Representative provides a written waiver of its right to deliver an Objection Notice within the time period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver from the TRA Representative is received by the Corporation.

In the event that the TRA Holder Representative timely delivers an Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice through good faith discussions within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of the Objection Notice, the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “Reconciliation Procedures”).

(b) Amended Schedule. The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation: (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule; (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was originally provided to the TRA Holder Representative; (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures applicable to this Agreement; (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other tax item to such Taxable Year; (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year; or (vi) to adjust a Basis Schedule to take into account any Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporation shall provide any Amended Schedule to the TRA Holder Representative within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence, and any such Amended Schedule shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(a).

ARTICLE III.

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Section 3.1 Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments.

(a) Timing and Amount of Payments to TRA Holders and Blocker TRA Holders. Except as provided in Section 3.4, and subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.6, within ten (10) Business Days following the date on which each Tax Benefit Schedule becomes final in accordance with Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement, (i) the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) multiplied by the applicable TRA Holder Sharing Percentage, and (ii) if a Blocker Corporation has completed a Reorganization Transaction, the Corporation shall pay to each Blocker TRA Holder party to such Reorganization Transaction the Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) multiplied by the applicable Blocker TRA Holder Sharing Percentage; provided, that if any TRA Holder Sharing Percentage would otherwise be allocated to the Corporation as a result of a Reorganization Transaction, such percentage shall deemed to be zero upon the occurrence of such Reorganization Transaction and the TRA Holder Representative shall revise such TRA Holder Sharing Percentage accordingly. Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire

 

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transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such TRA Holder or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be required to be made in respect of estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, estimated U.S. federal income tax payments, and (ii) without limiting the Corporation’s ability to make offsets against Tax Benefit Payments with respect to a particular TRA Holder to the extent permitted by Section 3.5, the TRA Holders shall not be required under any circumstances to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders (including any portion of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or any Early Termination Payment). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event will the aggregate of the portions of the Tax Benefit Payment that are payable to the TRA Holders pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) exceed 100% of the Tax Benefit Payment.

(b) Amount of Payments. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Tax Benefit Payment” means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of: (i) the Net Tax Benefit (including Imputed Interest, if any, calculated in respect of such amount); and (ii) the Actual Interest Amount and any Default Rate Interest with respect to the Net Tax Benefit described in (i).

(i) Net Tax Benefit. The “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year equals the amount of the excess, if any, of (x) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made under this Section 3.1. For the avoidance of doubt, without limiting the Corporation’s ability to make offsets against Tax Benefit Payments to the extent permitted by Section 3.5, if the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of any Taxable Year is less than the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made, no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously made by the Corporation to such TRA Holder.

(ii) Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit. The “Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year equals the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same periods. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination. The computation of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit shall be adjusted to reflect any applicable Determination with respect to any Realized Tax Benefits and/or Realized Tax Detriments.

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

 

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

(v) Imputed Interest. The Parties acknowledge that the principles of Sections 1272, 1274, or 483 of the Code, as applicable, and the principles of any similar provision of U.S. state and local tax law, may, as applicable, apply to cause a portion of any payments by the Corporation to a TRA Holder under this Agreement to be treated as imputed interest (“Imputed Interest”). For the avoidance of doubt, the deduction for the amount of Imputed Interest, if any, as determined with respect to any payments made by the Corporation to a TRA Holder shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.

(vi) Actual Interest Amount. Subject to Section 3.4, the “Actual Interest Amount” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year, will equal an amount equal to interest calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the date on which the Corporation makes a timely Tax Benefit Payment to the TRA Holder on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

(vii) Default Rate Interest. In accordance with Section 5.2, in the event that the Corporation does not make timely payment of all or any portion of a Tax Benefit Payment to a TRA Holder on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a), the amount of any “Default Rate Interest” calculated and payable in accordance with Section 5.2 in respect of the Tax Benefit Payment (including previously accrued Imputed Interest and Actual Interest Amounts) for a Taxable Year will equal interest calculated at the Default Rate from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes such Tax Benefit Payment to such TRA Holder.

(viii) The Corporation and the TRA Holders hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to each Exchange by any TRA Holder, if such TRA Holder notifies the Corporation in writing of a stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 15A.453-1(c)(2)) to be applied with respect to such Exchange, the amount of the initial consideration received in connection with such Exchange and the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to such TRA Holder in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed such stated maximum selling price.

 

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(c) Interest. The provisions of Section 3.1(b) and Section 5.2 in respect of Default Rate Interest are intended to operate so that interest will effectively accrue (or in the case of Imputed Interest be treated as accruing solely for U.S. federal income or applicable state or local income tax purposes) in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (or Tax Benefit Payment in respect of any Actual Interest Amount or Default Rate Interest) for any Taxable Year as follows:

(i) first, solely for U.S. federal income or applicable state or local income tax purposes, at the applicable rate used to determine the amount of Imputed Interest under the Code (from the relevant Exchange Date or Reorganization Transaction Date until the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year and, if required under applicable law, through the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a));

(ii) second, at the Agreed Rate (from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a)); and

(iii) third, in accordance with Section 5.2, at the Default Rate (from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes the relevant Tax Benefit Payment to the applicable TRA Holder).

Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in the duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) that may be required under this Agreement and the provisions of this Agreement shall be consistently interpreted and applied in accordance with that intent.

Section 3.3 Late Payments. If for any reason the Corporation is not able to timely and fully satisfy its payment obligations under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then Default Rate Interest will begin to accrue pursuant to Section 5.2 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall continue to accrue pursuant to Section 5.2 until the Tax Benefit Payments have been made in full without regard to the provisions of this Section 3.3) and the Corporation and other Parties agree that (i) the Corporation shall pay the Tax Benefit Payments due in respect of such Taxable Year to each TRA Holder pro rata in proportion to the amount of such Tax Benefit Payments, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all TRA Holders in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

Section 3.4 Optional Estimated Tax Benefit Payment Procedure(a) . As long as the Corporation is current in respect of its payment obligations owed to each TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement and there are no delinquent Tax Benefit Payments (including interest thereon) outstanding in respect of prior Taxable Years for any TRA Holder, the Corporation may, at any

 

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time on or after the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for a Taxable Year and at the Corporation’s option, in its sole discretion, make one or more estimated payments to the TRA Holders in respect of any anticipated amounts to be owed with respect to a Taxable Year to the TRA Holders pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement (any such estimated payment referred to as an “Estimated Tax Benefit Payment”); provided that any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.4 is matched by a proportionately equal Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to all other TRA Holders then entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment. Any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made under this Section 3.4 shall be paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders and applied against the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. The payment of an Estimated Tax Benefit Payment by the Corporation to the TRA Holders pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall also terminate the obligation of the Corporation to make payment of any Actual Interest Amount that might have otherwise accrued with respect to the proportionate amount of the Tax Benefit Payment that is being paid in advance of the applicable Tax Benefit Schedule being finalized pursuant to Section 2.5. Upon the making of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment pursuant to this Section 3.4, the amount of such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment shall first be applied to any estimated Actual Interest Amount, and then applied to the remaining residual amount of the Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. In determining the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1, and for purposes of finalizing the Tax Benefit Schedule pursuant to Section 2.5, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments that may have been made with respect to the Taxable Year shall be increased if the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made for such Taxable Year, with such increase being paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders along with an appropriate Actual Interest Amount (and any Default Rate Interest) in respect of the amount of such increase (a “True-Up”). If the Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year exceeds the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment to the TRA Holder for such Taxable Year, such excess shall be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder. As of the date on which any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments are made, and as of the date on which any True-Up is made, all such payments shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.1 and all other applicable terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, as is the case with Tax Benefit Payments made by the Corporation to the TRA Holders pursuant to Section 3.1, the Parties intend to treat the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Section 3.4 that are attributable to an Exchange in part as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to Basis Adjustments in the Taxable Year of payment to the extent permitted by applicable law and as of the date on which such payments are made (exclusive of any amounts treated as Imputed Interest); provided that any additional Basis Adjustments arising from an Estimated Tax Benefit Payment will be determined on an iterative basis continuing until any incremental Basis Adjustment is immaterial as determined by the TRA Holder Representative and the Corporation in good faith and in consultation with the Advisory Firm.

 

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Section 3.5 Overpayments(a) . To the extent the Corporation makes any Tax Benefit Payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year (taking into account this Article III) under the terms of this Agreement, then such excess shall be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder and such TRA Holder shall not receive any further Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of Tax Benefit Payments equal to such excess. The amount of any excess Tax Benefit Payment shall be deemed to have been paid by the Corporation to the relevant TRA Holders on the original due date for the filing of the subsequent Tax Return to which the excess Tax Benefit Payment relates for purposes of determining the Actual Interest Amount to which such relevant TRA Holders shall be entitled. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the TRA Holders shall not be required, under any circumstances, to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders (including any portion of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or any Early Termination Payment).

Section 3.6 Threshold Exchange. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any and all Tax Benefit Payments that would otherwise be made pursuant to this Agreement to a TRA Holder shall be held by the Corporation for the benefit of such TRA Holder until such time as such TRA Holder has exchanged Units in one or more Exchanges equal to 5% of the Units held by such TRA Holder determined prior to the Business Combination (such Units, the “Threshold Exchange Units”). Promptly following the time such TRA Holder has exchanged, in the aggregate, a number of Units equal to or exceeding the Threshold Exchange Units for such TRA Holder, such withheld amount shall be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder as a Tax Benefit Payment as provided in Section 3.1(a).

ARTICLE IV.

TERMINATION

Section 4.1 Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement.

(a) Corporation’s Early Termination Right. With the approval of a majority of the independent directors serving on its Board of Directors, the Corporation may completely terminate this Agreement, as and to the extent provided herein, with respect to all amounts payable to the TRA Holders pursuant to this Agreement by paying to the TRA Holders the Early Termination Payments; provided that Early Termination Payments may be made pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) only if made to all TRA Holders that are entitled to such a payment, and provided further, that the Corporation may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid. Upon the Corporation’s payment of the Early Termination Payments, the Corporation shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than with respect to any: (i) prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of the Early Termination Notice and that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments (which Tax Benefit Payments shall not be included in the Early Termination Payments); and (ii) current Tax Benefit Payments due for the Taxable Year ending on or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (ii) is included in the calculation of the Early Termination Payments or is

 

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included in clause (i)) that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments. If an Exchange or Reorganization Transaction subsequently occurs with respect to Units (including Units held by Blocker Corporations) for which the Corporation has exercised its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) and paid all amounts owed in connection with the exercise of such rights, the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange or Reorganization Transaction.

(b) Acceleration Upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated pursuant to this Article IV as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and utilizing the Valuation Assumptions by substituting the phrase “the closing date of a Change of Control” in each place where the phrase “Early Termination Effective Date” appears. Such obligations shall include, without duplication, but shall not be limited to, (i) the Early Termination Payments calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control, (ii) any Tax Benefit Payments agreed to by the Corporation and the TRA Holders as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice (which Tax Benefit Payments shall not be included in the Early Termination Payments) and that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments, and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payments due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the closing date of a Change of Control unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that any amounts described in clause (iii) are included in the Early Termination Payments or are included in clause (ii)) and that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments. For the avoidance of doubt, Sections 4.2 and 4.3 shall apply to a Change of Control, mutadis mutandis.

(c) Acceleration Upon Material Breach of Agreement. In the event that the Corporation materially breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due (subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 4.1(c)), failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder, or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or otherwise (“Material Breach”), then all obligations of the Corporation hereunder shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such notice of acceleration (or, in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, on the date of such breach) and shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the Early Termination Payments calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such acceleration; (ii) any prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of such acceleration (which Tax Benefit Payments shall not be included in the Early Termination Payments) and that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments; and (iii) any current Tax Benefit Payments due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of such acceleration (except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payments or in clause (ii)) and that remain unpaid as of the payment of the Early Termination Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement and such breach is not a Material Breach, the TRA Holder Representative and each TRA Holder shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this

 

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Agreement, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, seeking or otherwise obtaining an acceleration of amounts payable under this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.1(c). For purposes of this Section 4.1(c), and subject to the following sentence, the Parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the relevant Final Payment Date shall be deemed to be a Material Breach, and that it will not be considered to be a Material Breach to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the relevant Final Payment Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a Material Breach if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment within three (3) months of the relevant Final Payment Date to the extent that the Corporation has insufficient funds or cannot make such payment as a result of obligations imposed in connection with the Senior Obligations or under applicable law, and cannot obtain sufficient funds to make such payments by taking commercially reasonable actions or would become insolvent as a result of making such payment; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); and further provided that such payment obligation shall nonetheless accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders and the Corporation shall make such payment at the first opportunity that it has sufficient funds and is otherwise able to make such payment. For the avoidance of doubt, a Reconciliation Dispute (including any delay in payment as a result thereof) will not constitute a Material Breach of this Agreement.

Section 4.2 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporation shall deliver to the TRA Holder Representative a notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right (an “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Sections 4.1(b) or 4.1(c), the Corporation shall deliver a schedule developed in consultation with the Advisory Firm (the “Early Termination Schedule”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment. The Corporation shall also (x) deliver to the TRA Holder Representative supporting schedules and work papers from an Advisory Firm, and any additional materials reasonably requested by the TRA Holder Representative that are reasonably necessary in order to understand the calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Early Termination Schedule; and (y) allow the TRA Holder Representative and its advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives at the Corporation and the applicable Advisory Firm as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by the TRA Holder Representative in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on each Party thirty (30) days from the first date on which the TRA Holder Representative received such Early Termination Schedule unless:

(i) the TRA Holder Representative within thirty (30) days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with written notice of a material objection to such Early Termination Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail the TRA Holder Representative’s material objection (a “Termination Objection Notice”); or

 

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(ii) the TRA Holder Representative provides a written waiver of such right of a Termination Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Early Termination Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver from the TRA Holder Representative is received by the Corporation.

In the event that the TRA Holder Representative timely delivers a Termination Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Termination Objection Notice within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of the Termination Objection Notice, the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures. The date on which the Early Termination Schedule becomes final in accordance with this Section 4.2 shall be the “Early Termination Reference Date.”

Section 4.3 Payment Upon Early Termination.

(a) Timing of Payment. Within ten (10) Business Days after the Early Termination Reference Date, the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment for such TRA Holder. Such Early Termination Payment shall be made by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by such TRA Holder or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such TRA Holder.

(b) Amount of Payment. The “Early Termination Payment” payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as determined as of the Early Termination Reference Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid (and which have not yet been paid prior to the Early Termination Effective Date) by the Corporation to such TRA Holder, whether payable with respect to Units that were Exchanged prior to the Early Termination Effective Date or on or after the Early Termination Effective Date (including Units held by Blocker Corporations that have not consummated a Reorganization Transaction, in which case, the relevant Blocker Corporation shall be treated as having Exchanged its Units in the manner set forth in the Valuation Assumptions and shall be treated as an Exchange TRA Holder (and not a Blocker TRA Holder) with respect to such Units), beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions. The computation of the Early Termination Payment shall be subject to the Reconciliation Procedures.

ARTICLE V.

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

Section 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payments or Early Termination Payments required to be made by the Corporation to the TRA Holders under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest, or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations owed in respect of secured or unsecured indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (“Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior

 

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Obligations. To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders and the Corporation shall make any such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations. The Corporation and the LLC shall not, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to not, without the prior written consent of the TRA Holder Representative, enter into or amend the terms of any financing agreement or Senior Obligations if the terms of such agreement or amendment would further restrict (beyond the restrictions applicable in financing agreements as of the date of this Agreement) the Corporation’s ability to make payments owed under the terms of this Agreement (including as a result of any restriction on the ability of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries to make distributions or other payments to the Corporation to fund amounts payable under this Agreement).

Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the TRA Holders when due under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the Final Payment Date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable to the date of actual payment of such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment; provided that if any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment is not made to the TRA Holders when due under the terms of this Agreement as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, any such interest shall be computed at the Agreed Rate and not the Default Rate.

ARTICLE VI.

TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporations Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein or the LLC Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and its Subsidiaries including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any audit, contest, or other proceeding pertaining to taxes; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not settle or fail to contest any issue pertaining to Covered Taxes that is reasonably expected to adversely affect the TRA Holders’ rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the TRA Holder Representative, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed. The Corporation shall notify the TRA Holder Representative of, and keep it reasonably informed with respect to, any tax audit or other tax contest of the Corporation the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to any TRA Holder under this Agreement and the TRA Holder Representative shall have the right to (i) discuss with the Corporation, and provide input and comment to the Corporation regarding, any portion of any such tax audit or other tax contest and (ii) participate in, at the TRA Holder Representative’s expense, any such portion of any such tax audit or other tax contest, in each case, to the extent it reasonably relates to issues the resolution of which would reasonably be expected to affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to any TRA Holder under this Agreement. To the extent there is a conflict between this Agreement and either the Transaction Agreement or the LLC Agreement relating to tax matters concerning Covered Taxes and the Corporation, including preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes, this Agreement shall control solely with respect to the matters governed by this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.2 Consistency. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, all calculations and determinations made hereunder, including, without limitation, any Basis Adjustments, the determination of any deductions arising from Common Basis or Section 704(c) Items, the Schedules or the determination of any Realized Tax Benefits or Realized Tax Detriments, shall be made in accordance with the elections, methodologies or positions taken by the Corporation and the LLC on their respective Tax Returns. Each TRA Holder shall prepare its Tax Returns in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement and any related calculations or determinations that are made hereunder, including, without limitation, the Schedules provided under this Agreement, unless otherwise required by applicable law. In the event that an Advisory Firm or Expert is used and is replaced with another Advisory Firm or Expert, such replacement Advisory Firm or Expert shall perform its services under this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with the previous Advisory Firm or Expert, unless otherwise required by applicable law or unless the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.

Section 6.3 Cooperation. The TRA Holder Representative and each TRA Holder, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, shall (i) furnish to the other in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the other may reasonably request for purposes of making, reviewing, or approving any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under or with respect to this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return, or contesting or defending any audit, examination, controversy, or other proceeding with any Taxing Authority, (ii) make itself available to the other and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as may be reasonably requested in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. Subject to Section 6.1, the Corporation shall provide assistance as reasonably requested by any TRA Holder or the TRA Holder Representative on behalf of any TRA Holder in connection with such TRA Holder’s tax or financial reporting and/or the consummation of any assignment or transfer of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation, providing any information or executing any documentation. The requesting Party shall reimburse the other Party for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by such other Party pursuant to this Section 6.3.

ARTICLE VII.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email during normal business hours (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:

 

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If to the Corporation, to:
Vivid Seats Inc.:
111 N. Canal Street
Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention:   General Counsel
Email:   legal@vividseats.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611
Attention: Bradley C. Faris
  Owen Alexander
Email:   bradley.faris@lw.com owen.alexander@lw.com
If to the TRA Holder Representative:

GTCR LLC

300 N. LaSalle St. Suite 5600

Chicago, IL 60654
Attention: Mark Anderson
  David Donnini
Email: mark.anderson@gtcr.com
  ddonnini@gtcr.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the TRA Holder Representative) to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611
Attention: Bradley C. Faris
  Owen Alexander
Email:   bradley.faris@lw.com
  owen.alexander@lw.com

Any Party may change its address, fax number or e-mail address by giving each of the other Parties written notice thereof in the manner set forth above.

 

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Section 7.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

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

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

Section 7.6 Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver.

(a) Assignment. Each TRA Holder may assign, sell, pledge, or otherwise alienate or transfer any TRA Right without the consent of the Corporation, to any Person; provided, such Person executes and delivers a Joinder agreeing to succeed to the applicable TRA Rights and to become a Party and TRA Holder for all purposes of this Agreement (the “Joinder Requirement”). The TRA Holder Representative shall update the TRA Holder Sharing Percentages and Blocker TRA Holder Sharing Percentages, as applicable, to reflect any such transfer accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units (and any such transferred Units shall be separately identified, so as to facilitate the determination of Tax Benefit Payments hereunder). The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person (other than any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation) without the prior written consent of each of the TRA Holders (and any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void).

 

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(b) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by (i) the Corporation, (ii) the TRA Holder Representative, and (iii) TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive at least fifty (50) percent of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders in the event the Corporation exercised its rights pursuant to Section 4.1(a) as of the later of the most recent Exchange Date or the most recent Reorganization Transaction, in which case such amendment shall be permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate adverse impact on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such disproportionately impacted TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

(c) Successors. Except as provided in Section 7.6(a), all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement, expressly to (i) assume and agree to perform this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place and (ii) become a Party to this Agreement.

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

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

Section 7.8 Resolution of Disputes.

(a) Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9, any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably after good-faith negotiation, including any ancillary claims of any Party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance, or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope, and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “Dispute”) shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Administered Arbitration (the “Rules”) by three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall appoint one arbitrator and the TRA Holder Representative shall appoint one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Rule 5.4. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq., and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be New York, New York.

 

29


(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), any Party may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling another Party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Party (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.8 to any such action or proceeding, and (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.8 shall not apply to Reconciliation Disputes to be settled in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 7.9.

(c) Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process by means of notice in the manner provided for in Section 7.1. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

(d) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

(e) In the event the parties are unable to agree whether a dispute between them is a Reconciliation Dispute subject to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in Section 7.9 or a Dispute subject to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in this Section 7.8, such disagreement shall be decided and resolved in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Section 7.8.

Section 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative (or any applicable TRA Holder) are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to a Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.5, or with respect to an Early Termination Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.2, within the relevant time period designated in this Agreement (a “Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “Expert”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to the disputing Parties. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting firm, and unless the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative (or any applicable TRA Holder) agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation, the TRA Holder Representative (or any applicable TRA Holder), or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the disputing Parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the selection of an Expert shall be treated as a Dispute subject to Section 7.8 and an arbitration panel shall pick an Expert from a nationally recognized accounting firm that does not have any material relationship with the Corporation, the TRA Holder Representative (or any

 

30


applicable TRA Holder), or other actual or potential conflict of interest. The Expert shall resolve any disputed matter relating to any Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporation and the applicable TRA Holder(s) shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the TRA Holder Representative or applicable TRA Holder(s)’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Holder Representative or applicable TRA Holder(s) for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding (including for the avoidance of doubt any costs and expenses incurred by the TRA Holder Representative or any applicable TRA Holder(s) relating to the engagement of the Expert or amending any applicable Tax Return), or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the applicable TRA Holder(s) (or the TRA Holder Representative on behalf of such TRA Holder(s)) shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding (including for the avoidance of doubt costs and expenses incurred by the Corporation relating to the engagement of the Expert or amending any applicable Tax Return). The Corporation may withhold payments under this Agreement to collect amounts due under the preceding sentence. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation, the TRA Holder Representative and the TRA Holders and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction.

Section 7.10 Withholding. The Corporation, the LLC, and their respective affiliates, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment that is payable to any TRA Holder (or other applicable person) pursuant to this Agreement any taxes or other amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of any such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law. Any such deducted or withheld taxes or other amounts, to the extent paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority or other governmental entity shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder (or any other person) in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made. Each TRA Holder or other recipient of any payments hereunder shall provide the Corporation, the LLC, or other applicable withholding agent with any applicable tax forms, including IRS Form W-9 or the appropriate series of IRS Form W-8, as applicable, or any other information or certifications reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law.

 

31


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

(a) If the Corporation is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 or other applicable Sections of the Code governing affiliated or consolidated groups, or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local tax law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments, and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated Covered Taxes of the group as a whole.

(b) If the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a) or any member of the LLC Group transfers one or more Reference Assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such Reference Asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred Reference Asset as determined by a valuation expert mutually agreed upon by the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any such Reference Assets is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest. For purposes of this Section 7.11, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporation or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies, the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.11(b).

Section 7.12 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, as a result of or, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause adverse tax consequences to such TRA Holder or any direct or indirect owner of such TRA Holder, then at the written election of such TRA Holder in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such TRA Holder and delivered to the Corporation and the TRA Holder Representative) and to the extent specified therein by such TRA Holder, this Agreement either (i) shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to such TRA Holder after a date specified by such TRA Holder or (ii) may be amended by the Parties in a manner reasonably determined by such TRA Holder, provided that such amendment shall not result in a material adverse impact to the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, including an increase in or acceleration of any payments owed by the Corporation under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

 

32


Section 7.13 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the interest paid or agreed to be paid hereunder with respect to amounts due to any TRA Holder hereunder shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any TRA Holder shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the Tax Benefit Payment, Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment, as applicable (but in each case exclusive of any component thereof comprising interest) or, if it exceeds such unpaid non-interest amount, refunded to the Corporation. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by any TRA Holder exceeds the Maximum Rate, such TRA Holder may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the payment obligations owed by the Corporation to such TRA Holder hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Parties to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.

Section 7.14 Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations. The rights and obligations of each TRA Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the rights and obligations of any other Person. A TRA Holder shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Person hereunder, nor shall a TRA Holder have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other Person hereunder (other than the Corporation). Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any TRA Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Holders acting as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Corporation acknowledges that the TRA Holders are not acting in concert or as a group and will not assert any such claim with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 7.15 LLC Agreement. This Agreement shall be treated as part of the LLC Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

Section 7.16 TRA Holder Representative. By executing this Agreement, each of the TRA Holders shall be deemed to have irrevocably constituted and appointed GTCR Management XI, LLC (in the capacity described in this Section 7.16 and each successor as provided below, the “TRA Holder Representative”) as its agent and attorney in fact with full power of substitution to act from and after the date hereof and to do any and all things and execute any and all documents on behalf of such TRA Holders which may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to facilitate any matters under this Agreement, including but not limited to, and unless otherwise provided by this Agreement: (i) execution of the documents and certificates required pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) receipt and forwarding of notices and communications pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) administration of the provisions of this Agreement; (iv) giving or agreeing to, on behalf of such TRA Holders, any and all consents, waivers, amendments or modifications deemed by the TRA Holder Representative, in its sole and absolute discretion, to be necessary or appropriate under this Agreement and the execution or delivery of any documents that may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith; (v) taking actions the TRA Holder Representative is expressly authorized to take pursuant to the other provisions of

 

33


this Agreement; (vi) negotiating and compromising, on behalf of such TRA Holders, any dispute that may arise under, and exercising or refraining from exercising any remedies available under, this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby and executing, on behalf of such TRA Holders, any settlement agreement, release or other document with respect to such dispute or remedy; and (vii) engaging attorneys, accountants, agents or consultants on behalf of such TRA Holders in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby and paying any fees related thereto. If the TRA Holder Representative is unwilling to so serve, then the person then-serving as the TRA Holder Representative shall be entitled to appoint its successor which such successor shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the TRA Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the TRA Holder Representative, any of its Affiliates, or any of the TRA Holder Representative’s or Affiliate’s directors, officers, employees or other agents (each a “Covered Person”) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to any TRA Holder, the LLC, or the Corporation for damages arising from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the TRA Holder Representative or any other Person with respect to the LLC or the Corporation, except in the case of any action or omission which constitutes, with respect to such Person, willful misconduct or fraud. Each of the Covered Persons may consult with legal counsel, accountants, and other experts selected by it, and any act or omission suffered or taken by it on behalf of the LLC or the Corporation or in furtherance of the interests of the LLC or the Corporation in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or other experts shall create a presumption of the good faith and due care of such Covered Person with respect to such act or omission. Each of the Covered Persons may rely in good faith upon, and shall have no liability to the LLC, the Corporation or the TRA Holders for acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the foregoing, if a provision of this Agreement provides a right or entitlement of any kind to a TRA Holder, this Section 7.16 shall not override the TRA Holder’s ability to exercise or enforce such right or enjoy such entitlement.

Section 7.17 Non-Effect of Other Tax Receivable Agreements. If the Corporation enters into any other agreement after the date hereof that obligates the Corporation to make payments to another party in exchange for tax benefits conferred upon the Corporation, the LLC, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, unless otherwise agreed by the TRA Holder Representative, such tax benefits and such payments shall be ignored for all purposes of this Agreement (including for purposes of calculating the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability hereunder).

[Signature Page Follows This Page]

 

34


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

CORPORATION:
  VIVID SEATS INC.
  By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
THE LLC:
  HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
TRA HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE:
GTCR MANAGEMENT XI, LLC
By:  

/s/ David Donnini

Name: David Donnini
Title: Managing Director
TRA HOLDER:
HOYA TOPCO, LLC
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

Name: Stanley Chia
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

[Final]

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 18, 2021

THE UNITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

CERTAIN UNITS MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH HEREIN AND/OR IN A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THE INITIAL HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT CHARGE.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2  

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

     11  

Section 2.1

  Formation of LLC; Continuation      11  

Section 2.2

  Limited Liability Company Agreement      11  

Section 2.3

  Name      11  

Section 2.4

  Purpose      11  

Section 2.5

  Principal Office; Registered Office      12  

Section 2.6

  Term      12  

Section 2.7

  No State-Law Partnership      12  

Section 2.8

  Ratification and Specific Authorization of Transactions      12  

ARTICLE III UNITS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

     13  

Section 3.1

  Units; Capitalization      13  

Section 3.2

  Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units      14  

Section 3.3

  Repurchase or Redemption of Class A Common Stock      15  

Section 3.4

  Changes in Common Stock      16  

Section 3.5

  Capital Accounts      16  

Section 3.6

  Negative Capital Accounts; No Interest Regarding Positive Capital Accounts      17  

Section 3.7

  No Withdrawal      17  

Section 3.8

  Loans From Unitholders      17  

Section 3.9

  Adjustments to Capital Accounts for Distributions In-Kind      17  

Section 3.10

  Transfer of Capital Accounts      18  

Section 3.11

  Adjustments to Book Value      18  

Section 3.12

  Compliance With Section 1.704-1(b)      18  

Section 3.13

  Warrants      18  

ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

     19  

Section 4.1

  Distributions      19  

Section 4.2

  Allocations      21  

Section 4.3

  Special Allocations      22  

Section 4.4

  Offsetting Allocations      23  

Section 4.5

  Tax Allocations      23  

Section 4.6

  Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Unitholder      24  

Section 4.7

  Prior Agreements Allocations      25  

ARTICLE V MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF BUSINESS

     25  

Section 5.1

  Management      25  

 

i


Section 5.2

  Investment Company Act      27  

Section 5.3

  Officers      27  

Section 5.4

  Fiduciary Duties      29  

ARTICLE VI EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

     29  

Section 6.1

  Exculpation      29  

Section 6.2

  Indemnification      30  

Section 6.3

  Expenses      31  

Section 6.4

  Non-Exclusivity; Savings Clause      31  

Section 6.5

  Insurance      31  

ARTICLE VII ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS

     31  

Section 7.1

  Accounting and Records      31  

Section 7.2

  Preparation of Tax Returns      31  

Section 7.3

  Tax Elections      32  

Section 7.4

  Tax Controversies      32  

ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF UNITS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS

     34  

Section 8.1

  Transfer of Units      34  

Section 8.2

  Recognition of Transfer; Substituted and Additional Members      34  

Section 8.3

  Expense of Transfer; Indemnification      36  

ARTICLE IX REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE

     36  

Section 9.1

  Redemption of Common Units      36  

Section 9.2

  Adjustments      42  

Section 9.3

  Class A Common Stock to be Issued      43  

Section 9.4

  Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status      43  

Section 9.5

  Tax Treatment      44  

Section 9.6

  PTP Tax Consequences      44  

Section 9.7

  Distributions      44  

Section 9.8

  Blocker Merger Transaction Cooperation      44  

ARTICLE X RESIGNATION OF UNITHOLDERS

     45  

Section 10.1

  Resignation of Unitholders      45  

ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     45  

Section 11.1

  Dissolution      45  

Section 11.2

  Liquidation and Termination      46  

Section 11.3

  Securityholders Agreement      47  

Section 11.4

  Cancellation of Certificate      47  

Section 11.5

  Reasonable Time for Winding Up      47  

Section 11.6

  Return of Capital      47  

 

ii


Section 11.7

  Hart-Scott-Rodino      47  

ARTICLE XII GENERAL PROVISIONS

     48  

Section 12.1

  Power of Attorney      48  

Section 12.2

  Amendments      48  

Section 12.3

  Title to the Company Assets      48  

Section 12.4

  Remedies      48  

Section 12.5

  Successors and Assigns      49  

Section 12.6

  Severability      49  

Section 12.7

  Counterparts; Binding Agreement      49  

Section 12.8

  Descriptive Headings; Interpretation      49  

Section 12.9

  Applicable Law      50  

Section 12.10

  Addresses and Notices      50  

Section 12.11

  Creditors      50  

Section 12.12

  No Waiver      50  

Section 12.13

  Further Action      50  

Section 12.14

  Entire Agreement      50  

Section 12.15

  Delivery by Electronic Means      50  

Section 12.16

  Certain Acknowledgments      51  

Section 12.17

  Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY      51  

Section 12.18

  Representations and Warranties      52  

Section 12.19

  Tax Receivable Agreement      52  

 

iii


HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is entered into as of October 18, 2021, by and among the Company, Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Vivid Seats”), and Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TopCo”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Article I.

WHEREAS, the Certificate was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 16, 2016;

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the Company, was entered into as of June 30, 2017, and subsequently amended by that certain First Amendment, dated as of January 25, 2018 (as so amended, the “Prior Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Horizon”), Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, TopCo, the Company and Vivid Seats, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) the Company entered into a merger with Hoya Merger Sub LLC and, in connection with the merger, the Company’s equity interests were recapitalized into Common Units and all unitholders of the Company (other than TopCo and the Crescent Holders) received units in TopCo, (ii) Horizon was merged with and into Vivid Seats, with Vivid Seats remaining as the surviving corporation of the merger, (iii) Vivid Seats will be admitted as a Member of the Company and will contribute funds to the Company in exchange for newly-issued Common Units in the Company, (iv) Vivid Seats will purchase, directly or indirectly, Common Units in the Company from the Crescent Blocker Sellers, (v) Vivid Seats will issue Class B Common Stock and warrants to purchase Class B Common Stock to TopCo, (vi) the Company will issue Warrants to Vivid Seats pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, (vii) the Company will issue Warrants to TopCo pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, (viii) the Company will redeem all Common Units held by the Redeemed Crescent Parties, and (ix) Vivid Seats, the Company and TopCo will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which Vivid Seats will be obligated to make payments to certain parties related to certain tax benefits realized or deemed realized (clauses (i) through (ix), collectively, the “Transactions”); and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement as set forth herein to give effect to the Transactions and reflect the admission of Vivid Seats as a Member of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the following meaning:

Additional Member” means a Person admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 8.2 in connection with issuance of Units to such Person in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Capital Account as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Person’s Capital Account balance shall be (i) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6), and (ii) increased for any amount such Person is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to Minimum Gain).

Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person, and in the case of any Unitholder that is a partnership, limited liability company, corporation or similar entity, any partner, member or stockholder of such Unitholder; provided, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Unitholder. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as it may be amended, modified and/or waived from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Unitholder for any Fiscal Quarter or the portion thereof, an amount, which in the good faith estimation of the Board, equals the product of (a) the amount of taxable income of the Company allocable to such Unitholder in respect of such Fiscal Quarter or portion thereof (which shall include gross or net income allocations of items of Profit or Loss and guaranteed payments for the use of capital), determined (x) without regard to adjustments under Section 732(d), 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code and (y) reducing such taxable income by net taxable losses, deductions or credits of the Company allocated to such Unitholder for prior taxable periods or portions thereof to the extent that such losses, deductions or credits (1) are of a type or character (e.g., in the case of losses, ordinary or capital) that would permit the losses, deductions or credits to be deducted or utilized by such Unitholder against the current taxable income of the Company allocable to the Unitholder for such Fiscal Quarter and (2) have not previously been taken into account in determining such Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability, multiplied by (b) the Assumed Tax Rate.

 

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Assumed Tax Rate” means the combined maximum U.S. federal, state, and local income tax rate applicable to a taxable individual or corporation in any jurisdiction in the United States (whichever is higher), including pursuant to Section 1411 of the Code, in each case, taking into account all jurisdictions in which the Company is required to file income tax returns and the relevant apportionment information, in effect for the applicable Fiscal Quarter (taking into account the character of the income and excluding any reductions in rates attributable to Section 199A of the Code). The Assumed Tax Rate shall be the same for all Unitholders, regardless of the actual combined income tax rate of the Unitholder or its direct or indirect owners and the Manager may adjust the Assumed Tax Rate as it reasonably determines is necessary to take into account the effect of any changes in applicable tax law.

Base Rate” means, as of any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

Blocker Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.

Blocker Merger Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.

Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).

Book Value” means, with respect to any of the Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted (in the case of permitted adjustments, to the extent the Company makes such permitted adjustments) by Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York, New York or San Diego, California are authorized by law to be closed.

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Unitholder pursuant to Section 3.5 and the other applicable provisions of this Agreement.

Capital Contributions” means any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property (net of any applicable liabilities) which a Unitholder contributes or is deemed by the Board to have contributed to the Company with respect to any Unit pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.10.

Cash Payment” means, an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the Redeemed Unit Amount, (y) the then-applicable Exchange Rate, and (z) (i) solely in connection with a Change of Control Redemption, the Common Stock Value, and (ii) with respect to any Redemption that is not a Change of Control Redemption, the price to the public or the private sale price, as applicable, of the Class A Common Stock in the substantially concurrent public offering or private sale, as applicable.

Certificate” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

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

(a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any “person” or “group” who, as of the date hereof, is the beneficial owner of securities of Vivid Seats representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Vivid Seats’ then outstanding voting securities)) becomes the beneficial owner of securities of Vivid Seats representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Vivid Seats’ then outstanding voting securities;

(b) (A) the shareholders of Vivid Seats approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Vivid Seats or (B) there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by Vivid Seats of all or substantially all of Vivid Seat’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by Vivid Seats of all or substantially all of Vivid Seats’ assets to an entity at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of Vivid Seats in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Vivid Seats immediately prior to such sale or other disposition;

(c) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of Vivid Seats with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (A) the board of directors of Vivid Seats immediately prior to the merger or consolidation does not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (B) all of the Persons who were the respective beneficial owners of the voting securities of Vivid Seats immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation; or

(d) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of Vivid Seats then serving: individuals who were directors of Vivid Seats as of the date hereof or any new director whose appointment or election to the Board or nomination for election by Vivid Seats’ shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors of Vivid Seats on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause (d).

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

Change of Control Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b)(i).

Change of Control Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b)(iii).

 

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Class A Common Stock” means the class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Vivid Seats.

Class B Common Stock” means the class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Vivid Seats.

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Common Stock Value” means, with respect to any Change of Control Redemption, the greater of (x) the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the three (3) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the related Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock and (y) the price per share of Class A Common Stock offered by the Person or group that is the acquirer in the applicable Change of Control transaction. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Common Stock Value shall be determined in good faith by a majority of the directors of Vivid Seats that do not have an interest in the Redeemable Units subject to Redemption (or the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock).

Common Unit” means a Unit having the rights and obligation specified with respect to a Common Unit in this Agreement.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Contribution Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)(iv).

Crescent Blocker Sellers” means Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIB, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIC, L.P., NPS/Crescent Strategic Partnership II, LP, CM7C VS Equity Holdings, LP and Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIIB, L.P.

Crescent Holders” means the Redeemed Crescent Parties, CM6B Vivid Equity, Inc., CM6C Vivid Equity, Inc., CM7C VS Equity, LLC and CM7B VS Equity, LLC.

Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

Direct Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(f).

Distribution” means each distribution made by the Company to a Unitholder, with respect to such Person’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities and whether by liquidating distribution, redemption, repurchase or otherwise; provided that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, none of the following shall be deemed to be a Distribution hereunder: (i) any recapitalization, exchange or conversion of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units; and (ii) any repurchase of Units pursuant to any right of first refusal or similar repurchase right in favor of the Company.

 

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Equity Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

Equity Securities” means (i) any Units, capital stock, partnership, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests (including other classes, groups or series thereof having such relative rights, powers and/or obligations as may from time to time be established by the Board, including rights, powers and/or duties different from, senior to or more favorable than existing classes, groups and series of Units, capital stock, partnership, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests, and including any profits interests), (ii) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units, capital stock, partnership interests, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests, and (iii) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units, capital stock, partnership interests, membership or limited liability company interests or other equity interests. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the term “Equity Securities” refers to Equity Securities of the Company.

Event of Withdrawal” means the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.

Exchange Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(f).

Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which one Common Unit may be redeemed pursuant to a Redemption. The Exchange Rate will also be used to determine the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that a Member must surrender upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1.00, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9.2.

Fair Market Value” means, as of any date of determination, (i) with respect to a Unit, such Unit’s Pro Rata Share as of such date, (ii) with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock, the Common Stock Value as of such date, and (iii) with respect to any other non-cash assets, the fair market value for such property as between a willing buyer under no compulsion to buy and a willing seller under no compulsion to sell in an arm’s-length transaction occurring on such date, taking into account all relevant factors determinative of value (including in the case of securities, any restrictions on transfer applicable thereto or, if such securities are traded on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, the quoted price for such securities as of the date of determination), as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board.

First Redemption Time” means the expiration or earlier waiver of any lockup agreement in connection with the Transactions, including the Stockholders’ Agreement.

 

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Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Board and which is permitted or required by Code Section 706.

Fiscal Quarter” means each calendar quarter ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, or such other quarterly accounting period as may be established by the Board or as required by the Code.

Fiscal Year” means the 12-month period ending on December 31, or such other annual accounting period as may be established by the Board or as may be required by the Code.

Governmental Entity” means the United States of America or any other nation, any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government.

Horizon” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.7.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

Liens” means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims, mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations, understandings or arrangements, or other restrictions on title or transfer of any nature whatsoever.

Liquidation Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b).

Liquidation FMV” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b).

Liquidation Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b).

Losses” means items of the Company loss and deduction determined according to Section 3.5.

Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).

Member” means each Person listed on the Unit Ownership Ledger and any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each in its capacity as a member of the Company; but in each case only for so long as such Person is shown on the Unit Ownership Ledger as the owner of one or more Units.

Minimum Gain” means the partnership minimum gain determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.

 

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Partnership Tax Audit Rules” means Code Sections 6221 through 6241 together with any guidance issued thereunder or successor provisions and any similar provision of state or local Tax laws.

Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any of such Person’s Affiliates and (ii) any direct or indirect partner, member, stockholder or other equityholder of such Person.

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, association or other entity or a Governmental Entity.

PR” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).

Pro Rata Share” means with respect to each Unitholder, the proportionate amount such Unitholder would receive if an amount equal to the Total Equity Value were distributed to all Unitholders in accordance with Section 4.1(b), as determined in good faith by the Board.

Profits” means items of the Company income and gain determined according to Section 3.5.

Prior Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Redeemed Crescent Parties” means Crescent Mezzanine Partners VI, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII (LTL), L.P. and CBDC Universal Equity, Inc.

Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)(i).

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)(iii).

Redemption Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)(iii).

Redeemable Unit” means a Common Unit held by a Member (other than Vivid Seats and its Subsidiaries).

Redeemed Unit Amount” means, with respect to a Redemption, the number of Common Units set forth in the applicable Redemption Notice.

Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2020, by and among Vivid Seats and certain other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e).

Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)(vi).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future law.

 

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Stockholders’ Agreement” means that certain Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2021, by and among Vivid Seats and the investors party thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

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

Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 8.2 in connection with the Transfer of Units to such Person permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

Takeover Laws” means any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including any Redemption or Direct Exchange.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, excise, natural resources, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profit, environmental, customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital stock, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll, license, employee or other withholding, or other tax, of any kind whatsoever, and any interest, penalties or additions to tax or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(i).

Tax Distribution Conditions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a)(i).

 

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Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement dated as of October 18, 2021, by and among Vivid Seats, the Company and Topco, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income Tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 7.3.

TopCo” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Topco Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b)(ii).

Total Equity Value” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate proceeds which would be received by the Unitholders if: (i) the assets of the Company were sold at their fair market value to an independent third-party on arm’s-length terms, with neither the seller nor the buyer being under compulsion to buy or sell such assets; (ii) the Company satisfied and paid in full all of its obligations and liabilities (including all Taxes, costs and expenses incurred in connection with such transaction and any amounts reserved by the Board with respect to any contingent or other liabilities); and (iii) such net sale proceeds were then distributed in accordance with Section 4.1, all as determined by the Board in good faith based upon the Common Stock Value as of such date.

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

Transaction Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

Treasury Regulations” means the income Tax regulations promulgated under the Code and effective as of the date of this Agreement. Such term, if elected by the Board in its sole discretion, shall be deemed to include any future amendments to such regulations and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations (whether or not such amendments and corresponding provisions are mandatory or discretionary).

Unit” means a limited liability company interest in the Company of a Member or representing a fractional part of the interests in Profits, Losses and Distributions of the Company held by all Members, including Common Units.

Unit Ownership Ledger” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

Unitholder” means any owner of one or more Units as reflected on the Company’s books and records.

 

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Upstairs Class A Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b).

Upstairs Class B Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(c).

Vivid Seats” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Vivid Seats Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b)(i).

Warrant Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).

Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section 2.1 Formation of LLC; Continuation. The Company was formed in the State of Delaware on February 16, 2016 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. Each Person listed on the Unit Ownership Ledger as a member of the Company on the date hereof is hereby admitted as (or shall continue as) a member of the Company.

Section 2.2 Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of amending and restating the Prior Agreement and establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act. The Members hereby agree that until the Company is terminated in accordance with Section 11.4, the rights, powers and obligations of the Unitholders with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing and anything else to the contrary, Section 18-210 of the Delaware Act (entitled “No Statutory Appraisal Rights”) shall not apply to or be incorporated into this Agreement and each Unitholder hereby expressly waives any and all rights under such Section of the Delaware Act and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware Act (entitled “Access to and Confidentiality of Information; Records”) shall not apply to or be incorporated into this Agreement and each Member hereby expressly waives any and all rights under such Section of the Delaware Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing waiver of any and all rights by each Member under Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware Act is a restriction of the Members’ rights to obtain information, approved and adopted by all of the Members, as permitted under Section 18-305(g) of the Delaware Act.

Section 2.3 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Hoya Intermediate, LLC.” The Board may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such name change shall be given to all Unitholders. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Board.

Section 2.4 Purpose. The purpose and business of the Company shall be to manage and direct the business operations and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to engage in any other lawful acts or activities for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 2.5 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at such place inside or outside the state of Delaware as the Board may from time to time designate, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all business and activities of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred at its principal office. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places as the Board deems advisable. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board may designate from time to time in the manner provided by applicable law, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be the registered agent named in the Certificate or such Person or Persons as the Board may designate from time to time in the manner provided by applicable law.

Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the Company shall be dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article XI. The existence of the Company as a separate entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate in accordance with Section 11.4.

Section 2.7 No State-Law Partnership. The Unitholders intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Unitholder be a partner or joint venturer of any other Unitholder by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.7, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Unitholder relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Unitholders intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income Tax purposes, and that each Unitholder and the Company shall file all Tax returns and shall otherwise take all Tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.

Section 2.8 Ratification and Specific Authorization of Transactions. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the Company has undertaken or will undertake the Transactions. In connection therewith, (i) all actions taken to date, and any and all things done, by the Company, and by the Board or any officer, employee or agent of the Company on behalf of the Company, in furtherance of and consistent with the Transactions (including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of the Transaction Agreement and the recapitalization of the Company’s equity interests into Common Units), are hereby in all respects confirmed to be authorized, approved and ratified and, to the extent not yet undertaken, (ii) the Company, and the Board or any officer, employee or agent of the Company on behalf of the Company, is hereby authorized to (y) enter into and perform the Warrant Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement and any documents contemplated thereby or related thereto and any amendments thereto and (z) redeem any Common Units held by the Redeemed Crescent Parties, in each case, without any further act, vote or approval of any Person, including any Member or any Unitholder, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE III

UNITS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

Section 3.1 Units; Capitalization.

(a) Units; Capitalization. The Company shall have the authority to issue an unlimited number of Common Units. In connection with the Transactions and subject to the terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreement, the Company will issue Common Units and Warrants to Vivid Seats in exchange for a cash contribution to the Company, such that immediately after completion of the Transactions and the issuance of Common Units and Warrants by the Company, the total number of Common Units held by Vivid Seats will equal the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and the total number of Common Units into which Warrants held by Vivid Seats are exercisable will be equal to the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which outstanding warrants issued by Vivid Seats are exercisable. The ownership by a Member of Common Units shall entitle such Member to allocations of Profits and Losses and other items and Distributions of cash and other property as set forth in Article IV hereof.

(b) Unit Ownership Ledger; Capital Contributions. The Board shall create and maintain a ledger (the “Unit Ownership Ledger”) setting forth the name and address of each Unitholder and holder of Warrants, the number of each class of Units and Warrants held of record by each such Unitholder and holder of Warrants, and the amount of the Capital Contribution made (or deemed to have been made) with respect to each class of Units and the date of such Capital Contribution. Upon any change in the number or ownership of outstanding Units or Warrants (whether upon an issuance of Units or Warrants, a Transfer of Units or Warrants, a cancellation of Units or Warrants or otherwise), the Board shall amend and update the Unit Ownership Ledger. Absent manifest error, the ownership interests recorded on the Unit Ownership Ledger shall be conclusive record of the Units and Warrants that have been issued and are outstanding. Each Unitholder named in the Unit Ownership Ledger has made (or shall be deemed to have made) Capital Contributions to the Company as set forth in the Unit Ownership Ledger in exchange for the Units specified in the Unit Ownership Ledger. Any reference in this Agreement to the Unit Ownership Ledger shall be deemed a reference to the Unit Ownership Ledger as amended and in effect from time to time.

(c) Certificates; Legends. Units shall be issued in uncertificated form; provided that, at the request of any Member, the Board may cause the Company to issue one or more certificates to any such Member holding Units representing in the aggregate the Units held by such Member. If any certificate representing Units is issued, then such certificate shall bear a legend substantially in the following form:

THIS CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES UNITS REPRESENTING A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTEREST IN HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTEREST IN HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY NON-U.S. OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTEREST IN HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2021, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH SHALL BE FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY TO THE RECORD HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.

 

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(d) Prior Common Units. The Common Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Members prior to the date of this Agreement shall remain unchanged.

Section 3.2 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

(a) The Board shall have the right to cause the Company to issue and/or create and issue at any time after the date hereof, and for such amount and form of consideration as the Board may determine, additional Units or other Equity Securities of the Company (including creating classes or series thereof having such powers, designations, preferences and rights, which in each case may be senior to existing Units or other Equity Securities of the Company or classes or series thereof, as may be determined by the Board). The Board shall have the power, without the approval of any other Member or Unitholder or any other Person and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, including Section 12.2, to make such amendments to this Agreement in order to provide for such powers, designations, preferences and rights as the Board in its discretion deems necessary or appropriate to give effect to such additional authorization or issuance in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2(a). In connection with any issuance of Units (whether on or after the date of this Agreement), the Person who acquires such Units shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement accepting and agreeing to be bound by all terms and conditions hereof, and shall enter into such other documents, instruments and agreements to effect such purchase as are required by the Board (including such documents, instruments and agreements entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement by the Members, each, an “Equity Agreement”).

(b) At any time Vivid Seats issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock (other than an issuance of the type covered by Section 3.2(c) or an issuance to a holder of Redeemable Units pursuant Article IX), Vivid Seats shall contribute to the Company all of the net proceeds (if any) received by Vivid Seats with respect to such share or shares of Class A Common Stock. Upon the contribution by Vivid Seats to the Company of all of such net proceeds so received by Vivid Seats, the Board shall cause the Company to issue a number of Common Units determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect, registered in the name of Vivid Seats; provided, however, that if Vivid Seats issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock, some or all of the net proceeds of which are to be used to fund expenses or other obligations of Vivid Seats for which Vivid Seats would be permitted a Distribution pursuant to Article IV, then Vivid Seats shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company which are used or will be used to fund such expenses or obligations; provided further, if Vivid Seats issues any shares of Class A Common Stock in order to purchase or fund the purchase of Common Units from a Member (other than a Subsidiary of Vivid Seats), then the Company shall not issue any new Common Units registered in the name of Vivid Seats in accordance with Section 9.1(a) and Vivid Seats shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company (it being understood that such net proceeds shall instead be transferred by Vivid Seats to such other Member as consideration for such purchase). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.2(b) shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of Class A Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of Vivid Seats under a “poison pill” or similar shareholder’s rights plan (it being

 

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understood that (i) upon exchange of Redeemable Units for Class A Common Stock pursuant to Article IX, such Class A Common Stock would be issued together with any such corresponding right and (ii) in the event such rights to purchase Equity Securities of Vivid Seats are triggered, Vivid Seats will ensure that the holders of Common Units that have not been Exchanged prior to such time will be treated equitably vis-à-vis the holders of Class A Common Stock under such plan).

(c) At any time Vivid Seats issues one or more shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with an equity incentive program, whether such share or shares are issued upon exercise (including cashless exercise) of an option, settlement of a restricted stock unit, as restricted stock or otherwise, the Board shall cause the Company to issue a corresponding number of Common Units, registered in the name of Vivid Seats (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect); provided that Vivid Seats shall be required to contribute all (but not less than all) of the net proceeds (if any) received by Vivid Seats from or otherwise in connection with such issuance of one or more shares of Class A Common Stock, including the exercise price of any option exercised, to the Company. If any such shares of Class A Common Stock so issued by Vivid Seats in connection with an equity incentive program are subject to vesting or forfeiture provisions, then the Common Units that are issued by the Company to Vivid Seats in connection therewith in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.2(c) shall be subject to vesting or forfeiture on the same basis; if any of such shares of Class A Common Stock vest or are forfeited, then a corresponding number of the Common Units (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect) issued by the Company in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3.2(c) shall automatically vest or be forfeited. Any cash or property held by Vivid Seats or the Company or on any of such Person’s behalf in respect of dividends paid on restricted shares of Class A Common Stock that fail to vest shall be returned to the Company upon the forfeiture of such restricted shares of Class A Common Stock.

(d) For purposes of this Section 3.2, “net proceeds” means gross proceeds to Vivid Seats from the issuance of Class A Common Stock or other securities less all reasonable bona fide out-of-pocket fees and expenses of Vivid Seats, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries actually incurred in connection with such issuance.

Section 3.3 Repurchase or Redemption of Class A Common Stock. If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by Vivid Seats for cash, then the Board shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of such shares, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held by Vivid Seats (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect), at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the share or shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by Vivid Seats (plus any reasonable expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the share or shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by Vivid Seats.

 

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Section 3.4 Changes in Common Stock. In addition to any other adjustments required hereby any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or other capital stock of Vivid Seats shall be accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the Common Units or other Equity Securities, as applicable. In connection with a subdivision or combination of the Common Units or other Equity Securities pursuant to this Section 3.4, the Board shall have the power, without the approval of any other Member or Unitholder or any other Person, to make such amendments to this Agreement in order to reflect such subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the Common Units or other Equity Securities.

Section 3.5 Capital Accounts.

(a) Maintenance of Capital Accounts. The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Unitholder according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the sole discretion of the Board), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of the Company property. Without limiting the foregoing, each Unitholder’s Capital Account shall be adjusted, without duplication:

(i) by adding any additional Capital Contributions made by such Unitholder in consideration for the issuance of Units;

(ii) by deducting any amounts paid to such Unitholder in connection with the redemption or other repurchase by the Company of Units;

(iii) by adding any Profits allocated in favor of such Unitholder and subtracting any Losses allocated in favor of such Unitholder; and

(iv) by deducting any distributions paid in cash or other assets to such Unitholder by the Company.

(b) Computation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction Items. For purposes of computing the amount of any item of the Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to Article IV and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided that:

(i) the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(1)(B), Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income Tax purposes;

(ii) if the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property;

 

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(iii) items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of the Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for Tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property;

(iv) items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to the Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for Tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g);

(v) to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted Tax basis of any of the Company’s asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis); and (vi) this Section 3.5 shall be applied in a manner consistent with the principles of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d), (f)(1), (h)(2) and (s).

Section 3.6 Negative Capital Accounts; No Interest Regarding Positive Capital Accounts. No Unitholder shall be required to pay to any other Unitholder or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Unitholder’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company). Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Unitholder shall be entitled to receive interest from the Company in respect of any positive balance in its Capital Account, and no Unitholder shall be liable to pay interest to the Company or any Unitholder in respect of any negative balance in its Capital Account.

Section 3.7 No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contributions or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided herein.

Section 3.8 Loans From Unitholders. Loans by Unitholders to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. If any Unitholder shall loan funds to the Company in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed by such Unitholder to the capital of the Company, the making of such loans shall not result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Unitholder. The amount of any such loans shall be a debt of the Company to such Unitholder and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans are made.

Section 3.9 Adjustments to Capital Accounts for Distributions In-Kind. To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property (as of the date of such distribution) for purposes of Section 4.1 and such property shall be treated as if it were sold for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value and any resulting gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members’ Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 through Section 4.4.

 

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Section 3.10 Transfer of Capital Accounts. The original Capital Account established for each Substituted Member shall be in the same amount as the Capital Account of the Member (or portion thereof) to which such Substituted Member succeeds at the time such Substituted Member is admitted to as a Member of the Company. The Capital Account of any Member whose interest in the Company shall be increased or decreased by means of (a) the Transfer to it of all or part of the Units of another Member or (b) the repurchase or forfeiture of Units pursuant to any Equity Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such Transfer, repurchase or forfeiture. Any reference in this Agreement to a Capital Contribution of or Distribution to a Member that has succeeded any other Member shall include any Capital Contributions or Distributions previously made by or to the former Member on account of the Units of such former Member Transferred to such Member.

Section 3.11 Adjustments to Book Value. The Company shall adjust the Book Value of its assets to Fair Market Value in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) as of the following times: (a) at the Board’s discretion in connection with the issuance of Units in the Company in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution or for services performed on behalf of the Company; (b) at the Board’s discretion in connection with the Distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of the Company’s assets, including money; (c) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and (d) at such other times as the Board determines necessary or appropriate in order to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. Any such increase or decrease in Book Value of an asset shall be allocated as a Profit or Loss to the Capital Accounts of the Members under Section 4.2 (determined immediately prior to the event giving rise to the revaluation). For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall adjust the Book Value of its assets to Fair Market Value as of the date of the Transactions in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).

Section 3.12 Compliance With Section 1.704-1(b). The provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations. In the event the Board shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts are computed in order to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Board may make such modification, without the approval of any other Member or Unitholder or any other Person and notwithstanding anything in Section 12.2 to the contrary. The Board also shall (a) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of the Company capital reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(iv)(g), and (b) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b).

Section 3.13 Warrants.

(a) On the date hereof, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the Company has issued warrants to purchase Common Units (the “Warrants”) to Vivid Seats and TopCo as set forth on the Unit Ownership Ledger pursuant to warrant agreements (the “Warrant Agreements”) entered into between the Company, on the one hand, and Vivid Seats and Topco, as applicable, on the other hand, as of the date hereof. Upon the valid exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement, the Company shall issue to Vivid Seats or TopCo, as applicable, the number of Common Units, free and clear of all Liens (other than those arising under applicable securities laws and this Agreement), to be issued in connection with such exercise.

 

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(b) If any holder of a warrant issued by Vivid Seats to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Upstairs Class A Warrants”) exercises an Upstairs Class A Warrant, then Vivid Seats agrees that it shall cause a corresponding exercise (including by effecting such exercise in the same manner, i.e., by payment of a cash exercise price or on a cashless basis) of a Warrant with similar terms held by it, such that the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with the exercise of such Upstairs Class A Warrant shall match with a corresponding number of Common Units issued by the Company pursuant to the Warrant Agreement with Vivid Seats, and the exercise price paid by Vivid Seats shall be equal to the exercise price paid by the holder of the Upstairs Class A Warrant exercising such Upstairs Class A Warrant. Vivid Seats agrees that it will not exercise any Warrants other than in connection with the corresponding exercise of an Upstairs Class A Warrant. In the event an Upstairs Class A Warrant is redeemed, the Company will redeem a Warrant with similar terms held by Vivid Seats.

(c) If Topco exercises a Warrant, then TopCo agrees that it shall cause a corresponding exercise of a warrant issued by Vivid Seats to purchase shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Upstairs Class B Warrants”) held by it, such that the number of Common Units issued by the Company pursuant to the Warrant Agreement with TopCo shall match a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued in connection with the exercise of such Upstairs Class B Warrant. TopCo agrees that it will not exercise any Upstairs Class B Warrants other than in connection with the corresponding exercise of a Warrant. In the event a Warrant held by Topco is redeemed, Vivid Seats will redeem an Upstairs Class B Warrant held by Topco.

ARTICLE IV

DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

Section 4.1 Distributions.

(a) Tax Distributions.

(i) Tax Distributions. To the extent funds of the Company are legally available for distribution by the Company and such distribution would not be prohibited under any credit facility or any other agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, in each case, as determined by Vivid Seats in its reasonable discretion (the “Tax Distribution Conditions”), with respect to each Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof), the Company shall distribute to each Unitholder, an amount of cash (each a “Tax Distribution”) that is at least equal to such Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability for such Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof). All Tax Distributions shall be made pro rata on a per-Common Unit basis in an amount such that the Unitholder with the highest Assumed Tax Liability per Common Unit receives an amount equal to such Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability, on a quarterly basis at least five (5) days prior to the date on which any estimated tax payments are due with respect to the relevant Fiscal Quarter, in order to permit each Unitholder (or the beneficial owners of any Unitholder) to timely pay its estimated tax obligations for the

 

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applicable Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof). The Board shall make, in its reasonable discretion, equitable adjustments (downward (but not below zero) or upward) to each Unitholder’s Tax Distributions (but in any event pro rata in proportion to each Unitholder’s respective number of Common Units) to take into account increases or decreases in the number of Common Units held by each Unitholder during the relevant period. All Tax Distributions shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as advances against, and shall offset and reduce dollar-for-dollar, subsequent Distributions under Section 4.1(b) or Section 11.2. In determining the amount of any Tax Distributions, (i) the Assumed Tax Liability of Vivid Seats shall be increased if, and solely to the extent, necessary to allow Vivid Seats to satisfy its own tax obligations for the applicable Fiscal Quarter or portion thereof and payments currently due and owing under the Tax Receivable Agreement, taking into account any Distributions previously made to Vivid Seats under this Agreement and (ii) the Assumed Tax Liability of TopCo shall be increased if, and solely to the extent, necessary to allow TopCo to make payments to any of its members that are allocated taxable income in respect of their indirect interests in the Company attributable to an applicable Fiscal Quarter, without regard to whether taxable income of the Company is allocated to TopCo with respect to such Fiscal Quarter.

(ii) To the extent a Unitholder would receive for any Fiscal Quarter less than its per-Common Unit share of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(i), the Tax Distributions to such Unitholder shall be increased to ensure that all Tax Distributions to holders of Common Units are made in accordance with their per-Common Unit share. The Board shall be entitled to adjust subsequent Tax Distributions up or down to reflect any variation between its prior estimation of quarterly Tax Distributions that would have been computed under Section 4.1(a)(i) based on subsequent information. In the event that due to the Tax Distribution Conditions the funds available for any Tax Distribution to be made hereunder are insufficient to pay the full amount of the Tax Distribution that would otherwise be required under Section 4.1(a)(i), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to distribute to the Unitholders the amount of funds that are available after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions on a pro rata basis (according to the amounts that would have been distributed to each Unitholder pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(i) if available funds (after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions) existed in a sufficient amount to make such Distribution in full). At any time thereafter when additional funds of the Company are available for Distribution after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to immediately distribute such funds to the Unitholders on a pro rata basis (according to the amounts that would have been distributed to each Unitholder pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(i) if available funds (after application of the Tax Distribution Conditions) would have existed in a sufficient amount to make such Tax Distribution in full). Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary, Tax Distributions to a Unitholder with respect to any Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any Distributions made during such Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) to such Unitholder that are not Tax Distributions.

 

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(iii) Additional Tax Distributions. In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules for which no election is made pursuant to Code Section 6226 (or any similar provision of state or local law)), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Unitholder’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest and penalties). Subject to the Tax Distribution Conditions, distributions shall be made pro rata on a per-Common Unit basis in an amount such that each Unitholder and successor to any former Unitholder receives an amount equal to any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Unitholders and former Unitholders received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Unitholders and former Unitholders pursuant to Section 4.1 in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions to be made under this Section 4.1(a)(iii) either (i) to a successor of a former Unitholder on account of a shortfall in Tax Distributions to a former Unitholder, or (ii) to a Unitholder in respect of a shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions to such Unitholder for any Taxable Year (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date, shall not exceed $1 million in the aggregate.

(b) Other Distributions. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.1(a), the Board may (but shall not be obligated to) make Distributions at such time, in such amounts and in such form (including in-kind property) as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, in each case to the holders of Common Units immediately prior to such Distribution on a pro rata basis and in accordance with each Unitholder’s relative ownership of Units.

Section 4.2 Allocations.

(a) Subject to Section 4.3, Profits or Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unitholders in such a manner as to reduce or eliminate, to the extent possible, any difference, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, between (a) the sum of (i) the Capital Account of each Unitholder, (ii) such Unitholder’s share of Minimum Gain (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(g)) and (iii) such Unitholder’s partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2)) and (b) the respective net amounts, positive or negative, which would be distributed to them or for which they would be liable to the Company under this Agreement and the Delaware Act, determined as if the Company were to (i) liquidate the assets of the Company for an amount equal to their Book Value and satisfy the liabilities of the Company in cash (limited in the case of non-recourse liabilities to the Book Value of the assets securing such liabilities) and (ii) distribute the proceeds of such liquidation pursuant to Section 11.2.

(b) If during any Fiscal Year there is a change in any Unitholder’s interest in the Company as a result of the admission of one or more Members, the withdrawal of a Member, or a Transfer of an interest in the Company, the Profits, Losses, or any other item allocable to the Unitholders under this Agreement for the Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unitholders so as to reflect their varying interests in the Company during the Fiscal Year, using any permissible method convention or extraordinary item under Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, as reasonably selected by the Board. In furtherance of the foregoing, any such permissible method, convention or extraordinary item selected by the Board shall be set forth in a dated, written statement maintained with the Company’s books and records.

 

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The Unitholders hereby agree that any such selection by the Board is made by “agreement of the partners” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.706-4(f).

Section 4.3 Special Allocations.

(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Unitholders in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Chargeback. Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated to each holder of Common Units ratably among such Unitholders based upon their ownership of Common Units. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.3(a), if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Unitholder shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 4.3(b) is intended to be a Minimum Gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(c) Qualified Income Offset. If any Unitholder that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Section 4.3(a) and Section 4.3(b), but before the application of any other provision of this Article IV, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Unitholder in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 4.3(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(d) Allocation of Certain Profits and Losses. Profits and Losses described in Section 3.5(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).

(e) Regulatory Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 4.3(a)-(d) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Unitholders intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make the Company distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction, and loss shall be reallocated among the Unitholders so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Unitholders to be in the

 

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amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Unitholders anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Unitholders so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Unitholder is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership Minimum Gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt Minimum Gain, and application of the Minimum Gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 4.3(a) or Section 4.3(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Unitholders, the Board may, if it does not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such Minimum Gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such Minimum Gain chargeback requirement.

(f) Any item of deduction with respect to a Tax that is offset for a Unitholder under Section 4.6 shall be allocated to the Unitholder for which such payment is to be offset. For the avoidance of doubt, all tax deductions described in this Section 4.3(f) shall be taken into account in determining the amount of Tax Distribution made under the provisions of Section 4.1(a)(i).

(g) Allocations and other adjustments with respect to any “non-compensatory options” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(f)), shall be made in accordance with the Treasury Regulations including Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-2.

Section 4.4 Offsetting Allocations. If, and to the extent that, any Member is deemed to recognize any item of income, gain, deduction or loss as a result of any transaction between such Member and the Company pursuant to Sections 83, 482, or 7872 of the Code or any similar provision now or hereafter in effect, the Board shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to allocate any corresponding Profit or Loss to the Member who recognizes such item in order to reflect the Members’ economic interest in the Company.

Section 4.5 Tax Allocations.

(a) Allocations Generally. Except as provided in Section 4.5(b) below, for U.S. federal, state and local income Tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be allocated among the Unitholders in the same manner and in the same proportion that the corresponding book items have been allocated among the Unitholders’ respective Capital Accounts; provided that, if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable law, then each subsequent item of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Unitholders so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

(b) Code Section 704(c) Allocations. Items of the Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely for Tax purposes, be allocated among the Unitholders in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income Tax purposes and its initial Book Value. Such allocations shall be made using a reasonable method specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3. In addition, if the Book Value of any Company

 

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asset is adjusted pursuant to the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), then subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income Tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall determine all allocations pursuant to this Section 4.5(b) using any method selected by the Board that is permitted under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(c) Section 754 Election. The Company will make an election under Section 754 of the Code (or any comparable election under relevant state or local Law) for its Taxable Year that includes or begins on the date of this Agreement to adjust the basis of the Company property as permitted and provided in Sections 734 and 743 of the Code. Such election shall be effective solely for federal (and, if applicable, state and local) income Tax purposes and shall not result in any adjustment to the Book Value of any Company asset or to the Member’s Capital Accounts (except as provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)).

(d) Allocation of Tax Credits, Tax Credit Recapture, Etc. Allocations of Tax credits, Tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Unitholders according to their interests in such items as determined by the Board taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and (viii).

(e) Corrective Allocations. If necessary, the Company will make corrective allocations as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

(f) Effect of Allocations. Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.5 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state and local Taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Unitholder’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions (other than Tax Distributions) or other items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

Section 4.6 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Unitholder. Except as otherwise provided in Article VI, if the Company is required by law to make any payment to a Governmental Entity that is specifically attributable to a Unitholder or a Unitholder’s status as such (including U.S. federal withholding Taxes, state personal property Taxes, and state unincorporated business Taxes), then such Unitholder shall indemnify and contribute to the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Board may offset Distributions or other amounts to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 4.6 or with respect to any other amounts owed by the Unitholder to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. A Unitholder’s obligation to indemnify and make contributions to the Company under this Section 4.6 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section 4.6, the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence, and will survive any partial or complete Transfer or redemption of Unitholder’s interest in the Company. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Unitholder under this Section 4.6, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such indemnification and contribution, with interest calculated at a rate equal to the Base Rate plus three percentage points per annum (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by law), compounded on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter.

 

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Section 4.7 Prior Agreements Allocations. The parties acknowledge and agree that in connection with the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, there shall be a closing of the books of the Company in accordance with Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder utilizing the “interim closing method” under the monthly convention, and that in connection therewith (x) all items of profit, gain, deduction, loss and credit attributable to taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending prior to the date hereof shall be made to the members of the Company in such periods in accordance with the Prior LLC Agreement, and (y) all items of profit, gain, deduction, loss and credit attributable to taxable periods (or portions thereof) beginning on or after the date hereof shall be made in accordance with this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF BUSINESS

Section 5.1 Management.

(a) Establishment. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or by non-waivable provision of the Delaware Act, the business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed, operated and controlled at the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the board of managers (the “Board” and each manager of the Board, a “Manager”) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, no Member shall have management authority or voting or other rights over, or any other ability to take part in the conduct or control of the business of, the Company. Each Manager shall be a “manager” (as defined in the Delaware Act) of the Company, but notwithstanding the foregoing, no Manager shall have any rights or powers beyond the rights and powers granted to such Manager in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, with respect to any matter that is to be voted on by the Managers, a Manager may grant a proxy to any other Manager or other Person.

(b) Number of Managers; Term of Office. The authorized number of Managers shall be two Managers. The following individuals shall initially be elected to the Board:

(i) one representative designated by Vivid Seats or any successor Manager designated by Vivid Seats (the “Vivid Seats Manager”), who shall initially be Stanley Chia; and

(ii) one representative designated by Topco or any successor Manager designated by Topco (the “Topco Manager”), who shall initially be Mark Anderson.

The Managers shall hold office until their respective successors are designated in accordance with the terms set forth below.

(c) Vacancies. In the event that any designee under Section 5.1(b) for any reason ceases to serve as a member of the Board, the resulting vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the Person that is originally entitled to designate such Manager pursuant to Section 5.1(b) (provided that, if any party fails to designate a person to fill a vacancy on the Board pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.1(c), such vacant managership shall remain vacant until such managership is filled pursuant to this Section 5.1(c)).

 

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(d) Voting. For each matter that is put to a vote of the Board, the Vivid Seats Manager shall be entitled to two (2) votes, and the Topo Manager shall be entitled to one (1) vote. Any decisions to be made by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the votes entitled to vote on such matter.

(e) Powers. The Board is, to the extent of its rights and powers set forth in this Agreement, an agent of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business, and the actions of the Board taken in accordance with such rights and powers shall bind the Company (and no Member shall have such right). The Board shall have all necessary powers to carry out the purposes, business and objectives of the Company. The Board may delegate in its discretion the authority to sign agreements and other documents and take other actions on behalf of the Company to any Person (including any Member, officer or employee of the Company) to enter into and perform any document on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board shall have the sole power and authority to effect any of the following by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in one or a series of related transactions, in each case without the vote, consent or approval of any other Member or Unitholder or any other Person: (i) any sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company); (ii) any merger, consolidation, division, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, (iii) any acquisition; (iv) any issuance of debt or equity securities; or (v) any incurrence of indebtedness. Except for any vote, consent or approval of any Unitholder expressly required by this Agreement, if a vote, consent or approval of the Unitholders is required by the Delaware Act or other applicable law with respect to any action to be taken by the Company or matter considered by the Board, each Unitholder will be deemed to have consented to or approved such action or voted on such matter in accordance with the consent or approval of the Board on such action or matter.

(f) Meetings of the Board. The Board shall meet at such time and at such place (either within or without the State of Delaware) as the Board may designate. Advance notice of any regular or special meeting shall be given to the Managers at least two (2) business days in advance of such meeting. The business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board shall be specified in reasonable detail in such notice. A record shall be maintained by the Company of each meeting of the Board.

(g) Conduct of Meetings. Any meeting of the Board may be held, and any Manager may attend and vote and be present at a meeting, in person (including by proxy given to another Manager), telephonically or by means of other communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other.

(h) Quorum. The presence (in person, telephonically, by means of communications equipment, by proxy or by operation of this Section 5.1(h)) of the Managers holding a majority of votes entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum of the Board for purposes of conducting business. At all times when the Board is conducting business at a meeting of the Board, a quorum of the Board must be present at such meeting.

 

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(i) Attendance and Waiver of Notice. Attendance by a Manager at any meeting (in person, telephonically, by means of communications equipment or by proxy) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Manager attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

(j) Actions Without a Meeting. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement, any action of the Board may be taken by written consent without a meeting. Any such action taken by the Board without a meeting shall be effective only if the written consent or consents are in writing, setting forth the action so taken, and signed by all Managers.

(k) Compensation of Managers; Reimbursement. Except as approved by the Board, and then only in reasonable amounts as determined by the Board, the Managers shall receive no compensation for serving in such capacity. The Managers constituting the Board shall be entitled to be reimbursed, out of available cash, for reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder.

(l) Reliance by Third Parties. Any Person dealing with the Company, other than a Unitholder, may rely on the authority of the Board (or any Officer authorized by the Board) in taking any action in the name of the Company without inquiry into the provisions of this Agreement or compliance herewith, regardless of whether that action actually is taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Every agreement, instrument or document executed by the Board (or any Officer authorized by the Board) in the name of the Company with respect to any business or property of the Company shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution or delivery thereof, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii) such agreement, instrument or document was duly executed according to this Agreement and is binding upon the Company and (iii) the Board or such Officer was duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver such agreement, instrument or document for and on behalf of the Company.

Section 5.2 Investment Company Act. The Board shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

Section 5.3 Officers.

(a) Officers. Unless determined otherwise by the Board, the officers of the Company shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and a Secretary and each other officer of Vivid Seats shall also be an officer of the Company, with the same title. All officers shall be appointed by the Board (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Board delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer) and shall hold office until their successors are appointed by the Board (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Board delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer). Two or more offices may be held by the same individual. The officers of the Company may be removed by the Board (or by the Chief Executive Officer to the extent the Board delegates such authority to the Chief Executive Officer) at any time for any reason or no reason.

 

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(b) Other Officers and Agents. The Board may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem necessary or advisable, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.

(c) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of a chief executive officer of a company. He or she shall preside at all meetings of Members if present thereat.

(d) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board.

(e) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the chief financial officer of the Company and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Company. The books of account shall at all times be open to inspection by the Board. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name of, and to the credit of, the Company with such depositaries as may be designated by the Board.

(f) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of Company funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositaries as may be designated by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. He or she shall render to the Board and the Chief Executive Officer whenever either of them may request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company. If required by the Board, the Treasurer shall give the Company a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board shall prescribe.

(g) Secretary. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of Members and all other notices required by applicable law or by this Agreement, and in case of his or her absence or refusal or neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Board. He or she shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board or by the Chief Executive Officer.

(h) Other Officers. Other officers, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them, respectively, by the Board or by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Section 5.4 Fiduciary Duties.

(a) Members and Unitholders. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(e) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, no Member or Unitholder, solely in its capacity as such, shall owe any fiduciary duty to the Company, the Board, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement, provided that the foregoing shall not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Nothing in this Section 5.4(a) shall limit the liabilities, duties or obligations of any Member or Unitholder acting in his or her capacity as an officer or Board pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement.

(b) Board and Officers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, except as set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.4(c), (i) the Managers shall, in their capacity as Managers, and not in any other capacity, have the same fiduciary duties to the Company and the Unitholders and Members as members of a board of directors of a Delaware corporation; and (ii) each officer of the Company shall, in his or her capacity as such, and not in any other capacity, have the same fiduciary duties to the Company and the Unitholders and Members as an officer of a Delaware corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, the fiduciary duties described in clause (i) above shall not be limited by the fact that the Board shall be permitted to take certain actions in its sole or reasonable discretion pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any agreement entered into in connection herewith.

(c) Board Conflicts. The parties hereto acknowledge that the members of Vivid Seats’ board of directors will owe fiduciary duties to Vivid Seats and its stockholders. The Board will use commercially reasonable and appropriate efforts and means, as determined in good faith by the Board, to minimize any conflict of interest between the Members, on the one hand, and the stockholders of Vivid Seats, on the other hand, and to effectuate any transaction that involves or affects any of the Company, the Board, the Members and/or the stockholders of Vivid Seats in a manner that does not (i) disadvantage the Members of their interests relative to the stockholders of Vivid Seats or (ii) advantage the stockholders of Vivid Seats relative to the Members or (iii) treat the Members and the stockholders of Vivid Seats differently; provided that in the event of a conflict between the interests of the stockholders of Vivid Seats and the interests of the Members, such Members agree that the Board shall discharge its fiduciary duties to such Members by acting in the best interests of Vivid Seats’ stockholders.

(d) Waiver. Any duties and liabilities set forth in this Agreement shall replace those existing at law or in equity and each of the Company, each Member and Unitholder and any other Person bound by this Agreement hereby, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 18-1101(e) of the Delaware Act, waives the right to make any claim, bring any action or seek any recovery based on any duties or liabilities existing at law or in equity other than any such duties and liabilities set forth in this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1 Exculpation.

(a) Actions in Capacity as a Member or Unitholder. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Member, Unitholder (other than the Board, acting in its capacity as such) or its respective Indemnitees shall be liable to the Company, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement as a result of or arising out any action of or omission by such Member or Unitholder solely in its capacity as

 

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a Member or Unitholder, except to the extent such Obligations arise out of such Member’s (1) material breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (2) bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, in each case as determined by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected).

(b) Other Actions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company, any Member, any Unitholder or any other Person bound by this Agreement as a result of or arising out of the activities of the Indemnitee on behalf of the Company to the extent within the scope of the authority reasonably believed by such Indemnitee to be conferred on such Indemnitee, except to the extent such Indemnitee would not be entitled to exculpation or indemnification pursuant to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Vivid Seats (as the same may be amended from time to time).

Section 6.2 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of (a) the Managers, (b) the Unitholders and Members and their respective Affiliates, (c) the stockholders, members, managers, directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of the Unitholders, Members and their respective Affiliates, (d) the PR and any “designated individual” and (e) the officers and directors of Vivid Seats, the Company and each of their Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnitee”) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (collectively, “Obligations”), which at any time may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the Indemnitee as a result of or arising out of this Agreement, Vivid Seats, the Company, their respective assets, businesses or affairs, or the activities of the Indemnitee on behalf of Vivid Seats, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries to the extent within the scope of the authority reasonably believed to be conferred on such Indemnitee; provided, however, that, to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to exculpation with respect to such Obligations pursuant to Section 6.1, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification for any such Obligations to the extent such Indemnitee would not be entitled to exculpation or indemnification pursuant to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Vivid Seats (as the same may be amended from time to time); provided further, that, to the extent such Indemnitee is entitled to exculpation with respect to such Obligations pursuant to Section 6.1, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification for any such Obligations to the extent they arise out of such Indemnitee’s (1) material breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or (2) bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification hereunder. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company and no Member shall have any personal liability on account thereof.

 

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Section 6.3 Expenses. Expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding described in Section 6.2 shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in Section 6.2; provided that such undertaking shall be unsecured and interest free and shall be accepted without regard to an Indemnitee’s ability to repay amounts advanced and without regard to an Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification.

Section 6.4 Non-Exclusivity; Savings Clause. The indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any other agreement, policy of insurance or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a named Indemnitee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns of such a Person. If Section 6.1, Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless exculpate, indemnify and advance expenses each Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of such sections not so invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses provisions set forth in Section 6.1, Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each of the Persons constituting Indemnitees at any time while such provisions remain in effect, whether or not such Person continues to serve in such capacity and whether or not such Person is a party hereto. In addition, neither Sections 6.1, Section 6.2 nor Section 6.3 may be retroactively amended to adversely affect the rights of any Indemnitee arising in connection with any acts, omissions, facts or circumstances occurring prior to such amendment.

Section 6.5 Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in such capacity, or arising out of their status as Indemnitees, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify them against such liability under this Article VI.

ARTICLE VII

ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS

Section 7.1 Accounting and Records. The books and records of the Company shall be made and maintained, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, at the expense of the Company, in accordance with such method of accounting as is determined by the Board. The books and records of the Company shall reflect all Company transactions and shall be made and maintained in a manner that is appropriate and adequate for the Company’s business.

Section 7.2 Preparation of Tax Returns; Administrative Matters.

(a) The Company shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all Tax returns required to be filed by the Company, and making any elections described in Section 7.3. Each Unitholder shall furnish to the Company all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s income Tax returns to be prepared and filed.

 

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(b) The Company shall deliver to each Unitholder (A) preliminary information relating to the Company (including a draft Schedule K-1) that is necessary for the preparation of such Unitholder’s returns for federal and state income Tax and any other Tax reporting purposes for a Taxable Year no later than February 15 of the following Taxable Year and (B) by February 28 of such following Taxable Year, such final information (including a final Schedule K-1) that is consistent in all respects with the estimates provided pursuant to clause (A), subject to any reasonable comments received from Unitholders owning 5% or more of the outstanding Common Units that are received by February 23 of such following Taxable Year, which the Company shall consider in good faith. Subject to the preceding sentence, for so long as any Unitholder owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Units, the Company shall (i) send a draft of any income tax return of the Company (other than the information and schedules referred to in the preceding sentence) to such Unitholder, at least fifteen (15) days prior to filing, for review and comment, and (ii) consider in good faith all reasonable comments received from such Unitholder at least five (5) days prior to the due date for the filing of any such tax return.

(c) For so long as any Unitholder owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Units, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to provide (or cause to be provided), at the Company’s expense, such accounting, tax, legal, insurance and administrative support to such Unitholder and its Affiliates (including with respect to Topco, for the avoidance of doubt, GTCR-Tickets Blocker Acquisition LLC and its Subsidiaries) as such Unitholder may reasonably request.

Section 7.3 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year unless the Board shall determine otherwise. The Board shall determine whether to make or revoke any available election pursuant to the Code. Each Unitholder will upon request supply any information necessary to give proper effect to such election.

Section 7.4 Tax Controversies.

(a) Vivid Seats shall be the “partnership representative” (or “PR”) of the Company for purposes of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and, as such, shall be authorized to designate any other Person selected by Vivid Seats as the partnership representative. Each Member, by execution of this Agreement, hereby consents to the appointment of Vivid Seats (or its designee) as the PR as set forth herein and agrees to execute, certify, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file and record, at the appropriate public offices, such documents as may be necessary or appropriate to evidence such consent and agrees to take, and that the PR is authorized to take (or cause the Company to take), such other actions as may be necessary pursuant to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules to cause such designation. The PR shall be authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all audits and examinations of the Company’s affairs by Tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend the Company’s funds for professional services and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. In addition, the PR shall have the power and authority to (i) manage, control, settle, challenge, litigate, or prosecute, on behalf of the Company, any administrative proceedings or other action at the Company level with the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority relating to the determination of any item of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit for federal income tax purposes or otherwise relating to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and (ii) make any election under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and the PR shall have all other rights and powers granted under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules to a PR with respect to the Company and its Members;

 

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provided, in each case, that as long as any Unitholder owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Units, (A) the PR shall notify such Unitholder of, and keep such Unitholder reasonably informed with respect to, any such audits, examinations or resulting proceedings the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the tax liabilities of such Unitholder, (B) such Unitholder shall have the right to discuss with the PR, and provide input and comment to the PR regarding, any such audits, examinations or resulting proceedings, and (C) neither the PR nor any designated individual shall settle or compromise any such audits, examinations or resulting proceedings to the extent they relate to issues the resolution of which would reasonably be expected to affect the tax liability of such Unitholder without such Unitholder’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Each Unitholder agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. For each Taxable Year in which the PR is an entity, the Company shall appoint the “designated individual” identified by the PR to act on its behalf in accordance with the applicable Partnership Tax Audit Rules. Promptly following a request of the PR or designated individual, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, reimburse and indemnify the PR and designated individual for all reasonable expenses, including legal and accounting fees, incurred by the PR and/or designated individual in its capacity as such.

(b) In the event of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service, or another applicable taxing authority, the PR shall make on a timely basis, to the extent permissible under applicable law, the election provided by Section 6226(a) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules to treat a “partnership adjustment” as an adjustment to be taken into account by each Unitholder in accordance with Section 6226(b) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules. If the election under Section 6226(a) of the of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules is made, each Unitholder who was a Unitholder of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the “reviewed year” (within the meaning of Code Section 6225(d)(1) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules) shall take such adjustment into account as required under Section 6226(b) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules and shall be liable for any related tax, interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amounts.

(c) In the event of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service or other applicable taxing authority, if the PR does not or is otherwise unable to make the election provided by Section 6226(a) of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules as noted above, the PR shall allocate the burden of any taxes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any “imputed underpayment” within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules), penalties, interest and related expenses imposed on the Company pursuant to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules among the Unitholder to whom such amounts are attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions or otherwise), as reasonably determined by the PR and each Unitholder shall promptly upon request from the Board (and in any event within 5 days of such request) reimburse the Company in full for the entire amount the PR determines to be attributable to such Unitholder; provided that the Company will also be allowed to recover any amount due from such Unitholder pursuant to this sentence from any distribution otherwise payable to such Unitholder pursuant to this Agreement. Solely for purposes of determining the current Unitholder(s) to which any taxes or other amounts are attributable under this provision, references to any Unitholder in this Section 7.4(c) shall include a reference to each Person that previously held the Units currently held by such Unitholder (but only to the extent of such Person’s interest in such Units).

 

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(d) The PR is authorized to, and shall follow principles (to the extent available) similar to those set forth in Section 7.4(a), Section 7.4(b) and Section 7.4(c) with respect to any audits by state, local, or foreign tax authorities and any tax liabilities that result therefrom.

(e) This Section 7.4 shall be interpreted to apply to Members and former Members and shall survive the transfer of a Member’s Units, the termination of this Agreement, and the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company.

ARTICLE VIII

TRANSFER OF UNITS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS

Section 8.1 Transfer of Units. Other than as provided for below in this Section 8.1, no Member may sell, assign, transfer, grant a participation in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of (such transaction being herein collectively called a “Transfer”) all or any portion of its Units except with the approval of the Board, which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion. Without the approval of the Board (but otherwise in compliance with Section 8.1), a Member may, at any time, (a) Transfer any portion of such Member’s Units pursuant to Article IX, and (b) Transfer any portion of such Member’s Units to a Permitted Transferee of such Member. Any Transfer of Units to a Permitted Transferee of such Member by a Member which also holds Class B Common Stock must be accompanied by the transfer of a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock (determined based upon the Exchange Rate then in effect) to such Permitted Transferee. Any purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Units not complying with this Section 8.1 shall be void and shall not create any obligation on the part of the Company or the other Members to recognize that purported Transfer or to recognize the Person to which the Transfer purportedly was made as a Member. A Person acquiring a Member’s Units pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall not be admitted as a Substituted Member or an Additional Member except in accordance with the requirements of Section 8.2, but such Person shall, to the extent of the Units transferred to it, be entitled to such Member’s (i) share of Distributions, (ii) share of Profits and Losses and (iii) Capital Account in accordance with Section 3.5. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, if a Member Transfers all or any portion of its Units after the designation of a record date and declaration of a Distribution pursuant to Section 4.1 and before the payment date of such distribution, the transferring Member (and not the Person acquiring all or any portion of its Units) shall be entitled to receive such Distribution in respect of such transferred Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including in Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.13 and Article IX, Vivid Seats may not Transfer all or any part of its Units without the consent of the Members (other than Vivid Seats) holding at least a majority of the aggregate Common Units then outstanding and held by such Members.

Section 8.2 Recognition of Transfer; Substituted and Additional Members.

(a) No direct or indirect Transfer of all or any portion of a Member’s Units may be made, and no purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient of all or any part of such Units shall be admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member hereunder, unless:

(i) the provisions of Section 8.1 shall have been complied with;

 

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(ii) in the case of a proposed Substituted Member or Additional Member that is (A) a competitor or potential competitor of Vivid Seats or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, (B) a Person with whom Vivid Seats or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries has had or is expected to have a material commercial or financial relationship or (C) likely to subject Vivid Seats or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to any material legal or regulatory requirement or obligation, or materially increase the burden thereof, in each case as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, the admission of the purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient as a Substituted Member or Additional Member shall have been approved by the Board;

(iii) the Board shall have been furnished with the documents effecting such Transfer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Board, executed and acknowledged by both the seller, assignor or transferor and the purchaser, assignee, transferee or other recipient, and the Board shall have executed (and the Board hereby agrees to execute) any other documents on behalf of itself and the Members required to effect the Transfer;

(iv) the provisions of Section 8.2(b) shall have been complied with;

(v) the Board shall be reasonably satisfied that such Transfer will not (A) result in a violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable law; or (B) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

(vi) such Transfer would not cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or any other association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer shall not be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Treas. Reg. § 1.7704-1;

(vii) the Board shall have received the opinion of counsel, if any, required by Section 8.2(c) in connection with such Transfer; and

(viii) all necessary instruments reflecting such Transfer and/or admission shall have been filed in each jurisdiction in which such filing is necessary in order to qualify the Company to conduct business or to preserve the limited liability of the Members.

(b) Each Substituted Member and Additional Member shall be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement. Each Substituted Member and Additional Member, as a condition to its admission as a Member, shall execute and acknowledge such instruments (including a counterpart of this Agreement or a joinder agreement in customary form), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Board, as the Board reasonably deems necessary or desirable to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such Substituted Member or Additional Member to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Units acquired by such Substituted Member or Additional Member. The admission of a Substituted Member or Additional Member shall not require the consent of any Member (but shall require the consent of the Board, if and to the extent such consent of the Board is expressly required by this Article VIII). As promptly as practicable after the admission of a Substituted Member or Additional Member, the Unit Ownership Ledger and other books and records of the Company shall be changed to reflect such admission.

 

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(c) As a further condition to any Transfer of all or any part of a Member’s Units, the Board may, in its discretion, require a written opinion of counsel to the transferring Member reasonably satisfactory to the Board, obtained at the sole expense of the transferring Member, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Board, as to such matters as are customary and appropriate in transactions of this type, including, without limitation (or, in the case of any Transfer made to a Permitted Transferee, limited to an opinion) to the effect that such Transfer will not result in a violation of the registration or other requirements of the Securities Act or any other federal or state securities laws. No such opinion, however, shall be required in connection with a Transfer made pursuant to Article IX.

Section 8.3 Expense of Transfer; Indemnification. All reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Board and the Company in connection with any Transfer of a Member’s Units, including any filing and recording costs and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the transferring Member. In addition, the transferring Member hereby indemnifies the Board and the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Board, the Company, or any of their Affiliates may become subject arising out of or based upon any false representation or warranty made by, or breach or failure to comply with any covenant or agreement of, such transferring Member or such transferee in connection with such Transfer.

ARTICLE IX

REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE

Section 9.1 Redemption of Common Units.

(a) Elective Redemption.

(i) From and after the First Redemption Time, each Member (other than Vivid Seats and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, to cause the Company to redeem its Redeemable Units in whole or in part, in each case, relating to a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens) of such Member, in exchange for the delivery to the Member (or its designee) of either, at the option of the Board, (x) a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Redeemed Unit Amount multiplied by the Exchange Rate or (y) solely in connection with a Redemption (including a Change of Control Redemption) that coincides with a substantially concurrent public offering or private sale of Class A Common Stock, the applicable Cash Payment. Any redemption of Redeemable Units for Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment, as applicable, is defined herein as a “Redemption.” Subject to Section 9.1(a)(ii), after the First Redemption Time, each Member (other than Vivid Seats and its Subsidiaries) may elect to cause the Company to redeem Redeemable Units at any time and from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but a Unitholder may not cause a Redemption more than once per Fiscal Quarter without the

 

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prior consent of Vivid Seats. The minimum number of Redeemable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate, if any) that may be redeemed by any Member shall be the lesser of (1) 20,000 and (2) all of the Redeemable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock taking into account the Exchange Rate, if any) then held by such Member and its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall not, nor shall Vivid Seats pursuant to Section 9.1(f), effectuate a Cash Payment pursuant to this Section 9.1(a) or Section 9.1(b) unless (A) Vivid Seats determines to consummate a private sale or public offering of Class A Common Stock on, or not later than five (5) Business Days after, the relevant Redemption Date and (B) Vivid Seats contributes sufficient proceeds from such private sale or public offering to the Company for payment by the Company of the applicable Cash Payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall have no obligation to make a Cash Payment that exceeds the cash contributed to the Company by Vivid Seats from Vivid Seats’ offering or sales of Class A Common Stock referenced earlier in this Section 9.1(a)(i).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not, nor shall Vivid Seats pursuant to Section 9.1(f), be obligated to effectuate a Redemption of Redeemable Units as set forth in this Section 9.1(a), and the Company shall have the right to refuse to honor any request for such a Redemption, if at any time Vivid Seats or the Company determines based on the advice of counsel that such Redemption would be prohibited by law or regulation (including, without limitation, the unavailability of a registration of such Redemption under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements thereof). Upon such determination, Vivid Seats or the Company (as applicable) shall notify the Member requesting such Redemption, which such notice shall include an explanation in reasonable detail as to the reason that the Redemption request has not been honored.

(iii) A Member shall exercise its right to cause the Company to effectuate a Redemption of Redeemable Units, as set forth in this Section 9.1(a) by delivering to the Company, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to Vivid Seats, during normal business hours, (A) a written election of redemption in respect of the Redeemable Units to be redeemed substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a “Redemption Notice”), duly executed by such Member; (B) any certificates in such Member’s possession representing such Redeemable Units, (C) any stock certificates in such Member’s possession representing the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be retired in connection with such Redemption, in accordance with Section 4.04(b) of the Vivid Seats’ certificate of incorporation and (D) if Vivid Seats, the Company or any redeeming Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 9.4(b), such certification or written notice from such Member that it is unable to provide such certification. Unless such Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(vi), a Redemption pursuant to this Section 9.1(a) shall be effected on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Business Day on which Vivid Seats and the Company have received the items specified in clauses (A)-(D) of the first sentence of this Section 9.1(a)(iii) or such later date that is a Business Day specified in the Redemption Notice (such Business Day, the “Redemption Date”); provided, that the Company may establish alternate exchange procedures as necessary in order to facilitate the establishment

 

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by such Member of a trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. On the Redemption Date, all rights of such Member as a holder of the Redeemable Units (and the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be cancelled) that are subject to the Redemption shall cease, and unless the Company has elected Cash Payment, such Member (or its designee) shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by such Member in respect of such Redemption.

(iv) Within two (2) Business Days following the Business Day on which Vivid Seats and the Company have received the Redemption Notice, the Company shall give written notice (the “Contribution Notice”) to such Member of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Company does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Company shall be deemed to have not elected the Cash Payment method.

(v) The Member may specify, in an applicable Redemption Notice, that the Redemption is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the occurrence of any transaction or event, including the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering, Change of Control transaction or otherwise) of shares of Class A Common Stock or any merger, consolidation or other business combination.

(vi) A Member may withdraw or amend its Redemption Notice, in whole or in part, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. New York, New York time, on the Business Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date by giving written notice (a “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to Vivid Seats) specifying (in each case, subject to the requirements set forth in Section 9.1(a)((i))) (A) the number of withdrawn Redeemable Units, (B) the number of Redeemable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) as to which the Redemption Notice remains in effect, if any, and (C) if the Member so determines, a new Redemption Date or any other new or revised information permitted in the Redemption Notice.

(b) Change of Control. In connection with a Change of Control, and subject to any approval of the Change of Control by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock that may be required:

(i) Vivid Seats shall have the right to require each Member (other than Vivid Seats and its Subsidiaries) to effectuate a Redemption by the Company of some or all of such Member’s Redeemable Units, relating to a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens) of such Member, in each case, in exchange for the delivery to such Member (or its designee) of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Redeemed Unit Amount and the Exchange Rate (such Redemption, a “Change of Control Redemption”); provided that, if Vivid Seats elects to require such Member to redeem less than all of its outstanding Redeemable Units (and the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate), such Member’s participation in the required Redemption shall be reduced pro rata based on ownership of Redeemable Units. For the avoidance of doubt, any Redeemable Units that are not redeemed pursuant to a Change of Control Redemption may be caused to be redeemed by the Member after the Change of Control transaction pursuant to Section 9.1(a) subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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(ii) The election of Vivid Seats pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall be at the sole discretion of Vivid Seats upon the approval thereof by a majority of the Board of Directors of Vivid Seats.

(iii) Any Redemption pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such Change of Control is not consummated) (the “Change of Control Redemption Date”). From and after the Change of Control Redemption Date, such Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Redeemable Units (and the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be cancelled) that are subject to the Redemption pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i) upon compliance with its obligations under Section 9.1(c)).

(iv) Vivid Seats shall provide written notice of an expected Change of Control to each Member within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for Redeemable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, in the Change of Control (which consideration shall be equivalent whether paid for Redeemable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock), any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of Redeemable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with the Change of Control, the percentage of total Redeemable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, to be transferred to the acquirer by all shareholders in the Change of Control, and the number of Redeemable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock held by each Member that Vivid Seats intends to require to be redeemed for shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control. Vivid Seats shall update such notice from time to time to reflect any material changes to such notice. Vivid Seats may satisfy any such notice and update requirements described in the preceding two sentences by providing such information on a Form 8-K, Schedule TO, Schedule 14D-9, Preliminary Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A, Definitive Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A or similar form filed with the SEC.

(c) Redemption Procedure on Change of Control Redemption. On or prior to the Change of Control Redemption Date, each Member shall deliver to Vivid Seats and the Company, during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of Vivid Seats and the Company, respectively: (A) a Redemption Notice, duly executed by such Member, (B) any certificates in such Member possession representing the Redeemable Units being surrendered by such Member,

 

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(C) any stock certificates in such Member’s possession representing the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be retired in connection with such Redemption, in accordance with Section 4.04(b) of Vivid Seats’ certificate of incorporation and (D) if Vivid Seats, the Company or any redeeming Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 9.4(b), such certification or written notice from such Member that it is unable to provide such certification.

(d) Redemption Consideration. As promptly as practicable on or after the Redemption Date or Change of Control Redemption Date, as applicable, provided the Member has satisfied its obligations under Section 9.1(a)(iii) or Section 9.1(c), as applicable, the Company or Vivid Seats shall deliver or cause to be delivered to such Member (or its designee), either certificates or evidence of book-entry shares representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon the applicable Redemption, registered in the name of such Member (or its designee) or, if the Company has so elected, the Cash Payment. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Section 9.1(d) to the contrary, to the extent the Class A Common Stock issued in the Redemption will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Company or Vivid Seats will, upon the written instruction of such Member, deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to such Member through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by such Member in the Exchange Election Notice. Upon the Member exercising its Redemption right in accordance with Section 9.1(a)(i) or the occurrence of a Change of Control Redemption, the Company or Vivid Seats shall take such actions as (A) may be required to ensure that the Member receives the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that such member is entitled to receive in connection with such Redemption pursuant to this Section 9.1, and (B) may be reasonably within its control that would cause such Redemption to be treated for purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement as an “Exchange” under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

(e) Contribution by Vivid Seats. In connection with any Redemption by the Company, Vivid Seats shall contribute to the Company the shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in such Redemption. Unless such Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 9.1(a)(vi), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) Vivid Seats shall make a capital contribution to the Company (in the form of the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that such Member is entitled to receive in such Redemption) required under this Section 9.1(e), (ii) the Company shall transfer such shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment to such Member in redemption of such Member’s Units in the Company, and (iii) in the case of a Redemption for Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable), the Company shall issue to Vivid Seats a number of Common Units equal to the Redeemed Unit Amount surrendered by such Member.

(f) Direct Exchange Right of Vivid Seats. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Vivid Seats may, in its sole discretion, elect to effect, on the Redemption Date, the exchange of Redeemable Units for Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable) through a direct exchange of such Redeemable Units for Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable) between the Member, on the one hand, and Vivid Seats (and/or, if designated by Vivid Seats, one or more of its Subsidiaries), on the other hand (a “Direct Exchange”) (rather than contributing the Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as

 

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applicable) to the Company for purposes of the Company redeeming the Redeemable Units in accordance with this Article IX). The applicable provisions of this Article IX shall apply to such Direct Exchange, mutatis mutandis, with Vivid Seats (and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries) directly acquiring the Redeemable Units, in lieu of the Company, and otherwise discharging the obligations of the Company with respect to delivery of Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable) to which the Member is entitled. Vivid Seats may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date (including after delivery of an Election Notice), deliver written notice (an “Exchange Election Notice”) to the Company and the redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided, that such election is subject to the limitations set forth in this Article IX and does not unreasonably prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by Vivid Seats at any time; provided, that any such revocation does not unreasonably prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable only for all (and not less than all) of the Redeemable Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption.

(g) Legends.

(i) The shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, other than any such shares issued in a Redemption or Direct Exchange subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THE TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW), OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

(ii) If (A) any shares of Class A Common Stock have been sold pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the SEC, (B) all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 are met, or (C) the legend (or a portion thereof) otherwise ceases to be applicable, Vivid Seats, upon the written request of the holder thereof, shall promptly provide such holder or its respective transferees with new certificates (or evidence of book-entry share) for securities of like tenor not bearing the provisions of the legend with respect to which the restriction has terminated. In connection therewith, such holder shall provide Vivid Seats with such information in its possession as Vivid Seats may reasonably request (which may include an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to Vivid Seats) in connection with the removal of any such legend.

(h) Cancellation of Class B Common Stock. Any shares of Class B Common Stock surrendered in a Redemption or Direct Exchange shall automatically be deemed cancelled without any action on the part of any Person, including Vivid Seats. Any such cancelled shares of Class B Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares shall automatically cease and terminate.

 

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(i) Expenses. Except as otherwise agreed, Vivid Seats, the Company, any exchanging Subsidiary and the redeeming Member shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Redemption or Direct Exchange, whether or not any such Redemption or Direct Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that Vivid Seats shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Redemption or Direct Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Member (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of such Member) or the Cash Payment is to be paid to a Person other than the Member, then such Member or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered or to whom the Cash Payment is to be paid shall pay to Vivid Seats the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Redemption or Direct Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of Vivid Seats that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

Section 9.2 Adjustments. The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock; or (b) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units. To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Redemption, the Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Member would have received if such Redemption had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, this Section 9.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.

 

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Section 9.3 Class A Common Stock to be Issued.

(a) Vivid Seats shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Common Units; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude Vivid Seats from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of unencumbered purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of Vivid Seats or any subsidiary thereof).

(b) Vivid Seats has taken and will take all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of Vivid Seats (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities that may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of Vivid Seats for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of Vivid Seats (including directors-by-deputization) who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Vivid Seats upon the registration of any class of equity security of Vivid Seats pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such Person pursuant to this Agreement).

(c) If any Takeover Law or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, Vivid Seats shall use its reasonable best efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

(d) Vivid Seats covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive, participation or similar right of stockholders to subscribe for or acquire equity interests of Vivid Seats or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.

Section 9.4 Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status.

(a) If Vivid Seats or the Company shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax rules or regulations in respect of any Redemption or Direct Exchange, Vivid Seats or the Company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including, at its option, withholding shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount of any taxes that Vivid Seats or the Company, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Redemption or Direct Exchange. To the extent that amounts are (or property is) so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the Member.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of Vivid Seats and the Company may, in its discretion, require that a Member deliver to Vivid Seats or the Company, as the case may be, a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-9) (or other withholding form or certification) prior to a Redemption or Direct Exchange. In the event Vivid Seats or the Company has required delivery of such form or certification but such Member does not provide such form or certification, Vivid Seats or the Company, as the case may be, shall nevertheless deliver or cause to be delivered to such Member the Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment in accordance with Section 9.1, but subject to withholding as provided in Section 9.4(a).

Section 9.5 Tax Treatment. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any Redemption or Direct Exchange with the Company or Vivid Seats shall be treated as a direct exchange between Vivid Seats and such Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes. The parties hereto intend to treat any Redemption or Direct Exchange consummated hereunder as a taxable sale of the Redeemable Units and Class B Common Stock (if any) by the Member to Vivid Seats for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes except as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by such Member and Vivid Seats and no party hereto shall take a position inconsistent with such intended tax treatment on any tax return, amendment thereof or any other communication with a taxing authority, in each case unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code.

Section 9.6 PTP Tax Consequences. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Board, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, determines in good faith that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h) (or other provisions of those Regulations as determined by the Board in its sole discretion) or that any Transfer, Redemption or Direct Exchange could (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board exercised in good faith) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code, the Company may impose such restrictions on such Transfers, Redemptions, and/or Direct Exchanges) as the Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

Section 9.7 Distributions. No Redemption or Direct Exchange will impair the right of a Member to receive any distribution for periods ending on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Redemption or Direct Exchange (but for which payment had not yet been made with respect to the Redeemable Units in question at the time the Redemption or Direct Exchange is consummated); provided that, for purposes of this Section 9.7, a Member’s right to receive its pro rata portion of any distribution by the Company in respect of such periods shall not be deemed impaired to the extent that the Company has not paid Vivid Seats its pro rata portion of such distribution prior to the consummation of the applicable Redemption or Direct Exchange.

Section 9.8 Blocker Merger Transaction Cooperation. From and after the First Redemption Time, if requested by any holder of Redeemable Units, the Board and the Company shall work together in good faith with any such requesting Unitholder to structure a transaction that provides for such Unitholder (or an Affiliate thereof) to, in lieu of exercising exchange rights applicable to all or a portion of the Redeemable Units held (directly or indirectly) by such Unitholder, cause an entity (a “Blocker Corporation”) that (i) is classified as a corporation for

 

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U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) has no material assets other than Redeemable Units, (iii) has no liabilities other than any liabilities directly relating to the Redeemable Units held by such corporation, (iv) does not have, and has never engaged in, any activities other than holding Redeemable Units, and (v) was formed sufficiently in advance of the Blocker Merger Transaction (as defined below), to be merged with and into Vivid Seats or with or into one or more Subsidiaries of Vivid Seats that is treated as a corporation or an entity that is disregarded as separate from Vivid Seats for U.S. federal income tax purposes (any such merger, or any substantially similar transaction pursuant to which the equityholder of the Blocker Corporation receives Common Stock in exchange for all of the interests in the Blocker Corporation, a “Blocker Merger Transaction”). Such Unitholder shall notify the Board and the Company in writing of any request by the Unitholder to implement a Blocker Merger Transaction, and the Board, the Company and the applicable Unitholder shall work together to structure any such Blocker Merger Transaction in a manner that qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and shall work together in good faith to draft definitive documentation with respect to any such Blocker Merger Transaction. Such definitive documentation shall (A) include customary representations and customary indemnification, including customary indemnification with respect to any taxes of or with respect to the Blocker Corporation, (B) provide for the rights, if any, the Unitholder may have under the Tax Receivable Agreement following any such Blocker Merger Transaction, and (C) require that the equityholders of such Blocker Corporation shall bear all costs and expenses (excluding Taxes except to the extent provided in clause (A)) in connection with such Blocker Merger Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Blocker Merger Transaction be required if such Blocker Merger Transaction would reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, Vivid Seats or any Subsidiary thereof, or any other Unitholder.

ARTICLE X

RESIGNATION OF UNITHOLDERS

Section 10.1 Resignation of Unitholders. No Unitholder shall have the power or right to resign from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XI, without the prior written consent of the Board (which consent may be withheld by the Board in its sole discretion), except as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement. Upon a Transfer of all of a Unitholder’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, and (if applicable) the Equity Agreements, such Unitholder shall cease to be a Unitholder. Notwithstanding that payment on account of a resignation may be made after the effective time of such resignation, any completely resigning Unitholder will not be considered a Unitholder for any purpose after the effective time of such complete resignation, and, in the case of a partial resignation, such Unitholder’s Capital Account (and corresponding voting and other rights) shall be reduced for all other purposes hereunder upon the effective time of such partial resignation.

ARTICLE XI

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 11.1 Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first of the following to occur:

 

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(a) at the election of the Board;

(b) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining member of the Company or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the last remaining member of the Company in the Company unless the Company is continued without dissolution in a manner permitted by this Agreement or the Delaware Act; or

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XI the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal, in and of itself, shall not cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Bankruptcy (as defined in Sections 18-101(1) and 18-304 of the Delaware Act) shall not cause a Member to cease to be a member of the Company.

Section 11.2 Liquidation and Termination. On the dissolution of the Company, the Board shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more representatives, Members or other Persons as liquidator(s). The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as the Company’s expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Board. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:

(a) In accordance with Section 18-804 of the Delaware Act, the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from the Company’s funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in liquidation) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine).

(b) After satisfaction of all liabilities of the Company in accordance with Section 11.2(a) above, the liquidators shall (i) determine the Fair Market Value (the “Liquidation FMV”) of the Company’s remaining assets (the “Liquidation Assets”) in accordance with Article XI hereof, (ii) determine the amounts to be distributed to each Unitholder in accordance with Section 4.1, and (iii) deliver to each Unitholder a statement (the “Liquidation Statement”) setting forth the Liquidation FMV and the amounts and recipients of such Distributions, which Liquidation Statement shall be final and binding on all Unitholders.

(c) As soon as the Liquidation FMV and the proper amounts of Distributions have been determined in accordance with Section 11.2(b) above, the liquidators shall promptly distribute the Company’s Liquidation Assets to the holders of Units in accordance with Section 4.1(b) above. In making such distributions, the liquidators shall allocate each type of Liquidation Assets (i.e., cash or cash equivalents, preferred or common equity securities, etc.) among the Unitholders ratably based upon the aggregate amounts to be distributed with respect to the Units held by each such holder; provided that the liquidators may allocate each type of Liquidation Assets so as to give effect to and take into account the relative priorities of the different Units; provided further that, in the event that any securities are part of the Liquidation Assets, each Unitholder that is not an

 

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“accredited investor” as such term is defined under the Securities Act may, in the sole discretion of the Board, receive, and hereby agrees to accept, in lieu of such securities, cash consideration with an equivalent value to such securities as determined by the Board. Any non-cash Liquidation Assets will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Section 4.2 and Section 4.3. If any Unitholder’s Capital Account is not equal to the amount to be distributed to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 11.2(b), Profits and Losses for the Fiscal Year in which the Company is wound up shall be allocated among the Unitholders in such a manner as to cause, to the extent possible, each Unitholder’s Capital Account to be equal to the amount to be distributed to such Unitholder pursuant to Section 11.2(b). The distribution of cash and/or property to a Unitholder in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.2(b) constitutes a complete return to the Unitholder of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Unitholder of its interest in the Company and all the Company property and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, constitutes a compromise to which all Unitholders have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Unitholder returns funds to the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it has no claim against any other Unitholder for those funds.

Section 11.3 Securityholders Agreement. To the extent that Units or other Equity Securities of any Subsidiary are distributed to any Unitholders and unless otherwise agreed to by the Board, such Unitholders hereby agree to enter into a securityholders agreement with such Subsidiary and each other Unitholder which contains rights and restrictions in form and substance similar to the provisions and restrictions set forth herein (including in Article VIII).

Section 11.4 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the distribution of the Company’s assets as provided herein, the Board (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company, and upon the filing of the certificate of cancellation of the Certificate, the Company shall be terminated (and the Company shall not be terminated prior to such time). The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 11.4.

Section 11.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 11.2 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

Section 11.6 Return of Capital. The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Unitholders (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from the Company assets).

Section 11.7 Hart-Scott-Rodino. In the event the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) is applicable to any Unitholder, the dissolution of the Company shall not be consummated until such time as the applicable waiting period (and extensions thereof) under the HSR Act have expired or otherwise been terminated with respect to each such Unitholder.

 

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ARTICLE XII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 12.1 Power of Attorney. Each Unitholder hereby constitutes and appoints Vivid Seats and the liquidators, if any and as applicable, and their respective designees, with full power of substitution, as his, her or its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (to the same extent such Person could take such action): (a) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments hereof or thereof in accordance with the terms hereof which Vivid Seats deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property or as otherwise permitted herein; (b) all instruments, agreements, amendments or other documents which Vivid Seats deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (c) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which Vivid Seats and/or the liquidators deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Unitholder pursuant to Article VIII or Article X. The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Unitholder and the Transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Units and shall extend to such Unitholder’s heirs, successors, permitted assigns and personal representatives.

Section 12.2 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended (including, for purposes of this Section 12.2, any amendment effected directly or indirectly by way of a merger or consolidation of the Company) or waived, in whole or in part, by the Board; provided, however, that to the extent any amendment or waiver, including any amendment or waiver of the Exhibits attached hereto, would disproportionately and adversely affect the rights of any Member of a class compared with the rights of any other Member of such class, such amendment or waiver may only be made by the Board upon the prior written consent of such disproportionately and adversely affected Member.

Section 12.3 Title to the Company Assets. The Company’s assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Unitholder, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets or any portion thereof. Legal title to any or all of such assets may be held in the name of the Company or one or more nominees, as the Board may determine. The Board hereby declares and warrants that any Company assets for which legal title is held in the name of any nominee shall be held in trust by such nominee for the use and benefit of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. All the Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such assets is held.

Section 12.4 Remedies. Each Unitholder and the Company shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law.

 

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Section 12.5 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 12.6 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or if such term or provision could be drawn more narrowly so as not to be illegal, invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall be so narrowly drawn, as to such jurisdiction, without invalidating the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 12.7 Counterparts; Binding Agreement. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and effective as to each Person who (a) executes this Agreement in the appropriate space provided in the signature pages hereto notwithstanding the fact that other Persons who have not executed this Agreement may be listed on the signature pages hereto and (b) may from time to time become a party to this Agreement by executing a counterpart of or joinder to this Agreement.

Section 12.8 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Whenever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.

 

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Section 12.9 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

Section 12.10 Addresses and Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) telecopied to the recipient, or delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if telecopied/emailed before 5:00 p.m. New York, New York time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth in the Company’s books and records, or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

Section 12.11 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in the Company’s Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Indemnitees are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 6.1(b) and shall be entitled to enforce such provision (as it may be in effect from time to time).

Section 12.12 No Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 12.13 Further Action. The parties agree to execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 12.14 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

Section 12.15 Delivery by Electronic Means. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission in portable document format (pdf) or comparable electronic transmission, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as

 

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if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or pdf electronic transmission or comparable electronic transmission to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

Section 12.16 Certain Acknowledgments. This Agreement shall be considered for all purposes as having been prepared through the joint efforts of the parties. No presumption shall apply in favor of any party in the interpretation of this Agreement or in the resolution of any ambiguity of any provision hereof based on the preparation, substitution, submission or other event of negotiation, drafting or execution hereof. Each Member and Unitholder acknowledges that it/he/she is entitled to and has been afforded the opportunity to consult legal counsel of its choice regarding the terms, conditions and legal effects of this Agreement, as well as the advisability and propriety thereof. Each Member and Unitholder further acknowledges that having so consulted with legal counsel of its choosing, such Member or Unitholder hereby waives any right to raise or rely upon the lack of representation or effective representation in any future proceedings or in connection with any future claim resulting from this Agreement or the formation of the Company. THE COMPANY, THE MEMBERS AND THE UNITHOLDERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LATHAM & WATKINS LLP HAS ONLY REPRESENTED THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE NEGOTIATION AND PREPARATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND HAS NOT REPRESENTED THE MEMBERS OR THE UNITHOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH MATTERS.

Section 12.17 Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.

(a) Consent to Jurisdiction. Each Unitholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each Unitholder further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such Unitholder’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each Unitholder irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

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(b) WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OF ARBITRATION, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE COMPANY) HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER.

Section 12.18 Representations and Warranties. By execution of this Agreement, each Member severally represents and warrants as follows:

(a) Such Member has full legal right, power, and authority to deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to perform such Member’s obligations hereunder and thereunder;

(b) This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Member enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws of general application relating to creditors’ rights or general principles of equity;

(c) Neither this Agreement nor the other Transaction Documents violate, conflict with, result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default or an event of default under any other agreement of which such Member is a party; and

(d) Such Member’s investment in Units in the Company is made for such Member’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Units.

Section 12.19 Tax Receivable Agreement. The Tax Receivable Agreement shall be treated as part of this Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code, and Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) with respect to payments to a Member with respect to an Exchange (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) by such Member.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

Name:   Stanley Chia
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

Signature Page to Hoya Intermediate, LLC Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement


VIVID SEATS INC., as a Member
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

Name:   Stanley Chia
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

Signature Page to Hoya Intermediate, LLC Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement


HOYA TOPCO, LLC, as a Member
By:  

/s/ Stanley Chia

Name:   Stanley Chia
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

Signature Page to Hoya Intermediate, LLC Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

Joinder

The undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of October 18, 2021 (the “Agreement”), and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement as a Member.

 

MEMBER:

🌑 ]

By:

 

             

Its:

 

Address for Notices:

🌑 ]

🌑 ]

🌑 ]

🌑 ]

EX-10.5

Exhibit 10.5

VIVID SEATS INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of October ___, 2021 by and between Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________, [a member of the Board of Directors or an officer] of the Company (“Indemnitee”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers, or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company (each as may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws” and “Certificate of Incorporation”, respectively) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification, and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law (as defined below) so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;


WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and is not a substitute therefor, nor diminishes or abrogates any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, DGCL and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) “Agent” means any person who is authorized by the Company or an Enterprise to act for or represent the interests of the Company or an Enterprise, respectively.

(b) “Applicable Law” means applicable law, including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment.

(c) “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(d) A “Change in Control” occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

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ii. Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

iv. Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

v. Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

vi. For purposes of this Section, “Person” has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(e) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or Agent of the Company or an Enterprise.

(f) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(g) “Enterprise” means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or Agent.

(h) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

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(i) “Expenses” includes all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, do not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(j) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(k) The term “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding.

 

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Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee, or otherwise asked to participate.

Section 7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including but not limited to, the DGCL and any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that expand the Company’s ability to indemnify its officers and directors) if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor).

Section 9. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment to Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding:

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

(b) for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

(c) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement, of Expenses, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

Section 10. Advances of Expenses.

(a) The Company will advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company or Enterprise, including a

 

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proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 or (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation. The Company will advance the Expenses within forty-five (45) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.

(b) Advances will be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution of this Agreement and delivery to the Company. No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement. The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.    

Section 11. Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.

(a) Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Indemnitee’s failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

Section 12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a) Unless a Change of Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made:

i. by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

ii. by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

iii. if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or

iv. if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.

 

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(b) If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board)

(c) The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(iii) or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party. The notified party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(d) Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.

(e) If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after such determination.

Section 13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of

 

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proof to overcome that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) If the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification has not made pursuant to Section 12 within sixty (60) days after the later of (i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the “Determination Period”), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period may be extended an additional fifteen (15) days if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iv) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise. Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company,” as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan. The provisions of this Section 13(d) is not exclusive and does not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 14. Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7, or 8 of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder. Alternatively, at Company’s or Indemnitee’s option, parties may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.

(c) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

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(d) The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action concerning this Agreement, Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that each of the Indemnitee’s claims in such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous or are prohibited by law.

Section 15. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a) The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The relationship between the Company and such other Persons, other than an Enterprise, with respect to the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses, and insurance is described by this subsection, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 16 with respect to a Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise.

i. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees:

 

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1) the Company is the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding;

2) the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification and indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding, whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;

3) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the obligations of the Company’s obligations;

4) the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person; and

ii. the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Person, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Person, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.

iii. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance of Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated.

iv. Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated is specifically in excess over the Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company.

 

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(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Company, the Company will obtain a policy or policies covering Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. Indemnitee agrees to assist the Company efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.

(d) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise. The Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise.

(e) In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or insurance carrier. Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

Section 16. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement continues until and terminates upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee ceases to have a Corporate Status or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 

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Section 17. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 18. Interpretation. Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law. The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company stockholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.

Section 19. Enforcement.

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and is not a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 20. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed or constitutes a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 21. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 22. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:

 

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(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.

(b) If to the Company to:

Vivid Seats Inc.:

111 N. Canal Street

Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: General Counsel

Email:    legal@vividseats.com

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 23. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 24. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

Section 25. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitutes one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement. Electronic signatures shall be deemed sufficient for such verification.

 

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Section 26. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

VIVID SEATS INC.      INDEMNITEE
By:                                                                                                                   By:   

 

Name: Stanley Chia      Name:   
Office: Chief Executive Officer and President      Address:   

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

[Execution Version]

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated October 18, 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 18, 2021, is by and between Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Topco”) and any transferees of Hoya Topco permitted pursuant to this Agreement who execute valid joinders hereto (Hoya Topco and such permitted transferees, the “Warrantholders”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”) by and among the Company, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate” and collectively with Hoya Topco and the Company, the “VS Entities”), among other things, the Company agreed to grant Hoya Topco warrants to purchase 6,000,000 shares of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Shares”) at an exercise price of $0.001 per share (the “Warrants”), subject to the conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, Intermediate has granted to Hoya Topco (i) warrants to purchase 3,000,000 common units of Intermediate (“Intermediate Common Units”) at an exercise price of $10.00 per unit (the “$10 Intermediate Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Private Warrant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Hoya Topco and Intermediate (the “$10 Intermediate Warrant Agreement”), and (ii) warrants to purchase 3,000,000 Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $15.00 per unit (the “$15 Intermediate Warrants”, and together with the $10 Intermediate Warrants, the “Intermediate Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Private Warrant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Hoya Topco and Intermediate (the “$15 Intermediate Warrant Agreement”, and together with the $10 Intermediate Warrant Agreement, the “Intermediate Warrant Agreements”);

WHEREAS, upon the acquisition by Hoya Topco of any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the exercise of any Intermediate Warrants, Hoya Topco shall be obligated pursuant to the terms hereof to acquire an equivalent number of Class B Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company and the Warrantholders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.

Warrants.

1.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

1.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

1.3. Registration.


1.3.1. Warrant Register. The Company shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Company shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in the denominations issued to such holders.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

1.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

1.4. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.

 

2.

Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

2.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Class B Shares stated therein, at the price of $0.001 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 3 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 2.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Class B Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

2.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the date hereof and (B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 2.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available; provided, further, that at all times the Warrants are exercisable only to the extent the Intermediate Warrants are simultaneously validly exercised in accordance with the applicable Intermediate Warrant Agreement. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

2.3. Exercise of Warrants.

 

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2.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Company (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Class B Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Class B Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Class B Shares and the issuance of such Class B Shares, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Company; or

(b) to the extent a Warrant is exercised in connection with an Intermediate Warrant that is exercised pursuant to a “cashless exercise” (an “Intermediate Cashless Exercise”), by surrendering such Warrant for that number of Class B Shares equal to the number of Intermediate Common Units issued in such Intermediate Cashless Exercise.

In the event any Warrantholder exercises an Intermediate Warrant to acquire Intermediate Common Units, such holder shall be required to exercise, and shall be deemed to have exercised, Warrants to acquire an equivalent number of Class B Shares.

2.3.2. Issuance of Class B Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Class B Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Class B Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Class B Shares underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Class B Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Class B Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 3.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Class B Shares. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Class B Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Class B Shares to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

2.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Class B Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Class B Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Class B Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company is closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

3


3.

Adjustments.

3.1. Equity Capitalizations. To the extent the Intermediate Warrants are adjusted pursuant to Section 3.1.1 of the applicable Intermediate Warrant Agreement, the Warrants shall be adjusted in the same manner as the Intermediate Warrants are adjusted, as set forth in such Intermediate Warrant Agreement.

3.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Class B Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of Class B Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Class B Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Class B Shares.

3.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Class B Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in Section 3.1 or Section 3.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Class B Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Class B Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.

3.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares (other than pursuant to a change covered by Section 3.1 or Section 3.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Class B Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing entity and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Class B Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Class B Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Class B Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Class B Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election.If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Class B Shares covered by Section 3.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 3.1 or Sections 3.2, 3.3 and this Section 3.4. The provisions of this Section 3.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.

3.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, or 3.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

3.6. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class B Shares to be issued to such holder.

3.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 3, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

4


4.

Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

4.1. Registration of Transfer. The Company shall register the proper transfer pursuant to this Section 4, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Company.

4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Company, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Company shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Company shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Company has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

4.3. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

4.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

4.5. Transfer Restrictions. Each Warrant shall be transferrable only (i) to the extent Intermediate Warrants representing the right to purchase an equivalent number of Intermediate Common Units are simultaneously transferred to the same transferee in accordance with the applicable Intermediate Warrant Agreement and (ii) the transferee executes a valid joinder to this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

5.

Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

5.1. No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may in its discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

5.3. Reservation of Class B Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Class B Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.

Miscellaneous Provisions.

6.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrantholders shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

5


6.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered (i) by electronic mail, (ii) by hand or overnight delivery or (ii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrantholder(s)), as follows:

Vivid Seats Inc.

111 N. Canal Street, Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legal@vividseats.com

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

Attention:   Bradley Faris

                  Owen Alexander

Email:       Bradley.faris@lw.com

                  Owen.alexander@lw.com

6.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 6.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

6.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

6.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

6.6. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

6


6.7. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the Company without the consent of any Warrantholder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake or defective provision contained herein or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company may reasonably deem necessary or desirable and that the Company reasonably deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

6.8. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

Exhibit A    Form of Warrant Certificate
Exhibit B    Legend —Warrants

[Signature Page Follows]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

VIVID SEATS INC.
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
HOYA TOPCO, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Vivid Seats Inc. Class B Warrant Agreement]


ANNEX A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Vivid Seats Inc.

Formed Under the Laws of Delaware

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [     ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [     ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 (“Class B Shares”), of Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Class B Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the corporate office of the Company referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Class B Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of Class B Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement. [This Warrant is a “Option Contingent Warrant” and shall be subject to the terms thereof set forth in the Warrant Agreement.]

The initial Exercise Price per one Class B Share for any Warrant is equal to $0.001 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless signed by the Company. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.


HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:   Authorized Signatory


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [ ] Class B Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October [18], 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), by and between the Company and the holders of the Warrants, which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement, subject to the conditions applicable to exercise set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate office of the Company. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Class B Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Class B Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Class B Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Class B Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Class B Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the corporate office of the Company by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the corporate office of the Company a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [                ] Class B Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Class B Shares to the order of Hoya Intermediate, LLC (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Class B Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Class B Shares be delivered to [                ] whose address is [                ]. If said [                ] number of Class B Shares is less than all of the Class B Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class B Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Class B Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Class B Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Class B Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Class B Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class B Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

[Signature Page Follows]


Date: [                ], 20

 

(Signature)
(Address)

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN VIVID SEATS INC. AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

NO. [                ] WARRANT

EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

AMENDED AND RESTATED WARRANT AGREEMENT

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION

and

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

Dated October 14, 2021

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 14, 2021, is by and between Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Company and the Warrant Agent entered into that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2020 (the “Original Agreement”) in connection with the Company’s entry into that certain Sponsor Warrants Purchase Agreement, with Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 6,519,791 warrants simultaneously with the closing of the Offering, bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (as defined below) at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant; and

WHEREAS, the Company completed an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one Ordinary Share and one-third of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, issued and delivered 18,132,811 redeemable warrants to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant; and

WHEREAS, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-240313, and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Ordinary Shares included in the Units; and

WHEREAS, Section 9.8 of the Original Agreement permits amendment of the terms thereof with the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or any provision of the Original Agreement with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants (the “Holder Consent”); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to, upon receipt of the Holder Consent, amend and restate the Original Agreement as set forth herein and to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and


WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2. Warrants.

2.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

2.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

2.3. Registration.

2.3.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).

If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

2.4. Detachability of Warrants. The Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants comprising the Units became eligible for separate trading on October 12, 2020.


2.5. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised of one Ordinary Share and one-third of one whole Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.

2.6. Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that the Private Placement Warrants (i) including the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination and (ii) shall not be redeemable by the Company, provided, however, that in the case of (i), the Private Placement Warrants and any Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:

(a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any member of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates;

(b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization;

(c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person;

(d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

(e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Placement Warrants or Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased;

(f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Sponsor’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of the Sponsor;

(g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of its initial Business Combination; or

(h) in the event of, subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the public shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (f), these permitted transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

3.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.


3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a Business Combination, and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, and (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.3 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

3.3. Exercise of Warrants.

3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented by a book-entry, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent; or

(b) as provide in Section 7.4 hereof.

3.3.2. Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a


Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Ordinary Shares. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

3.3.5. Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount specified by such holder) (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, the “Transfer Agent”), setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.


4. Adjustments.

4.1. Share Capitalizations.

4.1.1. Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-division of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering to all holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Ordinary Shares shall be issued at less than their par value.

4.1.2. Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to the holders of Ordinary Shares a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, (e) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval or (f) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.

4.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.


4.4. Raising of the Capital in Connection with the Initial Business Combination. If (x) the Company issues additional Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Ordinary Share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Company’s initial Business Combination on the date of the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted average trading price of Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.1 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

4.5. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Ordinary Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for (x) with respect to a Public Warrant, a Capped American Call, and (y) with respect to a Private Placement Warrant, an Uncapped American Call, in each case, as provided on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (ii) the price of each Ordinary Share shall be the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (iii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iv) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a


period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Ordinary Shares consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Ordinary Share, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.

4.6. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

4.7. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.

4.8. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

5.1. Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein or with respect to any Book-Entry Warrant, each Book-Entry Warrant may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.


5.3. Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

5.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

6. Redemption.

6.1. Redemption of Warrants for Cash. Not less than all of the outstanding Public Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Public Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Public Warrant, provided that (a) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) and (b) there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below).

6.2. [RESERVED].

6.3. Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price; Reference Value. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Public Warrants pursuant to Sections 6.1, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Public Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, (a) “Redemption Price” shall mean the price per Public Warrant at which any Public Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 and (b) “Reference Value” shall mean the last reported sales price of the Ordinary Shares for any twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given.

6.4. Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Public Warrants may be exercised, for cash at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Public Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Public Warrants, the Redemption Price.

7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

7.1. No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights, to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

7.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants . If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.


7.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

7.4. Registration of Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. If the Warrants are exercisable for a security other than the Ordinary Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised for such security. At such time as the Warrants become exercisable for a security other than the Ordinary Shares, the Company (or any successor company) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register under the Securities Act the security issuable upon the exercise of the warrants within (20) twenty business days of the closing of an initial Business Combination. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this Section 7.4, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume-weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with this Section 7.4 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. For the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this Section 7.4.

8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

8.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

8.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

8.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for


the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

8.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

8.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

8.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

8.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

8.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

8.4. Liability of Warrant Agent.

8.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

8.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.

8.4.3. Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or


amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

8.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants.

8.6. Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

9.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

9.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 200

Greenwich, CT 06830

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention:

  

Christian O. Nagler

  

Wayne E. Williams

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Compliance Department

9.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or


relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

9.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

9.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the United States of America, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

9.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

9.7. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

9.8. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or any provision of this Agreement with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

9.9. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.


Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend — Private Placement Warrants


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the

date first above written.

 

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Robert Ott
  Name:   Robert Ott
  Title:   Vice President

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
By:   /s/ Douglas Reed
  Name:   Douglass Reed

Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

CUSIP [●]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [                ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [                ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title: Authorized Signatory


CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [                 ] Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of August 25, 2020 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [                ] Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of Horizon Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to [                ] whose address is [                ]. If said [                ] number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Date: [                ], 20    
      (Signature)
      (Address)
      (Tax Identification Number)
Signature Guaranteed:      
       

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), HORIZON SPONSOR, LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

NO. [                ] WARRANT

EX-10.8

Exhibit 10.8

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION

and

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

Dated October 15, 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 15, 2021, is by and between Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”) by and among the Company, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and Vivid Seats, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS PubCo”), which is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Intermediate, among other things, the Company will merge with and into VS PubCo (the “Merger”), the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and VS PubCo will become the surviving corporation of the Merger (hereinafter referred to for the periods at and after the effective time of the Merger as the “Surviving Corporation”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), between Sponsor and the Company, effective at least one day prior to the Merger, Sponsor agreed to irrevocably sell, assign, transfer and tender to the Company 13,599,608 Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), then held by Sponsor for cancellation in exchange for (i) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “Warrants”), (ii) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, and (iii) 50,000 Ordinary Shares, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), newly issued by the Company;

WHEREAS, upon the effective time of the Merger, each Ordinary Share and Class B Ordinary Share, if any, will be converted into one share of Class A common stock of the Surviving Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), as set forth in the Transaction Agreement, and each warrant of the Company that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will become a warrant of the Surviving Corporation exercisable for Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2. Warrants.

2.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

2.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

2.3. Registration.

2.3.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

2.4. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.

2.5 Treatment of Merger. The Merger shall constitute the initial Business Combination for all purposes of this Agreement. From and after completion of the Merger, all references to the Company shall be deemed to be references to the Surviving Corporation, all references to Ordinary Shares shall be deemed to be references to shares of Class A Common Stock, and all references to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company shall be deemed to be references to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

3.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $10.00 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted


hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination and (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

3.3. Exercise of Warrants.

3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;

(b) with respect to any Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Last Reported Sale Price” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The “Last Reported Sale Price” shall mean the last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares on the date prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

(c) as provided in Section 6.4 hereof.

3.3.2. Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number


of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 6.4 or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Ordinary Shares. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

3.3.5. Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, the “Transfer Agent”), setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.


4. Adjustments.

4.1. Share Capitalizations.

4.1.1. Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-division of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all of the holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Ordinary Shares shall be issued at less than their par value.

4.1.2. Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Ordinary Shares a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares, (e) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval or (f) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.


4.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.

4.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Ordinary Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for an Uncapped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) the price of each Ordinary Share shall be the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (ii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iii) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Ordinary Shares consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Ordinary Share, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.


4.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, or 4.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

4.6. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.

4.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

5.1. Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

5.3. Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

5.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

6. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

6.1. No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.


6.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants . If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

6.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

6.4. Registration of Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Last Reported Sale Price less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent.

7. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

7.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

7.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

7.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring


to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

7.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

7.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

7.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

7.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

7.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

7.4. Liability of Warrant Agent.

7.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

7.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.

7.4.3. Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

7.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants.


7.6. Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

8. Miscellaneous Provisions.

8.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

8.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 200

Greenwich, CT 06830

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

  Attention:

   Christian O. Nagler
  

Wayne E. Williams

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Compliance Department

8.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.


Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 8.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

8.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

8.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the United States of America, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

8.7. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

8.8. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 4.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

8.9. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend — Private Placement Warrants


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Robert Ott

  Name:Robert Ott
  Title:Vice President

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, as Warrant Agent

By:  

/s/ Douglas Reed

  Name:Douglas Reed
  Title: Vice President of Account Administration

 

Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


ANNEX A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

CUSIP [●]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [                ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [                ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $10.00 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.


HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title: Authorized Signatory
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [                ] Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 15, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [                ] Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of Horizon Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to [                ] whose address is [                ]. If said [                ] number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection

3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Date: [                ], 20    
      (Signature)
      (Address)
     

 

      (Tax Identification Number)
Signature Guaranteed:      

 

     

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN EACH OF THE SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), HORIZON SPONSOR, LLC (THE “SPONSOR”), VIVID SEATS INC. (“VIVID SEATS”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, AND THE STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG VIVID SEATS, THE SPONSOR AND THE OTHER PARTY THERETO.

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

NO. [                ] WARRANT

EX-10.9

Exhibit 10.9

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION

and

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

Dated October 15, 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 15, 2021, is by and between Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”) by and among the Company, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and Vivid Seats, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS PubCo”), which is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Intermediate, among other things, the Company will merge with and into VS PubCo (the “Merger”), the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and VS PubCo will become the surviving corporation of the Merger (hereinafter referred to for the periods at and after the effective time of the Merger as the “Surviving Corporation”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), between Sponsor and the Company, effective at least one day prior to the Merger, Sponsor agreed to irrevocably sell, assign, transfer and tender to the Company 13,599,608 Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”), then held by Sponsor for cancellation in exchange for (i) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “Warrants”), (ii) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, and (iii) 50,000 Ordinary Shares, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), newly issued by the Company;

WHEREAS, upon the effective time of the Merger, each Ordinary Share and Class B Ordinary Share, if any, will be converted into one share of Class A common stock of the Surviving Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), as set forth in the Transaction Agreement, and each warrant of the Company that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will become a warrant of the Surviving Corporation exercisable for Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2. Warrants.

2.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

2.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

2.3. Registration.

2.3.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

2.4. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.

2.5 Treatment of Merger. The Merger shall constitute the initial Business Combination for all purposes of this Agreement. From and after completion of the Merger, all references to the Company shall be deemed to be references to the Surviving Corporation, all references to Ordinary Shares shall be deemed to be references to shares of Class A Common Stock, and all references to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company shall be deemed to be references to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

3.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $15.00 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted


hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination and (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

3.3. Exercise of Warrants.

3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;

(b) with respect to any Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Last Reported Sale Price” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The “Last Reported Sale Price” shall mean the last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares on the date prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

(c) as provided in Section 6.4 hereof.

3.3.2. Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number


of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 6.4 or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Ordinary Shares. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

3.3.5. Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, the “Transfer Agent”), setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.


4. Adjustments.

4.1. Share Capitalizations.

4.1.1. Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-division of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all of the holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Ordinary Shares shall be issued at less than their par value.

4.1.2. Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Ordinary Shares a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares, (e) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval or (f) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.


4.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.

4.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Ordinary Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for an Uncapped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) the price of each Ordinary Share shall be the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (ii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iii) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Ordinary Shares consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Ordinary Share, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.


4.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, or 4.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

4.6. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.

4.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

5.1. Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

5.3. Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

5.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

6. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

6.1. No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.


6.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants . If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

6.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

6.4. Registration of Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Last Reported Sale Price less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent.

7. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

7.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

7.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

7.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring


to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

7.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

7.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

7.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

7.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

7.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

7.4. Liability of Warrant Agent.

7.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

7.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.

7.4.3. Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

7.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants.


7.6. Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

8. Miscellaneous Provisions.

8.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

8.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 200

Greenwich, CT 06830

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention:    Christian O. Nagler
   Wayne E. Williams

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Compliance Department

8.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.


Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 8.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

8.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

8.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the United States of America, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

8.7. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

8.8. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 4.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

8.9. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend — Private Placement Warrants


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Robert Ott
  Name: Robert Ott
  Title:   Vice President
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
By:   /s/ Douglas Reed
  Name: Douglas Reed
  Title:   Vice President of Account Administration


ANNEX A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Horizon Acquisition Corporation

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

CUSIP [•]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [                ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [                ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $15.00 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.


HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title: Authorized Signatory
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
By:    
  Name:
  Title:


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [                ] Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 15, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [                ] Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of Horizon Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to [                ] whose address is [                ]. If said [                ] number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

[Signature Page Follows]


Date: [                ], 20

 

(Signature)

(Address)

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN EACH OF THE SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), HORIZON SPONSOR, LLC (THE “SPONSOR”), VIVID SEATS INC. (“VIVID SEATS”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, AND THE STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG VIVID SEATS, THE SPONSOR AND THE OTHER PARTY THERETO.

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

NO. [                ] WARRANT

EX-10.10

Exhibit 10.10

Execution Version

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated October 18, 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 18, 2021, is by and between Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Topco”) and any transferees of Hoya Topco permitted pursuant to this Agreement who execute valid joinders hereto (Hoya Topco and such permitted transferees, the “Warrantholders”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”) by and among the Company, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Vivid Seats, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS PubCo” and collectively with Hoya Topco and the Company, the “VS Entities”), among other things, the VS Entities agreed to consummate a Pre-Closing Restructuring (as defined in the Transaction Agreement);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Pre-Closing Restructuring, the Company agreed to grant Hoya Topco warrants to purchase 3,000,000 common units of the Company (“Intermediate Common Units”) at an exercise price of $10.00 per unit (the “Warrants”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company and the Warrantholders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.

Warrants.

1.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

1.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

1.3. Registration.

1.3.1. Warrant Register. The Company shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Company shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in the denominations issued to such holders.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.


1.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

1.4. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.

 

2.

Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

2.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Intermediate Common Units stated therein, at the price of $10.00 per unit, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 3 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 2.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per unit (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Intermediate Common Units may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

2.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the date hereof and (B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 2.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available; provided, further, that any Warrant may be classified by the Company upon the issuance of such Warrant, with the consent of the Warrantholder, as an “Option Contingent Warrant” (it being understood that the Warrants granted to Hoya Topco on the date hereof shall consist of Option Contingent Warrants to purchase 1,000,000 Intermediate Common Units and other Warrants to purchase 2,000,000 Intermediate Common Units), and any such Option Contingent Warrant shall be exercisable only to the extent, and following, the forfeiture or cancellation of an equivalent number of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock of VS PubCo (“PubCo Common Stock”) which options are issued pursuant to the 2021 Vivid Seats Equity Incentive Plan within thirty (30) days of the date hereof with an exercise price equal to the Warrant Price (or, if the fair market value of such shares of PubCo Common Stock is greater than the Warrant Price at the time of issuance, the fair market value of a share of PubCo Common Stock) (such options, the “Matching PubCo Options”). For the avoidance of doubt, upon the forfeiture or cancellation of any Matching PubCo Option, an equivalent number of Option Contingent Warrants shall become exercisable pursuant to the terms hereof applicable to Warrants. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

2.3. Exercise of Warrants.

2.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Company (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on

 

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the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Intermediate Common Unit as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Intermediate Common Units and the issuance of such Intermediate Common Units, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Company; or

(b) with respect to any Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Intermediate Common Units underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Last Reported Sale Price” (as defined in this subsection 2.3.1(b)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The “Last Reported Sale Price” shall mean the last reported sale price of the Intermediate Common Units on the date prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Company.

2.3.2. Issuance of Intermediate Common Units on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Intermediate Common Units to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of units as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Intermediate Common Units underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Intermediate Common Units upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Intermediate Common Units issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 3.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Intermediate Common Units. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Intermediate Common Unit, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

2.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Intermediate Common Units issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Intermediate Common Units is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Intermediate Common Units on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company is closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such units at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the unit transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

3.

Adjustments.

3.1. Equity Capitalizations.

3.1.1. Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units is increased by a capitalization or unit dividend of Intermediate Common Units, or by a sub-division of Intermediate Common Units or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such unit capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Intermediate

 

3


Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units. A rights offering made to all or substantially all of the holders of Intermediate Common Units entitling holders to purchase Intermediate Common Units at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the product of (i) the number of Intermediate Common Units actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Intermediate Common Units) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Intermediate Common Unit paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 3.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Intermediate Common Units, in determining the price payable for Intermediate Common Units, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) ”Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the PubCo Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

3.1.2. Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Intermediate Common Units a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Intermediate Common Units (or other units into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 3.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below) or (c) as a result of any redemption rights under the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the Company, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Company LLC Agreement”) (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of managers (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Intermediate Common Unit in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 3.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per unit basis, with the per unit amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Intermediate Common Units during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 3 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

3.2. Aggregation of Units. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse unit sub-division or reclassification of Intermediate Common Units or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse unit sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units.

3.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Intermediate Common Units purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 3.1.1 or Section 3.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Intermediate Common Units purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Intermediate Common Units so purchasable immediately thereafter.

3.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units (other than pursuant to a change covered by Section 3.1 or Section 3.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Intermediate Common Units), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing entity and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an

 

4


entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Intermediate Common Units of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of units or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Intermediate Common Units were entitled (including pursuant to the terms of the Company LLC Agreement) to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per unit by the holders of the Intermediate Common Units in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Intermediate Common Units in the applicable event is payable in the form of equity in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by VS PubCo pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for an Uncapped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) the price of each Intermediate Common Unit shall be the volume weighted average price of the PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (ii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iii) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Intermediate Common Units consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Intermediate Common Unit, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Intermediate Common Units covered by subsection 3.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 3.1.1 or Sections 3.2, 3.3 and this Section 3.4. The provisions of this Section 3.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per unit issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.

3.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, or 3.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

3.6. No Fractional Units. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional units upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a unit, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to such holder.

3.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 3, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of units as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

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4.

Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

4.1. Registration of Transfer. The Company shall register the proper transfer pursuant to this Section 4, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Company.

4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Company, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Company shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Company shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Company has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

4.3. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

4.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

4.5. Transfer Restrictions. Each Warrant shall be transferrable only (i) to the extent the Intermediate Common Unit underlying such Warrant would be transferable pursuant to the terms of the Company LLC Agreement, (ii) the transferring Warrantholder and the transferee comply with the applicable requirements of Article VIII of the Company LLC Agreement and (iii) the transferee executes a valid joinder to this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

5.

Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

5.1. No Rights as Unitholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a unitholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as unitholders in respect of the meetings of unitholders or the election of managers of the Company or any other matter, or any rights under the Company LLC Agreement.

5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may in its discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

5.3. Reservation of Intermediate Common Units. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Intermediate Common Units that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6.

Miscellaneous Provisions.

6.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrantholders shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

6.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered (i) by electronic mail, (ii) by hand or overnight delivery or (ii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after

 

6


deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrantholder(s)), as follows:

Hoya Intermediate, LLC

111 N. Canal Street, Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention:    General Counsel

Email: legal@vividseats.com

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

Attention:    Bradley Faris

Owen Alexander

Email:     Bradley.faris@lw.com

Owen.alexander@lw.com

6.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 6.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

6.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

6.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

6.6. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

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6.7. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the Company without the consent of any Warrantholder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 3.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company may reasonably deem necessary or desirable and that the Company reasonably deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

6.8. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend —Warrants

[Signature Page Follows]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
HOYA TOPCO, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Hoya Intermediate, LLC $10.00 Warrant Agreement]


ANNEX A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Hoya Intermediate, LLC

Formed Under the Laws of Delaware

CUSIP [ 🌑 ]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [                ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [                ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase common units (“Intermediate Common Units”), of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Intermediate Common Units as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the corporate office of the Company referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Intermediate Common Unit. Fractional units shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of Intermediate Common Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement. [This Warrant is a “Option Contingent Warrant” and shall be subject to the terms thereof set forth in the Warrant Agreement.]

The initial Exercise Price per one Intermediate Common Unit for any Warrant is equal to $10.00 per unit. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless signed by the Company. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.


HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:   Authorized Signatory


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [                ] Intermediate Common Units and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 18, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), by and between the Company and the holders of the Warrants, which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement, subject to the conditions applicable to exercise set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate office of the Company. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Intermediate Common Units to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Intermediate Common Units is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Intermediate Common Unit, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the corporate office of the Company by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the corporate office of the Company a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a unitholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [                ] Intermediate Common Units and herewith tenders payment for such Intermediate Common Units to the order of Hoya Intermediate, LLC (the “Company”) in the amount of $[                ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Intermediate Common Units be delivered to [                ] whose address is [                ]. If said [                ] number of Intermediate Common Units is less than all of the Intermediate Common Units purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Intermediate Common Units that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Intermediate Common Units that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Intermediate Common Units. If said number of units is less than all of the Intermediate Common Units purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [                ], whose address is [                ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [                ], whose address is [                ].

[Signature Page Follows]


Date: [                ]

 

(Signature)
(Address)

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC (THE “COMPANY”), AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

NO. [                ] WARRANT

EX-10.11

Exhibit 10.11

Execution Version

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated October 18, 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 18, 2021, is by and between Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Topco”) and any transferees of Hoya Topco permitted pursuant to this Agreement who execute valid joinders hereto (Hoya Topco and such permitted transferees, the “Warrantholders”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”) by and among the Company, Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Vivid Seats, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“VS PubCo” and collectively with Hoya Topco and the Company, the “VS Entities”), among other things, the VS Entities agreed to consummate a Pre-Closing Restructuring (as defined in the Transaction Agreement);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Pre-Closing Restructuring, the Company agreed to grant Hoya Topco warrants to purchase 3,000,000 common units of the Company (“Intermediate Common Units”) at an exercise price of $15.00 per unit (the “Warrants”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company and the Warrantholders; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Warrants.

1.1. Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

1.2. Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

1.3. Registration.

1.3.1. Warrant Register. The Company shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Company shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in the denominations issued to such holders.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.


1.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

1.4. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.

2. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

2.1. Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Intermediate Common Units stated therein, at the price of $15.00 per unit, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 3 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 2.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per unit (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Intermediate Common Units may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

2.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the date hereof and (B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 2.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available; provided, further, that any Warrant may be classified by the Company upon the issuance of such Warrant, with the consent of the Warrantholder, as an “Option Contingent Warrant” (it being understood that the Warrants granted to Hoya Topco on the date hereof shall consist of Option Contingent Warrants to purchase 1,000,000 Intermediate Common Units and other Warrants to purchase 2,000,000 Intermediate Common Units), and any such Option Contingent Warrant shall be exercisable only to the extent, and following, the forfeiture or cancellation of an equivalent number of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock of VS PubCo (“PubCo Common Stock”) which options are issued pursuant to the 2021 Vivid Seats Equity Incentive Plan within thirty (30) days of the date hereof with an exercise price equal to the Warrant Price (or, if the fair market value of such shares of PubCo Common Stock is greater than the Warrant Price at the time of issuance, the fair market value of a share of PubCo Common Stock) (such options, the “Matching PubCo Options”). For the avoidance of doubt, upon the forfeiture or cancellation of any Matching PubCo Option, an equivalent number of Option Contingent Warrants shall become exercisable pursuant to the terms hereof applicable to Warrants. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

2.3. Exercise of Warrants.

2.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Company (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on

 

2


the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Intermediate Common Unit as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Intermediate Common Units and the issuance of such Intermediate Common Units, as follows:

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Company; or

(b) with respect to any Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Intermediate Common Units underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Last Reported Sale Price” (as defined in this subsection 2.3.1(b)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The “Last Reported Sale Price” shall mean the last reported sale price of the Intermediate Common Units on the date prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Company.

2.3.2. Issuance of Intermediate Common Units on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Intermediate Common Units to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of units as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Intermediate Common Units pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the Intermediate Common Units underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Intermediate Common Units upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Intermediate Common Units issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 3.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Intermediate Common Units. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Intermediate Common Unit, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.

2.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Intermediate Common Units issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Intermediate Common Units is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Intermediate Common Units on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company is closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such units at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the unit transfer books or book-entry system are open.

3. Adjustments.

3.1. Equity Capitalizations.

3.1.1. Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units is increased by a capitalization or unit dividend of Intermediate Common Units, or by a sub-division of Intermediate Common Units or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such unit capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Intermediate

 

3


Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units. A rights offering made to all or substantially all of the holders of Intermediate Common Units entitling holders to purchase Intermediate Common Units at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the product of (i) the number of Intermediate Common Units actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Intermediate Common Units) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Intermediate Common Unit paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 3.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Intermediate Common Units, in determining the price payable for Intermediate Common Units, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) ”Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the PubCo Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

3.1.2. Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Intermediate Common Units a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Intermediate Common Units (or other units into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 3.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below) or (c) as a result of any redemption rights under the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the Company, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Company LLC Agreement”) (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of managers (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Intermediate Common Unit in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 3.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per unit basis, with the per unit amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Intermediate Common Units during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 3 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

3.2. Aggregation of Units. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse unit sub-division or reclassification of Intermediate Common Units or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse unit sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units.

3.3. Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Intermediate Common Units purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 3.1.1 or Section 3.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Intermediate Common Units purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Intermediate Common Units so purchasable immediately thereafter.

3.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units (other than pursuant to a change covered by Section 3.1 or Section 3.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Intermediate Common Units), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing entity and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an

 

4


entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Intermediate Common Units of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of units or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the Intermediate Common Units were entitled (including pursuant to the terms of the Company LLC Agreement) to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per unit by the holders of the Intermediate Common Units in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Intermediate Common Units in the applicable event is payable in the form of equity in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by VS PubCo pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for an Uncapped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) the price of each Intermediate Common Unit shall be the volume weighted average price of the PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (ii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iii) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Intermediate Common Units consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Intermediate Common Unit, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the PubCo Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Intermediate Common Units covered by subsection 3.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 3.1.1 or Sections 3.2, 3.3 and this Section 3.4. The provisions of this Section 3.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per unit issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.

3.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, or 3.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

3.6. No Fractional Units. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional units upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a unit, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to such holder.

3.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 3, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of units as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

5


4. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

4.1. Registration of Transfer. The Company shall register the proper transfer pursuant to this Section 4, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Company.

4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Company, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Company shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Company shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Company has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

4.3. Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

4.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

4.5. Transfer Restrictions. Each Warrant shall be transferrable only (i) to the extent the Intermediate Common Unit underlying such Warrant would be transferable pursuant to the terms of the Company LLC Agreement, (ii) the transferring Warrantholder and the transferee comply with the applicable requirements of Article VIII of the Company LLC Agreement and (iii) the transferee executes a valid joinder to this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.

5. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

5.1. No Rights as Unitholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a unitholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as unitholders in respect of the meetings of unitholders or the election of managers of the Company or any other matter, or any rights under the Company LLC Agreement.

5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may in its discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

5.3. Reservation of Intermediate Common Units. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Intermediate Common Units that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

6.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrantholders shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

6.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered (i) by electronic mail, (ii) by hand or overnight delivery or (ii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrantholder(s)), as follows:

 

6


Hoya Intermediate, LLC

111 N. Canal Street, Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legal@vividseats.com

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

  Attention:

Bradley Faris

Owen Alexander

  Email:

Bradley.faris@lw.com

Owen.alexander@lw.com

6.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 6.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

6.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

6.5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

6.6. Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

7


6.7. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the Company without the consent of any Warrantholder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 3.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company may reasonably deem necessary or desirable and that the Company reasonably deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

6.8. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend —Warrants

[Signature Page Follows]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
HOYA TOPCO, LLC
By:   /s/ Stanley Chia
  Name: Stanley Chia
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Hoya Intermediate, LLC $15.00 Warrant Agreement]


ANNEX A

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Hoya Intermediate, LLC

Formed Under the Laws of Delaware

CUSIP [●]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [        ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [        ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase common units (“Intermediate Common Units”), of Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Intermediate Common Units as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the corporate office of the Company referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Intermediate Common Unit. Fractional units shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of Intermediate Common Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement. [This Warrant is a “Option Contingent Warrant” and shall be subject to the terms thereof set forth in the Warrant Agreement.]

The initial Exercise Price per one Intermediate Common Unit for any Warrant is equal to $15.00 per unit. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless signed by the Company. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.


HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title: Authorized Signatory


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [        ] Intermediate Common Units and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 18, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), by and between the Company and the holders of the Warrants, which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement, subject to the conditions applicable to exercise set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate office of the Company. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Intermediate Common Units to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Intermediate Common Units is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Intermediate Common Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Intermediate Common Unit, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Intermediate Common Units to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the corporate office of the Company by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the corporate office of the Company a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a unitholder of the Company.


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [        ] Intermediate Common Units and herewith tenders payment for such Intermediate Common Units to the order of Hoya Intermediate, LLC (the “Company”) in the amount of $[        ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [        ], whose address is [        ] and that such Intermediate Common Units be delivered to [        ] whose address is [        ]. If said [        ] number of Intermediate Common Units is less than all of the Intermediate Common Units purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [        ], whose address is [        ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [        ], whose address is [        ].

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Intermediate Common Units that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 2.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Intermediate Common Units that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Intermediate Common Units. If said number of units is less than all of the Intermediate Common Units purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Intermediate Common Units be registered in the name of [        ], whose address is [        ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [        ], whose address is [        ].

[Signature Page Follows]


Date: [        ]

 

(Signature)
(Address)
 

 

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).


EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC (THE “COMPANY”), AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

NO. [        ] WARRANT

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF VIVID SEATS

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the business of Hoya Intermediate, LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Vivid Seats”) prior to the business combination with Horizon Acquisition Corporation.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information of Vivid Seats” section and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto either included in the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy”) relating to our business combination with Horizon Acquisition Corporation, dated September 23, 2021 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), or attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” or in other parts of the Proxy. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future. Except as otherwise noted, all references to 2019 refer to the year ended December 31, 2019, all references to 2020 refer to the year ended December 31, 2020 and all references to 2021 refer to the year ended December 31, 2021.

Overview

Vivid Seats is a leading marketplace that allows fans of live events to connect seamlessly with third-party ticket sellers through our platform. We believe Vivid Seats is a leading marketplace based on a combination of (1) third party estimates of the overall market size, including a 2017 report prepared for us by a third party consulting firm, (2) publicly available information including our competitors’ filings with the SEC and (3) internal company information from our Skybox platform that provides insights into volumes across marketplaces representing a meaningful portion of the over secondary ticketing market.

Our mission is focused on connecting buyers and sellers, empowering fans to Experience It Live. We believe live events deliver some of life’s most exciting moments. Our platform provides ticket buyers and sellers with an easy-to-use, trusted marketplace experience, ensuring fans can attend live events and create memories that last a lifetime. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 we generated $468.9 million and $35.1 million of revenues, respectively, and $2,279.8 million and $347.3 million of Marketplace Gross Order Value (“Marketplace GOV”). During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, our revenues were $115.5 million and $139.6 million and Marketplace GOV was $693.1 million and $809.6 million, respectively. These represented substantial increases over the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 when we generated revenues of negative $28.9 million and $40.8 million and Marketplace GOV of negative $63.3 million and $340.1 million, respectively.

In addition to helping ticket buyers easily purchase tickets, our platform enables third-party ticket sellers to seamlessly manage their end-to-end operations. We unite millions of ticket buyers with thousands of ticket sellers.

Our platform is built on years of customer transactional and engagement data that provides us with deep insights into how to best connect buyers with the experiences they seek. In 2019, we connected over five million buyers to over 200,000 unique events.

Our Business Model

We operate our business in two segments, Marketplace and Resale.

Marketplace

Through our Marketplace segment, we act as an intermediary between ticket buyers and third-party ticket sellers. We earn revenue processing ticket sales from our Owned Properties, consisting of the Vivid Seats website and

 

1


mobile app, in addition to ticket sales initiated through distribution partners, our Private Label offering. Using our online platform, we process customer payments, coordinate ticket deliveries, and provide customer service to ticket buyers, allowing ticket sellers to focus more of their time on selling. We primarily earn revenue from service and delivery fees charged to ticket buyers. Using a third-party insurance provider, we also earn referral fee revenue by offering event ticket insurance to ticket buyers.

In our role as an intermediary, we do not hold ticket inventory on Marketplace transactions. We do incur costs for developing and maintaining our platform, providing back-office and customer support to ticket sellers and ticket buyers, processing payments, and shipping tickets. We also incur substantial marketing costs, primarily related to online advertising, which we expect to increase over time as we grow and scale the business.

Resale

Our Resale business primarily serves as an internal research and development group focused on creating best in class seller software and tools. Our Resale business includes a team of sellers, which acquires tickets for resale on secondary marketplaces, including our own platform, using Skybox. Skybox is our proprietary enterprise resource planning tool, which is a free-to-use system made available to assist third party sellers manage their ticket inventory, adjust pricing, and fulfill orders across several secondary marketplaces. When new features and functionality are released for Skybox, they are first tested and iterated by our Resale team prior to release to the seller community, and thus ensures we can continue innovating to meet the needs of our seller community.

Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use the following metrics to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe that these metrics provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team.

The following table summarizes our key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measure for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2019      2020     2020     2021      2020     2021  

Marketplace GOV(1)

   $ 2,279,773      $ 347,259     $ (63,291   $ 693,090      $ 340,086     $ 809,563  

Total Marketplace orders(2)

     7,185        1,066       (192     1,713        1,060       2,006  

Total Resale orders(3)

     303        49       —         35        45       48  

Adjusted EBITDA(4)

   $ 119,172      $ (80,204   $ (48,315   $ 36,195      $ (47,136   $ 40,382  

 

(1)

Marketplace GOV represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes, and net of event cancellations that occurred during that period. Marketplace GOV was negatively impacted by event cancellations in the amount of $22.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2019 and $216.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. Marketplace GOV was negatively impacted by event cancellations in the amount of $91.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and $18.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021. Marketplace GOV was negatively impacted by event cancellations in the amount of $144.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and $37.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

(2)

Total Marketplace orders represents the volume of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform during a period, net of event cancellations that occurred during that period. During the year ended December 31, 2019, our Marketplace segment experienced 54,961 event cancellations, compared to 549,085 event cancellations during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, our Marketplace segment experienced 250,677 event cancellations, compared to 48,319 event cancellations during the three months ended June 30, 2021. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, our

 

2


  Marketplace segment experienced 391,704 event cancellations, compared to 100,094 event cancellations during the six months ended June 30, 2021.
(3)

Total Resale orders represents the volume of Resale segment orders sold by our Resale team in a period, net of event cancellations that occurred during that period. During the year ended December 31, 2019, our Resale segment experienced 1,517 event cancellations, compared to 20,644 event cancellations during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, our Resale segment experienced 3,986 event cancellations, compared to 772 event cancellations during the three months ended June 30, 2021. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, our Resale segment experienced 13,964 event cancellations, compared to 1,913 event cancellations during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

(4)

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure defined under GAAP. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as provides a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. For further information about how we calculate adjusted EBITDA, see Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information of Vivid Seats.

Marketplace GOV

Marketplace GOV is a key driver of our Marketplace segment’s revenue. Marketplace GOV represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace orders in a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes, and net of event cancellations that occurred during that period. Marketplace GOV reflects our ability to attract and retain customers, as well as the overall health of the industry.

Our Marketplace GOV is impacted by seasonality with increased activity in the fourth quarter when all major sports leagues are in season and we experience increases in order volume for theater and concert events during the holiday season. In addition to seasonality, quarterly fluctuations in our Marketplace GOV result from the number of cancellations, the overall popularity and resultant demand of performers, tours, teams, and events, as well as length and team composition of sports playoff series and championship games.

Total Marketplace Orders

Total Marketplace orders represents the volume of Marketplace segment orders placed on our platform in a period, net of event cancellations. An order can include one or more tickets or parking passes. Total Marketplace orders allow us to monitor order volume and better identify trends within our Marketplace segment.

Total Resale Orders

Total Resale orders represents the volume of Resale segment orders sold by our Resale team in a period, net of event cancellations. An order can include one or more tickets or parking passes. Total Resale orders allow us to monitor order volume and better identify trends within our Resale segment.

Adjusted EBITDA

We present Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, because it is a measure frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Further, we believe this measure is helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results, because they exclude the impact of items that are outside the control of management or not reflective of ongoing performance related directly to the operation of our online marketplace and resale business.

Adjusted EBITDA is a key measurement used by our management internally to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance, and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting. Moreover, we believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations, as well as provides a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business performance and highlighting trends in our operating

 

3


results. See “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information of Vivid Seats” in the Proxy for information regarding our use of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income.

Recent Developments

The Business Combination

On April 21, 2021, Vivid Seats entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) with Horizon Acquisition Corporation (“Horizon”), a special purpose acquisition company. The merger transaction will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with Vivid Seats treated as the accounting acquirer. Accordingly, the financial statements of the combined company will represent a continuation of the financial statements of Vivid Seats. In connection with the agreement, Vivid Seats gained access to funds held in Horizon’s trust account, the amount of which would vary based on the number of redemptions exercised by Horizon shareholders, with reductions offset by the Sponsor Backstop Commitment.

In connection with the agreement, Vivid Seats also entered into a private investment in public equity financing (“PIPE Subscription”). As part of the PIPE Subscription, Vivid Seats raised an additional $225.0 million. Eldridge Industries, LLC has committed to make an additional PIPE investment at $10 per share, in an amount equal to Horizon’s shareholder redemptions, if any.

Proceeds from the merger with Horizon and the PIPE Subscription will be used for debt repayment and capital structure optimization, as well as positioning Vivid Seats to continue investing in growth and improving the customer experience.

On October 14, 2021, the Horizon shareholders approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and the other proposals described in the Proxy (File No. 333-256575), which was declared effective by the SEC on September 23, 2021.

See “Summary Term Sheet” in the Proxy for further information regarding terms of the merger agreement.

COVID-19 Has Had a Disproportionately Negative Effect on the Live Entertainment Industry

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Almost immediately, mitigation measures implemented or recommended by governmental authorities and private organizations restricted attendance at live events throughout North America. Through the second quarter of 2021, we have seen a recovery in ticket orders as mitigation measures ease. Although ticket orders for the six months ended June 30, 2021 remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels, ticket orders processed in the three months ended June 30, 2021 have returned to pre-pandemic levels. While the Company continued to recognize a net loss during the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company realized year-over year increases in revenues and operating income, recognizing operating income of $15,552 thousand through the first six months of 2021.

Reduced ticket sales resulting from the pandemic had a significant adverse impact on the Company’s business and operating results during 2020 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The unprecedented restrictions on live events during the pandemic resulted in large-scale event cancellations and meaningfully reduced activity on our platform. The resulting decline in revenue and broader economic impact of the pandemic led us to determine that an impairment triggering event existed during the second quarter of 2020, resulting in an impairment charge of $573.8 million to goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, definite-lived intangible assets, and other long-lived assets. These factors contributed to a net loss of $774.2 million in 2020.

In response to the pandemic and the decreased demand for live entertainment, we took several key actions, including:

 

   

Raising an additional $260 million in debt in May 2020 to ensure we were able to meet our liquidity needs and to provide greater financial flexibility;

 

   

Reducing discretionary and variable spending, including reductions to marketing expenses, payment processing fees, and shipping costs, reducing overall expenses by 67% in 2020 as compared to 2019;

 

   

Reducing full time employee headcount by approximately 50% through furloughs and terminations while maintaining key expertise across core functional areas;

 

4


   

Reducing consulting and professional service fees by $7.6 million during 2020; and

 

   

Reducing office expenses as we shifted to a remote work environment in March 2020.

While some of these cost reductions will be permanent, certain costs will increase as order volume continues to recover. A large portion of our employee headcount reductions were in our operations function. As ticket orders processed on our platform have increased with the resumption of live events in the first half of 2021, we have increased employee staffing in our operations function. We will continue to increase employee staffing as order volume increases.

The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving and the ultimate pace and timing of recovery is uncertain. The recovery of live entertainment to pre-pandemic levels is dependent on future developments, such as restrictions limiting attendance at live events, rates of vaccination against COVID-19, the impact of COVID-19 variants, including their impact on the effectiveness of vaccines, and consumer willingness to attend live events. The pandemic may have a materially adverse impact on our business in future periods. However, we believe we are well positioned for the return of large scale, full capacity events. Throughout the pandemic, we have focused on taking care of our customers while working with our seller community, improving the efficiency of our operations, enhancing the customer journey and experience, and optimizing our marketing programs.

Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

Buyer Sourcing and Retention and Sales Volume

Attracting new buyers to our platform, retaining existing buyers and incentivizing increased purchase frequency drives Marketplace GOV and revenue growth. We attract most new customers to our platform through our marketing efforts, including traffic generation from search engines and affiliate partner websites. We seek to retain our customers by providing an optimal user experience, at a competitive price point, by combining the ability to discover events with personalized recommendations with an efficient checkout process. We seek to create ongoing relationships with our customers by offering a compelling loyalty program, Vivid Seats Rewards, in which customers generate value and savings on future purchases each time they complete a purchase made on a Vivid Seats website or mobile app. The degree to which these efforts are successful has an impact on our sales volume which drives our revenues and Marketplace GOV.

Seller Retention

Attracting and retaining sellers is crucial to driving Marketplace GOV and revenue growth. The continued success and growth of our platform is dependent upon maintaining sufficient quantity and diversity of ticket offerings which, in turn, is dependent on sellers’ decision to utilize our platform. Skybox enables sellers to list their inventory on all major marketplaces through direct application programming interface (“API”) integrations; provides simplified order fulfillment with barcode and PDF integrations; offers automated listing creation and ticket attachment; and provides a reporting suite to manage inventory, purchases, and profitability. Our in-house Resale team uses Skybox and provides feedback and insight to continually enhance the offering. We have a dedicated relationship management team supporting and working alongside our seller community. We also offer a fulfillment service to our sellers so they can remain focused on selling tickets. We will continue to invest in Skybox and provide innovative seller technology and services. The degree to which these efforts are successful has an impact on our revenues and Marketplace GOV.

Enhance our Technology Platform and Product Offering

We aim to provide an efficient and seamless experience for both ticket buyers and sellers on our platform. Vivid Seats has a born-in the-cloud technology platform and our focus on superior technology and actionable data insights has supported scalable, profitable growth. We will continue to invest in our platform to provide easy discovery, search and purchase functionality for ticket buyers. We will also continue to invest in our platform to provide our sellers the ability to manage, sell and deliver inventory in an efficient and informed manner.

 

5


We will continue to improve and expand our product offerings, including our Vivid Seats Rewards program and content channels that drive engagement with our customers. We are steadfast in working to optimize the journey and experience of buyers on our platform. We are investing to improve customer acquisition by enabling non-transactional engagement channels, including access to live stream performances, blog content, industry news and gamification on our website and mobile app. We believe these engagement channels will help drive brand awareness and affinity and increase loyalty outside of the traditional transactional purchase process.

Availability of Live Events and Seasonality

Our ability to sell tickets, generate revenue, and achieve growth is dependent on the scheduling of live events and the amount of event cancellations in a given period. Buyers and fans must be willing and able to attend live events. If live events are cancelled, reduced, or restricted, like during the recent global COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to generate revenue and cash will be hindered. If the cessation and large-scale cancellations of events happens again in the future, it may affect our operational and financial outlook. We are optimistic that the demand for live events will return and we believe we are well positioned to benefit from the market rebound and the return of large scale and full capacity events due to our swift operational decisions and financial mitigation measures taken since March 2020.

Due to the seasonal nature of events and the timing of when tickets become available for sale, revenue, cash, and working capital can be impacted by fluctuations in the availability of events for sale to the public. Our Marketplace GOV, Marketplace orders, and revenue are typically the greatest during the fourth quarter. At this time, order volume processed on our platform is the greatest, with all major sports leagues in play and increased holiday demand for concert and theater events.

Success of Marketing Investments

We have historically attracted new customers to our marketplace primarily through performance-based channels, such as paid search engine marketing using our proprietary paid search algorithms that create a unique engine for efficiently bidding on keywords, and affiliated partner websites. While those will continue to be important channels for customer acquisition, we intend to improve our brand presence and awareness to increase traffic generation and orders through direct or unpaid channels. We believe investments in marketing and loyalty will drive sustainable growth in Marketplace GOV and marketplace orders. While we undertake this important initiative, we may have higher marketing and selling expenses and lower revenue due to higher loyalty program costs, with a longer-term time horizon for reaping the benefits. Future growth will depend on the success of our business.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenues

We earn revenues through both our Marketplace and Resale segments.

Marketplace: Our Marketplace segment primarily generates revenue by serving as an intermediary between ticket sellers and ticket buyers in our secondary marketplace. Revenue primarily consists of service and delivery fees, as well as referral fees earned on the purchase of ticket insurance by ticket buyers from third-party insurers.

We recognize Marketplace revenue when the ticket seller confirms an order with the ticket buyer. We recognize revenue net of cancellation charges, including estimated customer refunds (less recoveries) and chargebacks, and loyalty program costs. The reduction to revenue includes actual cancellation charges, as well as the change to forecasted future cancellation charges.

Resale: Our Resale segment primarily earns revenue as a third-party seller of tickets that we own. We recognize Resale revenue based on the value of the ticket order, net of cancellation charges.

 

6


Cost of Revenues (exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization)

We incur cost of revenue in both our Marketplace and Resale segments.

Marketplace: Cost of revenues in our Marketplace segment primarily consists of payment processing fees and shipping fees. Cost of revenues in our Marketplace segment also consists of information technology expenses directly attributable to revenue-generating activities, which consist primarily of cloud computing costs and software licenses.

Resale: Cost of revenues in our Resale segment primarily consists of the cost of tickets delivered, an allowance to adjust ticket inventory to lower of cost or net realizable value and to address excess and obsolescence risks, and information technology expenses.

Marketing and Selling

Marketing and selling expenses, which are incurred entirely by our Marketplace segment, primarily consist of online advertising costs aimed towards acquiring new customers, which include fees paid to our advertising affiliates and distributors, paid search engine marketing, and other online marketing activities. Our offline marketing costs include spending on traditional media channels, public relations and advertising agency costs, and partnership expenses with teams, leagues, and theaters.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel-related expenses and other types of general and administrative costs. Personnel costs, which are entirely included within general and administrative expenses and constitute the largest percentage of general and administrative expenses, include salaries, employee benefits, equity-based compensation, contractor and outsourced workforce expenses, and other personnel-related costs. General and administrative expenses also include expenses for information technology costs not directly attributable to revenue-generating activities. These information technology costs, which exclude amortization of capitalized internal-use software development costs, include expenses for cloud hosting services, software licenses, and certain software development activities. Other general and administrative expenses also include costs related to consulting and professional services, as well as sales tax contingencies and other corporate costs. Although selling, general and administrative expenses will increase as we scale the business, we expect these expenses to decrease as a percentage of revenue as we grow due to economies of scale.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses consist of depreciation associated with our property and equipment and amortization related to our personal seat licenses and definite-lived intangible assets, including capitalized software development costs.

Impairment Charges

Impairment charges consist of losses incurred from the impairment of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, definite-lived intangible assets, and other long-lived assets.

Interest Expense – Net

Interest expense primarily consists of interest expense associated with our outstanding Term Loan Facilities (defined below – see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”).

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt is incurred as a result of the retirement of our debt obligations and includes the write-off of the original issuance discount and issuance costs, inclusive of any prepayment penalties.

 

7


Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 and 2021

The following table sets forth our results of operations for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021 (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2020     2021      2020     2021  

Revenues

   $ (28,897   $ 115,498      $ 40,764     $ 139,612  

Costs and expenses:

         

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

     1,325       19,986        21,931       23,911  

Marketing and selling

     1,634       46,422        33,581       54,377  

General and administrative

     18,177       29,106        40,598       44,977  

Depreciation and amortization

     24,080       500        47,977       795  

Impairment charges

     573,838       —          573,838       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

   $ (647,951   $ 19,484      $ (677,161   $ 15,552  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses

         

Interest expense – net

     13,473       16,839        22,766       33,158  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     685       —          685       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (662,109   $ 2,645      $ (700,612   $ (17,606
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the components of our results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021 presented as a percentage of revenues:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
         2020             2021            2020           2021     

Revenues

     100     100     100     100

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

     (5     17       54       17  

Marketing and selling

     (6     40       82       39  

General and administrative

     (62     24       99       32  

Depreciation and amortization

     (83     —         118       1  

Impairment charges

     (1,986     —         1,408       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     2,242       19       (1,661     11  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses

        

Interest expense – net

     (47     15       56       24  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     (2     —         2       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     2,291     4     (1,719 )%      (13 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Revenues

The following table presents revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Revenues:

               

Marketplace

  $ (29,063   $ 104,648     $ 133,711       n/m *%    $ 28,943     $ 126,641     $ 97,698       338

Resale

    166       10,850       10,684       6,436       11,821       12,971       1,150       10  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

  $ (28,897   $ 115,498     $ 144,395       n/m *%    $ 40,764     $ 139,612     $ 98,848       242
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Not meaningful

Total revenues increased $144.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase, which occurred in both our Marketplace and Resale segments, resulted from a reduction in cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in order volume resulting from the resumption of live events. The pandemic and resulting mitigation measures had a significant adverse effect on order volume and event cancellations during the second quarter of 2020. By the second quarter of 2021, the local governments were in the process of lifting large scale restrictions on live events and for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, our order volume had returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Total revenues increased $98.8 million, or 242% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in total revenues was less pronounced during the first six months of the year, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021, due to the timing of the pandemic’s onset in March 2020 and the gradual resumption of live events through the first six months of 2021.

Marketplace

The following table presents revenues in our Marketplace segment by event category (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Revenues:

               

Concerts

  $ (10,123   $ 49,843     $ 59,966       n/m *%    $ 24,224     $ 56,857     $ 32,633       135

Sports

    (17,805     48,005       65,810       n/m     (71     62,143       62,214       n/m

Theater

    (1,162     6,515       7,677       n/m     4,570       7,298       2,728       60  

Other

    27       285       258       956     220       343       123       56  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total marketplace revenues

  $ (29,063   $ 104,648     $ 133,711       n/m *%    $ 28,943     $ 126,641     $ 97,698       338
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Not meaningful

Marketplace revenue increased by $133.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in Marketplace revenue resulted primarily from an overall increase in ticket orders processed on our Marketplace platform, combined with fewer event cancellation charges.

Total orders processed on our Marketplace platform, net of event cancellations, increased from negative 0.2 million orders during the three months ended June 30, 2020 to 1.7 million orders during the three months

 

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ended June 30, 2021. The increase in orders processed is commensurate with the increase in events held after restrictions on fan attendance due to the pandemic were reduced or lifted. These increases are largely consistent across all event categories, with the greatest increase in sports. The increase in the sports category was greatest, due to the timing of professional sports seasons in North America and the loosening of restrictions on fan attendance.

Cancellation charges, which are recognized as a reduction to revenues, were $35.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $15.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Due to the mass cancellations of live events during the initial phases of the pandemic in 2020, cancellation charges were significantly higher during the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Marketplace revenue increased by $97.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase resulted from an increase in orders processed on our Marketplace platform, combined with fewer event cancellation charges in the first six months of 2021. Total orders processed on our Marketplace platform, net of event cancellations, increased 89%, from 1.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 to 2.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021. Meanwhile, cancellation charges, decreased from $57.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 to $17.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Marketplace revenue by business model consisted of the following during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Revenues:

               

Owned Properties

  $ (18,958   $ 84,535     $ 103,493       n/m *%    $ 24,120     $ 102,731     $ 78,611       326

Private Label

    (10,105     20,113       30,218       n/m     4,823       23,910       19,087       396  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total marketplace revenues

  $ (29,063   $ 104,648     $ 133,711       n/m *%    $ 28,943     $ 126,641     $ 97,698       338
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Not meaningful

The increases in revenue from both Owned Properties and Private Label during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 resulted primarily from the increase in order volume resulting from the loosening of restrictions on live events. The sports event category comprises a greater overall proportion of the event mix for our Owned Properties, and as a result, Owned Properties had a greater increase in revenues compared to Private Label during the three months ended June 30, 2021.

Resale

Revenue for our Resale segment increased $10.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from higher ticket sales volume. Total Resale orders increased from zero during the three months ended June 30, 2020 to 35 thousand during the three months ended June 30, 2021. Cancellation charges classified as a reduction of revenue negatively impacted Resale revenue by $1.2 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Revenue for our Resale segment increased $1.2 million, or 10%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. Cancellation charges classified as a reduction of revenue negatively impacted Resale revenue by $3.4 million and $2.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

 

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Cost of Revenues (exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization)

The following table presents cost of revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months
Ended June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Cost of revenues:

               

Marketplace

  $ 969     $ 13,707     $ 12,738       1,315   $ 11,548     $ 16,407     $ 4,859       42

Resale

    356       6,279       5,922       1,663       10,383       7,504       (2,879     (28
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues

  $ 1,325     $ 19,986     $ 18,661       1,408   $ 21,931     $ 23,911     $ 1,980       9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues increased $18.7 million, or 1,408%, for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Total cost of revenues increased $2.0 million, or 9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The year-over-year increases to total cost of revenues resulted from the higher sales volume in both our Marketplace and Resale segments.

Marketplace

Marketplace cost of revenues increased by $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in cost of revenues is consistent with the increase in total marketplace orders processed, which increased from negative 0.2 million orders for the three months ended June 30, 2020 to 1.7 million orders for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

Marketplace cost of revenues increased by $4.9 million, or 42%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in cost of revenues is consistent with the increase in total marketplace orders processed, which increased 89% from 1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 to 2.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues in our Marketplace segment decreased from 40% during the six months ended June 30, 2020 to 13% during the six months ended June 30, 2021, due primarily to the impact of greater cancellation charges recorded as a reduction to revenue in the first six months of 2020.

Resale

Resale cost of revenues increased $5.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase, which resulted from higher overall ticket sales volume of 35 thousand orders during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to zero orders during the three months ended June 30, 2020, is consistent with the overall increase in Resale revenue. Cancellation charges resulted in a reduction to Resale cost of revenues of $0.9 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Resale cost of revenues decreased $2.9 million, or 28%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The decrease resulted from lower ticket inventory costs. Cancellation charges resulted in a reduction to Resale cost of revenues of $2.1 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021.

 

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Marketing and Selling

The following table presents marketing and selling expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months
Ended June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Marketing and selling:

               

Online

  $ 1,161     $ 45,096     $ 43,935       3,784   $ 29,920     $ 52,885     $ 22,965       77

Offline

    473       1,326       853       180       3,661       1,492       (2,169     (59
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total marketing and selling

  $ 1,634     $ 46,422     $ 44,788       2,741   $ 33,581     $ 54,377     $ 20,796       62
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Marketing and selling expenses, which are entirely attributable to our Marketplace segment, increased $44.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Marketing and selling expenses increased $20.8 million, or 62% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020.

The increase in expenses primarily resulted from greater spending on online advertising during the second quarter of 2021. Compared to the prior year, our spend on online advertising increased by $43.9 million and $23.0 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. As restrictions on the attendance of live events were reduced or lifted, we increased our spending on paid search engine marketing to capitalize on the increase in live event attendance.

General and Administrative

The following table presents general and administrative expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months
Ended June 30,
                Six Months Ended
June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

General and administrative

               

Personnel expenses

  $ 10,567     $ 9,602     $ (965     (9 )%    $ 23,170     $ 16,273     $ (6,897     (30 )% 

Sales tax expense

    (410     11,083       11,493       n/m     4,720       13,445       8,725       185  

Other

    8,020       8,421       401       5       12,708       15,259       2,551       20  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total general and administrative

  $ 18,177     $ 29,106     $ 10,929       60   $ 40,598     $ 44,977     $ 4,379       11
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Not meaningful

General and administrative expenses increased $10.9 million, or 60%, for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase primarily resulted from higher order volumes during the three months ended June 30, 2021, which resulted in an increase to sales tax expenses of $11.5 million.

General and administrative expenses increased $4.4 million, or 11%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase primarily resulted from higher order volumes during the six months ended June 30, 2021, which resulted in an increase to sales tax expenses of $8.7 million. Other general and administrative expenses also increased by $2.6 million during the first six months of 2021, primarily due to a $6.4 million increase in consulting and professional service fees related to the planned merger transaction with Horizon, in addition to a $1.9 million increase in legal fees. Those increases were partially offset by a $5.7 million decrease in other corporate spending, including charitable contributions and travel and entertainment.

 

12


The increases in general and administrative expenses during the first six months of 2021 were partially offset by a $6.9 million decrease in personnel expenses. Following the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, we significantly reduced our employee headcount, resulting in lower personnel expenses. These headcount reductions were most pronounced in our operations function. Beginning in the second quarter of 2021, we began to increase headcount in our operations function. As we expect ticket volumes to continue to increase throughout the rest of 2021, we expect the number of employees in our operations function to also increase.

Depreciation and Amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    Three Months
Ended June 30,
                Six Months
Ended June 30,
             
    2020     2021     Change     % Change     2020     2021     Change     % Change  

Depreciation and amortization

  $ 24,080     $ 500     $ (23,580     (98 )%    $ 47,977     $ 795     $ (47,182     (98 )% 

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $23.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $47.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The decreases primarily resulted from the impairment of our definite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets and equipment in the second quarter of 2020.

Impairment Charges

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred impairment charges of $573.8 million. These impairment charges were triggered by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the effects of the pandemic, we experienced a substantial reduction of revenue during the first half of 2020, which continued through the remainder of the year. We did not incur any impairment charges during the first six months of 2021.

For additional information related to our impairment charges incurred during 2020, refer to Note 8 of the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Other Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
                 Six Months Ended
June 30,
              
     2020      2021      Change     % Change     2020      2021      Change     % Change  

Other expenses

                    

Interest expense – net

   $ 13,473      $ 16,839      $ 3,366       25   $ 22,766      $ 33,158      $ 10,392       46

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     685        —          (685     (100     685        —          (685     (100
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expenses

   $ 14,158      $ 16,839      $ 2,681       19   $ 23,451      $ 33,158      $ 9,707       41
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest expense – net

Interest expense increased by $3.4 million, or 25%, for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Interest expense increased by $10.4 million, or 46%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. Interest expense increased as a result of the Company’s May 2020 First Lien Loan (as defined in the Proxy), which did not incur interest expense prior to May 2020.

 

13


Loss on extinguishment of debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt decreased $0.7 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. We incurred a loss of $0.7 million in May 2020 related to the retirement of our revolving credit facility. We did not incur any debt extinguishment charges during the first half of 2021.

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2020

The following table sets forth our results of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Revenues

   $ 468,925     $ 35,077  

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

     106,003       24,690  

Marketing and selling

     178,446       38,121  

General and administrative

     101,335       66,199  

Depreciation and amortization

     93,078       48,247  

Impairment charges

     —         573,838  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

   $ (9,937   $ (716,018
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses

    

Interest expense – net

     41,497       57,482  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     2,414       685  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (53,848   $ (774,185
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the components of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 presented as a percentage of revenues:

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Revenues

     100     100

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

     23       70  

Marketing and selling

     38       109  

General and administrative

     21       189  

Depreciation and amortization

     20       138  

Impairment charges

     —         1,635  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (2     (2,041
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses

    

Interest expense – net

     9       164  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (11 )%      (2,207 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

14


Revenues

The following table presents revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Revenues:

           

Marketplace

   $ 403,645      $ 23,281      $ (380,364      (94 )% 

Resale

     65,280        11,796        (53,484      (82
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 468,925      $ 35,077      $ (433,848      (93 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues decreased $433.8 million, or 93%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease, which occurred in both our Marketplace and Resale segments, resulted from the unprecedented nature of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the mass suspension and cancellation of live events from March 2020 onward.

Marketplace

The following table presents revenues in our Marketplace segment by event category (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Revenues:

           

Concerts

   $ 187,753      $ 15,775      $ (171,978      (92 )% 

Sports

     169,577        3,484        (166,093      (98

Theater

     44,754        3,759        (40,995      (92

Other

     1,561        263        (1,298      (83
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketplace revenues

   $ 403,645      $ 23,281      $ (380,364      (94 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Marketplace revenue decreased by $380.4 million, or 94%, in 2020 compared to 2019.

During 2020, governmental restrictions and social mitigation efforts aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 resulted in a large-scale suspension of live entertainment events from March through the end of the year. Each of the professional sports leagues either suspended or greatly reduced fan attendance for most of the year. Similarly, live music concerts, theater, and other live entertainment were greatly reduced during 2020.

Consequently, the number of ticketed events and orders processed on our platform decreased significantly. Total marketplace orders processed on our platform decreased 85% from 7.2 million in 2019 to 1.1 million in 2020. The decrease in orders processed is commensurate with the decrease in scheduled events resulting from the pandemic. These decreases are largely consistent across all our event categories.

In addition to reduced order volume on our platform, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significantly more cancellation charges in 2020 compared to 2019. Cancellation charges, which are recognized as a reduction to revenues, were $76.7 million in 2020, compared to $15.6 million in 2019. During 2020, event cancellation rates for sports and theater events were approximately double the cancellation rate for concerts, which were more likely to be postponed rather than cancelled.

 

15


Marketplace revenue by business model consisted of the following during 2019 and 2020 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Revenues:

           

Owned Properties

   $ 329,262      $ 24,188      $ (305,074      (93 )% 

Private Label

     74,383        (907      (75,290      (101
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketplace revenues

   $ 403,645      $ 23,281      $ (380,364      (94 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The decreases in revenue from both Owned Properties and Private Label resulted primarily from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mass suspension and cancellation of live events. The percentage revenue decrease for Owned Properties was less than Private Label in 2020 due to the disproportionate impact of cancellation charges.

Resale

Revenue at our Resale segment decreased $53.5 million, or 82%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease resulted primarily from lower ticket sales volume and increases in event cancellations and refunds. Cancellation charges classified as a reduction of revenue amounted to $0.4 million and $6.7 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Both the decline in sales volume and increase in cancellation charges resulted from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cost of Revenues (exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization)

The following table presents cost of revenues by segment (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Cost of revenues:

           

Marketplace

   $ 52,857      $ 13,741      $ (39,116      (74 )% 

Resale

     53,146        10,949        (42,197      (79
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues

   $ 106,003      $ 24,690      $ (81,313      (77 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues decreased $81.3 million, or 77%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease resulted from the decline in sales volume in both our Marketplace and Resale segments.

Marketplace

Marketplace cost of revenues decreased by $39.1 million, or 74%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease in cost of revenues is consistent with the decrease in total marketplace orders processed, which decreased by 85% from 7.2 million orders in 2019 to 1.1 million orders in 2020. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues in our Marketplace segment increased from 13% in 2019 to 59% in 2020. Cost of revenues constituted a greater percentage of our revenues in 2020 due to the impact of increased cancellation charges, which are recognized as a reduction to revenues.

Resale

Resale cost of revenues decreased $42.2 million, or 79%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease, which resulted from lower overall ticket sales volume, is consistent with the overall decrease in Resale revenue. Cost of

 

16


revenues as a percentage of revenues in our Resale segment increased from 81% in 2019 to 93% in 2020. Cost of revenues represented a greater proportionate share of revenues during 2020, due to the impact of the increased effect of cancellation charges in 2020. Cancellation charges resulted in a reduction to Resale cost of revenues of zero and $4.3 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The increase in cancellation charges is due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marketing and Selling

The following table presents marketing and selling expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Marketing and selling:

           

Online costs

   $ 166,315      $ 34,213      $ (132,102      (79 )% 

Offline costs

     12,131        3,908        (8,223      (68
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketing and selling

   $ 178,446      $ 38,121      $ (140,325      (79 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We reduced our marketing and selling expenditures significantly in 2020, due to event cancellations caused by the pandemic. Marketing and selling expenses, which are entirely attributable to our Marketplace segment, decreased $140.3 million, or 79%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The overall decrease in spend during 2020 primarily resulted from a reduction in online marketing and selling expenses.

Online marketing and selling expenses decreased $132.1 million, or 79%, in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to lower spending on paid search engine marketing. Offline marketing and selling expenses decreased $8.2 million, or 68%, due to less spending on partnership marketing expenses and less advertising on television and radio. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded during the year, we were able to renegotiate or reduce our commitments to certain partnership agreements, particularly given restrictions limiting attendance at live entertainment events.

General and Administrative

The following table presents general and administrative expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

General and administrative:

           

Personnel expenses

   $ 60,659      $ 37,696      $ (22,963      (38 )% 

Sales tax expense

     10,819        7,060        (3,759      (35

Other

     29,857        21,443        (8,414      (28
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total general and administrative

   $ 101,335      $ 66,199      $ (35,136      (35 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses decreased $35.1 million, or 35%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The decrease primarily resulted from reduced personnel expenses, which decreased by $23.0 million during 2020 when compared to 2019. Due to the effects of the pandemic, we reduced our employee headcount from 523 employees as of December 31, 2019 to 264 employees as of December 31, 2020. These reductions were primarily in our operations function. As ticket volumes increase, we expect the number of employees in this function to also increase.

The amount of sales tax expenses incurred by us also decreased during 2020, primarily due to the effects of the pandemic. Sales tax expenses did not decrease proportionately with revenue during 2020, because the Company now expects to incur sales tax obligations in more jurisdictions than in 2019.

 

17


Other general and administrative expenses decreased by $8.4 million, primarily due to a $7.6 million reduction in consulting and professional service fees, in addition to a $6.9 million reduction in other corporate spending, including travel and entertainment. Those decreases were partially offset by a $6.1 million increase in charitable spending.

Depreciation and Amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 93,078      $ 48,247      $ (44,831      (48 )% 

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $44.8 million, or 48%, in 2020 as compared to 2019. The decrease primarily resulted from the impairment of our definite-lived intangible assets and property and equipment in the second quarter of 2020.

Impairment Charges

During 2020, we incurred impairment charges of $573.8 million. These impairment charges were triggered by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the effects of the pandemic, we experienced a substantial reduction of revenue during the first half of 2020, which continued through the remainder of the year. We anticipate that the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation policies enacted by governmental entities will continue to have a material impact on our cash flows in the future.

The impairments, which occurred in the second quarter of 2020, resulted in reductions to the value of our goodwill and indefinite-lived trademark of $377.1 million and $78.7 million, respectively. The impairment also resulted in a complete write-off of our definite-lived intangibles, which included internally developed technology, supplier relationships, customer relationships, and non-compete agreements, in addition to our property and equipment and personal seat licenses.

Other Expenses

The following table presents other expenses (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
               
     2019      2020      Change      % Change  

Other expenses

           

Interest expense – net

   $ 41,497      $ 57,482      $ 15,985        39

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     2,414        685        (1,729      (72
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other expenses

   $ 43,911      $ 58,167      $ 14,256        32
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest expense – net

Interest expense – net increased $16.0 million, or 39%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily a result of $15.7 million in additional interest which was capitalized into the principal of our $260 million first lien loan issued in May 2020, partially offset by lower cash interest primarily due to a $40 million payoff of our June 2017 Second Lien Loan (as defined in the Proxy) in 2019.

 

18


Loss on extinguishment of debt

Loss on extinguishment of debt decreased $1.7 million, or 72%, in 2020 compared to 2019. The loss incurred in 2020 resulted from the retirement of our revolving credit facility in May 2020. The $2.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt incurred during 2019 resulted from a $40 million payoff of our June 2017 Second Lien Loan in 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our operations primarily through cash generated from our operating activities. Our primary short-term requirements for liquidity and capital are to fund general working capital, capital expenditures, and debt service requirements. Our primary long-term liquidity needs are related to acquisitions and the repayment of our loans.

Our primary sources of funds are cash generated from operations and proceeds from borrowings, including our term loans and revolving credit facility. In response to the pandemic, we borrowed $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility in March 2020 and subsequently entered into the May 2020 First Lien Loan. We received $251.5 million in net cash proceeds from the May 2020 First Lien Loan, which we used to repay the $50.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility in May 2020 and to fund our operations. As noted in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Loan Agreements” section below, we expect to repay the May 2020 First Lien Loan in connection with, and using the proceeds from, the merger transaction with Horizon and the PIPE Subscription. We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund our liquidity needs for the next 12 months.

As of June 30, 2021, we had $460.9 million of cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of interest-bearing deposit accounts, money market accounts managed by third-party financial institutions, and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less. At this time, we do not anticipate a need to raise additional capital upon consummation of the Transactions based on the amount of capital raised in the business combination and PIPE Subscription, in addition to cash generated from our operating activities. Through June 30, 2021, we have generated positive cash flows from our operating activities.

Loan Agreements

As of June 30, 2021, we are party to two separate credit facilities (collectively, the “Term Loan Facilities”), as further described in the “Description of Certain Indebtedness” section below.

In response to the pandemic, we borrowed $50.0 million under the Revolving Facility (as defined in the “Description of Certain Indebtedness” section below) in March 2020. We then entered into the May 2020 First Lien Loan, which resulted in $251.5 million in net cash proceeds. We used the net cash proceeds from the May 2020 First Lien Loan to immediately repay the $50.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Facility and to fund operations of the Company. The Revolving Facility was terminated in full simultaneously with the repayment in May 2020.

The May 2020 First Lien Loan, which is pari passu with the June 2017 First Lien Loan (as defined in the Proxy), carries a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 9.50%, or a base rate plus an applicable margin of 8.50%. The May 2020 First Lien Loan matures in May 2026, subject to an earlier springing maturity date of June 30, 2024 if the June 2017 First Lien Loan, or a refinancing thereof with scheduled payments of principal prior to June 30, 2024, remains outstanding as of that date. The effective interest rate on the May 2020 First Lien Loan, which fluctuates based on certain paid-in-kind elections, was 11.50% per annum as of December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Interest incurred under the May 2020 First Lien Loan was capitalized into the principal quarterly in August and November 2020, resulting in an outstanding principal of $275.7 million as of December 31, 2020. Additional interest was capitalized into the principal in the first six months of 2021, resulting in an outstanding principal of

 

19


$295.2 million as of June 30, 2021. We made no payments during 2020 or the first six months of 2021 on the May 2020 First Lien Term Loan, which has no principal amortization payments until maturity. We expect to repay this loan in full in connection with, and using the proceeds from, the merger transaction with Horizon and the PIPE Subscription.

We have an outstanding loan balance of $615.5 million under the June 2017 First Lien Loan as of June 30, 2021, which matures on June 30, 2024. Under the June 2017 First Lien Loan, we make quarterly amortization payments of $1.6 million, which amounted to $7.0 million during 2019 and $5.9 million during 2020. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we made a amortization payments of $3.2 million. The effective interest rate on the June 2017 First Lien Loan, which fluctuates based on market interest rates, was 5.3% and 4.5% per annum as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The effective interest rate during the six months ended June 30, 2021 was 4.5%. We made no payments under the June 2017 First Lien Loan during 2019, 2020, or the six months ended June 30, 2021, aside from the required quarterly amortization payments and required pre-payments of excess cash flow.

During 2019, we made a payment of $40 million to fully prepay our June 2017 Second Lien Loan.

As of June 30, 2021, the combined outstanding balance under the Term Loan Facilities, excluding discounts and debt issuance costs, was $910.7 million.

For additional information on our loan obligations, refer to Note 13 of the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Tax Receivable Agreement

At the Closing (as defined in the Proxy), Vivid Seats PubCo (as defined in the Proxy) will enter into the Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined in the Proxy) with Hoya Intermediate, the TRA Holder Representative, Hoya Topco and the other TRA Holders (as such terms are defined in the Proxy) that will provide for the payment by Vivid Seats PubCo to Hoya Topco and the other TRA Holders of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, if any, that Vivid Seats PubCo and certain of its subsidiaries actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize, as a result of the various transactions occurring in connection with the Closing or in the future that are described above, including benefits arising from tax basis adjustments and certain other tax benefits attributable to payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are obligations of Vivid Seats PubCo, and we expect that the payments we will be required to make under the tax receivable agreement will be substantial.

The amount and timing of future tax benefits Vivid Seats PubCo realizes as a result of future exchanges of Intermediate Common Units (as defined in the Proxy) by Hoya Topco and other TRA Holders, and the resulting amounts Vivid Seats PubCo will be required to pay to Hoya Topco and other TRA Holders pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary based on, among other things, (i) the amount and timing of future exchanges of Intermediate Common Units by Hoya Topco and other TRA Holders, and the extent to which such exchanges are taxable, (ii) the price per share of the Vivid Seats Class A common stock (as defined in the Proxy) at the time of the exchanges, (iii) the amount and timing of future income against which to offset the tax benefits, and (iv) the tax rates then in effect. To date, no exchanges of Intermediate Common Units by Hoya Topco or other TRA Holders have occurred. Due to the uncertainty around the timing and extent of future exchanges, we are unable to estimate the future payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

If Vivid Seats PubCo were to elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately after the business combination, assuming the market value of Vivid Seats Class A common stock is equal to $10 per share, Vivid Seats PubCo currently estimates that it would be required to pay approximately $425 million to satisfy its total liability. For more information about the Tax Receivable Agreement, see the section int the Proxy entitled “Proposal No. 1—The Business Combination Proposal—Related Agreements—Tax Receivable Agreement.”

 

20


Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2019     2020     2020     2021  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 76,478     $ (33,892   $ (13,100   $ 182,996  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (40,155     (7,605     (4,983     (4,212

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (55,462     245,545       247,689       (3,206

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (19,139   $ 204,048     $ 229,606     $ 175,578  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, net cash used in operations was $13.1 million, primarily resulting from a net loss of $700.6 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $626.6 million and a net decrease of $60.9 million in net operating assets. Net cash generated by changes in operating assets and liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2020 consisted primarily of a $180 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $84.5 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $41.5 million increase in accounts receivable.

The increase in accrued expenses resulted from an increase in customer credits and accruals for future cancellations related to large-scale cancellations following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and accounts receivable resulted from expected recoveries from ticket sellers on future cancellations. Non-cash charges related primarily to impairment charges of $573.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, operating activities generated $183.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, primarily resulting from a net loss of $17.6 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $21.9 million and a net decrease of $178.7 million in net operating assets. Net cash generated by changes in operating assets and liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 consisted primarily of a $175.0 million increase in accounts payable and a $62.1 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The increase to accounts payable resulted primarily from increased payment liabilities to sellers on our Marketplace platform, while the increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities resulted primarily from a $39.3 million increase in accrued future customer compensation and a $13.2 million increase in accrued sales tax. These increases in working capital liabilities were partially offset by an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $38.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, which increased primarily as a result of an increase in expected recoveries of future customer compensation costs of $30.5 million and an increase in prepaid ticket inventory of $4.1 million. Non-cash charges related primarily to interest expense paid-in-kind during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

During 2019, operating activities generated $76.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, primarily resulting from a net loss of $53.8 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $104.5 million and a net decrease of $25.8 million in net operating assets. Net cash generated by changes in operating assets and liabilities for 2019 consisted primarily of a $23.3 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities resulted from an increase in accrued taxes and other expenses. Non-cash charges relate primarily to depreciation and amortization and equity-based compensation during 2019.

During 2020, operating activities used $33.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, primarily resulting from a net loss of $774.2 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $646.8 million and a net decrease of $93.5 million in net operating assets. Net cash generated by changes in operating assets and liabilities for 2020 consisted primarily of a $195.4 million increase in accrued expenses and a $4.1 million decrease in inventories, partially offset by a $67.6 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $28.7 million decrease in accounts payable.

 

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The increase in accrued expenses resulted from $125.5 million in customer credits related to large-scale cancellations following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and $94.1 million in accruals for future cancellations, partially offset by reduced marketing and other expenses. The increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets resulted from expected recoveries from ticket sellers on future cancellations, while the decrease in accounts payable resulted from an overall decrease in business activities due to the pandemic. Non-cash charges incurred during 2020 relate primarily to our asset impairments of $573.8 million, depreciation and amortization of $48.2 million, and interest paid-in-kind of $15.7 million.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $5.0 million, which was almost exclusively related to capital spending on development activities related to our platform.

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $4.2 million primarily related to capital spending on development activities related to our platform.

Net cash used in investing activities in 2019 was $40.2 million, which included a payment of $31.1 million for the acquisition of Fanxchange Limited in April 2019, net of cash acquired. The remaining $9.1 million was primarily related to capital spending on development activities related to our platform and other product enhancements.

Net cash used in investing activities in 2020 was $7.6 million, which was almost exclusively related to capital spending on development activities related to our online marketplace.

Our capital spending decreased during 2020 due to cost reductions implemented following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. These cost reductions included a reduction in developer employees, which resulted in lower capitalized development costs, and lower spending on property and equipment.

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $247.7 million, which resulted primarily from $260.0 million in proceeds from our May 2020 First Lien Loan. This was partially offset by $3.7 million in principal payments on our June 2017 First Lien Loan, $6.5 million arranger fee on the May 2020 First Lien Loan, and $2.0 million in other debt-related costs. We also borrowed $50.0 million under our Revolving Facility, which was repaid in May 2020.

Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $3.2 million related to payments on our June 2017 First Lien Loan.

Net cash used in financing activities in 2019 was $55.5 million. Significant financing activities consisted of a $40.0 million payment to extinguish our June 2017 Second Lien Loan, and $7.0 million in payments related to our June 2017 First Lien Loan. We also made tax distributions to our members of $8.1 million during 2019.

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2020 was $245.5 million, which resulted primarily from $260.0 million in proceeds from our May 2020 First Lien Loan. This was partially offset by $5.9 million in principal payments on our June 2017 First Lien Loan, $6.5 million arranger fee on the May 2020 First Lien Loan, and $2.1 million in other debt-related costs. During 2020, we also borrowed $50.0 million under our Revolving Facility, which was subsequently repaid during the year.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of June 30, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Regulation S-K, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, we include limited indemnification provisions under certain agreements with parties with whom we have commercial relations of varying scope and terms. Under these contracts, we may indemnify; hold harmless; and agree to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party in connection with breach of the agreements; or intellectual property infringement claims made by a third party; including claims by a third party with respect to our domain names, trademarks, logos and other branding elements to the extent that such marks are applicable to its performance under the subject agreement. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential loss under these indemnification provisions due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular provision. To date, no significant costs have been incurred, either individually or collectively, in connection with our indemnification provisions.

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors, executive officers, and certain other employees that require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, executive officers, or employees.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Preparation of our financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with revenue recognition; equity-based compensation; and impairment of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets, definite-lived intangible assets, and long-lived assets have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from our Marketplace segment primarily consists of service and delivery fees from ticketing operations, reduced by incentives provided to ticket buyers. We also recognize revenue for referral fees earned on the purchase of ticket insurance by ticket buyers from third-party insurers. We recognize revenue from our Marketplace segment when the ticket seller confirms an order with the ticket buyer, at which point the seller is obligated to deliver the tickets to the ticket buyer in accordance with the original marketplace listing. Revenue from Marketplace transactions is recognized on a net basis, because we act as an agent for these transactions.

When a cancellation charge is incurred, previously recognized revenue is reversed. We estimate future cancellation charges for ticketed events sold in our marketplace, with a corresponding reduction to revenue. We estimate future cancellations based on the amount of recorded sales transactions in our marketplace and cancellation charge history for those types of events. Specific judgments and assumptions considered when estimating future cancellations under normal circumstances include historical cancellation charges as a percentage of revenues, the average length of time to realize such charges, and the potential exposure based on recent sales activity. Starting in the first quarter of 2020, we also project future event cancellations when estimating future cancellation charges. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, future cancellation charges resulting specifically from event cancellations were immaterial. Factors considered when projecting the impact of future event cancellations include historical event cancellation rates, known developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation measures enacted by governmental authorities, and the amount of ticket sales potentially exposed based on recent sales activity. Such estimates are inherently uncertain as we are unable to predict the actual cancellations that will occur. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancellation charge estimates

 

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increased materially in 2020 due to the large-scale volume of cancellations that occurred as a result of the pandemic. Actual cancellation charges recorded may be materially different amounts than we have estimated due to developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the number of canceled events.

The amount of estimated payments to customers for future cancellation charges, known as accrued future customer compensation, is classified within accrued expenses and other current liabilities, with a corresponding asset for expected recoveries from ticket sellers recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets on our consolidated balance sheets. When an event is cancelled, ticket buyers may select to receive either a cash refund or credit for future purchases in our marketplace. When a credit is redeemed, revenue is recognized.

Due to the timing of event cancellations and the volume of cancellations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, amounts provided to customers for cancelled events may exceed net sales in certain periods, resulting in negative revenue for the period.

We also offer our customers the opportunity to participate in our loyalty program through our Marketplace segment, which allows customers to earn credits based on Owned Properties transactions. Customers may redeem these credits on future transactions processed in our marketplace. We defer revenue associated with these credits, which is recorded as deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheets. We recognize breakage income from customer credits, including those processed for event cancellations. Breakage income, which is recorded as revenue, is based on historic customer redemption patterns. We have not made any material changes in the methodologies, estimates, or assumptions related to breakage income during the periods presented and do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions in the future.

Revenue from our Resale business primarily consists of sales of tickets to customers through online secondary marketplaces. We recognize Resale revenue on a gross basis because we act as a principal in these transactions. We recognize Resale revenue when an order is confirmed.

Equity-Based Compensation

Certain members of management have been granted equity-based awards, consisting primarily of incentive units, in our parent, Hoya Topco, LLC. The fair value of the incentive units granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which is based on the fair value of our parent’s equity units.

Given the absence of a public trading market for our parent’s common units, and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, management exercised its reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of fair value of our parent’s equity, including (i) independent third-party valuations; (ii) forecasted income and expenses; (iii) the rights, preferences, and privileges of our preferred units relative to common units; (iv) the likelihood and timing of achieving a liquidity event; (v) the lack of marketability of our common units; and (vi) valuations of comparable companies. The equity value of our parent is used to estimate the grant date fair value of equity-based awards using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires certain subjective inputs and assumptions, including the fair value of our parent’s equity, the expected term, risk-free interest rates, and expected equity volatility. The fair value of incentive units is recognized as equity-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We account for forfeitures as they occur. Changes in assumptions made on i) expected term, ii) the risk-free rate of interest, and iii) expected volatility can materially impact the estimate of fair value and ultimately how much share-based compensation expense is recognized. The expected term is estimated based on the timing and probabilities until a major liquidity event. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant and corresponds to the expected term. The expected volatility is

 

24


estimated on the date of grant based on the average historical stock price volatility of comparable publicly-traded companies.

We continue to use judgment in evaluating the expected volatility and expected term utilized in our equity-based compensation expense calculation on a prospective basis. As we continue to accumulate additional data related to our common units, we may refine our estimates of expected volatility and expected term, which could materially impact our future equity-based compensation expense.

Total equity-based compensation expense was $5.2 million and $4.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Total equity-based compensation expense was $1.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021. Total equity-based compensation expense was $2.4 million and $2.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Impairment of Goodwill, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Definite-Lived Intangible Assets, and Other Long-Lived Assets

We assess goodwill and our indefinite-lived intangible asset (our trademark) for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset may be impaired. We assess definite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets (collectively, “long-lived assets”) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable.

We identified the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential triggering event for impairment of our goodwill, indefinite-lived trademark, and long-lived assets. Due to global social distancing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, in addition to compliance with restrictions enacted by various governmental entities, most live events during 2020 were either postponed or cancelled. Consequently, we experienced a significant reduction of revenue during the first half of 2020, which continued through the remainder of the year. As a result, we assessed our goodwill, trademark, and long-lived assets for impairment as of June 30, 2020, which resulted in impairment charges of $573.8 million.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset (Trademark)

We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values. Our goodwill and our indefinite-lived trademark are held by our Marketplace segment, which contains one reporting unit.

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is reviewed for impairment annually, or earlier whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. We assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, with an impairment charge recognized for the difference.

Our goodwill balance is not currently at risk for additional impairment, as the fair value of our Marketplace reporting unit significantly exceeds its carrying value.

In developing fair values for our reporting unit, we use a discounted cash flow valuation approach, supplemented with a market multiple valuation approach. Significant estimates used in the discounted cash flow models include (i) risk-adjusted discount rates, (ii) forecasted revenue and operating expenses, (iii) forecasted capital expenditures and working capital needs, and (iv) long-term growth rates. These estimates are uncertain as actual discount rates, revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditures, working capital needs, and long-term growth rates may be different than those we have forecasted. These estimates considered the recent deterioration in financial performance of our Marketplace reporting unit, as well as the anticipated rate of recovery, and implied risk premiums based on the market prices of our equity and debt as of the assessment date. We ultimately determined that the carrying value of our Marketplace reporting unit exceeded its estimated fair value, resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $377.1 million during the second quarter of 2020.

 

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Similar to goodwill, our indefinite-lived trademark is not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually, or earlier whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In conjunction with the goodwill impairment event triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, we also assessed our indefinite-lived trademark for impairment in the second quarter of 2020, resulting in an impairment charge of $78.7 million.

We estimate the fair value of our indefinite-lived trademark based on forecasted revenues and a reasonable royalty rate using the relief from royalty valuation method. During 2020, we utilized a 2% royalty rate, consistent with the rate used in the initial valuation of the trademark. Each reporting period, we perform an evaluation of the remaining useful life of our indefinite-lived trademark to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite life. We consider the life of our indefinite-lived trademark to be appropriate.

Long-lived assets

We also periodically review the carrying amount of our long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment, personal seat licenses, and right-of-use lease assets, to determine whether current events or business circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. We classify our long-lived assets as a single asset group, which consists primarily of definite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment, personal seat licenses, and right-of-use lease assets. Our definite-lived intangible assets consist of developed technology, customer and supplier relationships, and non-compete agreements.

We assessed our long-lived assets for impairment during the second quarter of 2020, which resulted in an impairment charge of $118.0 million. Significant judgment and estimates were required in assessing impairment of our long-lived assets, including identifying whether events or changes in circumstances require an impairment assessment, and estimating future cash flows and determining appropriate discount rates. Our estimates of fair value are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. The resulting impairment charge resulted in a complete write-off of our definite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment, personal seat licenses, and right-of-use lease assets as of June 30, 2020.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements attached as Exhibits 99.3 and 99.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K for a description of recently adopted accounting pronouncements and issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

Section 107 of the JOBS Act allows emerging growth companies to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Under Section 107, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Any decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable. We have elected to use the extended transition period under the JOBS Act.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential loss from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and market prices. Our primary market risk is interest rate risk associated with our long-term debt. We manage our exposure to this risk through established policies and procedures. Our objective is to mitigate potential income statement, cash flow, and market exposures from changes in interest rates.

 

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Interest Rate Risk

Our market risk is affected by changes in interest rates. We maintain floating-rate debt that bears interest based on market rates plus an applicable spread. Because our interest rate is tied to market rates, we will be susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates if we do not hedge the interest rate exposure arising from our floating-rate borrowings.

In November 2017, we entered into interest rate swaps that were designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes to manage our exposure to interest rate movements and to effectively convert a portion of our floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. The swap agreements matured on September 30, 2020 with a combined notional value of $520.7 million. In November 2018, we entered into an interest rate cap to receive payment for the excess of the floating rate above a strike rate. The cap agreement matures on September 30, 2021 and has a notional value of $516.8 million as of June 30, 2021.

 

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EX-99.6

Exhibit 99.6

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Introduction

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is provided to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the business combination and PIPE Subscription (as defined below) (collectively, the “Transactions”). The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Vivid Seats PubCo”) has elected not to present management’s adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The adjustments presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an understanding of the combined company upon consummation of the Transactions.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 combines the unaudited condensed balance sheet of Horizon Acquisition Corporation (“Horizon”) as of June 30, 2021 with the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Hoya Intermediate, LLC (“Hoya Intermediate”) as of June 30, 2021, giving effect to the Transactions and related adjustments as if they had been consummated on that date. In connection with the Transactions, Horizon merged with and into Vivid Seats PubCo. Upon consummation of the business combination (“Closing”), the separate corporate existence of Horizon ceased and Vivid Seats PubCo became the surviving entity.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 combines the unaudited condensed statement of operations of Horizon for the six months ended June 30, 2021 with the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Hoya Intermediate for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 combines the audited statement of operations of Horizon for the year ended December 31, 2020 with the audited consolidated statement of operations of Hoya Intermediate for the year ended December 31, 2020 and gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the historical audited financial statements of Horizon and Hoya Intermediate as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the historical unaudited financial statements of Horizon and Hoya Intermediate as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The unaudited transaction accounting adjustments reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information represent management’s estimates based on information available as of the date of preparation and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and further analyses are performed. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect what the combined company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma condensed combined financial information may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Horizon” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Vivid Seats,” and other financial information included in Vivid Seats PubCo’s registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) of which the final prospectus and definitive proxy statement, dated September 23, 2021, and filed by Vivid Seats PubCo with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), forms a part.


Description of the Business Combination

On April 21, 2021, Horizon and Vivid Seats PubCo entered into the Transaction Agreement (as defined in the Registration Statement) by and among Horizon, Horizon Sponsor, LLC (“Horizon Sponsor”), Hoya Topco, LLC (“Hoya Topco”), Hoya Intermediate, and Vivid Seats PubCo. The Transactions, which closed on October 18, 2021, were effectuated in the following principal steps:

(a) Horizon merged with and into Vivid Seats PubCo, upon which the separate corporate existence of Horizon ceased and Vivid Seats PubCo became the surviving corporation;

(b) Each Horizon warrant that was outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) became a Vivid Seats PubCo warrant exercisable for Vivid Seats Class A common stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrant agreement;

(c) Certain third-party investors purchased an aggregate of 47,517,173 shares of Vivid Seats Class A common stock pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (the “PIPE Subscription”);

(d) Vivid Seats PubCo purchased from Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIB, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIC, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIC, L.P., NPS/Crescent Strategic Partnership II, LP and Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIIB, L.P. all of the outstanding equity interests of CM6B Vivid Equity, Inc., CM6C Vivid Equity, Inc., CM7B VS Equity, LLC and CM7C VS Equity, LLC, each a Delaware corporation in exchange for cash;

(e) Vivid Seats PubCo contributed cash to Hoya Intermediate, LLC (“Hoya Intermediate”) in exchange for common units of Hoya Intermediate (“Intermediate Common Units”) and warrants to purchase Intermediate Common Units;

(f) Hoya Intermediate redeemed 100% of the Intermediate Common Units held by Crescent Mezzanine Partners VI, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII, L.P., Crescent Mezzanine Partners VII (LTL), L.P., and CBDC Universal Equity, Inc. in exchange for cash in the “Crescent Redemption”;

(g) Hoya Topco, LLC subscribed for newly issued Vivid Seats Class B common stock and warrants to purchase Vivid Seats Class B common stock; and

(h) Hoya Intermediate contributed cash to Hoya Midco, LLC, which Hoya Midco, LLC used to repay its existing debt obligations, resulting in the full repayment of Vivid Seats’ May 2020 First Lien Loan and a partial repayment of Vivid Seats’ June 2017 First Lien Loan.

As a result of the Transactions, Hoya Topco holds 60.6% of the issued and outstanding Intermediate Common Units and Vivid Seats PubCo holds 39.4% of the Intermediate Common Units and has control over Hoya Intermediate through its voting power, which interests are controlled by GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., GTCR Golder Rauner II, L.L.C., GTCR Management XI LLC and GTCR LLC (collectively, the “Private Equity Owner”) for so long as it controls Hoya Topco. Following the consummation of the Transactions, Vivid Seats PubCo’s assets consist of its direct and indirect interests in Hoya Intermediate.

Proceeds from the Transactions, including cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account, were used for:

 

   

Payment of $13.6 million in deferred underwriting commissions associated with Horizon’s initial public offering;

 

   

The Crescent Redemption;

 

   

Reduction of long-term debt of Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries; and

 

   

Payment of all advisory fees, transaction fees and expenses of Horizon and Hoya Topco.


Upon the Closing, the ownership of Vivid Seats PubCo is as follows:

 

     Share Ownership in Vivid Seats PubCo  
   Pro Forma Combined  
     Number of
Shares
     %
Ownership
 

Hoya Topco

     118,200,000        60.6

Horizon Public shareholders

     13,881,260        7.1

Shares held by Horizon Sponsor and other holders of founder shares(1)

     59,557,173        30.5

PIPE Investors(2)

     3,510,000        1.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     195,148,433        100
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes shares acquired by Horizon Sponsor, or its affiliates, as part of the PIPE Subscription. Horizon Sponsor, or its affiliates, acquired 44,017,173 shares under the PIPE Subscription.

 

(2)

Excludes shares acquired by Horizon Sponsor, or its affiliates, as part of the PIPE Subscription

Accounting for the Business Combination

The business combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Vivid Seats PubCo has been treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on the existing controlling equityholder of Hoya Intermediate having a relative majority of the voting power of the combined company and the operations of Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries constituting the only ongoing operations of the combined company.

Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of the combined company will represent a continuation of the financial statements of Hoya Intermediate. The net assets of Vivid Seats PubCo will be stated at historical cost.

Treatment of Warrants

As part of the business combination, Vivid Seats PubCo and its subsidiaries issued the following warrants:

 

   

Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants exchanged for Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants, respectively – Horizon previously issued Horizon IPO Public Warrants as part of its IPO, in addition to issuing Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants to Horizon Sponsor. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, each Horizon IPO Public Warrant and each Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrant became a Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrant and Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrant, respectively, each in form substantially similar to the Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2020, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Horizon (the “Existing Warrant Agreement”).

The Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants that replace the Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants are reflected as equity in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. In advance of the Closing, Horizon amended the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement, pursuant to the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of Horizon IPO Public Warrants and the written consent of the holders of the Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants. Following the amendment to the Existing Warrant Agreement, the Horizon IPO Public Warrants and the Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants, and thus the Vivid Seats Public IPO Warrants and the Vivid Seats Private Placement IPO Warrants, meet the criteria for an equity classification.


   

Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants (collectively, the “Exercise Warrants”) exchanged for Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants, respectively – Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, Horizon Sponsor irrevocably tendered to Horizon all of its Horizon Class B ordinary shares for cancellation in exchange for (i) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, (ii) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares at an exercise of $15.00 per share and (iii) 50,000 shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares.

At the Effective Time, each Exercise Warrant issued to Horizon Sponsor became a Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrant and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrant, as applicable, which are in form substantially similar to the Form of the New Warrant Agreement (as defined in the Registration Statement). The Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants that replaced the Exercise Warrants are exercisable for Vivid Seats Class A common stock. The terms of the Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants allow for an equity classification, and therefore, these warrants are reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital.

 

   

Hoya Intermediate Warrants issued to Vivid Seats PubCo – In tandem with the issuance of the Vivid Seats PubCo Warrants for Vivid Seats Class A common stock, Hoya Intermediate issued an equivalent number of warrants to purchase Intermediate Common Units to Vivid Seats PubCo, each warrant allowing the holder to acquire one Intermediate Common Unit for an exercise price equal to the exercise price of the corresponding Vivid Seats PubCo Warrants. These warrants are exercisable only upon the exercise of a corresponding Vivid Seats PubCo Warrant for Vivid Seats Class A common stock. These intercompany warrants do not impact the presentation of the unaudited pro forma financial information as they eliminate in consolidation.

 

   

Hoya Intermediate Warrants issued to Hoya Topco - Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, Hoya Intermediate issued to Hoya Topco (i) 3,000,000 Hoya Intermediate Warrants, each allowing the holder to acquire one Intermediate Common Unit at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, and (ii) 3,000,000 Hoya Intermediate Warrants, each allowing the holder to acquire one Intermediate Common Unit at an exercise price of $15.00 per share. The terms of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants issued to Hoya Topco require a liability classification, due to the redemption feature of the Intermediate Common Units. This redemption feature allows the members of Hoya Intermediate other than Vivid Seats PubCo and its subsidiaries (i.e., immediately after Closing, Hoya Topco) to cause Hoya Intermediate to redeem Intermediate Common Units for, at the option of Vivid Seats PubCo, either Vivid Seats Class A common stock or cash in an amount equal to the value of Vivid Seats Class A common stock (but only out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent public offering or private sale of Vivid Seats Class A common stock). Hoya Topco holds the majority of voting interests in Vivid Seats PubCo as of Closing.

 

   

Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrants issued to Hoya Topco - In tandem with issuance of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants to Hoya Topco, Vivid Seats PubCo issued 6,000,000 Vivid Seats PubCo Class B Warrants to Hoya Topco, each allowing the holder to acquire one share of Vivid Seats Class B common stock for an exercise price of $0.001 per share. These warrants are exercisable only upon the exercise of a corresponding Hoya Intermediate Warrant by Hoya Topco. These warrants, which do not have any economic value due to the lack of earnings and distribution participation rights of the Vivid Seats Class B common stock, do not impact the presentation of the unaudited pro forma financial information.

Tax Receivable Agreement

Upon Closing, Vivid Seats PubCo entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Hoya Intermediate, the TRA Holder Representative, Hoya Topco and the other TRA Holders (each as defined therein). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, Vivid Seats PubCo is generally required to pay Hoya Topco and the other TRA Holders 85% of the amount of savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign taxes that are based on, or measured with respect to, net income or profits, and any interest related thereto that Vivid Seats PubCo (and applicable consolidated, unitary, or combined subsidiaries thereof, if any and collectively the “Tax Group”) realizes, or is deemed to realize, as a result of certain tax attributes (the “Tax Attributes”), including:

 

   

existing tax basis in certain assets of Hoya Intermediate and certain of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, including assets that will eventually be subject to depreciation or amortization, once placed in service;


   

tax basis adjustments resulting from taxable exchanges of Intermediate Common Units (including any such adjustments resulting from certain payments made by Vivid Seats PubCo under the Tax Receivable Agreement) acquired by Vivid Seats PubCo from a TRA Holder pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Hoya Intermediate (“Second A&R LLCA”);

 

   

certain tax attributes of blocker corporations holding Intermediate Common Units that are acquired directly or indirectly by Vivid Seats PubCo pursuant to a reorganization transaction;

 

   

certain tax benefits realized by Vivid Seats PubCo as a result of certain U.S. federal income tax allocations of taxable income or gain away from Vivid Seats PubCo and to other members of Hoya Intermediate and deductions or losses to Vivid Seats PubCo and away from other members of Hoya Intermediate, in each case as a result of the business combination; and

 

   

tax deductions in respect of portions of certain payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Basis of Pro Forma Presentation

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been adjusted to give effect to accounting adjustments related to the Transactions linking the effects of the Transactions to the historical financial information. The adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined consolidated financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an accurate understanding of the combined company upon consummation of the Transactions.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is for illustrative purposes only. The financial results may have been different had the companies always been combined. You should not rely on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information as being indicative of the historical results that would have been achieved had the companies always been combined or the future results that the combined company will experience. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings, or cost savings that may be associated with the Transactions. Horizon and Hoya Intermediate have not had any historical relationship prior to the Transactions. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.


Vivid Seats Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2021

(in thousands, except unit/share and per unit/share amounts)

 

                Actual Redemptions  
    Hoya
Intermediate,
LLC
(Historical)
    Horizon
Acquisition
Corp.
(Historical)
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
          PIPE
Subscription
Adjustments
          Pro Forma
Balance Sheet
 

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 460,915     $ 18,060     $ (231,931)       (c)     $ 475,172       (e)     $ 458,461  
        293,847       (f)        
        (13,614)       (g)        
        (40,770)       (h)        
        (485,718)       (i)        
        (17,500)       (l)        

Accounts receivable—net

    52,193                 52,193  

Inventory—net

    21,712                 21,712  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    118,220       289       (3,473)       (h)           115,036  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    653,040       18,349       (499,159)         475,172         647,402  

Property and equipment—net

    245                 245  

Intangible assets—net

    70,121                 70,121  

Goodwill

    683,327                 683,327  

Investments held in Trust Account

      544,019       (250,172)       (a)           —    
        (293,847)       (f)        

Deferred tax assets

        —         (j)           —    

Other non-current assets

    388                 388  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,407,121       562,368       (1,043,178)         475,172         1,401,483  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

    237,747       36       (6,371)       (h)           231,412  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    314,858       2,223       (360)       (i)           316,721  

Deferred revenue

    16,617                 16,617  

Current maturities of long-term debt—net

    6,412         (1,638)       (i)           4,774  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    575,634       2,259       (8,369)         —           569,524  

Long-term debt—net

    889,375         (442,054)       (i)           447,321  

Other liabilities

    485                 485  

Deferred underwriting commissions

      13,614       (13,614)       (g)           —    

Derivative warrant liabilities

      43,882       35,670       (d)           35,670  
        (43,882)       (a)        

Tax receivable agreement liability

        —         (k)           —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

    889,860       57,496       (463,880)         —           483,476  

Commitments and contingencies

             

Redeemable Preferred Units

             

Redeemable Senior Preferred Units—$0 par value; 100 units authorized, issued, and outstanding at June 30, 2021 (aggregate involuntary liquidation preference of $227,383 at June 30, 2021)

    231,931         (231,931)       (c)           —    

Redeemable Preferred Units—$0 par value; 100 units authorized, issued, and outstanding at June 30, 2021

    9,939         (9,939)       (b)           —    

Class A ordinary shares; 49,761,224 shares subject to possible redemption at $10.00 per share

      497,612       (497,612)       (a)           —    

Non-controlling interest

        211,181       (m)           211,181  

Members’ equity (deficit):

             

Common Units—$0 par value; unlimited authorized, 100 units issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021

                —    

Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

                —    

Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 4,637,209 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 49,761,224 shares subject to possible redemption)

      1       (1)       (a)           —    

Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 13,599,608 shares issued and outstanding

      1       (1)       (a)           —    

Class A common stock

        2       (a)       5       (e)       7  

Class B common stock

        12       (b)           12  

Preferred stock—None outstanding

                —    

Additional paid-in capital

    744,347       15,475       280,846       (a)       475,167       (e)       1,228,480  
        9,927       (b)        
        (35,670)       (d)        
        (32,931)       (h)        
        (17,500)       (l)        
        (211,181)       (m)        

Accumulated deficit

    (1,044,281)       (10,476)       10,476       (a)           (1,090,888)  
        (4,941)       (h)        
        (41,666)       (i)        

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (309)                 (309)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total members’/stockholders’ equity (deficit)

    (300,243)       5,001       (42,628)         475,172         137,302  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable preferred units, non-controlling interests and members’/stockholders’ equity (deficit)

  $ 1,407,121     $ 562,368     $ (1,043,178)       $ 475,172       $ 1,401,483  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 


Vivid Seats Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

For Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

(in thousands, except unit/share and per unit/share data)

 

                 Actual Redemptions        
     Hoya
Intermediate,
LLC
(Historical)
    Horizon
Acquisition
Corp.
(Historical)
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
          Pro Forma
Statement of
Operations
       

Revenues

   $ 139,612     $         $       $ 139,612    

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

     23,911                   23,911    

Marketing and selling

     54,377                   54,377    

General and administrative

     44,977       2,242         (9,209     (bb     38,010    

Depreciation and amortization

     795                   795    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Income (loss) from operations

     15,552       (2,242       9,209         22,519    

Other income

       25,000       (gg             25,000    

Interest expense—net

     (33,158     1         22,953       (dd     (10,204  

Net gain from investments held in Trust Account

           16         (16     (aa        

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

       (8,135       8,915       (cc     780    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) income before income taxes

     (17,606     14,640         41,061         38,095    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Income taxes

           (7,500     (gg           (ee     (7,500  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) income

     (17,606     7,140         41,061         30,595    

Less: Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

           18,541       (ff     18,541    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) income attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

   $ (17,606   $ 7,140       $ 22,520       $ 12,054    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net loss per unit attributable to Common Unit holders, basic and diluted

   $ (312,489            

Weighted average Common Units outstanding, basic and diluted

     100              

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares

       54,398,433             76,948,433       (hh

Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares

     $ 0.32           $ 0.16       (hh

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares

       13,599,608            

Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class B ordinary shares

     $ (0.76          


Vivid Seats Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

(in thousands, except unit/share and per unit/share amounts)

 

    

 

    Actual Redemptions  
     Hoya
Intermediate,
LLC

(Historical)
    Horizon
Acquisition
Corp.
(Historical)
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Statement of
Operations
 

Revenues

   $          35,077     $          $          —         $          35,077  

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

        24,690            

 

—  

 

         24,690  

Marketing and selling

        38,121               —              38,121  

General and administrative

        66,199          538          14,150       (bb        80,887  

Depreciation and amortization

        48,247               —              48,247  

Impairment charges

        573,838               —              573,838  
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Loss from operations

        (716,018        (538        (14,150          (730,706
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

                      

Interest expense—net

        (57,482             36,857       (dd        (20,625

Loss on extinguishment of debt

        (685             (57,630     (dd        (58,315

Net gain from investments held in Trust Account

        —            18          (18     (aa        —    

Financing cost – derivative warrant liabilities

             (579               (579

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

             (16,517        15,497       (cc        (1,020
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

        (774,185        (17,616        (19,444          (811,245
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Income taxes

                    (ee        —    
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net loss

        (774,185        (17,616        (19,444          (811,245

Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

                  (491,614     (ff        (491,614
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

   $          (774,185   $          (17,616   $          472,170       $          (319,631
     

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

        

 

 

 

Net loss per unit attributable to Common Unit holders, basic and diluted

        (7,953,192                 

Weighted average Common Units outstanding, basic and diluted

   $          100                   

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares

             54,364,337                 76,948,433 (hh) 

Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares

        $          —              $          (4.15 )(hh) 

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares

             13,269,125              

Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class B ordinary shares

        $          (1.33            


NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1. Basis of Presentation

The pro forma adjustments have been prepared as if the business combination had been consummated on June 30, 2021, in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet, and on January 1, 2020, the beginning of the earliest period presented, in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared assuming the following methods of accounting in accordance with GAAP.

The business combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP, with Hoya Intermediate identified as the accounting acquirer, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). The identification of Hoya Intermediate as the accounting acquirer is based primarily on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:

 

   

Following the Transactions, the business affairs of Hoya Intermediate are controlled by a board of managers. The Hoya Intermediate board of managers consist of two individuals, one of which is designated by Vivid Seats PubCo and one of which is designated by Hoya Topco. For each matter presented to the board of managers of Hoya Intermediate, the Vivid Seats PubCo designee will be entitled to two (2) votes and the Hoya Topco designee will be entitled to one (1) vote. Accordingly, Hoya Topco’s ability to influence the operations of Hoya Intermediate following the Closing will be by virtue of its ownership of Vivid Seats PubCo common stock;

 

   

The pre-combination controlling equityholder of Hoya Intermediate holds the majority of voting rights in Vivid Seats PubCo;

 

   

The pre-combination controlling equityholder of Hoya Intermediate holds the right to appoint the majority of the directors on the board of directors of Vivid Seats PubCo;

 

   

Operations of Hoya Intermediate comprise the ongoing operations of Vivid Seats PubCo going forward; and

 

   

Hoya Intermediate is significantly larger than Horizon in terms of revenue, total assets (excluding cash) and employees.

Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the financial statements of the combined company represent a continuation of the financial statements of Hoya Intermediate with the acquisition being treated as the equivalent of Hoya Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of Horizon.

2. Redemptions and Sponsor Backstop Commitment

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects redemptions of Horizon Class A ordinary shares into cash. Upon closing, shareholders of 25,017,173 redeemable Horizon Class A ordinary shares elected to exercise their redemption rightsat a redemption price of $10.00 per share based on Trust Account figures as of June 30, 2021. These redemptions reduced cash available from the Trust Account by $250.2 million in the unaudited pro forma financial information, based on Trust Account figures as of June 30, 2021.

The Sponsor Agreement provides that, in the event the cash and cash equivalents of Vivid Seats PubCo after giving effect to the PIPE Subscription and the Horizon Class A ordinary share redemptions, (the “Vivid Seats PubCo Available Cash”) is less than $769.0 million, Eldridge Industries, LLC shall increase its PIPE Subscription by such shortfall (the “Sponsor Backstop Commitment”). In the event the amount in the Trust Account after giving effect to the PIPE Subscription and the Horizon Class A ordinary share redemptions is expected to be less than $380.0 million, Horizon Sponsor and its affiliates are entitled to arrange for the purchase of additional shares of Horizon ordinary shares from third party investors at a price of $10.00 per share with prior written consent of Hoya Topco.

Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma financial information reflects an overall increase in the PIPE Subscriptions of 25,017,173 shares of Vivid Seats Class A common stock, resulting in an increase to cash and cash equivalents of $250.2 million.

In consideration for the Sponsor Backstop Commitment, Hoya Intermediate paid Eldridge Industries, LLC approximately $11.7 million in cash at Closing (“Backstop Fee”).


The unaudited pro forma financial information assumes that there are no adjustments for the exercise of outstanding Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants, because such securities are not exercisable until 30 days after the Closing.

3. Adjustments and Assumptions to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2021

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 reflects the following adjustments:

(a) Reflects the exchange of Horizon Class A ordinary shares and Horizon Class B ordinary shares for Vivid Seats Class A common stock. Holders of 25,017,173 redeemable Horizon Class A ordinary shares elected to exercise their redemption rights (refer to Note 2, Redemptions and Sponsor Backstop Commitment), Vivid Seats PubCo issued 29,431,260 shares of Vivid Seats Class A common stock, resulting in Vivid Seats Class A common stock of $2 thousand and a net increase to additional paid-in capital of $280.8 million. Horizon’s historical equity, including accumulated deficit, Horizon Class A ordinary shares and Horizon Class B ordinary shares, are cancelled.

All outstanding Horizon Warrants to purchase shares of Horizon Class A ordinary shares are exchanged for Vivid Seats PubCo Warrants to purchase shares of Vivid Seats Class A common stock.

The Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants previously issued and classified as liabilities by Horizon were exchanged for Vivid Seats PubCo Public IPO Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo Private Placement Warrants, respectively, each in form substantially similar to the Existing Warrant Agreement. The Vivid Seats PubCo Public IPO Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo Private Placement Warrants are classified as equity, due to the warrantholder vote in favor the amended warrant terms of the Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants in advance of the Transactions. The reclassification of these warrants results in a reduction to derivative warrant liabilities of $43.9 million with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.

The exchange of the Exercise Warrants held by Horizon Sponsor for Vivid Seats PubCo $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo $15.00 Exercise Warrants (each as defined in the Registration Statement) is reflected as an increase to additional paid-in capital.

(b) Reflects the exchange of Hoya Intermediate shares outstanding for 118,200,000 shares of Vivid Seats Class B common stock, resulting in an increase to Vivid Seats Class B common stock of $12.0 thousand. Hoya Intermediate’s Preferred Units are exchanged as a result of a restructuring immediately prior to the business combination, resulting in a net increase to additional paid-in capital of $9.9 million.

(c) Reflects redemption of Hoya Intermediate Senior Preferred Units assuming a redemption date of June 30, 2021, which results in a reduction to cash and cash equivalents of $231.9 million. Upon the Closing on October 18, 2021, the actual reduction to cash and cash equivalents was approximately $236.0 million.

(d) Reflects the issuance of Hoya Intermediate Warrants issued to Hoya Topco, which results in a $35.7 million increase to Derivative warrant liabilities, with a corresponding decrease to additional paid-in capital. The Hoya Intermediate Warrants issued to Hoya Topco consist of (i) 3,000,000 Hoya Intermediate Warrants, each allowing the holder to acquire one Intermediate Common Unit at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, and (ii) 3,000,000 Hoya Intermediate Warrants, each allowing the holder to acquire one Intermediate Common Unit at an exercise price of $15.00 per share. As of June 30, 2021, Hoya Intermediate Warrants with an exercise price of $10.00 have an estimated value of $6.35 per warrant, while Hoya Intermediate Warrants with an exercise price of $15.00 have an estimated value of $5.54 per warrant.

The terms of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants require a liability classification, due to the redemption feature of Intermediate Common Units.

(e) Represents the cash proceeds and issuance of equity in Vivid Seats PubCo related to the PIPE Subscription, resulting in an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $475.2 million, with corresponding increases to Vivid Seats Class A common stock of $5 thousand and additional paid-in capital of $475.2 million. The increase in cash and cash equivalents includes an increase in the PIPE Subscription of $250.2 million under the Sponsor Backstop Commitment.


(f) Reflects the reclassification of cash and investments held in the Trust Account that became available for transaction consideration, transaction expenses, redemption of public shares, debt repayments, and the operating activities of Vivid Seats PubCo in conjunction with the business combination.

(g) Reflects the payment of deferred underwriting commissions associated with the initial public offering of Horizon. The deferred underwriting commissions became payable from amounts held in the Trust Account upon Closing.

(h) Represents preliminary estimated transaction costs of $47.1 million for advisory, banking, legal, and accounting fees, of which $6.4 million have been incurred and accrued as accounts payable as of June 30, 2021 and $6.3 million have been incurred and paid as of June 30, 2021, in addition to the Backstop Fee. Of the total, $18.8 million relates to advisory, legal and other fees, $14.4 million relates to capital market advisory fees, $11.7 million relates to the Backstop Fee and $2.2 million relates to PIPE Subscription placement fees. Costs directly attributable to the business combination and PIPE Subscription amount to $32.9 million and are recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital, with the remainder recorded to accumulated deficit. As of June 30, 2021, Hoya Intermediate capitalized $3.5 million of costs directly attributable to the Transactions.

(i) Represents the reduction in outstanding debt held by Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries. The unaudited condensed combined pro forma information reflects a payment of $485.7 million, comprised of, (i) the full repayment of the May 2020 First Lien Loan of $295.2 million, (ii) a payment of $157.2 million to reduce the outstanding principal balance on its June 2017 First Lien Loan to $458.3 million (excluding $6.2 million of deferred issuance costs and original issue discount associated with the June 2017 First Lien Loan), (iii) payment of $0.4 million in accrued interest, and (iv) the payment of a prepayment penalty of $33.0 million associated with the May 2020 First Lien Loan. In addition, the adjustment reflects a charge of $8.7 million in debt extinguishment costs related to deferred financing costs and original issue discounts associated with the Term Loan Facilities. Debt extinguishment costs, combined with the prepayment penalty, result in an increase to accumulated deficit of $41.7 million. The $33.0 million prepayment penalty included in the pro forma adjustment reflects a repayment date of June 30, 2021 on the May 2020 First Lien Loan. The prepayment penalty amount reduces over time. The actual prepayment penalty incurred upon Closing on October 18, 2021 was $28.0 million.

(j) It is more likely than not that the Vivid Seats PubCo deferred tax assets will not be realized in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). As such, Vivid Seats PubCo has reduced the full carrying amount of the deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance under both scenarios.

(k) Upon the completion of the business combination, Vivid Seats PubCo became a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement. Under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement, Vivid Seats PubCo will make payments to the TRA Holders in respect of 85% of the net tax benefit to Vivid Seats PubCo of certain tax attributes (calculated using certain assumptions, and subject to the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement). However, until a TRA Holder exchanges at least 5% of its Intermediate Common Units, Vivid Seats PubCo will hold such payments until the TRA Holder satisfies such threshold exchange. Upon the completion of the business combination, no TRA Holder has exchanged at least 5% of its Intermediate Common Units. The tax impacts of the transaction were estimated based on the applicable law in effect on June 30, 2021.

Due to the uncertainty as to the amount and timing of future exchanges of Hoya Intermediate units by the TRA Holders and as to the price of Vivid Seats Class A common stock at the time of any such exchanges, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume that any existing equityholder of Hoya Intermediate have exchanged Intermediate Common Units that would create an obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Therefore, no increases in tax basis in Hoya Intermediate’s assets or other tax benefits that may be realized under the Tax Receivable Agreement have been reflected in the unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial information. Future exchanges will result in incremental tax attributes and potential cash tax savings for Vivid Seats PubCo. Depending on Vivid Seats PubCo’s assessment on realizability of such tax attributes, the arising Tax Receivable Agreement liability will be recorded at the exchange date against equity, or at a later point through income.

A full valuation allowance was established based on Vivid Seats PubCo’s assessment of the significant uncertainty that exists with respect to the future realization of the deferred tax asset in accordance with ASC 740. Should Vivid Seats PubCo change its assessment of realizability of its tax attributes in future periods, resulting in expected cash tax savings, it will release its valuation allowance and Tax Receivable Agreement liability through income. Other remeasurements of the Tax Receivable Agreement liability (e.g. due to change in tax rates) will be recorded through income as well.


If Vivid Seats PubCo exercises its right to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement or in the case of a change in control of Vivid Seats PubCo or a material breach of Vivid Seats PubCo’s obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, all obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be accelerated and Vivid Seats PubCo will be required to make a payment to the TRA Holders in an amount equal to the present value of future payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. This payment would be based on certain assumptions, including that Vivid Seats PubCo would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the benefits arising from the Tax Attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. If Vivid Seats PubCo were to elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately after the business combination, assuming the market value of Vivid Seats Class A common stock is equal to $10 per share, Vivid Seats PubCo currently estimates that it would be required to pay approximately $425 million to satisfy its total liability.

(l) On June 11, 2021, Horizon received a payment of $25.5 million from a third party in connection with a business combination transaction that was not consummated. The payment was subject to a U.S. federal income tax withholding of $7.5 million, resulting in net proceeds of $17.5 million to Horizon. In connection with the payment received, Vivid Seats intends to pay a special dividend of approximately $0.23 per share to holders of Vivid Seats Class A common stock as soon as reasonably practical following the Closing.

The special dividend results in a reduction to cash and cash equivalents and additional paid-in capital of the combined company in the amount of $17.5 million.

(m) Following the Closing, Vivid Seats PubCo owns a direct controlling interest in Hoya Intermediate, while the existing controlling equityholder of Hoya Intermediate owns an economic interest in Hoya Intermediate shown as a noncontrolling interest in the financial statements of Vivid Seats PubCo. The indirect economic interests are held by the existing controlling equityholder of Hoya Intermediate in the form of Intermediate Common Units that can be redeemed for Vivid Seats Class A common stock or, at the option of Vivid Seats PubCo (but only out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent public offering or private sale of Vivid Seats Class A common stock), cash in an amount equal to the value of Vivid Seats Class A common stock. If Vivid Seats PubCo elects that the redeemed Intermediate Common Units will be settled in cash, the cash used to settle the redemption of the Intermediate Common Units must be funded through a private or public offering of Vivid Seats Class A common stock no later than five business days after the date the redemption occurs. The noncontrolling interest will decrease as Vivid Seats Class B common stock and Intermediate Common Units are exchanged for Vivid Seats Class A common stock.

The calculation of noncontrolling interest is based on the net assets of Hoya Intermediate and the ownership percentage held by Hoya Topco in Hoya Intermediate following the completion of the Transactions. Accordingly, noncontrolling interest increased to $211.2 million with a corresponding decrease to additional paid-in capital.

4. Adjustments and Assumptions to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and Year Ended December 31, 2020

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 reflect the following adjustments:

(aa) Reflects the elimination of the net gain from investments held in the Trust Account.

(bb) Represents estimated one-time costs associated with the Transactions, of which $9.2 million were incurred as of June 30, 2021, as if they were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2020. These estimated one-time transaction costs, which include advisory, legal and other fees are not capitalizable. Refer to adjustment (i) for additional details regarding transaction costs.

(cc) Represents the elimination of change in fair value associated with the Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants, in addition to the change in fair value of the Hoya Intermediate Warrants.

Refer to adjustment (a) for additional details regarding the accounting treatment for the Horizon IPO Public Warrants and Horizon IPO Private Placement Warrants, which were exchanged for Vivid Seats PubCo Public IPO Warrants and Vivid Seats PubCo Private Placement Warrants.

Refer to adjustment (d) for additional details regarding the accounting treatment of Hoya Intermediate Warrants to be issued to Hoya Topco.


(dd) Reflects a decrease to interest expense assuming the paydown of a portion of Hoya Intermediate and its subsidiaries’ debt from the proceeds of the Transactions as if they occurred on January 1, 2020 based on the interest rate in effect for the June 2017 First Lien Loan, which will remain outstanding following the Transactions. Refer to adjustment (i) for additional details regarding debt.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the combined company expects to completely repay its May 2020 First Lien Loan and reduce the outstanding balance on the June 2017 First Lien Loan to $458.3 million, resulting in a $36.9 million reduction to interest expense. The combined company incurs $11.9 million in debt extinguishment costs related to the original issue discount and deferred financing costs associated with the Term Loan Facilities. The prepayment of the May 2020 First Lien Loan results in a prepayment penalty of $45.7 million. The prepayment penalty, which reduces over time, is calculated as of the debt issuance date, May 22, 2020. The actual prepayment penalty incurred upon Closing on October 18, 2021 was $28.0 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the combined company expects a $22.9 million reduction to interest expense as a result of reductions to the combined company’s outstanding debt.

(ee) As it is more likely than not that the Vivid Seats PubCo deferred tax assets will not be realized in accordance with ASC 740, no income tax benefit is recognized.

(ff) The net loss attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo was reduced by the noncontrolling interest ownership held in Hoya Intermediate of 60.6%.

 

Six months ended June 30, 2021

     

Pro forma net income

   $ 30,595     
  

 

 

    

Noncontrolling interest percentage

     60.6        %  

Noncontrolling interest pro forma adjustment

     18,541     
  

 

 

    

Net income attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

   $ 12,054     
  

 

 

    

Year ended December 31, 2020

     

Pro forma net loss

   $
(811,245

  

Noncontrolling interest percentage

     60.6        %  

Noncontrolling interest pro forma adjustment

     (491,614   
  

 

 

    

Net loss attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

   $
(319,631

  
  

 

 

    

(gg) On June 11, 2021, Horizon received a payment of $25.0 million from a third party in connection with a business combination transaction that was not consummated. The payment was subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding of $7.5 million. The income and tax expense associated with these payments, which are not directly attributable to the Transactions, are not expected to recur in the future.

(hh) Represents the net (loss) income per share calculated using the weighted average shares outstanding and the issuance of additional shares of Vivid Seats Class A common stock in connection with the Transactions, assuming that the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2020. As the Transactions are reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for net loss per share assumes that the shares issuable related to the Transactions have been outstanding for the entire period presented. The combined financial information has been prepared assuming both a no redemption and maximum redemption scenario.


As Vivid Seats PubCo was in a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020, giving effect to outstanding warrants was not considered in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, since the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive. Based on their exercise prices, the outstanding warrants redeemable for Vivid Seats Class A common stock in Vivid Seats PubCo are not dilutive for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

 

Shares held by Horizon Public shareholders

     13,881,260  

Shares held by Horizon Sponsor and other holders of founder shares

     15,550,000  

PIPE Investors

     47,517,173  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding (1)

     76,948,433  
  

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2021

  

Pro forma net income attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

     12,054  

Weighted average Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted

     76,948,433  
  

 

 

 

Net income per share of Common Stock, basic and diluted

   $ 0.16  
  

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2020

  

Pro forma net loss attributable to Vivid Seats PubCo

     (319,631

Weighted average Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted

     76,948,433  
  

 

 

 

Net loss per share of Common Stock, basic and diluted

   $ (4.15 )  
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Excludes Vivid Seats Class B common stock as these shares do not participate in earnings