0001104659-17-028937.txt : 20170502 0001104659-17-028937.hdr.sgml : 20170502 20170502170608 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-17-028937 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20170502 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20170502 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20170502 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001507079 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-LUMBER & OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS DEALERS [5211] IRS NUMBER: 273730271 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-38070 FILM NUMBER: 17805997 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2233 LAKE PARK DRIVE CITY: SMYRNA STATE: GA ZIP: 30080 BUSINESS PHONE: 404-471-1634 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2233 LAKE PARK DRIVE CITY: SMYRNA STATE: GA ZIP: 30080 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FDO Holdings, Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20101206 8-K 1 a17-3570_128k.htm 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): May 2, 2017

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

001-38070
(Commission
File Number)

 

27-3730271
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2233 Lake Park Drive
Smyrna, GA

 

30080

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(404) 471-1634

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in 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  o

 

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. o

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

In connection with the consummation of the initial public offering of Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), on May 2, 2017, the Company entered into (i) the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2017, among the Company, Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. (“Ares”), FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. (“FS Equity” and, together with FS Affiliates VI, L.P. (“FS Affiliates”), “FS”. Ares and FS each being a “Sponsor” and collectively the “Sponsors”) and the other stockholders party thereto and (ii) the Investor Rights Agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2017, by and among the Company, Ares, FS Equity and FS Affiliates.  The terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement are substantially identical to the forms of such agreements filed as Exhibits 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-216000), as amended under the Securities Act of 1933 originally filed on February 10, 2017, and as described therein.

 

Copies of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement are filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

The Company issued a press release in connection with the closing of the initial public offering on May 2, 2017. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

 

The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On May 2, 2017, the Company consummated its initial public offering at a price of $21.00 per share. The Company sold 10,147,025 shares of its common stock in the initial public offering including the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase 1,323,525 shares.

 

On April 27, 2017, the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, began trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FND.”

 

In connection with the Company’s initial public offering, the board of directors of the Company adopted the Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Stock Incentive Plan”), and the Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan contingent upon the consummation of the initial public offering.  A copy of the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

2



 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 2, 2017, by and among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. and the other stockholders party thereto. 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 2, 2017, by and among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. and FS Affiliates VI, L.P. 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated May 2, 2017.

 

3



 

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.

 

 

FLOOR & DECOR HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 2, 2017

By:

/s/ DAVID V. CHRISTOPHERSON

 

Name:

David V. Christopherson

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

 

4



 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 2, 2017, by and among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. and the other stockholders party thereto. 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 2, 2017, by and among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., FS Equity Partners VI, L.P. and FS Affiliates VI, L.P. 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated May 2, 2017.

 

5


EX-4.1 2 a17-3570_12ex4d1.htm EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

FORM OF

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

FLOOR & DECOR HOLDINGS, INC.

 

ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P.,

 

FS EQUITY PARTNERS VI, L.P.

 

AND

 

THE OTHER STOCKHOLDERS PARTY THERETO

 


 

Dated as of May 2, 2017

 


 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I.

 

 

DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01.

Definitions

1

SECTION 1.02.

Rules of Construction

4

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II.

 

 

 

 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III.

 

 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01.

Company Registration

5

SECTION 3.02.

Demand Registration Rights

6

SECTION 3.03.

Registration Procedures

9

SECTION 3.04.

Registration Expenses

12

SECTION 3.05.

Indemnification

12

SECTION 3.06.

Lock-Up Agreements

14

SECTION 3.07.

Participation in Registrations

14

SECTION 3.08.

Rule 144

15

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

 

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01.

Notices

15

SECTION 4.02.

Binding Effect; Benefits

16

SECTION 4.03.

Amendment

17

SECTION 4.04.

Assignability

17

SECTION 4.05.

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction

17

SECTION 4.06.

Waiver of Jury Trial

17

SECTION 4.07.

Enforcement

17

SECTION 4.08.

Severability

18

SECTION 4.09.

Additional Securities Subject to Agreement

18

SECTION 4.10.

Section and Other Headings

18

SECTION 4.11.

Counterparts

18

SECTION 4.12.

Further Assurances

18

SECTION 4.13.

Specific Performance

18

SECTION 4.14.

Complete Agreement

18

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

 

i



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2017, by and among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares”), FS Equity Partners VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“FS”), and the stockholders listed on Schedule A hereto (such parties and each Person that executes a Joinder Agreement, individually, a “Party” and, collectively, the “Parties”) for so long as they own Shares (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, Ares, FS and the other Parties listed on Schedule A hereto are parties to the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2010, as amended (the “Shareholders Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.03 of the Shareholders Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement may be amended and restated by a written instrument executed by Ares and FS (who each beneficially own at least 5% of the outstanding Shares as of the date hereof) and a majority (based on the number of Shares owned by each Minority Stockholder at the time of such amendment and restatement) of the Minority Stockholders so long as such amendment and restatement does not uniquely and adversely affect the rights of any particular Party or Parties;

 

WHEREAS, the stockholders listed on Schedule B hereto represent a majority (based on the number of Shares owned by each Minority Stockholder on the date hereof) of the Minority Stockholders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has executed an underwriting agreement to effect a Qualified IPO (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) on the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Qualified IPO, Ares, FS, and the stockholders listed on Schedule B hereto desire to amend and restate the Shareholders Agreement by entering into this Agreement to replace the Shareholders Agreement in its entirety.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

 

DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

SECTION 1.01.            Definitions.  The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.  No Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another Person solely by virtue of the fact that both Persons own shares of the Company’s Capital Stock.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 



 

Ares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Bylaws” means the Bylaws of the Company, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person any and all shares, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, and any rights, warrants or options exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Delay Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

Demand Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

Effectiveness Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

Encumbrance” means any claim, lien, pledge, option, charge, easement, security interest, deed of trust, mortgage, conditional sales agreement, encumbrance or other right of third parties, voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law, and includes any agreement to give any of the foregoing in the future, and any contingent sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof.

 

FS” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

FS Affiliates” means FS Affiliates VI, L.P.

 

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Lock-up Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Major Stockholder” means each of Ares and FS, in each case so long as it, together with its Permitted Transferees, at the date of determination, beneficially owns at least 15% of the then outstanding Shares.

 

Minority Stockholders” means the Parties other than the Major Stockholders and FS Affiliates.

 

2



 

1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

 

1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee” means:

 

(i)            with respect to any Stockholder who is a natural person, (a) such Stockholder’s immediate family and (b) any trust which is for the primary benefit of such Stockholder or one or more members of such Stockholder’s immediate family (which shall include grandchildren) (a “Trust”), a charitable organization that is controlled by such Stockholder or a community foundation which permits donor participation in directing charitable donations from charitable gifts given by such Stockholder;

 

(ii)           with respect to any Stockholder that is not a natural person, (a) any Affiliate of such Stockholder, (b) with respect to any Major Stockholder, any institutional lender to which such Major Stockholder is required to pledge or grant a security interest in the Shares pursuant to the terms of such Major Stockholder’s senior secured revolving credit facility, and (c) with respect to the West Companies, (I) the immediate family of Vincent West, (II) any trust which is for the primary benefit of Vincent West or one or more members of his immediate family (which shall include grandchildren) or (III) a charitable organization that is controlled by Vincent West or a community foundation which permits donor participation in directing charitable donations from charitable gifts given by either of the West Companies; and

 

(iii)          to the extent such Stockholder is an investment fund, (a) any Related Person of such Stockholder, (b) any investor in such Stockholder that receives a pro rata distribution of Shares to all investors in such Stockholder, and (c) any Person acquiring all or substantially all of the investment portfolio of such Stockholder;

 

provided, that in any of such cases, such Permitted Transferee (i) is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the 1933 Act and (ii) prior to the Transfer, executes a Joinder Agreement.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a general or limited partnership, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government, a political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

Piggyback Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

 

Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

 

Registrable Securities” shall mean any of (i) the shares of Capital Stock of the Company owned by any Party at the time of determination and (ii) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to such shares of Capital Stock by way of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, subdivision or reorganization, recapitalization or similar event.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (a) a registration statement with respect to the offering of such securities by the holder thereof shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such securities shall have been disposed of by such holder pursuant to such registration statement, (b) such securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) promulgated under the 1933 Act, (c) such securities are eligible for transfer to the public pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction as to manner of sale or amount sold, (d) such securities are sold by a Person in a transaction in which rights under the provisions of this Agreement are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement, or (e) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

 

3



 

Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.

 

Related Person” means, with respect to any Person, (a) an Affiliate of such Person, (b) any investment manager, investment partnership, investment adviser or general partner of such Person, (c) any investment fund, investment partnership, investment account or other investment Person whose investment manager, investment adviser, managing member or general partner is such Person or a Related Person of such Person and (d) any equity investor, partner, officer, member or manager of such Person; provided, however, that no Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of another Person solely by virtue of the fact that both Persons own shares of the Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Representatives” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person and such Person’s Affiliates, their successors and assigns and any of their respective agents, employees, stockholders, partners, members, representatives, officers, advisers and directors.

 

Request Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

Shareholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Shares” means, at any time, the shares of Common Stock and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other similar reorganization.

 

Stockholder” means a Party that holds Registrable Securities.

 

Valid Business Reason” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

West Companies” means American West Investment Corporation and West Family Partners, LLLP.

 

SECTION 1.02.            Rules of Construction.

 

(a)           Whenever any provision of this Agreement calls for any calculation based on a number of shares of Capital Stock issued and outstanding or held by a Stockholder, the number of Shares deemed to be issued and outstanding or held by that Stockholder, unless specifically stated otherwise, as applicable, shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding or owned by the Stockholder; provided, that the investments and the beneficial ownership of Permitted Transferees of such Stockholder shall be aggregated with the investments and beneficial ownership of such Stockholder.

 

(b)           Any provision of this Agreement that refers to the words “include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  References to numbered or letter articles, sections and subsections refer to articles, sections and subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless expressly stated otherwise.  All references to this Agreement include, whether or not expressly referenced, the exhibits and schedules attached hereto.  References to a Section, paragraph, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section or paragraph of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The words “hereof,” “herein” 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 of this Agreement.  The word “or” when used in this Agreement is not exclusive. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.  Any agreement, instrument, law or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein unless otherwise indicated.  References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.  In the event that any claim is made by any Person relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Person or its counsel.

 

4



 

ARTICLE II.

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the parties hereby severally represents and warrants to each of the other parties as follows:

 

(a)           Authority; Enforceability.  Such party (i) has the legal capacity or organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and (ii) (in the case of parties that are not natural persons) is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and to the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity (whether applied by a court of law or of equity).

 

(b)           Consent.  No consent, waiver, approval, authorization, exemption, registration, license or declaration is required to be made or obtained by such party, other than those that have been made or obtained on or prior to the date hereof, in connection with (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or (ii) the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.  To the extent a Party is a natural person and is married and is a resident of a state governed by community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property, such Party has delivered a Spousal Consent executed by his or her spouse.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

SECTION 3.01.            Company Registration.

 

(a)           Right to Piggyback on Registration of Stock.  Subject to Section 3.01(c), if at any time or from time to time after the Company’s initial public offering the Company proposes to register shares of Capital Stock of the Company under the 1933 Act in connection with a public offering of such Capital Stock on any form other than Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar successor forms or another form used for a purpose similar to the intended use for such forms (a “Piggyback Registration”), whether for its own account or for the account of one or more stockholders of the Company, the Company shall give each Stockholder written notice of such determination (i) at least 30 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such Piggyback Registration and (ii) within ten Business Days after the Company’s receipt of any notice of an exercise of demand registration rights in accordance with Section 3.02.  Upon the written request of any Stockholder (the “Piggyback Holder”) given within ten Business Days after receipt of any such notice by the Company, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be registered under the 1933 Act all of the Registrable Securities of the same class of Capital Stock (or convertible into the same class of Capital Stock prior to or concurrently with the consummation of such offering) held by such Stockholder that the Stockholder has requested to be registered; provided, that if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Piggyback Holder and (i) in the case of a determination not to register such securities, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from any obligation of the Company to pay the registration expenses in connection therewith); and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities.  No registration effected under this Section 3.01 shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration upon demand under Section 3.02.

 

5



 

(b)           Selection of Underwriters.  If any Piggyback Registration involves an underwritten primary offering of the Company’s securities, the Board shall have the right to select any underwriter or underwriters to manage such Piggyback Registration.

 

(c)           Priority on Piggyback Registrations.  In the event that the Piggyback Registration includes an underwritten offering, the Company shall so advise the Stockholders as part of the written notice given pursuant to Section 3.01(a) and the registration rights provided in Section 3.01(a) shall be subject to the condition that if the managing underwriter or underwriters of a Piggyback Registration advise the Company that in its or their opinion the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Piggyback Registration exceeds the number that can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing, distribution method or probability of success of the offering, the Company and the Stockholders, as the case may be, will include in such registration only the number of Registrable Securities which, in the opinion of such underwriter or underwriters, can be sold in such offering without such adverse effect.  The Registrable Securities so included in such Piggyback Registration shall be apportioned as follows: (a) first, to any shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to sell and (b) second, pro rata among shares of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration, in each case according to the total number of shares of the Registrable Securities requested for inclusion by the Piggyback Holders, or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to among the Piggyback Holders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the underwriter reasonably determines that marketing factors require the exclusion of particular Stockholder(s) from participating in such offering (e.g., the exclusion of members of management) as to all or any portion of such Stockholder’s Common Stock, the Company shall so advise such Stockholder(s) and all or such portion of such Stockholder’s Common Stock shall be excluded from such registration to the extent determined by such underwriter.

 

6



 

SECTION 3.02.            Demand Registration Rights.

 

(a)           Right to Demand.  Subject to Section 3.02(b) below, at any time or from time to time after the consummation of the Qualified IPO, each of Ares and FS, in each case so long as it, together with its Related Persons and other Permitted Transferees, at the date of determination, beneficially owns at least 5% of the then outstanding Shares (the “Demand Holder”), may make a written request, which request will specify the aggregate number of Registrable Securities to be registered and will also specify the intended methods of disposition thereof (the “Request Notice”) to the Company for registration with the Commission under and in accordance with the provisions of the 1933 Act of all or part of the Registrable Securities then owned by the Demand Holder (a “Demand Registration”); provided, that (i) the Company may, if the Board so determines that due to a pending or contemplated material acquisition or disposition or public offering or other material event involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries (a “Valid Business Reason”) it would be inadvisable to effect such Demand Registration at such time (but in no event after such registration statement has become effective), the Company may, upon providing the Demand Holder written notice (the “Delay Notice”), defer such Demand Registration for a single period set forth in such Delay Notice with respect to such Demand Registration not to exceed 90 days; and (ii) the Company shall not postpone or delay a Demand Registration under this Section 3.02 more than once in any 12-month period.  A registration pursuant to this Section 3.02 will be on such appropriate form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Demand Holder and be reasonably acceptable to the Company and as shall permit the intended method or methods of distribution specified by the Demand Holder, including a distribution to, and resale by, the partners of any Demand Holder.

 

The Company shall not be obligated to maintain a registration statement pursuant to a Demand Registration effective for more than (x) 360 days or (y) such shorter period when all of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold pursuant thereto (the “Effectiveness Period”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one Demand Registration in any 90-day period following an Effectiveness Period or such longer period not to exceed 180 days as requested by an underwriter pursuant to Section 3.06.  Upon any such request for a Demand Registration, the Company will deliver any notices required by Section 3.01 and thereupon the Company will, subject to Section 3.01(c) and 3.02(f) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to effect the prompt registration under the 1933 Act of:

 

(i)            the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Demand Holder as contained in the Request Notice and

 

(ii)           all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register by the Piggyback Holders,

 

all to the extent required to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition of each seller of such Registrable Securities.

 

(b)           Number of Demand Registrations. The Company will not be required to effect more than four registrations pursuant to this Section 3.02 upon the request of Ares and will not be required to effect more than four registrations pursuant to this Section 3.02 upon the request of FS; provided that, the Company shall only be required to effect up to two registrations pursuant to this Section 3.02 upon the request of Ares if Ares, at the time of such request, is not a Major Stockholder and up to two registrations pursuant to this Section 3.02 upon the request of FS if FS, at the time of such request, is not a Major Stockholder; provided further that, at any time in which the Company is eligible to register shares of Common Stock on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Demand Holder shall have an unlimited number of demand registrations on Form S-3.

 

(c)           Revocation.  The Demand Holder may, at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating to such Demand Registration, revoke such request by providing a written notice thereof to the Company and only if it complies with this Section 3.02(c).  Subject to Section 3.02(d), the Demand Holder shall reimburse the Company for all its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the preparation, filing and processing of the Registration Statement.  If pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.02(c), the Demand Holder reimburses the Company for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the preparation, filing and processing of the Registration Statement or if the Demand Holder is not required to pay such expenses pursuant to Section 3.02(d), the attempted registration shall not be deemed to be a Demand Registration.

 

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(d)           Effective Registration.  A registration will not count as a Demand Registration and the Demand Holder shall not be required to reimburse the Company for its expenses incurred in the preparation, filing and processing of any registration statement pursuant to Section 3.02(c) if:

 

(i)            the Demand Holder determines in its good faith judgment to withdraw the proposed registration of any Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the Demand Holder due to a material adverse change in the Company (other than as a result of any action by the Demand Holder);

 

(ii)           such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other governmental agency or court for any reason (other than as a result of any act by the Demand Holder) and the Company fails to have such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement removed, withdrawn or resolved to the Demand Holder’s satisfaction;

 

(iii)          the Demand Holder requests that the Company withdraw the registration at any time during the period specified in a Delay Notice or within 10 days thereafter; or

 

(iv)          the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement or purchase agreement entered into in connection with the registration relating to any such demand are not satisfied (other than as a result of a default or breach thereunder by the Demand Holder).

 

(e)           Selection of Underwriters.  If any of the Registrable Securities covered by a Demand Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Demand Holder will have the right to select the managing underwriter(s) to administer the offering subject to the approval of the Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(f)            Priority on Demand Registrations.  If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a Demand Registration advise the Company in writing that in its or their opinion the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Demand Registration exceeds the number which can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing, distribution method or probability of success of the offering, the Company will include in such registration only the number of Registrable Securities which, in the opinion of such underwriter or underwriters, can be sold in such offering without such material adverse effect.  The Registrable Securities to be included in such Demand Registration shall be apportioned pro rata among the Demand Holder and the Piggyback Holders according to the total number of shares of the Registrable Securities requested for inclusion by the Demand Holder and the Piggyback Holders, or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to among the Demand Holder and the Piggyback Holders.

 

(g)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the underwriter reasonably determines that marketing factors require the exclusion of particular Stockholder(s) from participating in such offering (e.g., the exclusion of members of management) as to all or any portion of such Stockholder’s Common Stock, the Company shall so advise such Stockholder(s) and all or such portion of such Stockholder’s Common Stock shall be excluded from such registration to the extent determined by such underwriter.

 

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SECTION 3.03.                                   Registration Procedures.  It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Article III that the Stockholders requesting inclusion in any Piggyback Registration or Demand Registration (a “Registration”) shall furnish to the Company such information regarding them, the Registrable Securities held by them, the intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities, and such agreements regarding indemnification, disposition of such securities and other matters referred to in and consistent with this Article III, as the Company shall reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with the action to be taken by the Company (such intended method of distribution may include a distribution to, and resale by, the partners of the holders of any Registrable Securities).  With respect to any Registration which includes Registrable Securities held by a Stockholder, the Company will, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02:

 

(a)                                 As promptly as possible (in the case of a Demand Registration, no more than 45 days after the Company’s receipt of a Request Notice that is not for a registration on Form S-3 or any successor or comparable form and no more than 30 days after the Company’s receipt of a Request Notice that is for a registration on Form S-3 or any successor or comparable form) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement on the appropriate form prescribed by the Commission for such intended method of disposition, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter; provided, that not less than 5 Business Days before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to counsel representing the Stockholders selling Registrable Securities under such Registration copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and reasonable comments of such counsel; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to maintain such registration effective for a period longer than the Effectiveness Period;

 

(b)                                 Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to such registration statement and any documents required to be incorporated by reference therein as may be necessary to keep the registration statement effective for a period of not less than the Effectiveness Period (but not prior to the expiration of the time period referred to in Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act and Rule 174 thereunder, if applicable); cause the prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act and comply with the 1933 Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement or supplement to the prospectus;

 

(c)                                  Promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the underwriter(s) or the Demand Holder reasonably request to be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such Registrable Securities; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplements or post-effective amendments as soon as practical after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such supplement or amendment;

 

(d)                                 Furnish to such Stockholder, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, as such Stockholder may reasonably request, and such number of copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendments or supplements thereto, and any documents incorporated by reference therein, as the Stockholder or underwriter or underwriters, if any, may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the securities being sold by the Stockholder (it being understood that the Company consents to the use of the prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by the Stockholder covered by the registration statement and the underwriter or underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the securities covered by the prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto);

 

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(e)                                  Notify such Stockholder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, when the Company becomes aware of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement (as then in effect) contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the Commission and furnish a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the investors of such securities, such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(f)                                   [Intentionally omitted;]

 

(g)                                  Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all securities included in such registration statement to be listed, by the date of the first sale of securities pursuant to such registration statement, on any national securities exchange, quotation system or other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or proposed to be listed by the Company, if any, or, failing that, to arrange for at least two market makers to register as such with respect to such securities with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.;

 

(h)                                 Make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement, which need not be audited, satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the twelve (12)-month period beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the registration statement, which statement shall cover said twelve (12)-month period;

 

(i)                                     After the filing of a registration statement, (i) notify each Stockholder holding Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement of any stop order issued or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission and of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction, (ii) take all reasonable actions to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the qualification of any Registrable Securities at the earliest possible moment, and (iii) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney, accountant, or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s Representatives and independent accountants to supply all such information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

(j)                                    In connection with the preparation and filing of each Registration, the Company shall give each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, the underwriter(s) and their respective counsel, accountants and other representatives and agents the opportunity to participate in the preparation of each registration statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto and comparable statements under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction and give each of the foregoing Persons access to the books and records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and such opportunities to discuss the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries with the respective Representatives and the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and supply all other information and respond to all other inquiries requested by such holders, underwriter(s), counsel, accountants and other representatives and agents as shall be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of such holders or underwriter(s), to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and the Company shall not file any registration statement or amendment thereto or any prospectus or supplement thereto to which such holder or such underwriter(s) shall object;

 

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(k)                                 Cause its employees to participate in “road shows” and other presentations as reasonably requested by the underwriters in connection with such Registration;

 

(l)                                     Deliver promptly to counsel representing the Stockholders selling Registrable Securities under such Registration and each underwriter, if any, participating in the offering of the Registrable Securities, copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors, and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to such Registration; and

 

(m)                             On or prior to the date on which the registration statement is declared effective, use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify, and cooperate with such underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of, the securities covered by the registration statement for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, requests in writing, to use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective, including through new filings, or amendments or renewals, during the Effectiveness Period and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in all such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement; provided, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject, (ii) obtain a cold comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters, which letter shall be addressed to the underwriters, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such cold comfort letter to also be addressed to the holders of such Registrable Securities, (iii) obtain an opinion from the Company’s outside counsel in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such opinions, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the holders of such Registrable Securities, and (iv) enter into and perform its obligations under such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Request Notice, in the case of a Demand Registration, or the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, in the case of a Piggyback Registration, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, or reorganization).

 

The Stockholders, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (e) of this Section 3.03, will forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until the Stockholders’ receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (e) of this Section 3.03 or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, each Stockholder will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to, deliver, to the Company (at the Company’s sole expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Stockholder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

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No holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company, other than representations and warranties regarding such holder, such holder’s ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, and its intended method of distribution and any liability of any such holder under such underwriting agreement shall be limited to liability arising from breach of its representations and warranties therein and shall be limited to an amount equal to the net amount received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

 

SECTION 3.04.                                   Registration Expenses.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 3.02(c), in the case of any Registration, the Company shall bear all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with Sections 3.01, 3.02 and 3.03 of this Agreement, including all Commission and stock exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. registration and filing fees and expenses, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), rating agency fees, printing expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants and any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (but not including any underwriting discounts or commissions, or transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities by a selling Stockholder or fees and expenses of more than one counsel representing the Stockholders selling Registrable Securities under such Registration as set forth in Section 3.04(b) below).

 

(b)                                 In connection with each Registration initiated hereunder (whether a Demand Registration or a Piggyback Registration), the Company shall reimburse the holders covered by such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one law firm chosen by a majority of the number of shares of Registrable Securities included in the Request Notice, in the event of a Demand Registration, and, in the case of a Piggyback Registration, the holders of a majority of the number of shares of Registrable Securities included in such Registration.

 

SECTION 3.05.                                   Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Stockholder, the underwriters selling such Stockholder’s Registrable Securities and their respective officers, directors, Affiliates and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act) any of them, including any general partner or manager of any thereof, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable out-of-pocket counsel fees and disbursements) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in which such Stockholder participates in an offering of Registrable Securities or in any document incorporated by reference therein or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as the same are made in reliance on and in conformity with any information with respect to such Stockholder furnished in writing to the Company by such Stockholder expressly for use therein; provided, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Stockholder from whom the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the securities if it is determined that such loss, claim, damage or liability was caused by such Stockholder’s failure to deliver to such Stockholder’s immediate purchaser a current copy of the prospectus (if the current copy of the prospectus was required by applicable law to be so delivered) after the Company has timely furnished such Stockholder with a sufficient number of copies of such prospectus.

 

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(b)                                 Indemnification by the Stockholders.  In connection with any registration statement in which a Stockholder is participating, each such Stockholder will furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits with respect to such Stockholder as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any registration statement or prospectus covering the Registrable Securities of such Stockholder and to the extent permitted by law agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act) the Company, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus (in the case of the prospectus or preliminary prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in reliance on and in conformity with the information or affidavit with respect to such Stockholder so furnished in writing by such Stockholder expressly for use in the registration statement or prospectus; provided, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Stockholders and the liability of each such Stockholder shall be in proportion to and limited to the net amount received by such Stockholder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 3.05(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Stockholder.  The Company and the holders of the Registrable Securities hereby acknowledge and agree that, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by such holders, the only information furnished or to be furnished to the Company for use in any registration statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities or in any amendment, supplement or preliminary materials associated therewith are statements specifically relating to (a) transactions or the relationship between such holder and its Affiliates, on one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, (b) the beneficial ownership of Shares by such holder and its Affiliates, (c) the name and address of such holder and (d) any additional information about such holder or the plan of distribution (other than for an underwritten offering) required by law or regulation to be disclosed in any such document.

 

(c)                                  Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified and indemnifying parties with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  The failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability hereunder with respect to the action, except to the extent that such indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice; provided, that any such failure shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any other liability which it may have to any other party or to such indemnified party other than pursuant to this Section 3.05.  No indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of such indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which 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 of such claim or litigation.  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are in addition to or may conflict with those available to any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels; provided, that such number of additional counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party.

 

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(d)                                 Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3.05 is unavailable to an indemnified party as contemplated by the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3.05 or is insufficient to hold such indemnified party harmless, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the preceding clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the preceding clause (i) but also the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the sellers of Registrable Securities and any other sellers participating in the registration statement on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the sellers of Registrable Securities or other sellers participating in the registration statement and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  In no event shall the liability of any such Stockholder be greater in amount than the amount of net proceeds received by such Stockholder upon such sale or the amount for which such indemnifying party would have been obligated to pay by way of indemnification if the indemnification provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 3.05 had been available.

 

SECTION 3.06.                                   Lock-Up Agreements.  Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities under the 1933 Act in an underwritten offering for its own account (other than on Form S-4 or S-8 or any similar successor form or another form used for a purpose similar to the intended use of such forms) or is required to use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the 1933 Act pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.02, each holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities not to effect any sale or distribution, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or to request registration under Section 3.02 of any Registrable Securities for the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter for the underwritten offering; provided, that in no event shall such period exceed 180 days (the “Lock-up Period”) after the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration, except (i) as part of such registration or (ii) in the case of a private sale or distribution, unless the transferee agrees in writing to be subject to this Section 3.06.  If requested by such managing underwriter or the Company, each holder of Registrable Securities agrees to execute a lock-up agreement, in customary form, consistent with the terms of this Section 3.06(a); provided, that the form of the lock-up shall be substantially identical as to each similarly situated Stockholder; provided, further, that if the Company or any underwriter releases any holder of Registrable Securities from the lock-up agreement set forth in this Section 3.06 (or any separate lock-up agreement with an underwriter), it shall similarly release all other holders of Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Stockholder shall be subject to a Lock-up Period in excess of 180 days in any calendar year due to the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.02.

 

SECTION 3.07.                                   Participation in Registrations.  No Stockholder may participate in any Registration hereunder that is underwritten unless such Stockholder (a) agrees to sell its securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (provided, that such underwriting arrangements shall not limit any of such Stockholder’s rights under this Agreement), and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, underwriting agreements and other documents customarily required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

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SECTION 3.08.                                   Rule 144.  The Company shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and it will take such further action as any holder may reasonably request to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act as permitted by (i) Rules 144 and 144A and Regulation S under the 1933 Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (ii) any similar rules or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.  Upon the request of a holder of Registrable Securities, the Company, at its own expense, will deliver to such holder:  (x) a written statement as to whether it has complied with the requirements that would make the exemption provided by such Rule or Rules available to such holder (and such holder shall be entitled to rely on the accuracy of such written statement); (y) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company; and (z) such other reports and documents as such holder may reasonably request in order to avail itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it to sell Registrable Securities without registration.

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 4.01.                                   Notices.  All notices, demands or requests made pursuant to, under or by virtue of this Agreement must be in writing and sent to the party to which the notice, demand or request is being made at the address or facsimile number set forth on the signature pages hereof (or in the relevant Joinder Agreement), or at such other address or facsimile number as such party shall have furnished to the Company and the Stockholders in writing; provided, that:

 

(a)                                 unless otherwise specified by Ares in a notice delivered by Ares in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to Ares shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.
c/o Ares Management II, L.P.
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention:
                                         Rachel Lee
Telephone:                                   (310) 201-4100
Facsimile:                                         (310) 201-4170

 

with a copy to

 

Proskauer Rose LLP
2049 Century Park East, Suite 3200
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention:
                                         Monica J. Shilling, Esq.
Telephone:                                   (310) 284-4544
Facsimile:                                         (310) 557-2193

 

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(b)                                 unless otherwise specified by FS in a notice delivered by FS in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to FS shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

FS Equity Partners VI, L.P.
c/o Freeman Spogli & Co.
11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1900
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Attention: Brad Brutocao
Telephone: (310) 444-1822
Facsimile: (310) 444-1870

 

with a copy to

 

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
101 Park Avenue
New York, NY  10178-0060
Attention: Christina Edling Melendi, Esq.
Telephone:  (212) 309-6949
Facsimile:  (212) 309-6001

 

(c)                                  unless otherwise specified by the Company in a notice delivered by the Company in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to the Company shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.
Store Support Center

 

2233 Lake Park Drive

 

Smyrna, GA 30080
Attention: David Christopherson, Esq.
Telephone: (770) 421-3723
Facsimile: (404) 393-3540

 

with a copy to

 

Proskauer Rose LLP
2049 Century Park East, Suite 3200
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention:
                                         Monica J. Shilling, Esq.
Telephone:                                   (310) 284-4544
Facsimile:                                         (310) 557-2193

 

Notice shall be delivered (i) by nationally recognized overnight courier delivery for next Business Day delivery, (ii) by hand delivery, or (iii) by facsimile or electronic mail transmission if confirmation of transmission is received by the sender.  Legal counsel for the respective parties may send to the other party any notices, requests, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder by such party. Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective, or as having been given, only upon receipt thereof at the address specified hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.02.                                   Binding Effect; Benefits.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as set forth in Section 3.05, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement or their respective successors or permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of any agreement or any provision contained herein.

 

16



 

SECTION 4.03.                                   Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended, restated, modified or supplemented in any respect and the observance of any term of this Agreement may not be waived except by a written instrument executed by each of Ares and FS, in each case so long as it, together with its Related Persons and other Permitted Transferees, at the date of determination, beneficially owns at least 5% of the then outstanding Shares and (i) to the extent (and only to the extent) any particular Party’s or Parties’ rights hereunder are uniquely and adversely affected (provided that the amendment, modification or elimination of any Party’s rights in an adverse manner under Section 3.01 shall be deemed to uniquely and adversely affect each Party) by such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver (other than any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver that affects the interests of the Minority Stockholders as a group, in which case clause (ii) shall apply), by such Party’s or Parties’, as applicable, or (ii) to the extent (and only to the extent) the interests of the Minority Stockholders as a group are adversely affected (provided that the amendment, modification or elimination of any Party’s rights in an adverse manner under Section 3.01 shall be deemed to uniquely and adversely affect each Party) by such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver, by a majority (based on the number of Shares owned by each Minority Stockholder at the time of such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver) of the Minority Stockholders. No consent of any Minority Stockholder shall be required to the joinder of those Persons who become parties hereto by executing a Joinder Agreement in accordance to the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.04.                                   Assignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by either the Company or any Party except as otherwise expressly stated hereunder or with the prior written consent of the Major Stockholders.  A Permitted Transferee who executes a Joinder Agreement in accordance with the provisions hereof may be assigned any rights available hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.05.                                   Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its principles of conflict of laws.  The parties hereto irrevocably submit, in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States located in the State of New York or in any New York state court located in New York county and consent that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waive any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the venue of such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

SECTION 4.06.                                   Waiver of Jury TrialEach party to this Agreement, for itself and its Related Persons, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the actions of the parties hereto or their respective Related Persons pursuant to this Agreement or in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.07.                                   Enforcement.  The parties expressly agree that the provisions of this Agreement may be specifically enforced against each of the parties hereto in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

17



 

SECTION 4.08.                                   Severability.  If 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.  If any of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

SECTION 4.09.                                   Additional Securities Subject to Agreement.  Except as otherwise determined by the Major Stockholders, all Shares of the Company that any Stockholder hereafter acquires by means of a stock split, stock dividend, distribution, exercise of options or warrants or otherwise (other than pursuant to a public offering) whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (including shares of a surviving corporation into which the Shares of the Company are exchanged in such transaction) will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if held on the date hereof.

 

SECTION 4.10.                                   Section and Other Headings.  The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.11.                                   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed, including by way of electronic signature (pdf and facsimile formats included), in any number of counterparts, each of which may be executed by less than all of the parties hereto, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

SECTION 4.12.                                   Further Assurances.  Each party agrees that he, she or it shall, from time to time after the date of this Agreement, execute and deliver such other documents and instruments and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by any other party to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.13.                                   Specific Performance.  Without limiting or waiving in any respect any rights or remedies of the parties hereto under this Agreement now or hereinafter existing at law or in equity or by statute, each of the parties hereto will be entitled to seek specific performance of the obligations to be performed by the other in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.14.                                   Complete Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior discussions, negotiations and understandings (including the Shareholders Agreement).

 

[signature page follows]

 

18



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

FLOOR & DECOR HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ THOMAS V. TAYLOR

 

Name:

Thomas V. Taylor

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ RACHEL LEE

 

Name:

Rachel Lee

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

FS EQUITY PARTNERS VI, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

FS Capital Partners VI, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

/s/ BRAD BRUTOCAO

 

Name:

Brad Brutocao

 

Title:

Managing Member

 

 

 

[STOCKHOLDER ON SCHEDULE B]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

AS SKIP LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ NORMAN AXELROD

 

Name: Norman Axelrod

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

ALISON K. AXELROD 2012 FAMILY TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ NORMAN AXELROD

 

Name: Norman Axelrod

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

STARRETT FAMILY TRUST, DATED 4-11-99

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ PETER STARRETT

 

Name: Peter Starrett

 

Title: Trustee

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION  RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN WEST INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ GEORGE VINCENT WEST

 

Name: George Vincent West

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

 

WEST FAMILY PARTNERS, LLLP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ GEORGE VINCENT WEST

 

Name: George Vincent West

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 


EX-4.2 3 a17-3570_12ex4d2.htm EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), is among Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Ares”), FS Equity Partners VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“FS Equity”), and FS Affiliates VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“FS Affiliates” and together with FS Equity, “FS”).

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

SECTION 1.01.                                                           Definitions.  The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.  No Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another Person solely by virtue of the fact that both Persons own shares of the Company’s Capital Stock.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ares” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, and any rights, warrants or options exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock.

 

CEO Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

 

Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

FS” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

FS Affiliates” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

FS Equity” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Permitted Transferee” means:

 

(i)            with respect to any stockholder of the Company who is a natural person, (a) such stockholder’s immediate family and (b) any trust which is for the primary benefit of such stockholder or one or more members of such stockholder’s immediate family (which shall include grandchildren), a charitable organization that is controlled by such stockholder or a community foundation which permits donor participation in directing charitable donations from charitable gifts given by such stockholder;

 



 

(ii)           with respect to any stockholder of the Company that is not a natural person, any Affiliate of such stockholder;

 

(iii)          to the extent such stockholder is an investment fund, (a) any Related Person of such stockholder, (b) any investor in such stockholder that receives a pro rata distribution of shares of Common Stock to all investors in such stockholder, and (c) any Person acquiring all or substantially all of the investment portfolio of such stockholder;

 

provided, that in any of such cases, such Permitted Transferee (i) is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the 1933 Act and (ii) executes a Joinder Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a general or limited partnership, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government, a political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

Related Person” means, with respect to any Person, (i) an Affiliate of such Person, (ii) any investment manager, investment partnership, investment adviser or general partner of such Person, (iii) any investment fund, investment partnership, investment account or other investment Person whose investment manager, investment adviser, managing member or general partner is such Person or a Related Person of such Person and (iv) any equity investor, partner, officer, member or manager of such Person; provided, however, that no Person shall be deemed an Affiliate of another Person solely by virtue of the fact that both Persons own shares of the Capital Stock of the Company.

 

Representatives” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person and such Person’s Affiliates, their successors and assigns and any of their respective agents, employees, stockholders, partners, members, representatives, officers, advisers and directors.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Sponsor” means each of Ares and FS.

 

Sponsor Designees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

SECTION 1.02.                                                           Rules of Construction.

 

(a)           Whenever any provision of this Agreement calls for any calculation based on a number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding or held by a Stockholder, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding or held by that Stockholder, unless specifically stated otherwise, as applicable, shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding or owned by the Stockholder and its Permitted Transferees.

 

2



 

(b)           Any provision of this Agreement that refers to the words “include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  References to numbered or letter articles, sections and subsections refer to articles, sections and subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless expressly stated otherwise.  All references to this Agreement include, whether or not expressly referenced, the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto.  References to a Section, paragraph, Exhibit or Schedule shall be to a Section or paragraph of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The words “hereof,” “herein” 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 of this Agreement.  The word “or” when used in this Agreement is not exclusive.  The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.  Any agreement, instrument, law or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein unless otherwise indicated.  References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.  In the event that any claim is made by any Person relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Person or its counsel.

 

ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each of the parties hereby severally represents and warrants to each of the other parties as follows:

 

SECTION 2.01.                    Authority; Enforceability.  Such party (a) has the legal capacity or organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and (b) (in the case of parties that are not natural persons) is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and to the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity (whether applied by a court of law or of equity).

 

SECTION 2.02.                    Consent.  No consent, waiver, approval, authorization, exemption, registration, license or declaration is required to be made or obtained by such party, other than those that have been made or obtained on or prior to the date hereof, in connection with (a) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or (b) the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 3.01.                    Size and Composition.  From and after the Effective Date, unless otherwise agreed in writing by each  Sponsor that holds more than 5% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, (1) each of Ares and FS and their respective Permitted Transferees, so long as Ares or FS, as applicable, holds more than 5% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock,  shall (i) vote or otherwise give its consent in respect of all shares of Common Stock (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) owned by such Person, and (ii) take all other appropriate action, and (2) the Company shall take all necessary and desirable actions (subject to any applicable securities exchange or equivalent listing requirements), including soliciting proxies in favor of, at each annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company called for the election of directors, and whenever the stockholders of the Company act by written consent with respect to the election of directors, to cause:

 

(a)           the authorized number of directors on the Board to be no more than twelve;

 

3



 

(b)           the election to the Board of (i) the then Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO Director”) (subject to his or her election by the stockholders of the Company), and (ii) any Sponsor Designees designated by the Sponsors in accordance with Section 3.02; and

 

(c)           the removal from the Board of any director elected in accordance with clause (b) above, with or without cause, (i) in the case of the CEO Director, upon the resignation or termination for any reason of such CEO Director as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and (ii) in the case of any Sponsor Designee, upon the written request of the Sponsor that designated such director.

 

SECTION 3.02.                    Sponsor Designees.

 

(a)           Each Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate to the Board (such nominees, the “Sponsor Designees”) (subject to their election by the stockholders of the Company) that number of individuals that, if elected, will result in such Sponsor having the number of directors serving on the Board that is shown below:

 

(i)            five directors, so long as such Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees hold 40% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock,

 

(ii)           three directors, so long as such Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees hold 30% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock,

 

(iii)          two directors, so long as such Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees hold 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, and

 

(iv)          one director, so long as such Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees hold 5% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)           If any Sponsor has nominated fewer than the total number of Sponsor Designees such Sponsor is entitled to nominate pursuant to this Section 3.02, such Sponsor shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional number of Sponsor Designees to which it is entitled, in which case the other parties to this Agreement and the directors of the Company shall take all necessary action, as requested by such Sponsor, to (x) increase the size of the Board as required to enable such Sponsor to so nominate such additional Sponsor Designees and (y) designate such additional Sponsor Designees nominated by such Sponsor to fill such newly created vacancy or vacancies, as applicable.

 

SECTION 3.03.                    Committee Membership.  Each Sponsor, so long as it holds 5% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, and the Company shall take all necessary and desirable actions to cause each of the Compensation Committee of the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board to include in its membership (a) at least one of the Sponsor Nominees designated by Ares so long as Ares holds 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and (b) at least one of the Sponsor Nominees designated by FS so long as FS holds 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, except to the extent such membership would violate applicable securities laws or stock exchange or stock market rules.

 

SECTION 3.04.                    Chairman; Subsidiaries.  For so long as Ares holds 30% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Chairman of the Board shall be a member of the Board selected by the Sponsor Nominees designated by Ares.  Except as otherwise agreed to among the Sponsors, the Company shall take all necessary action to cause the membership and chairman of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each of the subsidiaries of the Company to be the same as that of the Board.

 

4



 

ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 4.01.                    Notices.  All notices, demands or requests made pursuant to, under or by virtue of this Agreement must be in writing and sent to the party to which the notice, demand or request is being made at the address or facsimile number set forth on the signature pages hereof or such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify in writing in accordance with this Section 4.01; provided, that:

 

(a)           unless otherwise specified by Ares in a notice delivered by Ares in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to Ares shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

c/o Ares Management II, L.P.

2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention:

Rachel Lee

Telephone:

(310) 201-4100

Facsimile:

(310) 201-4170

 

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

 

Proskauer Rose LLP

2049 Century Park East, Suite 3200

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention:

Monica J. Shilling, Esq.

Telephone:

(310) 284-4544

Facsimile:

(310) 557-2193

 

(b)           unless otherwise specified by FS Equity or FS Affiliates in a notice delivered by FS Equity or FS Affiliates in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to FS shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

FS Equity Partners VI, L.P.

c/o Freeman Spogli & Co.

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1900

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attention: Brad Brutocao

Telephone: (310) 444-1822

Facsimile: (310) 444-1870

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10178-0060

Attention: Christina Edling Melendi, Esq.

Telephone: (212) 309-6949

Facsimile: (212) 309-6001

 

and

 

5



 

(c)           unless otherwise specified by the Company in a notice delivered by the Company in accordance with this Section 4.01, any notice required to be delivered to the Company shall be properly delivered if delivered to:

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

2233 Lake Park Drive

Smyrna, GA 30080

Attention: David Christopherson, Esq.

Telephone: (770) 421-3723

Facsimile: (404) 393-3540

 

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

 

Proskauer Rose LLP

2049 Century Park East, Suite 3200

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Monica J. Shilling, Esq.

Telephone: (310) 284-4544

Facsimile: (310) 557-2193

 

Notice shall be delivered (i) by nationally recognized overnight courier delivery for next business day delivery, (ii) by hand delivery, or (iii) by facsimile or electronic mail transmission if confirmation of transmission is received by the sender or no failure message is generated.  Legal counsel for the respective parties may send to the other party any notices, requests, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder by such party. Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective, or as having been given, only upon receipt thereof at the address specified hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.02.                    Binding Effect; Benefits.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement or their respective successors or permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of any agreement or any provision contained herein.

 

SECTION 4.03.                    Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended, restated, modified or supplemented in any respect and the observance of any term of this Agreement may not be waived except by a written instrument executed by each Sponsor that owns more than 5% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, that no amendment, restatement, modification, supplement or waiver of this Agreement that adversely affects the Company shall be effective without the written consent of the Company (it being understood that requirements regarding Board and committee membership shall not be deemed to adversely affect the Company).

 

SECTION 4.04.                    Assignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by any party hereto except as otherwise expressly stated hereunder or with the prior written consent of each Sponsor that holds more than 5% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

SECTION 4.05.                    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its principles of conflict of laws.  The parties hereto irrevocably submit, in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States located in the State of New York or in any New York state court located in New York county and consent that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waive any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the venue of such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

6



 

SECTION 4.06.                    Waiver of Jury TrialEach party to this Agreement, for itself and its Related Persons, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the actions of the parties hereto or their respective Related Persons pursuant to this Agreement or in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.07.                    Enforcement.  The parties expressly agree that the provisions of this Agreement may be specifically enforced against each of the parties hereto in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 4.08.                    Severability.  If 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.  If any of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

 

SECTION 4.09.                    Additional Securities Subject to Agreement.  All shares of Common Stock that any party hereto hereafter acquires by means of a stock split, stock dividend, distribution, exercise of options or warrants or otherwise (other than pursuant to a public offering) whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (including shares of a surviving corporation into which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged in such transaction) will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if held on the date hereof.

 

SECTION 4.10.                    Section and Other Headings.  The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.11.                    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed, including by way of electronic signature (pdf and facsimile formats included), in any number of counterparts, each of which may be executed by less than all of the parties hereto, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

SECTION 4.12.            Expenses.  Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Company.

 

SECTION 4.13.            Further Assurances.  Each party agrees that he, she or it shall, from time to time after the date of this Agreement, execute and deliver such other documents and instruments and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by any other party to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.14.            Specific Performance.  Without limiting or waiving in any respect any rights or remedies of the parties hereto under this Agreement now or hereinafter existing at law or in equity or by statute, each of the parties hereto will be entitled to seek specific performance of the obligations to be performed by the other in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

7



 

SECTION 4.15.            Complete Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior discussions, negotiations and understandings.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and each Sponsor have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

FLOOR & DECOR HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ THOMAS TAYLOR

 

 

Name:

Thomas Taylor

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P.

 

 

 

By: ACOF Operating Manager III, LLC, its manager

 

 

 

By:

/s/ RACHEL LEE

 

 

Name:

Rachel Lee

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

FS EQUITY PARTNERS VI, L.P.

 

 

 

By: FS Capital Partners VI, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ BRAD BRUTOCAO

 

 

Name:

Brad Brutocao

 

 

Title:

Managing Member

 

 

 

 

 

FS AFFILIATES VI, L.P.

 

 

 

By: FS Capital Partners VI, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ BRAD BRUTOCAO

 

 

Name:

Brad Brutocao

 

 

Title:

Managing Member

 

Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement

 


EX-10.1 4 a17-3570_12ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

FLOOR & DECOR HOLDINGS, INC.

 


 

2017 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 


 

ARTICLE I

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors incentive awards to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders.  The Plan, as set forth herein, is effective as of the Effective Date (as defined in Article XVI).

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

2.1                               Acquisition Eventmeans a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, any transaction that results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock by a Person or the Transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

2.2                               Affiliatemeans, (a) with respect to any Person, each of the following: (i) any Subsidiary of such Person; (ii) any Parent of such Person; (iii) any corporation, trade or business (including a partnership or limited liability company) that is directly or indirectly controlled 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by such Person or any of its Affiliates; and (iv) any corporation, trade or business (including a partnership or limited liability company) that directly or indirectly controls 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) of such Person; and (b) with respect to the Company, any other entity in which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company has a material equity interest and that is designated as an “Affiliate” by resolution of the Committee; provided that the term “Affiliate” does not include the portfolio companies of any sponsored investment fund or other vehicle managed by a Permitted Holder and, as such, any reference herein to “Affiliates” shall not include a reference to any portfolio companies of such funds and vehicles.

 

2.3                               Appreciation Awardmeans any Stock Option or any Other Stock-Based Award that is based on the appreciation in value of a share of Common Stock in excess of an amount at least equal to the Fair Market Value on the date such Award is granted.

 

2.4                               Aresmeans Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.

 

2.5                               Awardmeans any award granted or made under the Plan of any Stock Option, Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance-Based Cash Award.

 



 

2.6                               Boardmeans the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.7                               Business means, at any time of determination, (a) the business (whether operated in physical locations or online over the internet) of selling hard surface flooring material, (b) any business or activity then conducted by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or (c) any business that the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has a bona fide intention to conduct and of which the Participant is aware as of such time.

 

2.8                               Causemeans with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement that defines “cause” (or words of like import or where it only applies upon the occurrence of a change in control and one has not yet taken place) in effect between the Company or an Affiliate of the Company and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), termination due to: (i) the Participant’s (x) being indicted for or charged with a felony under United States or applicable state law or (y) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a misdemeanor where imprisonment is imposed (other than for a traffic-related offense); (ii) perpetration by the Participant of an illegal act, dishonesty, or fraud that could cause economic injury to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any act of moral turpitude by the Participant; (iii) the Participant’s insubordination, refusal to perform his or her duties or responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity or unsatisfactory performance of his or her duties for the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (iv) willful and deliberate failure by the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties, after the Participant has been given notice and an opportunity to effectuate a cure as determined by the Committee; (v) the Participant’s willful misconduct or gross negligence with regard to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (vi) the Participant’s unlawful appropriation of a material corporate opportunity; or (vii) the Participant’s breach of any agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, including any confidentiality or other restrictive covenant agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate of the Company and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), “cause” as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “cause” only applies upon an occurrence of a change in control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply until a change in control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.  With respect to a Participant’s Termination of Directorship, “cause” means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law.

 

2.9                               Change in Controlunless otherwise defined in the applicable Award agreement or other written agreement approved by the Committee and subject to Section 15.14(b), means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)                                 the acquisition (including through purchase, reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction), directly or indirectly, in one or more transactions by a Person (other than any Permitted Holder) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”), calculated on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to such acquisition; provided, however, that none of the following acquisitions shall constitute a Change in Control as defined in clause (a): (i) any acquisition that does not result in any Person (other than any Permitted Holder) beneficially owning shares or securities representing 50% or more of either the Common Stock or the Company Voting Securities and (ii) any acquisition, after which Permitted Holders have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board;

 

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(b)                                 an election of individuals to the Board that causes two-thirds of the Board to consist of individuals other than (i) members of the Board on the Effective Date, (ii) individuals who were nominated for election as members of the Board at a time when two-thirds of the Board consisted of individuals who were members of the Board on the Effective Date and (iii) individuals who were designated for election as members of the Board pursuant to Section 3.02 of the Investor Rights Agreement; provided that any individual nominated for election by a Board at least two-thirds of which consisted of individuals described in clauses (i) or (ii) or by individuals who were themselves nominated by such Board shall be deemed to have been nominated by a Board consisting of individuals described in clause (i) but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest for the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(c)                                  approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(d)                                 the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person (other than a Permitted Holder).

 

2.10                        Change in Control Pricehas the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

2.11                        Codemeans the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any Treasury Regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

2.12                        Committeemeans: (a) with respect to the application of the Plan to Eligible Employees and Consultants, the Board, or a committee or subcommittee of the Board consisting of two or more Non-Employee Directors, each of whom is intended to be (i) to the extent required by Rule 16b-3, a “nonemployee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3; (ii) to the extent required by Section 162(m), an “outside director” as defined under Section 162(m); and (iii) to the extent required, an “independent director” as defined under the NYSE Listed Company Manual or other applicable stock exchange rules; and (b) with respect to the application of the Plan to Non-Employee Directors, the Board or a committee or sub-committee of the Board.  To the extent that no Committee exists that has the authority to administer the Plan, the functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board and all references herein to the Committee shall be deemed references to the Board.  If for any reason the appointed Committee does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m), such noncompliance shall not affect the validity of Awards, grants, interpretations or other actions of the Committee.

 

2.13                        Common Stockmeans the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

 

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2.14                        Companymeans Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

 

2.15                        Competitormeans any Person (other than the Company and its Affiliates) engaged in the Business.

 

2.16                        Consultant means any natural person who provides bona fide consulting or advisory services to the Company or its Affiliates, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and does not, directly or indirectly, promote or maintain a market for the Company’s or its Affiliates’ securities.

 

2.17                        Corporate Subsidiarymeans, with respect to any corporation, a subsidiary corporation of such corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

2.18                        Customer means any Person who is a customer or client of the Company or any of its Affiliates that is a professional contractor and with whom the Participant had material business-related contact (whether in person, by telephone or by paper or electronic correspondence) on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

2.19                        Detrimental Activitymeans:

 

(a)                                 disclosing, divulging, furnishing or making available to anyone at any time, except as necessary in the furtherance of Participant’s responsibilities to the Company or any of its Affiliates, either during or subsequent to Participant’s service relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates, any knowledge or information with respect to confidential or proprietary information, methods, processes, plans or materials of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or with respect to any other confidential or proprietary aspects of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates, acquired by the Participant at any time prior to the Participant’s Termination;

 

(b)                                 any activity while employed by, or performing services for, the Company or any of its Affiliates that results, or if known could reasonably be expected to result, in the Participant’s Termination for Cause;

 

(c)                                  (i) directly or indirectly soliciting, enticing or inducing any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be employed by any Person that is, directly or indirectly, in competition with the business or activities of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) directly or indirectly approaching any such employee for these purposes; (iii) authorizing or knowingly approving the taking of such actions by other Person on behalf of any such Person, or assisting any such Person in taking such actions; (iv) directly or indirectly soliciting Customers to purchase products on behalf of a Competitor; or (v) directly or directly soliciting Suppliers to provide products or services to support a Competitor;

 

(d)                                 direct or indirect Disparagement, or inducing others to engage in Disparagement; or

 

(e)                                  a material breach of any agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or unless a longer post-Termination recoupment period is provided in the applicable award agreement, Detrimental Activity shall not be deemed to occur after the end of the one-year period following the Participant’s Termination.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant’s engagement in any activity described in Sections 15.20(b) or (c) shall not constitute “Detrimental Activity.”

 

For purposes of subsections (a), (c) and (e) above, the Committee has the authority to provide the Participant with written authorization to engage in the activities contemplated thereby and no other Person shall have authority to provide the Participant with such authorization.

 

2.20                        Disabilitymeans with respect to a Participant’s Termination, a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for an Award that provides for payment or settlement triggered upon a Disability and that constitutes a Section 409A Covered Award, the foregoing definition shall apply for purposes of vesting of such Award, provided that for purposes of payment or settlement of such Award, such Award shall not be paid (or otherwise settled) until the earliest of: (A) the Participant’s “disability” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code, (B) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and (C) the date such Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to the terms of the Award agreement.

 

2.21                        Disparagementmeans, except as may be required by applicable law or legal process, making comments or statements that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any manner: (a) the business of the Company or its Affiliates (including any products or business plans or prospects); or (b) the business reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, or any of their products, or their past or present officers, directors or employees.

 

2.22                        Effective Datemeans the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XVI.

 

2.23                        Eligible Employeemeans an employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

2.24                        Exchange Actmeans the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Any references to any section of the Exchange Act shall also be a reference to any successor provision.

 

2.25                        Exercisable Awardshas the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(d).

 

2.26                        Fair Market Valueunless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code, means as of any date and except as provided below, (a) the closing price reported for the Common Stock on such date (i) as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded; or (ii) if not traded on any such national securities exchange, as quoted on an automated quotation system sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or (b) if the Common Stock shall not have been reported or quoted on such date, on the first day prior thereto on which the Common Stock was reported or quoted.  If the Common Stock is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted, then Fair Market Value means the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee in good faith in whatever manner it considers appropriate, taking into account the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code, as applicable.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of any Stock Options that are granted effective on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value shall equal the initial public offering price of the Common Stock.

 

2.27                        Family Membermeans “family member” as defined in Section A.1.(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8, as may be amended from time to time.

 

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2.28                        FSmeans FS Equity Partners VI, L.P.

 

2.29                        FS Affiliatesmeans FS Affiliates VI, L.P.

 

2.30                        Incentive Stock Optionmeans any Stock Option awarded to an Eligible Employee of the Company, its Corporate Subsidiaries or its Parent intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.31                        Individual Target Awardhas the meaning in Section 9.1.

 

2.32                        Investor Rights Agreementmeans the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2017, among the Company, Ares, FS and FS Affiliates VI, L.P.

 

2.33                        Non-Employee Directormeans a director of the Company who is not an active employee of the Company or a Corporate Subsidiary.

 

2.34                        Non-Qualified Stock Optionmeans any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.35                        Other Extraordinary Eventhas the meaning in Section 4.2(b).

 

2.36                        Other Stock-Based Awardmeans an Award under Article VIII that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Common Stock.

 

2.37                        Parentmeans, with respect to any corporation, a parent corporation of such corporation within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

2.38                        Participantmeans an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.39                        Performance-Based Cash Awardmeans a cash Award under Article IX that is payable or otherwise based on the attainment of certain pre-established performance goals during a Performance Period.

 

2.40                        Performance Criteriahas the meaning set forth in Exhibit A.

 

2.41                        Performance Periodmeans each fiscal year of the Company or such other period (as specified by the Committee) over which the attainment of performance goals is measured.

 

2.42                        Performance Sharemeans an Other Stock-Based Award of the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock or cash of an equivalent value at the end of a specified Performance Period.

 

2.43                        Performance Unitmeans an Other Stock-Based Award of the right to receive a fixed dollar amount, payable in cash or Common Stock or a combination of both, at the end of a specified Performance Period.

 

2.44                        Permitted Holdermeans, individually or in combination, Ares, ACOF Operating Manager III, LLC, FS and FS Capital Partners VI, LLC and their respective Related Parties and George Vincent West and any of his controlled Affiliates.

 

2.45                        Personmeans any individual, entity (including any employee benefit plan or any trust for an employee benefit plan) or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision).

 

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2.46                        Planmeans this Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

2.47                        Registration Datemeans the first date on or after the Effective Date that the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 216000) under the Securities Act is declared effective.

 

2.48                        Related Partiesmeans, with respect to any Person that is an investment fund, (a) an Affiliate of such Person, (b) any investment manager, investment partnership, investment adviser or general partner of such Person, (c) any investment fund, investment partnership, investment account or other investment Person whose investment manager, investment adviser, managing member or general partner is such Person or a Related Party of such Person and (d) any equity investor, partner, officer, member or manager of such Person; provided, however, that no Person shall be deemed to be a Related Party or an Affiliate of another Person solely by virtue of the fact that both Persons own shares of the capital stock of the Company.

 

2.49                        Restricted Stockmeans an Award of shares of Common Stock that is subject to restrictions pursuant to Article VII.

 

2.50                        Restriction Periodhas the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

 

2.51                        Rule 16b-3means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.

 

2.52                        Section 162(m)means the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.53                        Section 4.2 Eventhas the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

 

2.54                        Section 409Ameans the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code.

 

2.55                        Section 409A Covered Awardhas the meaning set forth in Section 15.14.

 

2.56                        Securities Actmeans the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Any reference to any section of the Securities Act shall also be a reference to any successor provision.

 

2.57                        Stock Option or Optionmeans any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Eligible Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants pursuant to Article VI.

 

2.58                        Subsidiaryof any Person shall mean any other Person of which such first Person (either alone or with any other Subsidiaries) either (a) owns securities or other equity interests having the ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if no such governing body exists, the ownership of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Person or (b) is or controls the managing member, managing director or general partner of such Person.

 

2.59                        Supplier means any Person who supplies products or services to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and with whom a Participant had material business-related contact (whether in person, by telephone or by paper or electronic correspondence) on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

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2.60                        Ten Percent Stockholdermeans an individual described in Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

 

2.61                        Terminationmeans a Termination of Consultancy, Termination of Directorship or Termination of Employment, as applicable.

 

2.62                        Termination of Consultancymeans: (a) that the Consultant is no longer acting as a consultant to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or (b) when an entity that is retaining a Participant as a Consultant ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, a Consultant to the Company or another Affiliate of the Company at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company.  In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of his or her consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Committee no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant, an Eligible Employee or a Non-Employee Director.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, otherwise define Termination of Consultancy in the Award agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are substantially impaired, may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy thereafter.

 

2.63                        Termination of Directorshipmeans that the Non-Employee Director has ceased to be a director of the Company; except that if a Non-Employee Director becomes an Eligible Employee or a Consultant upon the termination of his or her directorship, his or her ceasing to be a director of the Company shall not be treated as a Termination of Directorship unless and until the Participant has a Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, as the case may be.

 

2.64                        Termination of Employmentmeans: (a) a termination of employment (for reasons other than a military or approved personal leave of absence) of a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates; or (b) when an entity that is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, employed by the Company or another Affiliate of the Company at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company.  In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director upon the termination of his or her employment, unless otherwise determined by the Committee no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Award agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are substantially impaired, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter.

 

2.65                        Transfermeans: (a) when used as a noun, any direct or indirect transfer, offer, sale, assignment, pledge, lease, donation, grant, gift, bequest, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including the issuance of equity in a Person), whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or involuntary (including by operation of law), and (b) when used as a verb, to directly or indirectly transfer, offer, sell, assign, pledge, lease, donate, grant, gift, bequest, encumber, charge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (including the issuance of equity in a Person) whether for value or for no value and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law).  “Transferable” and “Transferred” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

2.66                        Transition Periodmeans the “reliance period” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2), which ends on the earliest to occur of the following: (i) the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected that occurs after December 31, 2020; (ii) the date the Plan is materially amended for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(h)(1)(iii); or (iii) the date all shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been allocated.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1                               The Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee.

 

3.2                               Grant and Administration of Awards. The Committee shall have full authority and discretion, as provided in Section 3.7, to grant and administer Awards including the authority to:

 

(a)                                 select the Eligible Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(b)                                 determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award;

 

(c)                                  determine the type and the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction, forfeiture, limitation, or any vesting schedule or acceleration or waiver thereof);

 

(d)                                 determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;

 

(e)                                  determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to refrain from selling or otherwise disposing of Common Stock acquired pursuant to such Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee;

 

(f)                                   condition the grant, vesting or payment of any Award on the attainment of performance goals (including goals based on the Performance Criteria) over a Performance Period, set such goals and such period, and certify the attainment of such goals;

 

(g)                                  adopt, alter and repeal such sub-plans to the Plan as it shall deem necessary or advisable;

 

(h)                                 amend, after the date of grant, the terms that apply to an Award, provided that such amendment does not substantially impair the Participant’s rights under the Award;

 

(i)                                     determine the circumstances under which Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred automatically or at the election of the Participant, in each case in a manner intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A;

 

(j)                                    generally, exercise such powers and perform such acts as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the Company in connection with the Plan that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan;

 

(k)                                 construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (and any agreements relating thereto); and

 

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(l)                                     correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto.

 

3.3                               Award Agreements. All Awards shall be evidenced by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, a written notice provided by the Company to the Participant or a written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.

 

3.4                               Guidelines. Subject to Articles XII and XIII, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, have the authority to: adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, adopt special guidelines and provisions for Persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of, any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities laws of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions.  To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.

 

3.5                               Section 162(m). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to any provision of the Plan or any agreement relating thereto that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) following the Transition Period, any action or determination by the Committee shall be permitted only to the extent such action or determination would be permitted under Section 162(m).  The Plan is intended to rely on the Transition Period and, following the Transition Period with respect to Awards intended to be “performance-based,” to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m), and the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.

 

3.6                               Delegation; Advisors. The Committee may, from time to time as it deems advisable, to the extent permitted by applicable law and stock exchange rules:

 

(a)                                 delegate its responsibilities to officers or employees of the Company and its Affiliates, including delegating authority to officers to grant Awards or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee; and

 

(b)                                 engage legal counsel, consultants, professional advisors and agents to assist in the administration of the Plan and rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such Person.  Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such Person shall be paid by the Company.

 

3.7                               Decisions Final. All determinations, evaluations, elections, approvals, authorizations, consents, decisions, interpretations and other actions made or taken by or at the direction of the Company, the Board or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of all and each of them, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all employees and Participants and their respective beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

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3.8                               Procedures. If the Committee is appointed, the Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it shall deem advisable including by telephone conference, and may properly take actions at any such meeting at which a quorum is present, or by unanimous written consent, in each case in accordance with the By-Laws of the Company and applicable law.  The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.

 

3.9                               Liability; Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 The Committee, its members and any delegate or Person engaged pursuant to Section 3.6 shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliates or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.

 

(b)                                 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such Person, each current or former officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliates and member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of the Plan, except to the extent such indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.  Such indemnification shall be in addition to any rights of indemnification provided for under applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or any of its Affiliates.  Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to him or her.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

SHARE LIMITATIONS

 

4.1                               Shares.

 

(a)                                 General Limitations.

 

(i)                                     The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted over the term of the Plan shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2).

 

(ii)                                  If any Appreciation Award expires, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any unexercised portion shall be again available under the Plan.  If shares of Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards that are not Appreciation Awards are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited shares comprising or underlying the Award shall again be available under the Plan.

 

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(iii)                               The number of shares available under the Plan shall be reduced by (A) the total number of Appreciation Awards that have been exercised, regardless of whether any shares of Common Stock underlying such Awards are not actually issued to the Participant as the result of a net exercise or settlement, and (B) all shares of Common Stock, not covered by (A) above, used to pay any exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any Award.  In addition, the Company may not use the cash proceeds it receives from Stock Option exercises to repurchase shares of Common Stock on the open market for reuse under the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Awards that may be settled solely in cash shall not be deemed to use any shares under the Plan.

 

(iv)                              Shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company, or both.

 

(b)                                 Individual Participant Limitations.  Except as otherwise provided herein:

 

(i)                                     the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Stock Options, Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock granted to each Eligible Employee or Consultant during any fiscal year of the Company is 1,000,000 shares per type of Award (subject to increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2); provided that the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for all types of Awards during any fiscal year of the Company that may be granted to each Eligible Employee or Consultant is 1,000,000 shares (subject to increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2);

 

(ii)                                  the maximum value at grant of Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in dollars and Performance-Based Cash Awards that may be granted and paid during any fiscal year of the Company to each Eligible Employee or Consultant is $10,000,000; and

 

(iii)                               the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be made subject to Awards granted to each Non-Employee Director during any fiscal year of the Company is 1,000,000 shares (subject to increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2);

 

provided, however, that the foregoing individual Participant limits shall be cumulative; that is, to the extent that shares of Common Stock for which Awards are permitted to be granted during a fiscal year to an individual Participant are not actually made subject to an Award in a fiscal year, the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards to such Participant automatically shall increase in the subsequent fiscal years during the term of the Plan until used; and provided further, however, that the foregoing individual Participant limits shall not apply to (A) Options or Other Stock-Based Awards that are stock appreciation rights and (B) Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards that constitute “restricted property” under Code Section 83 to the extent granted during the Transition Period, even if such Restricted Stock or Other Stock-Based Awards that constitute “restricted property” under Code Section 83 vest or are settled after the Transition Period.

 

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4.2                               Changes.

 

(a)                                 The existence of the Plan and the Awards shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (vi) any Section 4.2 Event or (vii) any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b)                                 Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2(d), in the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin off, split off, reorganization or partial or complete liquidation, sale or transfer of all or part of the Company’s assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an “equity restructuring” within the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718 (each, a “Section 4.2 Event”), then (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the purchase or exercise price of Awards, or (iv) the individual Participant limits set forth in Section 4.1(b) (other than cash limitations) shall be adjusted by the Committee as the Committee determines, in good faith, to be necessary or advisable to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan.  In connection with any Section 4.2 Event, the Committee may provide for the cancellation of outstanding Awards and payment in cash or other property in exchange therefor.  In addition, subject to Section 4.2(d), in the event of any change in the capital structure of the Company that is not a Section 4.2 Event (an “Other Extraordinary Event”), then the Committee may make the adjustments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above as it determines, in good faith, to be necessary or advisable to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan.  Notice of any such adjustment shall be given by the Committee, or otherwise be made available, to each Participant whose Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be binding for all purposes of the Plan.  Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.2(b) or in the applicable Award agreement, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any Section 4.2 Event or any Other Extraordinary Event.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4.2(b) to Awards that are considered “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be made in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A; and (y) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 4.2(b) to Awards that are not considered “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made in a manner intended to ensure that after such adjustment, the Awards either (A) continue not to be subject to Section 409A or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(c)                                  Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or (b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise by rounding-down to the nearest whole share.  No cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding.

 

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(d)                                 Upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event, the Committee may terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant-elected exercise (collectively, “Exercisable Awards”), effective as of the date of the Acquisition Event, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least 10 days prior to the date of consummation of the Acquisition Event, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Exercisable Awards that are then outstanding to the extent vested on the date such notice of termination is given (or, at the discretion of the Committee, without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Acquisition Event, and, provided that, if the Acquisition Event does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void and the applicable provisions of Section 4.2(b) and Article X shall apply.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of an Acquisition Event, the Committee may terminate any Exercisable Award for which the exercise price is equal to or exceeds the Fair Market Value on the date of the Acquisition Event without payment of consideration therefor.  If an Acquisition Event occurs but the Committee does not terminate the outstanding Awards pursuant to this Section 4.2(d), then the provisions of Section 4.2(b) and Article X shall apply.

 

4.3                               Minimum Purchase Price. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan, such shares shall not be issued for a consideration that is less than permitted under applicable law.

 

ARTICLE V

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

5.1                               General Eligibility. All current and prospective Eligible Employees and Consultants, and current Non-Employee Directors, are eligible to be granted Awards.  Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Award under which a Participant may receive shares of Common Stock may be granted to an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director of any Affiliate of the Company if such shares of Common Stock do not constitute “service recipient stock” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director if such shares are required to constitute “service recipient stock” for such Award to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.

 

5.2                               Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, only Eligible Employees of the Company, its Corporate Subsidiaries and its Parent (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.  Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

 

5.3                               General Requirement. The grant of Awards to a prospective Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director and the vesting and exercise of such Awards shall be conditioned upon such Person actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director; provided, however, that no Award may be granted to a prospective Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director unless the Company determines that the Award will comply with applicable laws, including the securities laws of all relevant jurisdictions (and, in the case of an Award to an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director pursuant to which Common Stock would be issued prior to such Person performing services for the Company, the Company may require payment of not less than the par value of the Common Stock by cash or check in order to ensure proper issuance of the shares in compliance with applicable law).  Awards may be granted in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

STOCK OPTIONS

 

6.1                               Stock Options. Each Stock Option shall be one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or a combination thereof.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Consultant or Non-Employee Director Non-Qualified Stock Options.  To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof that does not qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

6.2                               Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the consent of the Participants affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

6.3                               Terms of Stock Options. Stock Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine:

 

(a)                                 Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee on or before the date of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

 

(b)                                 Stock Option Term.  The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date such Stock Option is granted (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, five years).

 

(c)                                  Exercisability.

 

(i)                                     Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at grant.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the vesting period applicable to Stock Options granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date shall be no less than (A) one year, if vesting is based (in whole or in part) on the attainment of one or more performance goals, and (B) three years (with no more than one-third of the shares subject thereto vesting on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant), if the vesting is based solely on the continued performance of services by the Participant; provided, that the Committee shall be authorized (at the time of grant or thereafter) to provide for earlier vesting in the event of a Change in Control or a Participant’s retirement, death or Disability; and provided further, that Awards granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date with respect to no more than 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan shall be exempt from the foregoing limitations.  Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee may waive any limitations on exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, in its discretion.

 

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(ii)                                  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, the Option agreement shall provide that (A) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity prior to any exercise of the Stock Option, all Stock Options held by the Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire, (B) as a condition of the exercise of a Stock Option, the Participant shall be required to certify in a manner acceptable to the Company (or shall be deemed to have certified) that the Participant is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and that the Participant has not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, any Detrimental Activity, and (C) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity during the one-year period commencing on the later of the date the Stock Option is exercised or the date of the Participant’s Termination, the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Participant at any time within one year after such date, and the Participant shall pay over to the Company, an amount equal to any gain realized (whether at the time of exercise or thereafter) as a result of the exercise.

 

(d)                                 Method of Exercise.  To the extent vested, a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Committee (or its designee) specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased.  Such notice shall be in a form acceptable to the Committee and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price as follows: (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law and authorized by the Committee, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on a national quotation system sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price; or (iii) on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Committee (including the relinquishment of Stock Options or by payment in full or in part in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant (for which the Participant has good title free and clear of any liens and encumbrances)).  No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for.

 

(e)                                  Unvested Stock Options.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participant’s Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire on the date of such Termination.

 

(f)                                   Incentive Stock Option Limitations.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plan of the Company, any Corporate Subsidiary of the Company or any Parent of the Company exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.  In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Parent of the Company at all times from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

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(g)                                  Form, Modification, Extension and Renewal of Stock Options.  Stock Options may be evidenced by such form of agreement as is approved by the Committee.  The Committee may (i) modify, extend or renew outstanding Stock Options (provided that (A) the rights of a Participant are not substantially impaired without his or her consent and (B) such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A or otherwise extend the Stock Options beyond their stated term), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 4.2), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(h)                                 No Reload Options.  Options shall not provide for the grant of the same number of Options as the number of shares used to pay for the exercise price of Options or shares used to pay withholding taxes (i.e., “reloads”).

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RESTRICTED STOCK

 

7.1                               Awards of Restricted StockThe Committee shall determine the Participants, to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock shall be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the purchase price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 7.2), the time or times at which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture or to restrictions on transfer, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards.

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, each Award of Restricted Stock shall provide that (A) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity prior to any vesting of Restricted Stock, all unvested Restricted Stock shall be immediately forfeited, and (B) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity during the one year period after any vesting of such Restricted Stock, the Committee shall be entitled to recover from the Participant (at any time within one year after such engagement in Detrimental Activity) an amount equal to the Fair Market Value as of the vesting date(s) of any Restricted Stock that had vested in the period referred to above.

 

The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals (including goals based on the Performance Criteria) or such other factors as the Committee may determine.

 

7.2                               Awards and Certificates. The Committee may require, as a condition to the effectiveness of an Award of Restricted Stock, that the Participant execute and deliver to the Company an Award agreement or other documentation and comply with the terms of such Award agreement or other documentation. Further, Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

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(a)                                 Purchase Price.  The purchase price of Restricted Stock, if any, shall be fixed by the Committee.  In accordance with Section 4.3, the purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.

 

(b)                                 Legend.  Each Participant receiving Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Stock.  Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by applicable securities laws, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:

 

“The anticipation, alienation, attachment, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge of the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), and an Award agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Company.  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company.”

 

(c)                                  Custody.  If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that such stock certificates be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions on the shares have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

 

7.3                               Restrictions and Conditions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

 

(a)                                 Restriction Period.

 

(i)                                     The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock, and the Restricted Stock shall be subject to a risk of forfeiture (collectively, “restrictions”) during the period or periods set by the Committee (the “Restriction Periods”), as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award agreement.  The Committee may provide for the lapse of the restrictions in whole or in part (including in installments) based on service, attainment of performance goals or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine, and may waive all or any part of the restrictions at any time subject to Section 7.3(a)(iii).

 

(ii)                                  If the grant of Restricted Stock or the lapse of restrictions is based on the attainment of performance goals, the Committee shall establish in writing the performance goals prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at a later date while the outcome of the performance goals is substantially uncertain and, following the Transition Period, that is permitted under Section 162(m) with regard to an Award of Restricted Stock that is intended to comply with Section 162(m).  Such performance goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar events or circumstances.  Following the Transition Period, with regard to an Award of Restricted Stock that is intended to comply with Section 162(m), (A) to the extent that any such provision set forth in the prior sentence would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) or otherwise violate Section 162(m), such provision shall be of no force or effect and (B) the applicable performance goals shall be based on one or more of the Performance Criteria.  For the avoidance of doubt, during the Transition Period, the Committee may establish such performance goals as it determines.

 

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(iii)                               Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Stock Award granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date shall be no less than (A) one year, if the lapsing of restrictions is based (in whole or in part) on the attainment of one or more performance goals, and (B) three years (with restrictions as to no more than one-third of the shares subject thereto lapsing on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant), if the lapsing of restrictions is based solely on the continued performance of services by the Participant; provided, that the Committee shall be authorized (at the time of grant or thereafter) to provide for the earlier lapsing of restrictions in the event of a Change in Control or a Participant’s retirement, death or Disability; and provided further, that Awards granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date with respect to no more than 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards shall be exempt from the foregoing limitations.

 

(b)                                 Rights as a Stockholder; Dividends.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participant shall have all the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company with respect to Restricted Stock, subject to the following provisions of this Section 7.3(b). Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) the Participant shall have no right to tender shares of Restricted Stock, (ii) dividends or other distributions  on shares of Restricted Stock shall be withheld, in each case, while the Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions, and (iii) no dividends or other distributions payable thereunder be paid unless and until the shares of Restricted Stock to which they relate no longer are subject to a risk of forfeiture. Dividends and other distributions that are not paid currently shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan and, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, shall not accrue interest. Such dividends and other distributions shall be paid to the Participant in the same form as paid on the Common Stock upon the lapse of the restrictions.

 

(c)                                  Lapse of Restrictions.  If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant, and any and all unpaid distributions or dividends payable thereunder shall be paid.  All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by applicable law or other conditions imposed by the Committee.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

 

8.1                               Other Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, shares of Common Stock awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, shares of Common Stock in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, stock appreciation rights, stock equivalent units, restricted stock units, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Common Stock.

 

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The Committee shall have authority to determine the Participants, to whom, and the time or times at which, Other Stock-Based Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards.

 

The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of performance goals (including performance goals based on the Performance Criteria) or such other factors as the Committee may determine.  If the grant or vesting of an Other Stock-Based Award is based on the attainment of performance goals, the Committee shall establish in writing the performance goals prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at a later date while the outcome of the performance goals is substantially uncertain and, following the Transition Period, that is permitted under Section 162(m) with regard to an Other Stock-Based Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m).  Such performance goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar events or circumstances).  Following the Transition Period, with regard to an Other Stock-Based Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m), (a) to the extent any such provision set forth in the prior sentence would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) or otherwise violate Section 162(m), such provision shall be of no force or effect and (b) the applicable performance goals shall be based on one or more of the Performance Criteria.  For the avoidance of doubt, during the Transition Period, the Committee may establish such performance goals as it determines.

 

8.2                               Terms and Conditions. Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article VIII shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)                                 Dividends.  The Committee shall determine to what extent, and under what conditions, the Participant shall have the right to receive dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by Other Stock-Based Awards. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, dividends, dividend equivalents and distributions with respect to unvested Other Stock-Based Awards shall be withheld until such Other Stock-Based Awards vest. Dividends, dividend equivalents and other distributions that are not paid currently shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan and, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, shall not accrue interest. Such dividends, dividend equivalents and other distributions shall be paid to the Participant in the same form as paid on the Common Stock or such other form as is determined by the Committee upon the lapse of the restrictions.

 

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(b)                                 Vesting.  Other Stock Based Awards and any underlying Common Stock shall vest or be forfeited to the extent set forth in the applicable Award agreement or as otherwise determined by the Committee.  At the expiration of any applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the relevant performance goals are achieved and the portion of each Other Stock-Based Award that has been earned.  The Committee may, at or after grant, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Other Stock-Based Award.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the minimum vesting period with respect to any Other Stock-Based Awards granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date shall be no less than (i) one year, if the vesting is based (in whole or in part) on the attainment of one or more performance goals, and (ii) three years (with restrictions as to no more than one-third of the shares subject thereto lapsing on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant), if the vesting is based solely on the continued performance of services by the Participant; provided, that, the Committee shall be authorized (at the time of grant or thereafter) to provide for the earlier vesting in the event of a Change in Control or a Participant’s retirement, death or Disability; and provided further, that, Awards granted to Eligible Employees after the Registration Date with respect to no more than 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan shall be exempt from the foregoing limitations.

 

(c)           Payment.  Following the Committee’s determination in accordance with subsection (b) above, shares of Common Stock or, as determined by the Committee, the cash equivalent of such shares, shall be delivered to the Eligible Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director, or his or her legal representative, in an amount equal to such individual’s earned Other Stock-Based Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may (i) award an amount less than otherwise would be provided under the applicable level of attainment of the performance goals or (ii) subject the payment of all or part of any Other Stock-Based Award to additional vesting, forfeiture and deferral conditions, in each case, as it deems appropriate.

 

(d)           Detrimental Activity.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, each Other Stock-Based Award shall provide that (A) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity prior to any vesting of such Other Stock-Based Award, all unvested Other Stock-Based Award shall be immediately forfeited, and (B) in the event the Participant engages in Detrimental Activity during the one year period after any vesting of such Other Stock-Based Award, the Committee shall be entitled to recover from the Participant (at any time within the one-year period after such engagement in Detrimental Activity) an amount equal to any gain the Participant realized from any Other Stock-Based Award that had vested in the period referred to above.

 

(e)           Price.  Common Stock issued on a bonus basis under this Article VIII may be issued for no cash consideration; Common Stock purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article VIII shall be priced as determined by the Committee.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

PERFORMANCE-BASED CASH AWARDS

 

9.1          Performance-Based Cash AwardsThe Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Employees and Consultants to whom, and the time or times at which, Performance-Based Cash Awards shall be made, the dollar amount to be awarded pursuant to such Performance-Based Cash Award, and all other conditions for the payment of the Performance-Based Cash Award.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee shall condition the right to payment of any Performance-Based Cash Award upon the attainment of specified performance goals (including performance goals based on the Performance Criteria) established pursuant to Section 9.2(c) and such other factors as the Committee may determine, including to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m).  The Committee may establish different performance goals for different Participants.

 

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Subject to Section 9.2(c), for any Participant the Committee may specify a targeted Performance-Based Cash Award for a Performance Period (each an “Individual Target Award”).  An Individual Target Award may be expressed, at the Committee’s discretion, as a fixed dollar amount, a percentage of the Participant’s base pay, as a percentage of a bonus pool funded by a formula based on achievement of performance goals, or an amount determined pursuant to an objective formula or standard.  The Committee’s establishment of an Individual Target Award for a Participant for a Performance Period shall not imply or require that the same level or any Individual Target Award be established for the Participant for any subsequent Performance Period or for any other Participant for that Performance Period or any subsequent Performance Period.  At the time the performance goals are established (as provided in Section 9.2(c)), the Committee shall prescribe a formula to determine the maximum and minimum percentages (which may be greater or less than 100% of an Individual Target Award) that may be earned or payable based upon the degree of attainment of the performance goals during the Performance Period.  Notwithstanding anything else herein, unless otherwise specified by the Committee with respect to an Individual Target Award, the Committee may elect to pay a Participant an amount that is less than the Participant’s Individual Target Award (or attained percentages thereof) regardless of the degree of attainment of the performance goals; provided that, except as otherwise specified by the Committee with respect to an Individual Target Award, no discretion to reduce a Performance-Based Cash Award earned based on achievement of the applicable performance goals shall be permitted for any Performance Period in which a Change in Control occurs, or during such Performance Period with regard to the prior Performance Periods if the Performance-Based Cash Awards for the prior Performance Periods have not been paid by the time of the Change in Control, with regard to individuals who were Participants at the time of the Change in Control.

 

9.2          Terms and ConditionsPerformance-Based Cash Awards shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)           Committee Certification.  At the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall determine and certify in writing the extent to which the performance goals established pursuant to Section 9.2(c) are achieved and, if applicable, the percentage of the Performance-Based Cash Award that has been vested and earned.

 

(b)           Waiver of Limitation.  In the event of the Participant’s Disability or death, or in cases of special circumstances (to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) with regard to a Performance-Based Cash Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m)), the Committee may waive in whole or in part any or all of the limitations imposed thereunder with respect to any or all of a Performance-Based Cash Award.

 

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(c)           Performance Goals, Formulae or Standards.  The Committee shall establish in writing the performance goals for the earning of Performance-Based Cash Awards based on a Performance Period prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at a later date while the outcome of the performance goals is substantially uncertain and, following the Transition Period, that is permitted under Section 162(m) with regard to a Performance-Based Cash Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m).  Such performance goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances.  Following the Transition Period, with regard to a Performance-Based Cash Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m), (i) to the extent any such provision set forth in the prior sentence would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) or otherwise violate Section 162(m), such provision shall be of no force or effect and (ii) the applicable performance goals shall be based on one or more of the Performance Criteria.  For the avoidance of doubt, during the Transition Period, the Committee may establish such performance goals as it determines.

 

(d)           Payment.  Following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with subsection (a) above, the earned Performance-Based Cash Award amount shall be paid to the Participant or his or her legal representative, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Performance-Based Cash Award agreement, but in no event, except as provided in the next sentence, shall such amount be paid after the later of: (i) March 15 of the year following the year in which the applicable Performance Period ends (or, if later, the year in which the Award is earned); or (ii) two and one-half months after the expiration of the fiscal year of the Company in which the applicable Performance Period ends.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may place such conditions on the payment of all or any portion of any Performance-Based Cash Award as the Committee may determine and prior to the beginning of a Performance Period the Committee may (A) provide that the payment of all or any portion of any Performance-Based Cash Award shall be deferred and (B) permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of any Performance-Based Cash Award.  Any Performance-Based Cash Award deferred by a Participant in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee shall not increase (between the date on which the Performance-Based Cash Award is credited to any deferred compensation program applicable to such Participant and the payment date) by an amount that would result in such deferral being deemed as an “increase in the amount of compensation” under Section 162(m).  To the extent applicable, any deferral under this Section 9.2(d) shall be made in a manner intended to comply with or be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may award an amount less than otherwise would be provided under the applicable level of attainment of the performance goals.

 

ARTICLE X

 

CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

 

10.1        In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement or otherwise in writing, a Participant’s unvested Award shall not vest and a Participant’s Award shall be treated in accordance with any one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:

 

(a)           Awards, whether or not then vested, may be continued, assumed, have new rights substituted therefor or be treated in accordance with Section 4.2(d), and Restricted Stock or other Awards may, where appropriate in the discretion of the Committee, receive the same distributions as other Common Stock on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that, the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or any other Award in lieu of any cash distribution.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any assumption or substitution of Incentive Stock Options shall be structured in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto).

 

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(b)           Awards may be canceled in exchange for an amount of cash equal to the Change in Control Price (as defined below) per share of Common Stock covered by such Awards), less, in the case of an Appreciation Award, the exercise price per share of Common Stock covered by such Award.  The “Change in Control Price” means the price per share of Common Stock paid in the Change in Control transaction, subject to adjustment as determined by the Committee for any contingent purchase price, escrow obligations, indemnification obligations or other adjustments to the purchase price after the consummation of such Change in Control.

 

(c)           Appreciation Awards may be canceled without payment if the Change in Control Price is less than the exercise price per share of such Appreciation Awards.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Committee may provide for accelerated vesting of, or lapse of restrictions applicable to, an Award at any time.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

 

11.1        Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a)           Stock Options. No Stock Option shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that otherwise is not Transferable pursuant to this section is Transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part, and in such circumstances, and under such conditions as specified by the Committee.  A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is Transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be Transferred subsequently other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) shall remain subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award agreement.

 

(b)           Restricted Stock. The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock prior to the date on which the underlying Common Stock is issued, or, if later, the date on which all restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock lapse.

 

(c)           Other-Stock-Based Awards. The Participant may not Transfer Other Stock-Based Awards or the Common Stock underlying such Awards prior to the date on which the underlying Common Stock is issued, or, if later, the date on which any restriction, performance or deferral period applicable to such Common Stock lapses.

 

(d)           Performance-Based Cash Awards. The Participant may not Transfer Performance-Based Cash Awards other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

TERMINATION

 

12.1        Termination Provisions.

 

(a)           Stock Options.

 

(i)            Termination by Death or Disability.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant (or, if no rights of the Participant (or, in the case of his death, his estate) are substantially impaired, thereafter), if a Participant’s Termination is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant (or, in the case of death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate) at any time within a period of one year after the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

(ii)           Involuntary Termination Without Cause.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant (or, if no rights of the Participant (or, in the case of his death, his estate) are substantially impaired, thereafter), if a Participant’s Termination is by involuntary termination without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period beginning on the date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (A) 90 days after the date of such Termination, and (B) the expiration date of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

(iii)          Voluntary Termination.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant (or, if no rights of the Participant (or, in the case of his death, his estate) are substantially impaired, thereafter), if a Participant’s Termination is voluntary (other than a voluntary Termination described in subsection (iv)(2) below), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period beginning on the date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (A) 30 days after the date of such Termination, and (B) the expiration date of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

(iv)          Termination for Cause.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant (or, if no rights of the Participant (or, in the case of his death, his estate) are substantially impaired, thereafter), if a Participant’s Termination (1) is for Cause or (2) is a voluntary Termination after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall terminate and expire on the date of such Termination.

 

(b)           Restricted Stock.

 

(i)              Termination.  Upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant, or, if no rights of a Participant are substantially impaired, thereafter.

 

(c)           Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

(i)            Termination.  Upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the Performance Period, the Other Stock-Based Awards will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are substantially impaired, thereafter.

 

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(d)           Performance-Based Cash Awards.

 

(i)            Termination.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant (or, if no rights of the Participant (or, in the case of his death, his estate) are substantially impaired, thereafter), no Performance-Based Cash Award or pro rata portion thereof shall be payable to any Participant who incurs a Termination prior to the date such Performance-Based Cash Award is paid and the Performance-Based Cash Awards only shall be deemed to be earned when actually paid.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board, or the Committee (to the extent permitted by law), may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary or advisable to ensure that the Company may comply with any regulatory requirement referred to in Article XV or Section 409A), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be substantially impaired without the consent of such Participant and, provided further, without the approval of the holders of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to vote in accordance with applicable law, no amendment may be made that would:

 

(a)           increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except in accordance with Section 4.2);

 

(b)           increase the maximum individual Participant limits under Section 4.1(b) (except in accordance with Section 4.2);

 

(c)           change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan;

 

(d)           extend the maximum term of Options;

 

(e)           alter the Performance Criteria;

 

(f)            other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Section 4.2, amend the terms of outstanding Awards to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or Appreciation Awards, or cancel outstanding Stock Options or Appreciation Awards (where, prior to the reduction or cancellation, the exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value on the date of cancellation) in exchange for cash, other Awards or Stock Options or Appreciation Awards with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Stock Options or Appreciation Awards;

 

(g)           require stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) or, to the extent applicable to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code; or

 

(h)           require stockholder approval under the rules of any exchange or system on which the Company’s securities are listed or traded at the request of the Company.

 

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The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that no such amendment substantially impairs the rights of any Participant without the Participant’s consent.  Actions taken by the Committee in accordance with Article IV shall not be deemed to substantially impair the rights of any Participant.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board or the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award at any time without a Participant’s consent to comply with Section 409A or any other applicable law.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

UNFUNDED PLAN

 

The Plan is an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1        LegendThe Committee may require each Person receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof and such other securities law related representations as the Committee shall request.  In addition to any legend required by the Plan, the certificates or book entry accounts for such shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on Transfer.

 

All certificates or book entry accounts for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then quoted, any applicable Federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  If necessary or advisable in order to prevent a violation of applicable securities laws or to avoid the imposition of public company reporting requirements, then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any stock-settled Awards may, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, be paid in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the date of settlement of such Awards.

 

15.2        Other PlansNothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

15.3        No Right to Employment/Consultancy/DirectorshipNeither the Plan nor the grant of any Award thereunder shall give any Participant or other Person any right to employment, consultancy or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate his or her employment, consultancy or directorship at any time.

 

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15.4        Withholding of TaxesThe Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash thereunder, payment by the Participant of, any Federal, state, local or other taxes required by law to be withheld in an amount at least equal to the statutory minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld; provided, however, at the Participant’s election, the Participant may request the Company withhold additional amounts up to the Participant’s maximum individual tax rate in each relevant jurisdiction applicable to the Participant at such time of withholding, so long as the withholdings do not result in an Award under this Plan being classified as a liability-based award in accordance with applicable accounting standards.  Upon the vesting of Restricted Stock (or other Award that is taxable upon vesting), or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company.  Any required or permitted withholding obligation with regard to any Participant may be satisfied, subject to the consent of the Committee, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable or by delivering shares of Common Stock already owned.  Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy such tax obligations shall be disregarded and the amount due shall be paid instead in cash by the Participant.

 

15.5        No Assignment of BenefitsNo Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or permitted by the Committee, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such Person.

 

15.6        Listing and Other ConditionsIf at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any offer or sale of Common Stock pursuant to an Award is or may be unlawful or prohibited, or will or may result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company, under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction or under the rules of the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock then is listed, the Company shall have no obligation to make such offer or sale, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to the Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or Exercisable Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such offer or sale shall be lawful, permitted or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.  A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with any certificates, representations and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent or approval the Company deems necessary or appropriate.

 

15.7        Governing LawThe Plan and matters arising under or related to it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws that would cause the application of the law of another jurisdiction.

 

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15.8        ConstructionUnless a clear contrary intention appears: (a) the defined terms herein shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by the Plan or any Award agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually; (c) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (d) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof; (e) reference to any law, rule or regulation means such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any law, rule or regulation means that provision of such law, rule or regulation from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision; (f) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,”  and words of similar import shall be deemed references to the Plan as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other provision hereof; (g) numbered or lettered articles, sections and subsections herein contained refer to articles, sections and subsections of the Plan; (h) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; (i) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”; (j) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto; and (k) reference to dollars or $ shall be deemed to refer to U.S. dollars.

 

15.9        Other BenefitsNo Award, whether at grant or payment, shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates or shall affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation, unless expressly provided to the contrary in such benefit plan.

 

15.10      CostsThe Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to any Awards.

 

15.11      No Right to Same BenefitsThe provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and each Award to an individual Participant need not be the same.

 

15.12      Death/DisabilityThe Committee may require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award.  The Committee also may require that the transferee agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

15.13      Section 16(b) of the Exchange ActAll elections and transactions under the Plan by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive condition under Rule 16b-3.  The Committee may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or advisable for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.

 

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15.14      Section 409AAlthough the Company does not guarantee to a Participant the particular tax treatment of any Award, all Awards are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A and the Plan and any Award agreement shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.  To the extent that any Award constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A (a “Section 409A Covered Award”), it is intended to be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A.  In no event shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A or for any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in an Award to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to Section 409A Covered Awards:

 

(a)           A Termination of Employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of a Section 409A Covered Award providing for payment upon or following a termination of the Participant’s employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of a Section 409A Covered Award, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean separation from service.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or the Award, if the Participant is deemed on the date of the Participant’s Termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology set forth in Section 409A, then with regard to any such payment under a Section 409A Covered Award, to the extent required to be delayed in compliance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, such payment shall not be made prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s separation from service, and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death.  All payments delayed pursuant to this Section 15.14(a) shall be paid to the Participant on the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Participant’s separation from service or, if earlier, on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

(b)           With respect to any payment pursuant to a Section 409A Covered Award that is triggered upon a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award agreement at grant, the settlement of such Award shall not occur until the earliest of (i) the Change in Control if such Change in Control constitutes a “change in the ownership of the corporation,” a “change in effective control of the corporation” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation,” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, (ii) the date such Award otherwise would be settled pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award agreement and (iii) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, subject to Section 15.14(a).

 

(c)           For purposes of Code Section 409A, a Participant’s right to receive any installment payments under the Plan or pursuant to an Award shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.

 

(d)           Whenever a payment under the Plan or pursuant to an Award specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within 30 days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

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15.15                 Successor and Assigns. The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate.

 

15.16                 Severability of ProvisionsIf any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

 

15.17                 Payments to Minors, EtcAny benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipt thereof shall be deemed paid when paid to such person’s guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Committee, the Board, the Company, its Affiliates and their employees, agents and representatives with respect thereto.

 

15.18                 Headings and CaptionsThe headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

 

15.19                 RecoupmentIn addition to the recoupment provisions set forth herein relating to Detrimental Activity, all Awards granted or other compensation paid by the Company under the Plan, including any shares of Common Stock issued under any Award thereunder, will be subject to: (i) any compensation recapture policies adopted or established by the Board or a committee of the Board from time to time, as it deems advisable, to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules, and (ii) any compensation recapture policies to the extent required pursuant to any applicable law (including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or other applicable law) or the rules and regulations of any national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then traded.

 

15.20                 Reformation; Permitted Disclosures.

 

(a)                                 If any provision regarding Detrimental Activity or any other provision set forth in the Plan or an Award agreement is found by any court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be invalid, void or unenforceable or to be excessively broad as to duration, activity, geographic application or subject, such provision or provisions shall be construed, by limiting or reducing them to the extent legally permitted, so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with then applicable law.

 

(b)                                 Nothing contained in this Plan or any Award agreement shall prohibit or prevent a Participant from (i) reporting possible violations of federal law or regulations, including any possible securities laws violations, to any governmental agency or entity, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Congress, or any agency Inspector General; (ii) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of Federal law or regulations; (iii) otherwise fully participating in any Federal whistleblower programs, including any such programs managed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; or (iv) receiving individual monetary awards or other individual relief by virtue of participating in any such Federal whistleblower programs.

 

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(c)                                  Under the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, a Participant shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) (A) in confidence to a Federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (ii) to a Participant’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against a Participant for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (iii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

 

15.21                 Electronic CommunicationsNotwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, any Award agreement, notice of exercise of an Exercisable Award, or other document or notice required or permitted by the Plan or an Award that is required to be delivered in writing may, to the extent determined by the Committee, be delivered and accepted electronically. Signatures also may be electronic if permitted by the Committee. The term “written agreement” as used in the Plan shall include any document that is delivered and/or accepted electronically.

 

15.22                 AgreementAs a condition to the grant of an Award, if requested by the Company and the lead underwriter of any public offering of the Common Stock (the “Lead Underwriter”), a Participant shall irrevocably agree not to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise Transfer or dispose of, any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into, derivative of, or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, or any other rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock  (except Common Stock included in such public offering or acquired on the public market after such offering) during such period of time following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act that the Lead Underwriter shall specify (the “Lock-up Period”).  The Participant shall further agree to sign such documents as may be requested by the Lead Underwriter to effect the foregoing and agree that the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award until the end of such Lock-up Period.

 

15.23                 No Rights as Stockholder.  Subject to the provisions of the Award agreement, no Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Award until such individual becomes the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Award.

 

15.24                 Transition PeriodThe Plan has been adopted by the Board prior to the occurrence of a Registration Date.  The Plan is intended to constitute a plan described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(1).

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

The Plan was adopted by the Board on April 13, 2017, effective on such date (the “Effective Date”).  The Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company on April 13, 2017.

 

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ARTICLE XVII

 

TERM OF PLAN

 

No Award shall be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (a) the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or (b) the date of stockholder approval of the Plan, provided that Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date in accordance with the terms of the Plan.  Following the Transition Period, the Company may seek stockholder reapproval of the Performance Criteria and to the extent that such stockholder approval is obtained no later than the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which such stockholders previously approved the Performance Criteria.  Awards (other than Stock Options or stock appreciation rights) may be based on such Performance Criteria in order to qualify for the “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

 

Performance goals established for purposes of the grant or vesting of performance-based Awards of Restricted Stock, Other Stock-Based Awards or Performance-Based Cash Awards that are intended to be “performance-based” under Section 162(m) shall be based on one or more of the following performance criteria (“Performance Criteria”):

 

(1)                                 enterprise value or value creation targets;

 

(2)                                 income or net income; operating income; net operating income or net operating income after tax; operating profit or net operating profit;

 

(3)                                 cash flow including, but not limited to, from operations or free cash flow;

 

(4)                                 specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in all or a portion of bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations, or other capital structure improvements, which may be calculated net of cash balances or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Committee;

 

(5)                                 sales, net sales, revenues, net income or earnings before income tax or other exclusions including earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization expenses (EBITDA);

 

(6)                                 same store sales performance or growth targets;

 

(7)                                 new store openings or new store performance;

 

(8)                                 operating margin; return on operating revenue or return on operating profit;

 

(9)                                 inventory turns, inventory productivity or inventory shrinkage;

 

(10)                          return measures (after tax or pre-tax), including return on capital employed, return on invested capital; return on equity, return on assets, return on net assets;

 

(11)                          market capitalization, earnings per share, fair market value of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock, franchise value (net of debt), economic value added;

 

(12)                          total stockholder return or growth in total stockholder return (with or without dividend reinvestment);

 

(13)                          proprietary investment results;

 

(14)                          estimated market share;

 

(15)                          expense management/control or reduction (including without limitation, compensation and benefits expense);

 

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(16)                          customer satisfaction;

 

(17)                          technological improvements/implementation, new product innovation;

 

(18)                          collections and recoveries;

 

(19)                          property/asset purchases;

 

(20)                          litigation and regulatory resolution/implementation goals;

 

(21)                          leases, contracts or financings (including renewals, overhead, savings, G&A and other expense control goals);

 

(22)                          risk management/implementation;

 

(23)                          development and implementation of strategic plans or organizational restructuring goals;

 

(24)                          development and implementation of risk and crisis management programs; compliance requirements and compliance relief; productivity goals; workforce management and succession planning goals;

 

(25)                          employee satisfaction or staff development;

 

(26)                          comparisons with various stock market indices;

 

(27)                          growth measures, including revenue growth, as compared with a peer group;

 

(28)                          working capital;

 

(29)                          supply chain achievements (including establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products);

 

(30)                          financial ratios, including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage

 

(31)                          occupancy costs and related metrics (including per square foot of leased premises and as a percentage of sales);

 

(32)                          advertising efficiencies and returns (including advertising expense to sales percentage);

 

(33)                          market penetration;

 

(34)                          geographic business expansion;

 

(35)                          customer growth;

 

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(36)                          formations of joint ventures or partnerships or the completion of other similar transactions intended to enhance revenue or profitability or to enhance its customer base; or

 

(37)                          completion of a merger, acquisition or any transaction that results in the sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets.

 

All Performance Criteria may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Company (or Affiliate, Subsidiary, division, other operational unit, business segment or administrative department of the Company or any of its Affiliates) performance under one or more of the measures described above and may be measured relative to the performance of other corporations (or an Affiliate, Subsidiary, division, other operational unit, business segment or administrative department of another corporation or any of its Affiliates).  Any goal may be expressed as a dollar figure, on a percentage basis (if applicable) or on a per share basis, and goals may be either absolute, relative to a selected peer group or index, or a combination of both.  To the extent permitted under Section 162(m), (including compliance with any requirements for stockholder approval), the Committee may: (i) designate additional business criteria on which the Performance Criteria may be based or (ii) adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria.

 

Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, the measures used in Performance Criteria set under the Plan shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in a manner consistent with the methods used in the Company’s regular reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, without regard to any of the following unless otherwise determined by the Committee consistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder:

 

(a)                                 all items of gain, loss or expense for the fiscal year or other applicable performance period that are related to special, unusual or non-recurring items, events or circumstances affecting the Company (or Affiliate, Subsidiary division, other operational unit, business segment or administrative department of the Company or any of its Affiliates) or the financial statements of the Company (or Affiliate, Subsidiary, division, other operational unit, business segment or administrative department of the Company or any of its Affiliates);

 

(b)                                 all items of gain, loss or expense for the fiscal year or other applicable performance period that are related to (i) the disposal of a business or discontinued operations or (ii) the operations of any business acquired by the Company (or Affiliate, division, other operational unit, business segment or administrative department of the Company or any Affiliate) during the fiscal year or other applicable performance period; and

 

(c)                                  all items of gain, loss or expense for the fiscal year or other applicable performance period that are related to changes in accounting principles or to changes in applicable law or regulations.

 

To the extent any Performance Criteria are expressed using any measures that require deviations from GAAP, such deviations shall be at the discretion of the Committee as exercised at the time the Performance Criteria are set and, following the Transition Period, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m).

 

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EX-99.1 5 a17-3570_12ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

 

ATLANTA, May 2, 2017 Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “Floor & Decor”) (NYSE: FND) today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 10,147,025 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $21.00 per share, which includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase from the Company an additional 1,323,525 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

 

The shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 27, 2017 under the symbol “FND.”

 

BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Jefferies, Piper Jaffray and Wells Fargo Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering.  Houlihan Lokey acted as co-manager for the offering.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and on April 26, 2017 was declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from: BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001; or Barclays, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: (888) 603-5847, or by email at Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com.

 

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described above, nor shall there be any sale of such shares of common stock in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

About Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.

 

Floor & Decor is a multi-channel specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories, offering a broad in-stock assortment of tile, wood, laminate and natural stone flooring along with decorative and installation accessories at everyday low prices.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this release, including statements regarding the Company’s future operating results and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 



 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “seeks,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “budget,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are only predictions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements in this release are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future events, results, performance or achievements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements in this release, including, without limitation, those factors described in “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Business” sections and elsewhere in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1.

 

Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict those events or how they may affect the Company. If a change to the events and circumstances reflected in the Company’s forward-looking statements occurs, the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results may vary materially from those expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein after the Company distributes this release, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Investor Contact:

 

ICR

Farah Soi/Rachel Schacter

203-682-8200

InvestorRelations@flooranddecor.com

 

Media Contact:

 

ICR

Alecia Pulman/Brittany Fraser

203-682-8200

Alecia.Pulman@icrinc.com/Brittany.Fraser@icrinc.com

 

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