EX-2.1 2 tm2113760d2_ex2-1.htm EXHIBIT 2.1

Exhibit 2.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

TRANSACTION AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION,

 

HORIZON SPONSOR, LLC,

 

HOYA TOPCO, LLC,

 

HOYA INTERMEDIATE, LLC

 

AND

 

VIVID SEATS INC.

 

dated as of April 21, 2021

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page 

Article I

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Definitions 7
Section 1.2    Construction 22
Section 1.3    Knowledge 23

Article II

 

TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING

Section 2.1    Pre-Closing Restructuring; The Merger 23
Section 2.2    Effect of the Merger on Horizon and VS PubCo Securities 25
Section 2.3    PIPE Subscriptions 26
Section 2.4    Second A&R LLCA 26
Section 2.5    Blocker Purchase 26
Section 2.6    Intermediate Contribution and Issuance; Potential Payment 27
Section 2.7    Crescent Redemption 27
Section 2.8    Class B Issuance 27
Section 2.9    Closing. 27
Section 2.10    Closing Deliverables 28
Section 2.11    Withholding 29

Article III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF the VS Entities

Section 3.1    Company Organization 29
Section 3.2    Subsidiaries 30
Section 3.3    Due Authorization 30
Section 3.4    No Violation 30
Section 3.5    Governmental Authorizations 31
Section 3.6    Capitalization of the VS Companies 31
Section 3.7    Topco Incentive Units. 32
Section 3.8    Financial Statements 32
Section 3.9    Undisclosed Liabilities 33
Section 3.10    Litigation and Proceedings 34
Section 3.11    Legal Compliance 34
Section 3.12    Contracts; No Defaults 34
Section 3.13   Company Benefit Plans 36
Section 3.14    Labor Relations; Employees 38
Section 3.15    Taxes 39

 

 

Section 3.16    Property 42
Section 3.17    Environmental, Health and Safety 43
Section 3.18    Intellectual Property; Data Privacy 43
Section 3.19    Absence of Changes 45
Section 3.20    Anti-Corruption Compliance 45
Section 3.21    Insurance 46
Section 3.22    Subscription-Related Representations 46
Section 3.23    Information Supplied 47
Section 3.24    Brokers’ Fees 47
Section 3.25    No Outside Reliance 47
Section 3.26    Indebtedness; Cash; Transaction Expenses 48
Section 3.27    No Additional Representation or Warranties 48

Article IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HORIZON

Section 4.1    Company Organization 48
Section 4.2    Due Authorization 49
Section 4.3    No Violation 49
Section 4.4    Governmental Authorizations 50
Section 4.5    Capitalization of Horizon 50
Section 4.6    Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements 52
Section 4.7    No Undisclosed Liabilities 53
Section 4.8    Litigation and Proceedings 54
Section 4.9    Taxes. 54
Section 4.10    SEC Filings 55
Section 4.11    Trust Account 55
Section 4.12    Investment Company Act; JOBS Act 56
Section 4.13    Absence of Changes 56
Section 4.14    Indebtedness; Transaction Expenses 56
Section 4.15    Business Activities 56
Section 4.16    NYSE Stock Market Quotation 56
Section 4.17    Registration Statement, Proxy Statement 57
Section 4.18    Takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions 57
Section 4.19    Brokers’ Fees 57
Section 4.20    No Outside Reliance 58
Section 4.21    No Additional Representation or Warranties 58

Article V

 

COVENANTS OF THE VS ENTITIES

Section 5.1    Conduct of Business 59
Section 5.2    Inspection 61
Section 5.3    Preparation and Delivery of Quarterly Financial Statements 61
Section 5.4    Acquisition Proposals 62

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Section 5.5    Support of Transaction 62
Section 5.6    Confidentiality 63
Section 5.7    Post-Closing Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation 64
Section 5.8   Indemnification and Insurance. 64
Section 5.9    Surviving Corporation Organizational Documents 66

Article VI

 

COVENANTS OF HORIZON

Section 6.1    Trust Account Proceeds and Related Available Equity 66
Section 6.2    NYSE Listing 67
Section 6.3    No Solicitation by Horizon 67
Section 6.4    Horizon Conduct of Business 67
Section 6.5    Horizon Public Filings 69
Section 6.6    PIPE Subscriptions 69
Section 6.7    Support of Transaction 69
Section 6.8    Treatment of Warrants 69

Article VII

 

JOINT COVENANTS

Section 7.1    Regulatory Approvals; Other Filings 70
Section 7.2    Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting and Approvals 71
Section 7.3    Tax Matters 75
Section 7.4    Section 16 Matters 77
Section 7.5    Incentive Equity Plan 77

Article VIII

 

CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

Section 8.1    Conditions to Obligations of Horizon and the VS Entities 78
Section 8.2    Conditions to Obligations of Horizon 78
Section 8.3    Conditions to the Obligations of the VS Entities 79

Article IX

 

TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

Section 9.1    Termination 80
Section 9.2    Effect of Termination 81

 

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Article X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1    Trust Account Waiver 81
Section 10.2    Waiver 82
Section 10.3    Notices 82
Section 10.4    Assignment 84
Section 10.5    Rights of Third Parties 84
Section 10.6    Expenses 84
Section 10.7    Governing Law 84
Section 10.8    Headings; Counterparts 84
Section 10.9    VS Companies and Horizon Disclosure Letters 84
Section 10.10    Entire Agreement 85
Section 10.11    Amendments 85
Section 10.12    Publicity 85
Section 10.13    Severability 86
Section 10.14    Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. 86
Section 10.15    Enforcement 86
Section 10.16    Non-Recourse 87
Section 10.17    Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants 87
Section 10.18    Conflicts and Privilege 87

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A Form of Surviving Corporation Charter

Exhibit B Form of Surviving Corporation Bylaws

Exhibit C Form of Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit D Form of Tax Receivable Agreement

Exhibit E Form of PIPE Subscription Agreement

Exhibit F Form of Second A&R LLCA

Exhibit G Form of Incentive Equity Plan

Exhibit H Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Exhibit I Form of Stockholders’ Agreement

Exhibit J Plan of Merger

 

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TRANSACTION AGREEMENT

 

This Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Horizon Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Horizon”), Horizon Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”, and together with Horizon, the “Horizon Entities”), Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Topco”), Hoya Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Intermediate (“VS PubCo” and collectively with Topco and Intermediate, the “VS Entities”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Horizon is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Merger (as defined below), the VS Entities shall effect the Pre-Closing Restructuring (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended, the “DGCL”) and the Cayman Islands Companies Act (as amended, the “CICA”), Horizon will merge with and into VS PubCo (the “Merger”), the separate corporate existence of Horizon will cease and VS PubCo will be the surviving corporation of the Merger (hereinafter referred to for the periods at and after the Effective Time (as defined below) as the “Surviving Corporation”);

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes, it is intended that (i) the Merger qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and (ii) this Agreement constitutes a “plan of reorganization,” with respect to the Merger, within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a);

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Sponsor and Horizon will enter into that certain exchange agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) whereby, effective at least one day prior to, and conditioned upon, the consummation of the Merger, Sponsor shall irrevocably tender to Horizon 13,599,608 shares of Horizon Class B Common Stock for cancellation in exchange for (i) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share (the “Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants”), (ii) warrants to purchase 17,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A Common Stock at an exercise of $15.00 per share (the “Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants”) and (iii) 50,000 shares of Horizon Class A Common Stock, as more particularly set forth therein (collectively, the “Sponsor Exchange”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the Effective Time, each share of Horizon Common Stock (as defined below) will be converted into one share of Class A Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), as set forth in this Agreement, and each Horizon Warrant that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will become a Surviving Corporation Common Warrant exercisable for Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement;

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WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the PIPE Investors (as defined below) have agreed to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price per share equal to $10.00 at the Closing immediately following the Effective Time, in each case, pursuant to subscription agreements (“PIPE Subscriptions”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”);

 

WHEREAS, Sponsor has delivered to the VS Entities a duly executed Sponsor Support Agreement (as defined below) as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing, the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Intermediate, dated as of June 30, 2017, as amended by that First Amendment, dated as of January 25, 2018 (the “Current LLCA”) shall be amended and restated substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Second A&R LLCA”);

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, pursuant to the Crescent Purchase Agreement, VS PubCo will purchase all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of CM6B Vivid Equity, Inc., CM6C Vivid Equity, Inc., CM7B VS Equity, LLC and CM7C VS Equity, LLC (collectively, the “Crescent Blockers”, and the outstanding capital stock of the Crescent Blockers, the “Crescent Blocker Shares”) from the Blocker Sellers (as defined below) in exchange for the Blocker Purchase Price (as defined below) (the “Blocker Purchase”);

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA and the Blocker Purchase, Intermediate will issue to VS PubCo (i) the VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Common Units (as defined below) and (ii) the VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Warrants (as defined below) (clauses (i) and (ii) together, the “Intermediate Contribution and Issuance”), in each case in exchange for the Intermediate Contribution Amount (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, the Blocker Purchase and the Intermediate Contribution and Issuance, pursuant to the Crescent Purchase Agreement, Intermediate will redeem 100% of the Intermediate Common Units held by the Redeemed Crescent Parties (as defined below) in exchange for the Redemption Price (as defined below) (the “Crescent Redemption”);

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, the Surviving Corporation shall issue shares of Class B Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), to Topco as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, each of the Board of Directors of Horizon and the Board of Directors of VS PubCo has (i) determined that it is advisable for and in the best interests of such party and its stockholder(s) to enter into this Agreement and the Transactions (as defined below), (ii) approved the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the Transactions, (iii) with respect to the Board of Directors of Horizon determined that it is advisable for and in the best interests of Horizon to approve and enter into the Plan of Merger and recommended the approval of the Transaction Proposals by the Horizon Stockholders and (iv) with respect to the Board of Directors of VS PubCo, recommended the approval of the Merger by Intermediate.

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Horizon Entities and the VS Entities agree as follows:

 

Article I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

2020 Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2020, between Horizon and the Warrant Agent.

 

Acquisition Proposal” means, as to any Person, other than the Transactions and other than the acquisition or disposition of equipment or other tangible personal property in the ordinary course of business, any offer or proposal relating to: (a) any acquisition or purchase, direct or indirect, of (i) 15% or more of the consolidated assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries or (ii) 15% or more of any class of equity or voting securities of (x) such Person or (y) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries; (b) any tender offer (including a self-tender offer) or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any Person beneficially owning 15% or more of any class of equity or voting securities of (i) such Person or (ii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries; or (c) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, sale of substantially all the assets, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving (i) such Person or (ii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

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Agreement End Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(e).

 

Ancillary Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10.

 

Anti-Bribery Laws” means the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and all other applicable anti-corruption and bribery Laws (including the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or other Laws of other countries implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials).

 

Antitrust Laws” means the United States Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the United States Clayton Act of 1914, the HSR Act, the United States Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914, and all other domestic and foreign Laws, including foreign merger control and other competition Laws, issued by a Governmental Authority that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.

 

Applicable Tax Position” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(a)(iv).

 

Available Horizon Cash” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1(a).

 

Blocker Purchase” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Blocker Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in the Crescent Purchase Agreement.

 

Blocker Sellers” has the meaning set forth in the Crescent Purchase Agreement.

 

Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the Horizon Governing Documents as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Business Combination Proposal” means any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest (whether written or oral, binding or non-binding, and other than an offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest with respect to the Transactions), relating to a Business Combination.

 

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

 

CARES Act” means (i) the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136) and any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Authority (including IRS Notices 2020-22 and 2020-65), or any other Law or executive order or executive memorandum (including the Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, dated August 8, 2020) intended to address the consequences of COVID-19 (in each case, including any comparable provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Law and including any related or similar orders or declarations from any Governmental Authority) and (ii) any extension of, amendment, supplement, correction, revision or similar treatment to any provision of the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (H.R. 6201), and “Division N - Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief” of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.E. 133) contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, H.R. 133.

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CBA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(a)(i).

 

CICA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Class A Common Stock” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Class B Common Stock” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Class B Issuance” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8.

 

Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.9.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.9.

 

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

 

Common Stock Conversion” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).

 

Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.13(a).

 

Company Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(e).

 

Company Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8(a).

 

Company Intellectual Property” means, collectively, the Owned Intellectual Property and the Licensed Intellectual Property.

 

Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, series of events, condition, state of facts, development, change, circumstance, occurrence or effect (collectively, “Events”) that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, results of operations or financial condition of Topco and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of the VS Entities to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking of any action expressly required by or, with respect to Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.4, permitted to be taken under this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), pandemic (including COVID-19, or any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of this Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate, or any declaration of a national emergency by any Governmental Authority, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, or social conditions, (f) any failure in and of itself of the VS Companies to meet any projections or forecasts, provided that the exception in this clause (f) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change, effect or development underlying such change has resulted in or contributed to a Company Material Adverse Effect, (g) any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the VS Companies operate, (h) any action taken by, or at the request of, or with the express consent of Horizon; provided, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects the VS Companies relative to other participants in the industries in which such Persons operate shall not be excluded from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

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Company Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 3.18(a).

 

Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10.

 

Constituent Corporations” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

 

Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, commitments, undertakings and purchase orders, whether written or oral.

 

COVID-19” means the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 (and all related strains and sequences), including any resurgence or any evolutions or mutations thereof, and/or related or associated epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks or public health emergencies.

 

COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations promulgated by any industry group or any Governmental Authority, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including the CARES Act and Families First Act.

 

COVID-19 Tax Measure” means any legislation or order enacted or issued by any Relevant Authority with respect to any Tax matter in response to COVID-19 (including, without limitation, the CARES Act and the Memorandum for the Secretary of the Treasury signed by President Trump on August 8, 2020)) and any administrative authority issued pursuant to such legislation or order or otherwise issued with respect to any Tax matter in response to COVID-19 (including, without limitation, IRS Notice 2020-65).

 

Crescent Blocker Shares” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Crescent Blockers” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Crescent Redemption” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Crescent Purchase Agreement” means that certain purchase, sale and redemption agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among VS PubCo, Intermediate, Topco, the Blocker Sellers, the Redeemed Crescent Parties and the other parties thereto to effect, among others, the Crescent Redemption and the Blocker Purchase, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

Current LLCA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

D&O Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8(a).

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Data Room” means the virtual data room titled “Project Sports” hosted by Donnelly Financial Solutions at https://wwwna2.dfsvenue.com/p/2021002721/_layouts/v01/rrdsunprogs/documentlibrary.aspx#/docLib

 

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory is the subject of any Sanction.

 

DGCL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Disclosure Letter” means, as applicable, the VS Disclosure Letter or the Horizon Disclosure Letter.

 

Dividend Window” has the meaning specified in Section 2.6.

 

Dollars” or “$” means lawful money of the United States.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(f).

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all Laws relating to the protection of the environment or natural resources, pollution or worker health or safety, including as it relates to Hazardous Materials exposure.

 

ERISA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.13(a).

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any corporation or trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with any of the VS Companies company would, at any relevant time, be deemed to be a single employer pursuant to Section 4001(b) of ERISA or Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

 

ESPP” has the meaning specified in Section 7.5.

 

Event” has the meaning specified in the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(d)(i).

 

Exchange Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(a).

 

Flow-Thru Tax Returns” means income Tax Returns of the VS Companies in respect of any Pre-Closing Tax Period for which the items of income, deductions, credits, gains or losses are passed through to the direct or indirect equityholders of the applicable VS Company under applicable Law (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Form 1065 of any VS Company).

 

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

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Governing Documents” means the legal agreements and instruments by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a corporation are its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, the “Governing Documents” of a limited liability company are its operating agreement and certificate of formation and the “Governing Documents” of an exempted company are its memorandum and articles of association.

 

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

 

Governmental Authorization” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5.

 

Governmental Order” means any order, judgment, injunction, decision, decree, writ, stipulation, determination, directive or award, in each case, entered or issued by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

Governmental Permit” means any consent, franchise, approval, registration, variance, license, permit, grant, certificate, registration or other authorization or approval of a Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Law.

 

Hazardous Materials” means any material, substance, chemical, contaminant, pollutant or waste for which liability or standards of conduct may be imposed, or that is listed, classified or regulated pursuant to Environmental Laws, including petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, mold, lead, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, or per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances.

 

Horizon” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Horizon Class A Common Stock” means Class A ordinary shares of Horizon, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Horizon Class B Common Stock” means Class B ordinary shares of Horizon, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Horizon Common Stock” means the Horizon Class A Common Stock and Horizon Class B Common Stock.

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Horizon Common Warrants” means the redeemable public warrants of Horizon which were issued and sold as part of Horizon’s initial public offering.

 

Horizon Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(f).

 

Horizon Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to Article IV.

 

Horizon Entities” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Horizon Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(d).

 

Horizon Governing Documents” means the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Horizon.

 

Horizon Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8(a).

 

Horizon Material Adverse Effect” means any Event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Horizon Entities, taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of the Horizon Entities to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Horizon Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking of any action expressly required to be taken under this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), pandemic (including COVID-19, or any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of this Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate, or any declaration of a national emergency by any Governmental Authority, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, or social conditions, (f) the consummation and effects of any Horizon Share Redemptions, (g) any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the Horizon Entities operate, (h) any action taken by, or at the request of, or with the express consent of the VS Entities; provided, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects the Horizon Entities relative to other participants in the industries in which such Persons operate shall not be excluded from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Horizon Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Horizon, the amount of the Horizon Share Redemptions or the failure to obtain the Horizon Stockholder Approval shall not be deemed to be a Horizon Material Adverse Effect.

 

Horizon Non-Recourse Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(b).

 

Horizon Private Placement Warrants” means the redeemable private placement warrants of Horizon which were issued and sold to Sponsor or its Affiliates as part of Horizon’s private placement units.

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Horizon SEC Filings” has the meaning specified in Section 4.9(f).

 

Horizon Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 4.5(a).

 

Horizon Share Redemption” means the election of an eligible (as determined in accordance with the Horizon Governing Documents) holder of shares of Horizon Common Stock to have Horizon repurchase the shares of Horizon Common Stock held by such holder at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account (including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, but net of Taxes payable) (as determined in accordance with the Horizon Governing Documents) in connection with the Transaction Proposals.

 

Horizon Share Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable from the Trust Account with respect to all Horizon Share Redemptions.

 

Horizon Stockholder Approval” means the approval of those Transaction Proposals identified in clauses (A)-(G) of Section 7.2(b), (i) in the case of clause (A) thereof, by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Horizon Common Stock entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with applicable Law and the Horizon Governing Documents) at a Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Horizon and held for such purpose, and (ii) in the case of clauses (B) to (G) thereof, by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Horizon Common Stock entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with applicable Law and the Horizon Governing Documents) at a Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Horizon and held for such purpose.

 

Horizon Stockholders” means the stockholders of Horizon as of immediately prior to the Closing.

 

Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(b).

 

Horizon Tax Position” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(a)(iv).

 

Horizon Transaction Expenses” means any out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the Transactions, including (A) all fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, and (B) any and all filing fees payable by Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries to the Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions.

 

Horizon Warrants” means the Horizon Common Warrants, the Horizon Private Placement Warrants, the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants.

 

HSR Act” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5.

 

Incentive Equity Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 7.5.

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Incentive Units” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7(a).

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest, (b) capitalized lease obligations under GAAP, (c) letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances and other similar instruments, (d) obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes and similar instruments, (e) interest rate protection agreements and currency obligation swaps, hedges or similar arrangements, (f) all obligations to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property, goods, services and equipment which have been delivered, including “earn outs” and “seller notes” and (g) all breakage costs, prepayment or early termination premiums, penalties, or other fees or expenses payable as a result of the Transactions in respect of any of the items in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), and (h) all Indebtedness of another Person referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above guaranteed directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, by such Person.

 

Intellectual Property” means: (i) patents, patent applications and continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, divisions, reissues, reexaminations thereof, and patent disclosures, industrial designs, and other intellectual property rights in inventions (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice); (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos, internet domain names, social media handles, and other indicia of source of origin, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; (iii) intellectual property rights in works of authorship, data and databases, as well as copyrights and mask works; (iv) intellectual property rights in or to software and other technology (including source code and object code); (v) trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in Proprietary Information; (vi) registrations, issuances, and applications for any of the foregoing; and (vii) all other intellectual property rights in any jurisdiction throughout the world.

 

Interim Period” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

 

Intermediate” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Intermediate Common Units” means the common units of Intermediate issued in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring and the Intermediate Contribution and Issuance.

 

Intermediate Contribution Amount” means an amount equal to (i) the Surviving Corporation Available Cash minus (ii) the Blocker Purchase Price minus (iii) the Tax Liability Amount (as defined in the Crescent Purchase Agreement) plus (iv) the right to receive the Potential Payment (to the extent not paid to the Horizon stockholders prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 2.6).

 

Intermediate Contribution and Issuance” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Intermediate Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

Intervening Event” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(c).

 

Intervening Event Change in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(c).

 

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Intervening Event Notice Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(c).

 

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

 

IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.

 

IT Systems” means computers, software, hardware, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, data communications lines, firmware, networks and all other information technology equipment owned, leased or licensed by the VS Companies and used in their business.

 

JOBS Act” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority.

 

Leased Real Property” means all real property leased, licensed, subleased or otherwise used or occupied by any of the VS Companies.

 

Legal Proceedings” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10.

 

Licensed Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that any of the VS Companies license from a third party.

 

Lien” means all liens, judgments, charges, easements, servitudes, mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, hypothecations, encumbrances, security interests, options, licenses, leases, subleases, restrictions, title retention devices (including the interest of a seller or lessor under any conditional sale agreement or capital lease, or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), collateral assignments, claims or other encumbrances of any kind whether consensual, statutory or otherwise, and whether filed, recorded or perfected under applicable Law (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset, but in any event excluding restrictions under applicable securities Laws).

 

made available” means that documents were posted in the Data Room at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date that is one (1) day prior to the date of this Agreement and were not removed from the Data Room.

 

Merger” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Merger Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(f).

 

Minimum Available Horizon Cash Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1(a).

 

Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(b).

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.13(c).

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Non-US Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.13(b).

 

NYSE” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5.

 

OFAC” means the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

Open Source Software” means any software that is distributed as “free software,” “open source software,” “shareware” or under a similar licensing or distribution model, including the GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), Mozilla Public License (MPL), or any other license for software that meets the “Open Source Definition” promulgated by the Open Source Initiative.

 

Owned Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by the VS Companies.

 

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

 

Permitted Liens” means (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to any amounts (A) not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through (if then appropriate) appropriate proceedings and (B) for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) Liens for Taxes (A) not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and (B) for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (iii) defects or imperfections of title, easements, encroachments, covenants, rights-of-way, conditions, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances that do not materially interfere with the present use of the Leased Real Property, (iv) with respect to any Leased Real Property (A) the interests and rights of the respective lessors with respect thereto, including any statutory landlord liens and any Lien thereon, (B) any Lien permitted under the Real Property Lease, and (C) any Liens encumbering the real property of which the Leased Real Property is a part, (v) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by any Governmental Authority that do not materially interfere with the current use of the Leased Real Property, (vi) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (vii) ordinary course purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments under operating or capital lease arrangements for amounts not yet due or payable, (viii) other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money and on a basis consistent with past practice in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security and (ix) all other Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the use, occupancy or value of the applicable assets of the VS Companies.

 

Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, bank, trust company, trust or other entity, whether or not a legal entity, Governmental Authority or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

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Personal Data” means any information which identifies or could reasonable be used to identify, whether alone or in combination with other information, a natural Person, or other information that constitutes “personal information” or “personal data” under applicable Privacy Laws.

 

PIPE Investors” means each of the Persons (other than Horizon) that is party to a PIPE Subscription Agreement.

 

PIPE Subscription Agreements” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

PIPE Subscriptions” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Plan of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(f).

 

Potential Payment” means the potential payment set forth on Section 1.1 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter.

 

Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Return” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(a)(i).

 

Pre-Closing Restructuring” means the restructuring transactions set forth in the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan; provided that the VS Entities may make amendments to the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan after the date hereof with the prior written consent of Horizon (not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed).

 

Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan” means the restructuring transactions set forth in Section 1.1(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter.

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date, including the portion of any Straddle Period ending on (and including) the Closing Date.

 

Privacy Agreements” means all data and privacy related policies (e.g., Privacy and Data Security Policies, acceptable use policies, terms of service, etc.) and other Contracts to which any VS Company is a party whereby such VS Company makes commitments to a third party regarding the processing of Personal Data.

 

Privacy Laws” means all Laws concerning or otherwise applicable to data security, data privacy, cyber security and e-commerce, including Federal Trade Commission Act; the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003; the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act; the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018; the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act; the Electronic Communications Privacy Act; the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; and all other similar international, federal, state, provincial, and local Laws, and in each case, the rules implemented thereunder.

 

Proprietary Information” means all trade secrets and all other confidential or proprietary information, including confidential or proprietary know-how, inventions, methodologies, processes, techniques, research and development information, specifications, algorithms, financial, technical, marketing and business data, sales, pricing and cost information, customer information and supplier lists.

 

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Prospectus” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1.

 

Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(a)(i).

 

Proxy Statement/Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(a)(i).

 

Q1 Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.3(a).

 

Q2 Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.3(b).

 

Q3 Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.3(b).

 

Real Property Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 3.16(a).

 

Redeemed Crescent Parties” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in the Crescent Purchase Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

Regulatory Approvals” has the meaning specified in Section 8.1(a).

 

Related Party” means any of the current or former directors, officers, employees, members, or equityholders (or any child or spouse of any such Person) of any VS Company.

 

Related Party Transaction” means all agreements or contracts between any VS Company and/or any of their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Related Party, on the other hand, or any payment between or among such parties other than (i) loans and other extensions of credit to officers and employees of the VS Companies and their Subsidiaries for travel, business or relocation expenses or other employment-related purposes made in the ordinary course of business (ii) the Company Benefit Plans and (iii) commercial transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business on arms’ length terms for the use of services provided by the VS Companies.

 

Representatives” has the meaning specified in Section 5.6.

 

Sanctions” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Solicitation Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(a)(i).

 

Sponsor” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Sponsor Exchange” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Sponsor Support Agreement” means that certain Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Sponsor, Horizon and Topco, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

Stockholders’ Agreement” means that certain Stockholders’ Agreement by and among Topco, Sponsor and VS PubCo substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.

 

Straddle Period” means any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.

 

Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Return” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(a)(i).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, a corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, partnership or other entity of which a majority of the economic interests or the voting interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Surviving Corporation” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

 

Surviving Corporation Available Cash” means the cash and cash equivalents of the Surviving Corporation after giving effect to the PIPE Subscriptions and the Horizon Share Redemptions. For the avoidance of doubt, Surviving Corporation Available Cash excludes cash and cash equivalents of Intermediate and its Subsidiaries.

 

Surviving Corporation Bylaws” has the meaning specified in Section 5.9.

 

Surviving Corporation Charter” has the meaning specified in Section 5.9.

 

Surviving Corporation Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock.

 

Surviving Corporation Common Warrants” means warrants for Class A Common Stock (which, with respect to the Horizon Common Warrants and the Horizon Private Placement Warrants, shall be in the applicable form set forth in the 2020 Warrant Agreement and, with respect to the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants, shall be in the form set forth in the warrant agreement to be executed between Horizon and the Warrant Agent substantially similar to the relevant form attached to the Exchange Agreement).

 

Surviving Corporation Governing Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 5.9.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

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Tax Return” means any return, form, election, declaration, report, statement, information statement or other document filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes, including any claims for refunds of Taxes, any information returns and any amendments or supplements of any of the foregoing.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority, including all income (net, gross, or adjusted gross), gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, ad valorem, value added, inventory, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, or estimated taxes or other imposts, assessments, fees, levies, customs or import duties, or charges of any kind in the nature of a tax, and including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto.

 

Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(e).

 

Terminating Horizon Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(f).

 

Title IV Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.13(c).

 

Topco” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

Transaction Proposals” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(b).

 

Transactions” means, collectively, the Merger, the PIPE Subscriptions, the Crescent Redemption, the Blocker Purchase, the Intermediate Contribution and Issuance, the Class B Issuance, and each of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Pre-Closing Restructuring) and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

Transfer Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(e).

 

Trust Account” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1.

 

Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 4.11.

 

Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 4.11.

 

VS Companies” means Intermediate and all of its Subsidiaries.

 

VS Company Interests” means all of the outstanding equity interests of the VS Companies.

 

VS Designated Directors” has the meaning specified in Section 5.7(a).

 

VS Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to Article III.

 

VS Entities” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

VS Non-Recourse Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.16(b).

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VS PubCo” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.

 

VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Common Units” means a number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the difference between (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the Effective Time and the consummation of the PIPE Subscriptions minus (ii) the number of Intermediate Common Units acquired directly or indirectly by VS PubCo as a result of the Blocker Purchase.

 

VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Warrants” means warrants to purchase a number of Intermediate Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be purchased upon the exercise in full of all Surviving Corporation Common Warrants outstanding immediately following the Effective Time.

 

VS PubCo Tax Position” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(a)(iv).

 

VS Transaction Expenses” means any out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by the VS Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the Transactions, including (A) all fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, (B) change-in-control payments, transaction bonuses, retention payments, single-trigger severance or similar compensatory payments pursuant to any written arrangements entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, payable by the VS Entities or any of their Subsidiaries to any current or former employee, independent contractor, officer, director or other individual service provider of the VS Entities or any of their Subsidiaries as a direct result of the Transactions (and not tied to any subsequent event or condition, such as a termination of employment and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any such payments that arise from actions taken by the Surviving Corporation following the Closing or double-trigger arrangements), including the employer portion of payroll Taxes arising therefrom, (C) any and all filing fees payable by the VS Entities or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates to Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions and (D) the Backstop Fee (as defined in the Sponsor Support Agreement).

 

WARN Act” has the meaning specified in Section 3.14(a).

 

Warrant Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Warrant Agreement” means, with respect to the Horizon Common Warrants and the Horizon Private Placement Warrants, the 2020 Warrant Agreement, and with respect to the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and the Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants, the warrant agreement to be executed between Horizon and the Warrant Agent substantially similar to the relevant form attached to the Exchange Agreement.

 

Section 1.2           Construction.

 

(a)             Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive.

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(b)            Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

(c)            Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.

 

(d)            All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

(e)            Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to Horizon with respect to periods following the Effective Time shall be construed to mean the Surviving Corporation.

 

(f)             Except with respect to Article IV or as the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to “NYSE” in this Agreement shall refer to the New York Stock Exchange or such other nationally recognized securities exchange mutually agreed by the parties.

 

Section 1.3          Knowledge. As used herein, (a) the phrase “to the knowledge” of the VS Companies shall mean the knowledge of the individuals identified on Section 1.3 of the VS Disclosure Letter and (b) the phrase “to the knowledge” of Horizon shall mean the knowledge of the individuals identified on Section 1.3 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), as such individuals would have acquired in the exercise of a reasonable inquiry of direct reports.

 

Article II

TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING

 

Section 2.1          Pre-Closing Restructuring; The Merger.

 

(a)            Prior to the Closing, the VS Entities shall, or shall cause their Subsidiaries to, take all such actions as are necessary so that the Pre-Closing Restructuring shall be consummated prior to the Closing. Pursuant to the Pre-Closing Restructuring, Intermediate shall issue Intermediate Common Units to Topco, the Crescent Blockers and the Redeemed Crescent Parties in an amount to be determined in accordance with the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan. Also pursuant to the Pre-Closing Restructuring, Intermediate shall grant to Topco (i) warrants to purchase 3,000,000 Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $10.00 per share and (ii) warrants to purchase 3,000,000 Intermediate Common Units at an exercise price of $15.00 per share (clauses (i) and (ii) together, the “Intermediate Warrants”).

 

(b)            At least one day prior to the Merger, and pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement, Sponsor and Horizon shall consummate the Sponsor Exchange.

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(c)             At least one day following the Sponsor Exchange, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and in accordance with the DGCL and the CICA, at the Effective Time, Horizon and VS PubCo (Horizon and VS PubCo sometimes being referred to herein as the “Constituent Corporations”) shall be merged with VS PubCo being the Surviving Corporation.

 

(d)            Upon consummation of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Horizon shall cease and VS PubCo, as the Surviving Corporation, shall continue its corporate existence under the DGCL.

 

(e)             At and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall thereupon and thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, powers and franchises, of a public as well as a private nature, of the Constituent Corporations, and shall become subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations; and all rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each Constituent Corporation, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to each such Constituent Corporation, on whatever account, shall become vested in the Surviving Corporation; and all property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises, and all and every other interest shall become thereafter the property of the Surviving Corporation as they are of the Constituent Corporations; and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise or any other interest in real estate vested by any instrument or otherwise in either of such Constituent Corporations shall not revert or become in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; but all Liens upon any property of a Constituent Corporation shall thereafter attach to the Surviving Corporation and shall be enforceable against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it; all of the foregoing in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and the CICA. For the avoidance of doubt, at and after the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall succeed to all of the rights and obligations of Horizon set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which Horizon is party.

 

(f)             Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article VIII of this Agreement, and provided this Agreement has not therefore been terminated pursuant to its terms, at the Closing, Horizon and VS PubCo shall execute the plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit J hereto and shall cause (i) a certificate of merger (as so filed, the “Merger Certificate”) to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and (ii) the Plan of Merger and other documents as required to effect the Merger pursuant to the CICA to be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands as provided in the applicable provisions of the CICA. The Merger shall become effective upon the later of the time when the Merger Certificate has been accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the Merger has been registered by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands, or at such later time as may be agreed by Horizon and VS PubCo in writing and specified in the Merger Certificate and Plan of Merger (the “Effective Time”).

 

(g)            At the Effective Time, (i) the certificate of incorporation of VS PubCo, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the Surviving Corporation Charter and (ii) the bylaws of VS PubCo, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents.

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(h)             From and after the Effective Time, the Parties shall take all actions necessary so that the Persons identified as the initial directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.7 shall be the directors and officers (and in the case of such officers, holding such positions as set forth on Section 5.7(c) of the VS Disclosure Letter), respectively, of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents.

 

Section 2.2           Effect of the Merger on Horizon and VS PubCo Securities.

 

(a)             At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of Horizon Common Stock, each share of Horizon Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of Horizon Common Stock held in the treasury of Horizon, which treasury shares shall be cancelled as part of the Merger and shall not constitute “Horizon Common Stock” hereunder) shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled by virtue of the Merger and shall be converted into the right to receive one (1) duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock (the “Common Stock Conversion”).

 

(b)            At the Effective Time, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the relevant Warrant Agreement, each Horizon Warrant that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become a Surviving Corporation Common Warrant exercisable for Class A Common Stock in accordance with its terms. In connection therewith and prior to the Effective Time, Horizon and VS PubCo, as applicable, shall take all actions necessary to execute an amendment to the relevant Warrant Agreement with the Warrant Agent providing for the delivery of such Alternative Issuance (as defined in the relevant Warrant Agreement) as of the Effective Time.

 

(c)             At the Effective Time, without any action on the part of Horizon, VS PubCo or a holder of capital stock of VS PubCo, each share of capital stock of VS PubCo that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

(d)            Exchange Procedures.

 

 (i)             Prior to the Closing, Horizon shall appoint an exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) to act as the agent for the purpose of delivering the Class A Common Stock to the Horizon Stockholders. At or before the Effective Time, VS PubCo shall deposit with the Exchange Agent the number of shares of Class A Common Stock the holders of Horizon Common Stock are entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(a).

 

 (ii)            Reasonably promptly after the Effective Time, VS PubCo shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each record holder of uncertificated shares of Horizon Common Stock represented by book entry as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, whose Horizon Common Stock was converted pursuant to Section 2.2(a) into the right to receive Class A Common Stock, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Horizon Common Stock formerly represented by such book entry shares. Any uncertificated shares of Horizon Common Stock represented by book entry so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled.

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(iii)          Each holder of shares of Horizon Common Stock that have been converted into the right to receive Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.2(a), shall be entitled to receive such shares of Class A Common Stock, upon receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Exchange Agent (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request).

 

(iv)         Promptly following the date that is one (1) year after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver to the Surviving Corporation all documents in its possession relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Exchange Agent’s duties shall terminate. Thereafter, any Class A Common Stock that remains unclaimed with the Exchange Agent shall be returned to the Surviving Corporation, and any Person that was a holder of shares of Horizon Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time that has not exchanged such shares of Horizon Common Stock for Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.2(a) in accordance with this Section 2.2(d) prior to the date that is one (1) year after the Effective Time, may surrender such shares of Horizon Common Stock to the Surviving Corporation and (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar Laws) receive in consideration therefor, and the Surviving Corporation shall promptly deliver, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock such holder is entitled to received pursuant to Section 2.2(a) without any interest thereupon. None of Horizon, the VS Entities or any of their Subsidiaries, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any Class A Common Stock delivered to a public official pursuant to and in accordance with any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. If any such shares shall not have not been surrendered immediately prior to such date on which any Class A Common Stock would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority, any such shares of Class A Common Stock shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

Section 2.3           PIPE Subscriptions. At the Closing and immediately following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consummate the transactions contemplated by the PIPE Subscriptions in accordance with the PIPE Subscription Agreements.

 

Section 2.4           Second A&R LLCA. At the Closing, the Current LLCA shall be amended and restated substantially in the form of the Second A&R LLCA.

 

Section 2.5           Blocker Purchase. At the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, in accordance with the Crescent Purchase Agreement, the Blocker Sellers shall sell, transfer and convey to the Surviving Corporation, and the Surviving Corporation shall purchase and acquire from the Blocker Sellers, all right and title to the Crescent Blocker Shares held by the Blocker Sellers as of the Closing, free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws or the organizational documents of the Crescent Blockers, in exchange for an aggregate cash payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds equal to the Blocker Purchase Price.

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Section 2.6           Intermediate Contribution and Issuance; Potential Payment. At the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, Intermediate shall issue to VS PubCo (a) the VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Common Units and (b) the VS PubCo Matching Intermediate Warrants, in each case, free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions under applicable securities Laws or the Second A&R LLCA, in exchange for an aggregate cash contribution by wire transfer of immediately available funds equal to the Intermediate Contribution Amount. With respect to the Potential Payment that Horizon may receive after the date hereof, (i) if the Potential Payment is received by Horizon or one of its Affiliates at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing (the “Dividend Window”), Horizon shall be permitted to declare a dividend, in accordance with its organizational documents and applicable Law, with a record date after completion of any Horizon Share Redemptions and prior to the Closing Date to distribute the entirety of the Potential Payment received by Horizon or such Affiliate on a pro rata basis to the Horizon stockholders as of such record date, but excluding the PIPE Investors, and (ii) if the Potential Payment is received after the Dividend Window (including, for the avoidance of doubt, after the Closing), the Potential Payment (and the right to receive the Potential Payment) shall be contributed to Intermediate at the Closing as part of the Intermediate Contribution Amount.

 

Section 2.7           Crescent Redemption. At the Closing and immediately following the effectiveness of the Second A&R LLCA, the Blocker Purchase and the Intermediate Contribution and Issuance, in accordance with the Crescent Purchase Agreement, Intermediate will redeem all of the Intermediate Common Units held by the Redeemed Crescent Parties in exchange for an aggregate cash payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds equal to the Redemption Price.

 

Section 2.8           Class B Issuance. At the Closing, the Surviving Corporation shall (a) grant to Topco warrants to purchase 6,000,000 Class B Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, which warrants will be granted pursuant to a form to be mutually agreed upon by the parties and exercisable upon the exercise of an equal number of Intermediate Warrants and (b) issue to Topco a number of shares of duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Intermediate Common Units issued to Topco pursuant to Section 2.1(a), free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws, the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents or the Ancillary Agreements, in exchange for adequate consideration (clauses (a) and (b) together, the “Class B Issuance”).

 

Section 2.9           Closing. In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place electronically through the exchange of documents via email or facsimile on the date which is two (2) Business Days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in Article VIII shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof) or such other time and place as Topco and Horizon may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

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Section 2.10       Closing Deliverables.

 

(a)           At the Closing, the VS Entities will deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i)           to Horizon, a certificate signed by an officer of each VS Entity, dated the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b), and Section 8.2(c) have been fulfilled;

 

(ii)          to Horizon, duly executed counterparts to the Second A&R LLCA;

 

(iii)         to Horizon, duly executed counterparts to the Tax Receivable Agreement;

 

(iv)         to the Horizon Entities, duly executed counterparts to the Stockholders’ Agreement; and

 

(v)          to Horizon, duly executed counterparts to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(b)          At the Closing, Horizon will deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i)           to the VS Entities, a certificate signed by an officer of Horizon, dated the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b) and Section 8.3(c) have been fulfilled;

 

(ii)          to the VS Entities, the written resignations of all of the directors and officers of Horizon, effective as of the Effective Time;

 

(iii)         to the VS Entities, duly executed counterparts to the Tax Receivable Agreement;

 

(iv)         to the VS Entities, a duly executed counterpart to the Stockholders’ Agreement; and

 

(v)          to the VS Entities, duly executed counterparts to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(c)           On the Closing Date, Intermediate shall pay or cause to be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (i) all accrued and unpaid Horizon Transaction Expenses as set forth on a written statement to be delivered to the VS Entities not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, which shall include the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, and (ii) all accrued and unpaid VS Transaction Expenses as set forth on a written statement to be delivered to Horizon not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, which shall include the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof; provided that any VS Transaction Expenses due to current or former employees, independent contractors, officers, or directors of the VS Companies shall be paid to such VS Company for further payment to such employee, independent contractor, officer or director through such VS Company’s payroll.

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(d)            On the Closing Date, immediately following the consummation of the Merger, the PIPE Subscriptions, the Horizon Share Redemptions, the Blocker Purchase, the Crescent Redemption and payment of the VS Transaction Expenses and the Horizon Transaction Expenses, the Surviving Corporation shall use, or cause Intermediate and its Subsidiaries to use, any remaining cash proceeds from the Transaction (which such cash proceeds shall consist solely of cash and cash equivalents of Horizon immediately prior to the Merger and the net proceeds of the PIPE Subscriptions) to repay or cause to be repaid by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the accrued and unpaid Indebtedness and preferred stock of the VS Companies. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.10(d) shall not require that cash and cash equivalents held by the VS Companies immediately prior to the Effective Time be used to repay Indebtedness of the VS Companies.

 

Section 2.11            Withholding. Horizon, the Surviving Corporation and the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold (or cause to be deducted and withheld) from any amount payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld under the Code or any other applicable Law, Horizon and the Surviving Corporation shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to provide at least three (3) Business Days advance notice to Topco of any withholding that it intends to make from amounts payable to any VS Entity. The Parties shall cooperate reasonably and in good faith to eliminate or reduce any such deduction or withholding to the extent permitted by applicable Law (including through the request and provision of any statements, forms or other documents to reduce or eliminate any such deduction or withholding). To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld consistent with the terms of this Section 2.11 and remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF the VS Entities

 

Except (i) as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Horizon by the VS Entities on the date of this Agreement (the “VS Disclosure Letter”) (each section of which, subject to Section 10.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this Article III) and (ii) as otherwise explicitly contemplated by the Pre-Closing Restructuring, in each case, the VS Entities represent and warrant to Horizon as follows:

 

Section 3.1               Company Organization. Each of the VS Entities has been duly formed or organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, and each has the requisite company or corporate power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. Each of the VS Entities is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business as now conducted requires it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of the Governing Documents of each of the VS Entities have been made available to Horizon prior to the date of this Agreement.

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Section 3.2                Subsidiaries. A complete list of each Subsidiary of Intermediate (after giving effect to the Pre-Closing Restructuring) and its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, as of the date hereof is set forth on Section 3.2 of the VS Disclosure Letter. The Subsidiaries of Intermediate have been duly formed or organized and are validly existing under the Laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and have the requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate all of their respective properties and assets and to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted. Each Subsidiary of Intermediate is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business as now conducted requires it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of the Governing Documents of each Subsidiary have been made available to Horizon prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3                Due Authorization. Each of the VS Entities has all requisite company or corporate power, as applicable, and authority to execute, deliver and perform under this Agreement and the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby and (subject to the approvals described in Section 3.5) to consummate the Transactions and to perform all of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by each of the VS Entities of this Agreement and the other documents to which any VS Entity is or will be a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the Managing Member, Board of Managers or Board of Directors, as applicable, of each such VS Entity, and no other company or corporate proceeding on the part of the VS Entities is or will be necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other documents to which any VS Entity is or will be a party contemplated hereby, in each case, as applicable. This Agreement has been, and on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which any VS Entity is or will be a party contemplated hereby will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each such VS Entity and this Agreement constitutes, and on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which any VS Entity is or will be a party contemplated hereby will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each such VS Entity, enforceable against each such VS Entity, in each case, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

Section 3.4                No Violation. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 3.5 and except as set forth on Section 3.4 of the VS Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery and performance by the VS Entities of this Agreement and the documents to which any VS Entity is or will be a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (a) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) the Governing Documents of the VS Entities, (b) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any Law or Governmental Order applicable to any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries, (c) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, result in (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) the loss of any right or benefit, require any consent, waiver, approval, authorization, notice or other action by any Person (other than the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries), or cause acceleration, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any Governmental Permit or Contract to which any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries is a party or by which any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such Governmental Permit or Contract or (d) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

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Section 3.5                Governmental Authorizations. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of Horizon contained in this Agreement, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority (each, a “Governmental Authorization”) is required on the part of any of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries with respect to any VS Entity’s execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or consummation by the VS Entities of the Transactions, except for (i) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers, notices or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have (A) a Company Material Adverse Effect or (B) a material adverse effect on the ability of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries to perform or comply with on a timely basis any material obligation of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the Transactions, (ii) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings related to the SEC, NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or in connection with the Plan of Merger or Merger Certificate and (iii) the Regulatory Approvals.

 

Section 3.6           Capitalization of the VS Companies.

 

(a)             The VS Company Interests comprise all of the VS Companies’ authorized equity interests that are issued and outstanding. Except as set forth on Section 3.6(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter, all of the issued and outstanding VS Company Interests (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law and all requirements set forth in the Governing Documents of the VS Companies; (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of the VS Companies or any Contract to which any VS Company is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens other than restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws and the Governing Documents of such VS Company (as applicable). After giving effect to the Pre-Closing Restructuring and the other Transactions, the Surviving Corporation and Hoya Topco will together own 100% of Intermediate and Intermediate will own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the other VS Companies.

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(b)            Except as set forth on Section 3.6(b) of the VS Disclosure Letter, none of the VS Companies have granted any outstanding subscriptions, options, stock appreciation rights, “phantom units,” warrants, commitments, calls, rights of first refusal, deferred compensation rights, rights or other securities (including debt securities or voting securities) convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for VS Company Interests, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares or any other equity securities of any of the VS Companies, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests of any of the VS Companies or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other equity interests of any of the VS Companies, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate the VS Companies to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any VS Company Interests.

 

Section 3.7           Topco Incentive Units.

 

(a)             Certain employees of the VS Companies receive equity compensation in the form of incentive units of Topco, which, as of the date hereof, consist of, in the aggregate, (i) 855,000 issued and outstanding Class B-1 Incentive Units of Topco, (ii) 855,000 issued and outstanding phantom units of Topco, (iii) 2,040,840 issued and outstanding Class D Units of Topco and (iv) 500,765 issued and outstanding Class E Units of Topco (collectively, the “Incentive Units”).

 

(b)            All of the issued and outstanding Incentive Units (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law and all requirements set forth in the Governing Documents of Topco; (iii) have not been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of Topco or any Contract to which Topco is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens other than restrictions arising under applicable securities Laws and the Governing Documents of Topco (as applicable).

 

Section 3.8           Financial Statements.

 

(a)             Attached as Section 3.8(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter are true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, cash flow and change in members’ equity of Topco and its Subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, together with the auditor’s report thereon (the “Financial Statements”).

 

(b)            Except as set forth on Section 3.8(b) of the VS Disclosure Letter, the Financial Statements and, when delivered pursuant to Section 5.3, the Q1 Financial Statements, Q2 Financial Statements and Q3 Financial Statements, in each case, (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Topco and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof, and the consolidated results of their operations, their consolidated incomes, their consolidated changes in members’ equity (with respect to the Financial Statements only) and their consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Q1 Financial Statements, Q2 Financial Statements and Q3 Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in (A) the notes thereto and, in the case of the Q1 Financial Statements, Q2 Financial Statements and Q3 Financial Statements, the absence of footnotes and (B) changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments (none of which, individually or in the aggregate, shall be material), (iii) were prepared from, and are in accordance in all material respects with, the books and records of Topco and its consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) when delivered by Topco for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement for filing with the SEC following the date of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.3, will comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant, in effect as of the respective dates thereof.

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(c)             Topco and its Subsidiaries have in place disclosure controls and procedures to reasonably ensure that material information relating to Topco and its Subsidiaries is made known to the management of Topco and its Subsidiaries by others within Topco and its Subsidiaries, including (i) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the ability of Topco or its Subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of Topco and its Subsidiaries. Such controls and procedures are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in material accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

Section 3.9                Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Section 3.9 of the VS Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no liability, debt (including Indebtedness) or obligation of, or claim or judgment of any kind against, Intermediate or any of its Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, due or to become due or otherwise) that would be required to be set forth on a balance sheet of Intermediate and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities, debts, obligations, claims or judgments (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business (none of which relates to breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, any lawsuit, a violation of law), (c) that will be discharged or paid off prior to or at the Closing, (d) arising under this Agreement and/or the performance by the VS Entities of their obligations hereunder, or (e) that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in material liability to the VS Companies, taken as a whole.

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Section 3.10         Litigation and Proceedings. Except as set forth on Section 3.10 of the VS Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, (a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened, lawsuits, actions, suits, charges, mediations, complaints, investigations, audits, arbitrations, judgments, claims or other proceedings (whether federal, state, local or foreign), at law or in equity (collectively, “Legal Proceedings”) against or by any VS Company or their respective properties, assets or business; (b) no investigations, audits or other inquiries are pending or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened by any Governmental Authority, against any VS Company or their respective properties, assets or business; and (c) there is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon any VS Company, nor are any properties or assets of any VS Company bound by or subject to any Governmental Order, except, in the case of each of clauses (a) – (c), as has not been, and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the VS Companies, taken as a whole.

 

Section 3.11          Legal Compliance.

 

(a)          Each VS Company is, and for the past three (3) years has been, in compliance with all applicable Laws of applicable Governmental Authorities that are applicable to such VS Company or by which any property or asset of such VS Company is bound, except where such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the VS Companies, taken as a whole. In the past three (3) years, the VS Companies have not received any written notice of or been charged with the violation of any Laws, except where such violation has not been, or would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the VS Companies, taken as a whole.

 

(b)          Each VS Company holds, and is in compliance with, all Governmental Permits necessary for the lawful conduct of its respective businesses or ownership of its respective assets and properties, except where such failure to hold or non-compliance has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. All such Governmental Permits are in full force and effect and are being complied with, except where the failure of such Governmental Permits to be in full force and effect has not been, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. There has been no decision by any VS Company not to renew any Governmental Permit in the ordinary course of business. No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened, by any Governmental Authority seeking the revocation, limitation, suspension, withdrawal, modification or nonrenewal of any such Governmental Permit, except such Legal Proceedings that have not been, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.12     Contracts; No Defaults.

 

(a)          Section 3.12(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter contains a listing of all Contracts described in clauses (i) through (xix) below to which, as of the date of this Agreement, any VS Company is a party or by which they are bound. True, correct and complete copies of the Contracts listed on Section 3.12(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter have been delivered to or made available to Horizon or its agents or representatives prior to the date of this Agreement.

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(i)            any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union, labor organization, works counsel or other employee representative (each a “CBA”);

 

(ii)           any Contract for the settlement or compromise of any Legal Proceeding under which any of the VS Companies will have any material outstanding obligation after the date of this Agreement;

 

(iii)          any Contract relating to Indebtedness by a VS Company or any guarantee or loan by any VS Company, in each case, representing obligations in excess of $500,000;

 

(iv)          any Contracts involving any joint venture, partnership, joint development, revenue sharing or similar agreement, in each case, of a material nature;

 

(v)           Contracts under which any VS Company (x) is a licensee of any material Intellectual Property owned by any third party (other than “shrink-wrap,” “click-wrap,” and “off-the-shelf” software licenses and other licenses of commercially-available software with one-time or annual license, maintenance, support and other fees of $75,000 or less), (y) is a licensor of or otherwise grants to a third party any rights to use any item of material Owned Intellectual Property, other than non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business, or (z) is a party and that restricts or otherwise adversely affects, in any material respect, a VS Company’s ownership of or ability to use, register, license or enforce any of its material Owned Intellectual Property (including concurrent use agreements, settlement agreements and coexistence agreements);

 

(vi)          any Contract with any Governmental Authority;

 

(vii)         any Contract (A) limiting or restricting the ability of a VS Company to enter into or engage in any market or line of business or to compete with any Person or in any geographic area and (B) limiting or restricting the ability of any VS Company to otherwise conduct business as presently conducted in any material manner or place;

 

(viii)        any revocable or irrevocable power of attorney granted by any VS Company to any Person for any purpose whatsoever;

 

(ix)          any agreement with respect to the acquisition or disposition of any business, material assets or securities, or any equity or debt investment in any Person other than in the ordinary course of business and under which there is any surviving obligation of any VS Company;

 

(x)            any agreements or series of related agreements with suppliers and vendors to which any VS Company is a party for the purchase of goods or services involving aggregate payments in excess of $500,000 during the year ended December 31, 2020 or expected to involve aggregate payments in excess of $500,000 during the year ended December 31, 2021, in each case, which cannot be cancelled by the VS Company or any of its Subsidiaries without payment or penalty upon notice of thirty (30) days or less, and whose unexpired term as of the Closing Date exceeds one year;

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(xi)         any agreements relating to any Related Party Transaction;

 

(xii)        Contracts which involve commitments to make capital expenditures by any VS Company in excess of $250,000;

 

(xiii)       the VS Companies’ top five (5) sponsorship agreements by expenditure as of December 31, 2020;

 

(xiv)       Contracts with the VS Companies’ top five (5) largest “white label” affiliates by revenue;

 

(xv)        each lease, rental or occupancy agreement, license, installment and conditional sale agreement or similar agreement under which any VS Company is a lessor, sublessor of, or makes available for use by any third party, any tangible personal property owned or leased by any VS Company, in any case which has future required scheduled payments in excess of $250,000 per annum and is not terminable by it upon notice of sixty (60) calendar days or less for a cost of less than $250,000, and other Contract that provides for the leasing of, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property and involves aggregate payments in excess of $250,000 in any calendar year; and

 

(xvi)       Contracts for the employment or engagement of any individual service provider of any of the VS Companies (A) that provide for annual base salary compensation greater than $300,000 or (B) that provide for the payment and/or accelerated vesting of any compensation or benefits upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)          With such exceptions as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all of the Contracts to which any VS Company is a party or by which they are bound are in full force and effect and represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the VS Company party thereto and, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto; and (ii) (x) the VS Companies have performed in all respects all respective obligations required to be performed by them to date under the Contracts to which any VS Company is a party or by which they are bound, and neither the VS Companies nor, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under any such Contract, (y) during the last twelve (12) months, none of the VS Companies has received any written claim or notice of termination or breach of or default under any such Contract, and (z) no event has occurred which individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default under any such Contract by the VS Companies or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both). The VS Parties have made available to Horizon true and complete copies of all Contracts (or have provided written summaries of oral Contracts) set forth on Section 3.12(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 3.13       Company Benefit Plans.

 

(a)          Section 3.13(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, by the jurisdiction, of each material Company Benefit Plan (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any employment or consulting contracts for employees or consultants who are natural persons where the annual base salary and cash bonus opportunity provided under such employment or consulting agreement is less than $400,000 per annum, in the aggregate). For purposes of this Agreement, a “Company Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) (whether or not subject to ERISA) and any other plan, policy, program or agreement (including any employment, consulting, service, bonus, incentive or deferred compensation, profit sharing, equity or equity-based compensation, severance, retention, pension supplemental retirement, change in control, vacation, paid time off, health, dental, life insurance, disability, fringe benefit or similar plan, policy, program or agreement), written or unwritten, funded or unfunded, providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, individual consultant, or employee or individual service provider which are maintained, sponsored or contributed to (or required to be contributed to) by any VS Company or otherwise with respect to which any VS Company has any current or contingent liability, in each case whether or not subject to the Laws of the United States or funded, but excluding in each case any statutory plan, program or arrangement that is required under applicable law and maintained by any Governmental Authority (any such plan, a “Governmental Plan”).

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(b)            Except as has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to result in Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Company Benefit Plan has been established, maintained, funded, operated and administered in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, (ii) all contributions, premiums and other payments that are due in respect of a Company Benefit Plan and Governmental Plan have been timely paid, and any such amounts not yet due have been paid or properly accrued, and (iii) there have been no “prohibited transactions” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 406 or 407 of ERISA and, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, not otherwise exempt under Section 408 of ERISA and no breaches of fiduciary duty (as determined under ERISA) with respect to any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(c)             Each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS as to its qualification or may rely upon an opinion letter for a prototype plan and, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, no fact or event has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Benefit Plan. Each Company Benefit Plan that is maintained primarily for the benefit of any current or former director, officer, individual consultant, worker or employee outside of the United States and is subject to the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, whether or not United States law also applies is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and requirements of applicable regulatory authorities.

 

(d)            No Company Benefit Plan (i) is a multiemployer pension plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) (a “Multiemployer Plan”) or (ii) is a “defined benefit” plan (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) or any other plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (“Title IV Plan”), and neither the VS Companies nor any of their ERISA Affiliates have sponsored or contributed to, been required to contribute to, or had any actual or contingent liability under, a Multiemployer Plan or Title IV Plan at any time within the previous six (6) years. None of the VS Companies has any material liability by reason of at any time being treated as a single employer with any other Person under Section 414 of the Code. No Company Benefit Plan is a “registered pension plan” or “salary deferral arrangement”, each as defined in section 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

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(e)             Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the Company Benefit Plans, no Legal Proceedings (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened.

 

(f)             No Company Benefit Plan provides medical, surgical, hospitalization, death or similar benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of the VS Companies for periods extending beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by applicable Law for which the covered Person pays the full premium cost of coverage. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, no VS Company has incurred (whether or not assessed) any Tax or penalty under Sections 4980B, 4980D, 4980H, 6721 or 6722 of the Code.

 

(g)             Except as set forth on Section 3.13(g) of the VS Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions will (i) entitle any current or former director, employee, officer or other service provider of the VS Companies to any severance pay or any other compensation payable by the VS Companies, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation or benefits due any such director, employee, officer or other individual service provider by the VS Companies, or (iii) result in the payment of any “excess parachute payment” to any “disqualified individual” (each, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code).

 

(h)             No VS Company has any obligation (whether actual or contingent) to gross-up or reimburse any individual for any Taxes incurred by such individual, including under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code or otherwise.

 

(i)              Each Company Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in all material respects in operational and documentary compliance with Section 409(A) of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder.

 

Section 3.14        Labor Relations; Employees.

 

(a)             Except as set forth on Section 3.14(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter, none of the VS Companies is a party to or bound by any CBA, works council agreement, or any similar Contract or any bargaining relationship with any labor union, works council, labor organization or other employee representative; no such agreement is being negotiated by any VS Company; no labor union, works council, labor organization or any other employee representative body has requested or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, has sought to represent any of the employees of the VS Companies; and none of the employees of any of the VS Companies is represented by a labor union, works council, labor organization or employee representative with respect to their employment with any VS Company. To the knowledge of the VS Companies, there has been no labor organizing activity involving any employees of the VS Companies. In the past three (3) years, there has been no actual or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened unfair labor practice charge, material grievance, arbitration, strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, picketing, hand billing, or other material labor dispute against or affecting the VS Companies.

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(b)            The VS Companies are, and have been for the past three (3) years, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting labor and employment, including all Laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, employment standards, health and safety, wages and hours, holiday pay and the calculation of holiday pay, working time, employee classification (with respect to both exempt vs. non-exempt status and employee vs. independent contractor and worker status), child labor, immigration (including with respect to the completion of Forms I-9 and visa requirements), employment harassment, discrimination and retaliation, human rights accessibility, pay equity, COVID-19, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity and equal pay, plant closures and layoffs (including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended, or any similar Laws (“WARN Act”)), affirmative action, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues, paid time off, and unemployment insurance. There are no material Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened, relating to current or former employees of any VS Company.

 

(c)            Except as would not result in material liability for any VS Company: (i) each VS Company has fully and timely paid all wages, salaries, wage premiums, commissions, bonuses, severance and termination payments, fees, and other compensation that have come due and payable to its current and former employees and independent contractors under applicable Law, Contract or company policy; and (ii) each individual who is providing or within the past three (3) years has provided services to any VS Company and is or was classified and treated as an independent contractor, consultant, leased employee, or other non-employee service provider is and has been properly classified and treated as such for all applicable purposes.

 

(d)           To the knowledge of the VS Companies, all sexual harassment, or other discrimination, retaliation or policy violation allegations within the past three (3) years have been investigated and addressed in accordance with applicable Law. The VS Companies do not reasonably expect any material liability with respect to any such allegations.

 

(e)            No employee layoff, facility closure or shutdown (whether voluntary or by Order), reduction-in-force, furlough, temporary layoff, material work schedule change or reduction in hours, or material reduction in salary or wages has occurred since March 1, 2020 or is currently contemplated, planned or announced, as a result of COVID-19 or any Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19.

 

Section 3.15       Taxes.

 

(a)            All income and other material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by the VS Companies have been timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

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(b)             All income and other material Taxes due and owing by the VS Companies (whether or not reflected on any Tax Return) have been duly and timely paid in full.

 

(c)             The VS Companies have (i) timely withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority all material amounts required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, other service provider, equity interest holder or other third-party, and (ii) complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the collection, withholding, and remittance of Taxes and information reporting relating to Taxes.

 

(d)            None of the VS Companies are currently the subject of or otherwise engaged in any material Tax audit, examination, investigation or other proceeding (judicial or administrative) with a Governmental Authority, nor has any VS Company received written notice from any Governmental Authority indicating that any such Tax audit, examination, investigation, or other proceeding is forthcoming.

 

(e)             None of the VS Companies have received any written claimed, proposed, asserted, or threatened deficiency, assessment, or adjustment with respect to a material amount of Taxes that has not been resolved in full. None of the VS Companies have waived or extended the statute of limitations with respect to any assessment or potential assessment or collection or potential collection of a material amount of Taxes which waiver or extension is still in effect, nor is any request from any Governmental Authority for any such waiver or extension outstanding.

 

(f)              There are no Liens with respect to material Taxes on any of the assets of the VS Companies, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(g)             No “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), private letter ruling, or technical advice memorandum concerning Taxes has been entered into, or issued by, or requested from any Governmental Authority with respect to a VS Company that would be effective after the Closing Date.

 

(h)             No VS Company is or has ever been a party to any “listed transaction” as defined in Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4.

 

(i)              No VS Company has been a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a transaction purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code as relates to Section 355 of the Code).

 

(j)              No VS Company (i) has been a member of an “affiliated group” (within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than a VS Company) under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), as a transferee or successor, by operation of Law, or by Contract (other than any customary provisions contained in a commercial Contract entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purpose of which does not relate to Taxes), or (iii) is a party to any Tax allocation, Tax sharing, Tax indemnity, or other similar Contract (other than any (x) Contract solely between or among the VS Companies and (y) any customary provisions contained in a commercial Contract entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purpose of which does not relate to Taxes).

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(k)             No VS Company will be required to pay any material Tax after the Closing Date as a result of any deferral of a payment obligation or advance of a credit with respect to Taxes to the extent relating to any action, election, deferral, filing, or request made or taken by any VS Company (including the non-payment of a Tax) on or prior to the Closing Date (including (1) the delay of payment of employment Taxes under any COVID-19 Tax Measure or any similar notice or order or law, and (2) the advance refunding or receipt of credits under any COVID-19 Tax Measure (including, without limitation, Section 3606 of the CARES Act)).

 

(l)              No VS Company will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in or use of an ‎improper ‎method ‎of accounting for a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending ‎on or before to the ‎Closing Date (including as a result of any adjustment under Section 481 of the Code or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law), (ii) installment ‎sale or open ‎transaction ‎disposition transaction ‎made on or prior to ‎the Closing Date, (iii) prepaid ‎amount, ‎advanced ‎amount, or deferred revenue received on or ‎prior to the ‎Closing Date, or (iv) application of Code Section 965 (including any installment payment attributable to an election under Code 965(h)).

 

(m)            No VS Company is (or, at any point during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, has been) a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code. No VS Company is or, within the prior six years, has been (i) a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code, or (ii) a “passive foreign investment company” as defined Section 1297 of the Code.

 

(n)             No written claims have been made in the last six (6) years by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where a VS Company does not file Tax Returns that such VS Company is or may be subject to Tax by, or required to file any Tax Return in, that jurisdiction. No VS Company has ever had a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or other taxable presence in any country other than the country in which it is organized.

 

(o)             Intermediate is and at all times since formation been classified as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes and not as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code. Intermediate has not made any election or otherwise taken any action to cause the Partnership Tax Audit Rules to apply to Intermediate at any earlier date than is required by Law. Section 3.15(o) of the VS Disclosure Letter lists the U.S. federal income Tax classification of each VS Company since its respective formation.

 

(p)             VividSeats Canada Ltd. has not applied for, claimed, or received a refund of an amount decreed, under section 125.7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), to be an overpayment of Tax owing under Part I of the Income Tax Act (Canada) to which it was not entitled pursuant to applicable Law.

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(q)             Each VS Company has complied in all material respects with Laws relating to escheat and unclaimed property.

 

(r)             None of the intangible assets of the VS Companies were used by the VS Companies or a related person (as defined in Section 197(f)(9)(C) of the Code) to a VS Company in a trade or business conducted on or before August 10, 1993.

 

(s)             VS PubCo was formed for the sole purpose of effecting the Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby and has not engaged in business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby and has not had, and at all times prior to the Effective Time, will not have, any assets, liabilities or obligations other than those incident to its formation and the Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(t)              No VS Company has taken any action (or permitted any action to be taken), nor is aware of any fact or circumstance, that could reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code.

 

Section 3.16        Property.

 

(a)             Section 3.15(t)(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all material Leased Real Property and all Real Property Leases (as hereinafter defined) pertaining to such Leased Real Property (including the date and name of the parties to each lease document). With such exceptions as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all of the leases, subleases, agreements for the leasing, use or occupancy of, or otherwise granting a right in to the Leased Real Property by or to any VS Company, including all amendments and modifications thereof (collectively, the “Real Property Leases”) are in full force and effect and represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the VS Company party thereto and, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto; and (ii) (x) the VS Companies have performed in all respects all respective obligations required to be performed by them to date under the Real Property Leases to which any VS Company is a party or by which they are bound, and neither the VS Companies nor, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under any such Real Property Lease, (y) during the last twelve (12) months, none of the VS Companies has received any written claim or notice of termination or breach of or default under any such Real Property Lease, and (z) no event has occurred which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default, or would permit the acceleration of rent under any such Real Property Lease by the VS Companies or, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any other party thereto. The Leased Real Property is in good condition and repair in all material respects, normal wear and tear excepted. The VS Companies have delivered a true and complete copy of each Real Property Lease prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)             None of the VS Companies has any ownership in any real property.

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(c)            With such exceptions as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the VS Companies have good title to or valid leasehold or license interests in all of the assets and personal property that they purport to own, lease or license (including those assets reflected on the Financial Statements), free and clear of any and all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Such assets and properties constitute all of the assets and personal properties which are owned, used or held for use in the conduct by the VS Companies of their businesses as they are currently conducted or contemplated to be conducted.

 

Section 3.17       Environmental, Health and Safety.

 

(a)           The VS Companies are, and for the past three (3) years have been, in compliance in all material respects with Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining, and complying in all material respects with all permits required under Environmental Laws.

 

(b)            The VS Companies have not received in the past three (3) years any written claims, notices or other information, and there are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to knowledge of the VS Companies, threatened against any VS Company, in each case, alleging material violations of or material liability under any Environmental Law.

 

(c)            None of the VS Companies have treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for the disposal of, transported, handled, released, exposed any Person to, or owned or operated any property or facility contaminated by, any Hazardous Materials, in each case so as to give rise to material liability under Environmental Laws.

 

(d)           None of the VS Companies have assumed, undertaken, provided an indemnity with respect to, or otherwise become subject to, any material liability of any other Person under any Environmental Laws or with respect to Hazardous Materials.

 

(e)            The VS Companies have made available to Horizon copies of all material environmental assessments, audits and reports relating to the current or former properties, facilities or operations of any VS Company in the possession or under the reasonable control of any VS Company.

 

Section 3.18       Intellectual Property; Data Privacy.

 

(a)            Section 3.18(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter lists all (a) patents and patent applications, (b) registered trademarks and trademark applications, (c) registered copyrights, and (d) domain name registrations, in each case that constitute Owned Intellectual Property as of the date of this Agreement (“Company Registered Intellectual Property”), in each case, listing, as may be applicable, the filing/application/registration number, title, registrar, jurisdiction, date of filing/issuance and current applicant(s)/registered owners(s). Each item of the foregoing Company Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting, and has not been cancelled or abandoned. To the knowledge of the VS Companies, all Company Registered Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable. No action is pending, or to the VS Companies’ knowledge is threatened, challenging the validity, enforceability, registration, ownership or scope of any Owned Intellectual Property.

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(b)            One or more of the VS Companies exclusively own all Owned Intellectual Property free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). All former and current officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents, and independent contractors of the VS Companies who have contributed to or participated in the conception and development of material Intellectual Property for any of the VS Companies have entered into valid and binding proprietary rights agreements with the relevant VS Company vesting ownership of such Intellectual Property in such VS Company, except where such ownership of such Intellectual Property is vested in the applicable VS Company by operation of law. The VS Companies have taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of all trade secrets material to their business in accordance with industry practice. To the VS Companies’ knowledge, there has been no unauthorized access, use or disclosure of any material trade secrets or other material confidential Proprietary Information of the VS Companies.

 

(c)             (i) The operation of the VS Companies’ business has not, since December 31, 2018, infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and is not infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property rights of any Person and (ii) no Person (including any current or former employee or consultant of the VS Companies) has, since December 31, 2018, infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating any Owned Intellectual Property, in each case, except as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No Action is pending or, to the VS Companies’ knowledge, threatened against the VS Companies or made by the VS Companies against a third party, alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other violation of any Intellectual Property rights, except as has not been, and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the VS Companies.

 

(d)            The IT Systems are sufficient in all material respects for the current operations of the VS Companies and have not materially malfunctioned or failed since December 31, 2018. The VS Companies have implemented and maintain commercially reasonable measures designed to protect the integrity and security of the IT Systems, as well as commercially reasonable data backup, system redundancy and disaster avoidance and recovery procedures. To the knowledge of the VS Companies, there has been, since December 31, 2018, no breach of the IT Systems resulting in the unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, destruction or encryption of any material Personal Data or material Proprietary Information contained therein.

 

(e)             None of the VS Companies have (i) incorporated any Open Source Software into, or combined Open Source Software with, any software included in the Owned Intellectual Property, or (ii) distributed Open Source Software in conjunction with any software included in the Owned Intellectual Property, in each case, in a manner which requires, as a condition of such incorporation, combination or distribution, that the Owned Intellectual Property be (x) disclosed or distributed in source code, object code or binary form, (y) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works, or (z) redistributable at no charge. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the VS Companies, no source code of any software included in the Owned Intellectual Property has been disclosed, licensed, escrowed or delivered to any Person, including an escrow agent, and no event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists, that (with or without notice or lapse of time, or the occurrence of any condition) would reasonably be expected to result in a requirement that the source code of any software included in the Owned Intellectual Property be disclosed or delivered to any Person.

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(f)             The VS Companies are, and since December 31, 2018, have been, in material compliance with all Privacy Laws and all Privacy Agreements. To the knowledge of the VS Companies, no material complaint relating to an improper use or disclosure of, or a breach in the security of, any Personal Data is pending, or since December 31, 2018 has been made, against the VS Companies. To the knowledge of the VS Companies, there is no pending claim, audit or investigation against the VS Companies alleging that any processing of Personal Data by the VS Companies: (i) is in violation of any applicable Privacy Laws, or (ii) is in violation of any Privacy Agreements.

 

Section 3.19       Absence of Changes. Since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements, (a) there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect and (b) except as set forth in Section 3.19 of the VS Disclosure Letter, the VS Companies have, in all material respects, conducted their business and operated their properties in the ordinary course of business. Since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements, the VS Companies and their Subsidiaries have not taken any action or omitted to take any action, which, if taken or omitted to be taken after the date of this Agreement, would require the consent of Horizon in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

Section 3.20       Anti-Corruption Compliance; Sanctions; PATRIOT ACT.

 

(a)            For the past three (3) years, none of the VS Companies, nor, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any director, officer, employee, member, equityholder, manager, representative or agent acting on behalf of any VS Company, has, directly or indirectly (i) made or attempted to make or promised to pay, any contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment or kickback or promised to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value or other payment, to (A) any official or employee of a Governmental Authority, any political party or official thereof, or any candidate for political office or (B) any other Person, in any such case while knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value will be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any official or employee of a Governmental Authority or candidate for political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him, her or it to use his, her or its influence: (1) to obtain favorable treatment for business or contracts secured, (2) to pay for favorable treatment for business or contracts secured, (3) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained or (4) in violation of any requirement of applicable Anti-Bribery Laws in each jurisdiction where the VS Company is conducting or has conducted business, or (ii) established or maintained any unlawful fund or asset that has not been recorded in the VS Company’s books and records, except, in each case, to the extent any payments or failure to so record would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)            Each of the VS Companies, have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Bribery Laws.

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(c)             To the knowledge of the VS Companies, as of the date hereof, there are no current or pending internal investigations, third party investigations (including by any Governmental Authority), or internal or external audits that address any material allegations or information concerning possible material violations of the Anti-Bribery Laws related to any VS Company.

 

(d)             None of the VS Companies nor, to the knowledge of the VS Companies, any director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by, any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, Her Majesty’s Treasury’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction.

 

(e)             To the extent applicable, the VS Companies are in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or Governmental Order relating thereto and (ii) the PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 3.21            Insurance. Each VS Company currently maintains, and has for the past three (3) years maintained insurance required by Law or any Contract to which any of them is party or by which any of them is bound. The VS Companies have in full force and effect all material policies or binders of property, fire and casualty, product liability, workers’ compensation, and other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of the VS Companies. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due have been paid in full, no VS Company is in default with respect to its payment obligations under any such policies, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received by any VS Company with respect to any such policy. No VS Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any self-insurance or co-insurance programs. No insurer has denied or disputed coverage of any material claim under an insurance policy during the last twelve (12) months.

 

Section 3.22            Subscription-Related Representations.

 

(a)             Topco understands that the shares of Class B Common Stock are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that such shares have not been registered under the Securities Act. Topco understands that the shares of Class B Common Stock may not be resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Topco absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act except (i) to the Surviving Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in each of cases (i) and (iii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or book entry account representing such shares shall contain a legend to such effect.

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(b)            Topco acknowledges and agrees that Topco has received such information and has had the full opportunity to ask such questions and receive such answers concerning an investment in the shares of Class B Common Stock as Topco and Topco’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to such shares.

 

(c)            Topco has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Class B Common Stock, and Topco has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Topco has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.

 

Section 3.23       Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement will, at the date on which the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is first mailed to the Horizon Stockholders or at the time of the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the VS Entities make no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to (a) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Horizon for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or (b) any projections or forecasts included in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.

 

Section 3.24       Brokers’ Fees. Except as set forth on Section 3.24 of the VS Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by any VS Entity, any of their Subsidiaries’ or any of their Affiliates for which Horizon, any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries has any obligation.

 

Section 3.25       No Outside Reliance. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article III or any other provision hereof, each of the VS Entities, and any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives, acknowledge and agree that the VS Entities has made its own investigation of Horizon and that neither Horizon nor any of its Affiliates, agents or representatives is making any representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by Horizon in Article IV, including any implied warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of Horizon or its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that any management presentations that have been or shall hereafter be provided to the VS Entities or any of their Affiliates, agents or representatives are not and will not be deemed to be representations or warranties of Horizon, and no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing except as may be expressly set forth in Article IV of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, each of the VS Entities understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of Horizon and its Subsidiaries are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to and except as otherwise provided in the representations and warranties contained in Article IV, with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.

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Section 3.26       Indebtedness; Cash; Transaction Expenses. Section 3.26(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter lists each item of Indebtedness, including in each case, the amount and holder of such Indebtedness, of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries that is outstanding as of April 20, 2021. Section 3.26(b) of the VS Disclosure Letter attached hereto lists the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries as of the date hereof. Section 3.26(c) of the VS Disclosure Letter lists each expected payee of VS Transaction Expenses as of the Closing, together with an estimate of the amount of such expenses.

 

Section 3.27       No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article III, neither the VS Entities nor any of their Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever to Horizon or its Affiliates and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to Horizon or its Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, the VS Entities acknowledge that the VS Entities, together with their respective advisors, have made their own investigation of Horizon and its Subsidiaries and, except as provided in Article IV, is not relying on any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of Horizon or any of their respective Subsidiaries, the prospects (financial or otherwise) or the viability or likelihood of success of the business of Horizon and its Subsidiaries as conducted after the Closing, as contained in any materials provided by Horizon or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives or otherwise.

 

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HORIZON

 

Except as set forth in (i) any Horizon SEC Filings filed or submitted on or prior to the date hereof (excluding (a) any disclosures in any risk factors section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimer and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature and (b) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such Horizon SEC Filings will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.9 and Section 4.11), or (ii) in the disclosure letter delivered by Horizon to the VS Entities (the “Horizon Disclosure Letter”) on the date of this Agreement (each section of which, subject to Section 10.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this Article IV), Horizon represents and warrants to the VS Entities as follows:

 

Section 4.1              Company Organization. Horizon has been duly incorporated, organized or formed and is validly existing as a corporation and in good standing or exempted company in good standing (or equivalent status, to the extent that such concept exists) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. Horizon is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation or company in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or the conduct of business as now conducted requires it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Horizon Material Adverse Effect. True and complete copies of the Governing Documents of Horizon have been made available to the VS Entities prior to the date of this Agreement.

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Section 4.2           Due Authorization.

 

(a)             Horizon has all requisite corporate power and authority to (a) execute, deliver and perform under this Agreement and the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby and (b) consummate the Transactions and perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder and thereunder, subject to obtaining the Horizon Stockholder Approval. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the Transactions and thereby have been (i) duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of Horizon and (ii) determined by the Board of Directors of Horizon as advisable to Horizon and the Horizon Stockholders and recommended for approval by the Horizon Stockholders. No other company proceeding on the part of Horizon is or will be necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby (other than the Horizon Stockholder Approval). This Agreement has been, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by Horizon, and this Agreement constitutes, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Horizon, enforceable against Horizon in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

(b)            Assuming that a quorum (as determined pursuant to the Horizon Governing Documents) is present, (i) the Transaction Proposal identified in clause (A) of Section 7.2(b), shall require an affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Horizon Common Stock entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with applicable Law and the Horizon Governing Documents) at a Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Horizon and held for such purpose, and (ii) the Transaction Proposals identified in clauses (B) - (G) of Section 7.2(b), in each case, shall require approval by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with the Horizon Governing Documents) at a Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Horizon and held for such purpose.

 

(c)             The foregoing vote is the only votes of any of Horizon’s share capital necessary in connection with entry into this Agreement by Horizon and the consummation of the Transactions, including the Closing.

 

(d)            At a meeting duly called and held, the Board of Directors of Horizon has unanimously approved the Transactions as a Business Combination.

 

Section 4.3              No Violation. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 4.4 and to receipt of the Horizon Stockholder Approval, the execution, delivery and performance by Horizon of this Agreement and the documents to which it is or will be a party contemplated hereby and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (a) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) the Governing Documents of Horizon, (b) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) violate any provision of, or result in (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) the breach of, result in the loss of any right or benefit (including any forfeiture or reduction in carried interest), require any consent, waiver, approval, authorization, notice or other action by any Person (other than Horizon or its Subsidiaries), or cause acceleration, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any Contract or Governmental Permit to which Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such Contract or Governmental Permit or (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Horizon Material Adverse Effect.

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Section 4.4              Governmental Authorizations. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the VS Entities contained in this Agreement, no Governmental Authorization is required on the part of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Horizon’s execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the consummation by Horizon of the Transactions, except for (i) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers, notices or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have (A) a Horizon Material Adverse Effect or (B) a material adverse effect on the ability of Horizon or its Subsidiaries to perform or comply with on a timely basis any material obligation of Horizon or its Subsidiaries under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the Transactions, (ii) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings related to the SEC, NASDAQ or the NYSE or in connection with the Plan of Merger or Merger Certificate and (iii) the Regulatory Approvals.

 

Section 4.5           Capitalization of Horizon.

 

(a)             As of the date hereof, the authorized share capital of Horizon is 441,000.00 divided into (i) 400,000,000 shares of Horizon Class A Common Stock, of which 54,398,433 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) 40,000,000 shares of Horizon Class B Common Stock, of which 13,599,608 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (iii) 1,000,000 preference shares of par value $0.0001 each, of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement ((i), (ii) and (iii) collectively, the “Horizon Securities”). The foregoing represent all of the issued and outstanding Horizon Securities. All issued and outstanding Horizon Securities (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the Horizon Governing Documents and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Horizon Governing Documents or any Contract to which Horizon is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.

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(b)           At least one day prior to the Merger, Sponsor and Horizon shall consummate the Sponsor Exchange.

 

(c)           Subject to the terms of conditions of the relevant Warrant Agreement, the Horizon Warrants will be exercisable after giving effect to the Transactions for one share of Horizon Common Stock at an exercise price of eleven Dollars and fifty cents ($11.50) per share. As of the date hereof, 18,132,789 Horizon Common Warrants, 6,519,791 Horizon Private Placement Warrants, no Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and no Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants are issued and outstanding. No Horizon Warrants are exercisable until thirty (30) days after the Closing. All outstanding Horizon Common Warrants and Horizon Private Placement Warrants (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Horizon, enforceable against Horizon in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law and all requirements set forth in the Horizon Governing Documents; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Horizon Governing Documents or any Contract to which Horizon is a party or otherwise bound. All of the Horizon $10.00 Exercise Warrants and Horizon $15.00 Exercise Warrants will, when issued pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, (i) be duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Horizon, enforceable against Horizon in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law and all requirements set forth in the Horizon Governing Documents; and (iii) not be subject to, nor will they have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Horizon Governing Documents or any Contract to which Horizon is a party or otherwise bound. Except for the Horizon Governing Documents and this Agreement, there are no outstanding Contracts of Horizon to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Horizon Securities.

 

(d)          Except as set forth in this Section 4.5 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, Horizon has not granted any outstanding subscriptions, options, stock appreciation rights, “phantom stock”, warrants, commitments, calls, rights of first refusal, deferred compensation rights, rights or other securities (including debt securities or voting securities) convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Horizon Securities, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange of privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other arrangements or commitments of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares or any other equity securities of Horizon the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests of Horizon or the value of which is determined by reference to the Horizon Securities, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate Horizon to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any Horizon Securities.

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(e)             The Horizon Common Stock is duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and issued in compliance with applicable Law and not subject to, and not issued in violation of, any Lien, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of applicable Law or the Horizon Governing Documents.

 

(f)              Horizon has no Subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests or other interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. Horizon is not party to any Contract that obligates Horizon to invest money in, loan money to or make any capital contribution to any other Person.

 

Section 4.6           Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements.

 

(a)             Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Horizon’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”), Horizon has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Horizon, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, is made known to Horizon’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Horizon’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Horizon’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Since June 20, 2020, Horizon has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Horizon’s financial reporting and the preparation of Horizon’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)            Each director and executive officer of Horizon has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Horizon has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(c)             Except as set forth in Section 4.6(c) of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, since June 20, 2020, Horizon has complied in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE. The Horizon Class A Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE. Except as set forth in Section 4.6(c) of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Horizon, threatened against Horizon by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) or prohibit or terminate the listing of Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) on the NYSE.

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(d)            The Horizon SEC Filings contain true and complete copies of the audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, and statement of operations, cash flow and stockholders’ equity of Horizon for the year ended December 31, 2019, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (the “Horizon Financial Statements”). Except as disclosed in the Horizon SEC Filings, the Horizon Financial Statements present (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Horizon, as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended, (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and (iii) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates thereof. Each of the VS Entities acknowledges that (i) the Staff of the SEC issued the Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies on April 12, 2021 (the “Statement”), (ii) Horizon continues to review the Statement and its implications, including on the financial statements and other information included in the Horizon SEC Filings and (iii) any restatement, revision or other modification of the Horizon SEC Filings in connection with such review of the Statement or any subsequent related agreements or other guidance from the Staff of the SEC shall be deemed not material for purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of this Section 4.6(d) and Section 4.9(f) below. The books and records of Horizon have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

(e)            There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by Horizon to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of Horizon. Horizon has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(f)             Neither Horizon (including any employee thereof) nor Horizon’s independent auditors has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by Horizon, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Horizon’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by Horizon or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.

 

Section 4.7           No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Section 4.7 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no liability, debt (including Indebtedness) or obligation of, or claim or judgment of any kind, against, Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, due or to become due or otherwise) that would be required to be set forth on a balance sheet of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities, debts, obligations, claims or judgments (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto included in Horizon SEC Filings, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Horizon SEC Filings in the ordinary course of business (none of which relates to breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, any lawsuit, a violation of law), (c) that will be discharged or paid off prior to or at the Closing, (d) arising under this Agreement and/or the performance by Horizon of its obligations hereunder, or (e) that would not, reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in material liability to the Horizon Entities, taken as a whole.

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Section 4.8          Litigation and Proceedings. Except as set forth on Section 4.8 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, (a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Horizon, threatened Legal Proceedings against or by Horizon or its properties, assets or business; (b) no investigations, audits or other inquiries are pending or, to the knowledge of Horizon, threatened by any Governmental Authority, against Horizon or its properties, assets or business; and (c) there is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon any Horizon, nor are any properties or assets of Horizon bound by or subject to any Governmental Order, except in the case of each of clauses (a) – (c), as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, be materially adverse to the Horizon Entities, taken as a whole.

 

Section 4.9           Taxes.

 

(a)             All income and other material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by Horizon or its Subsidiaries have been timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

 

(b)            All income and other material Taxes due and owing by Horizon or its Subsidiaries (whether or not reflected on any Tax Return) have been duly and timely paid in full.

 

(c)             Horizon and its Subsidiaries have (i) timely withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority all material amounts required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, other service provider, equity interest holder or other third-party, and (ii) complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the collection, withholding, and remittance of Taxes.

 

(d)            Neither Horizon nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the subject of or otherwise engaged in any material Tax audit, examination, investigation, or other proceeding (judicial or administrative) with a Governmental Authority, nor has Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries received written notice from any Governmental Authority indicating that any such Tax audit, examination, investigation, or other proceeding is forthcoming.

 

(e)             Neither Horizon nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claimed, proposed, asserted, or threatened deficiency, assessment, or adjustment with respect to a material amount of Taxes that has not been resolved in full. Neither Horizon nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived or extended the statute of limitations with respect to any assessment or potential assessment or collection or proposed collection of a material amount of Taxes which waiver or extension is still in effect, nor is any request from any Governmental Authority for any such waiver or extension outstanding. There are no Liens with respect to material Taxes on any of the assets of Horizon or its Subsidiaries, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(f)              Neither Horizon nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action (or permitted any action to be taken), nor is aware of any fact or circumstance, that could reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code.

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Section 4.10            SEC Filings. Horizon has timely filed or furnished all statements, prospectuses, registration statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since August 20, 2020, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing through the date hereof, the “Horizon SEC Filings”). Each of the Horizon SEC Filings, as of the respective date of its filing, and as of the date of any amendment, complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Horizon SEC Filings. As of the respective date of its filing (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), the Horizon SEC Filings did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the Horizon SEC Filings. To the knowledge of Horizon, none of the Horizon SEC Filings filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof.

 

Section 4.11            Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, Horizon has at least $543,984,330.00 in the Trust Account (including, if applicable, an aggregate of approximately $13,600,000.00 of deferred underwriting commissions and other fees being held in the Trust Account), such monies invested in United States government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2020, between Horizon and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Trust Agreement”). There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Horizon SEC Filings to be inaccurate in any material respect or that would entitle any Person (other than stockholders of Horizon holding Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) sold in Horizon’s initial public offering who shall have elected to redeem their shares of Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) pursuant to the Horizon Governing Documents and the underwriters of Horizon’s initial public offering with respect to deferred underwriting commissions) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payments with respect to all Horizon Share Redemptions. There are no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Horizon, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Horizon has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the Closing, the obligations of Horizon to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to the Horizon Governing Documents shall terminate, and as of the Closing, Horizon shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to the Horizon Governing Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Horizon by reason of the consummation of the Transactions. To Horizon’s knowledge, as of the date hereof, following the Closing, no Horizon Stockholder shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such Horizon Stockholder is exercising a Horizon Share Redemption. As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the VS Entities contained herein and the compliance by the VS Entities with their respective obligations hereunder, Horizon has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to Horizon on the Closing Date.

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Section 4.12           Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. Horizon is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Horizon constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

 

Section 4.13            Absence of Changes. Since June 20, 2020, (a) there has not been any Horizon Material Adverse Effect and (b) except as set forth in Section 4.13 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, Horizon has, in all material respects, conducted its business and operated its properties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

 

Section 4.14            Indebtedness; Transaction Expenses. Horizon does not have any Indebtedness. Section 4.14 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter lists each expected payee of Horizon Transaction Expenses as of the Closing, together with an estimate of the amount of such expenses.

 

Section 4.15            Business Activities.

 

(a)             Since its organization, Horizon has not conducted any business activities other than activities related to Horizon’s initial public offering or directed toward the accomplishment of a Business Combination. Except as set forth in the Horizon Governing Documents or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the Transactions, there is no Contract to which Horizon is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business practice of Horizon or any acquisition of property by Horizon or the conduct of business by Horizon as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing, other than such effects which have not had, and would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to interfere with, prevent or materially delay the ability of Horizon to enter into and perform their obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)             Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, Horizon does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity.

 

(c)             As of the date hereof and except for this Agreement and as set forth on Section 4.15(c) of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, the Ancillary Agreements and Transactions (including with respect to Horizon Transaction Expenses), Horizon is not party to any Contract with any other Person that would require payments by Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof in excess of $75,000 in the aggregate with respect to any individual Contract.

 

Section 4.16            NYSE Stock Market Quotation. Horizon Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “HZAC”. The Horizon Common Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “HZAC WS”. Except as set forth on Section 4.16 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, Horizon is in compliance with the rules of the NYSE and there is no Action or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Horizon, threatened against Horizon by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Horizon Common Stock or Horizon Common Warrants or terminate the listing of Horizon Common Stock or Horizon Common Warrants on the NYSE. Neither Horizon nor any of its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Horizon Common Stock or Horizon Common Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.

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Section 4.17           Registration Statement, Proxy Statement and Proxy Statement/Registration Statement. On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, and when first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and/or filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, the Proxy Statement and the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. On the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and/or Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, the date the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, as applicable, is first mailed to the Horizon Stockholders, and at the time of the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting, the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, as applicable (together with any amendments or supplements thereto), will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Horizon makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to (a) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the VS Entities for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or (b) any projections or forecasts included in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.

 

Section 4.18            Takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions. The Board of Directors of Horizon has taken all action necessary so that the restrictions on a “business combination” (as such term is used in Section 203 of the DGCL) contained in Section 203 of the DGCL or any similar restrictions under any foreign Laws will be inapplicable to this Agreement and the Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, no “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other antitakeover statute or similar domestic or foreign Law applies with respect to Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or similar antitakeover agreement or plan in effect to which Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, party or otherwise bound.

 

Section 4.19            Brokers’ Fees. Except fees described on Section 4.19 of the Horizon Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by Horizon or any of its Affiliates or for which the VS Entities may become liable.

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Section 4.20            No Outside Reliance. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IV or any other provision hereof, each of Horizon, and any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives, acknowledge and agree that Horizon has made its own investigation of the VS Entities and that neither the VS Entities nor any of their Affiliates, agents or representatives is making any representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the VS Entities in Article III, including any implied warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that any cost estimates, financial or other projections or other predictions that may be contained or referred to in the VS Disclosure Letter or elsewhere, as well as any information, documents or other materials (including any such materials contained in any “data room” (whether or not accessed by Horizon or its representatives) or reviewed by Horizon pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement) or management presentations that have been or shall hereafter be provided to Horizon or any of its Affiliates, agents or representatives are not and will not be deemed to be representations or warranties of the VS Entities, and no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing except as may be expressly set forth in Article III of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, Horizon understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to and except as otherwise provided in the representations and warranties contained in Article III, with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.

 

Section 4.21            No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article IV, neither Horizon nor any its Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever to the VS Entities or their Affiliates and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to the VS Entities or their Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, Horizon acknowledges that Horizon, together with its advisors, has made its own investigation of the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries and, except as provided in Article III, is not relying on any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the VS Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries, the prospects (financial or otherwise) or the viability or likelihood of success of the business of the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries as conducted after the Closing, as contained in any materials provided by Horizon or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives or otherwise.

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Article V

COVENANTS OF THE VS ENTITIES

 

Section 5.1            Conduct of Business. Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan) or the Ancillary Agreements, (ii) as required by applicable Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures), (iii) as set forth on Section 5.1 of the VS Disclosure Letter or (iv) as consented to by Horizon in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), from the date of this Agreement through the earlier of the Closing or valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX (the “Interim Period”), each of the VS Entities shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to operate the business of the VS Entities in the ordinary course. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except (A) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan) or the Ancillary Agreements, (B) as required by applicable Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures), (C) as set forth on Section 5.1 of the VS Disclosure Letter or (D) as consented to by Horizon in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), Intermediate and VS Pubco shall not, and the VS Entities shall cause their Subsidiaries not to:

 

(a)             change or amend the Governing Documents of any VS Company in any material respect, except as otherwise required by Law;

 

(b)            make or declare any dividend or distribution to the stockholders or members, as applicable, of any VS Company or make any other distributions in respect of any of the VS Companies’ capital stock or equity interests, except for (i) Tax Distributions (as defined in the Current LLCA) permitted to be made under the Current LLCA but not in excess of $10,000,000, and (ii) dividends and distributions by a VS Company to another VS Company;

 

(c)            split, combine, reclassify, recapitalize or otherwise amend any terms of any shares or series of the VS Companies’ capital stock or equity interests, except for any such transaction by a VS Company that remains a VS Company after consummation of such transaction;

 

(d)            purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests of the VS Companies, except for (i) the acquisition by the VS Companies of any shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests of the VS Companies (other than Intermediate) in connection with the forfeiture or cancellation of such interests and (ii) transactions between a VS Company and another VS Company;

 

(e)            sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease, license, sublease, abandon, permit to lapse, mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any material tangible or intangible assets or properties of the VS Companies except for (i) dispositions of obsolete or worthless equipment in the ordinary course of business and (ii) transactions among the VS Companies;

 

(f)             acquire any ownership interest in any real property;

 

(g)            make an acquisition of (whether by merger, stock or asset purchase or otherwise), capital investment in, or any loan to (or series of acquisitions, capital investments or loans), any other Person;

 

(h)            (i) make or change any material method of accounting for Tax purposes, (ii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election that is inconsistent with past practices (except as required by the Code or applicable law) if such Tax election is reasonably expected to materially increase any Tax liability of the VS Companies or any direct or indirect owner of Intermediate in a post-Closing Tax period, (iii) enter into any closing agreement relating to material Taxes (iv) settle, concede, compromise or abandon any material Tax claim or assessment, (v) surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes (vi) consent to any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment, or (vii) file any amended income or other material Tax Return, except as required by applicable Law;

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(i)              (i) issue any additional VS Company interests or securities exercisable for or convertible into VS Company interests or (ii) grant any options, warrants or other equity-based awards that relate to the equity of any VS Company, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business or issuances to any other VS Company;

 

(j)             adopt a plan of, or otherwise enter into or effect a, complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, equity split, redemption, purchase of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ equity interests or other reorganization of the VS Companies;

 

(k)            commence, waive, release, settle, compromise or otherwise resolve any investigation, claim, Action, litigation or other Legal Proceedings, except in the ordinary course of business or where such waivers, releases, settlements or compromises involve only the payment of monetary damages (A) in an amount less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding any amounts paid or payable by an insurance provider) or (B) that imposed any material non-monetary obligation on Horizon;

 

(l)             make or commit to make capital expenditures (other than capital expenditures made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) in excess of $500,000, except for such capital expenditures included in the 2021 budget of the VS Companies previously made available to Horizon;

 

(m)           incur, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of any VS Company or guaranty any debt securities of another Person, other than any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000;

 

(n)            (i) adopt, establish, enter into, terminate, modify or amend any Company Benefit Plan or any benefit or compensation plan, policy, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a Company Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date hereof, other than as required by applicable Law, (ii) other than as such actions may be taken pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plan, accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, or (iii) recognize any union or employee representative body for purposes of collective bargaining or negotiate or enter into any CBA, works council agreement or other similar Contract or understanding with any union, works council or other labor organization other than as required by applicable Law;

 

(o)            (i) pay, announce, promise or grant any increase in the compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, officer, employee or other individual service provider of any VS Company, other than increases in compensation of employees in the ordinary course consistent with past practice or otherwise pursuant to any existing agreement as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) enter into any new employment agreement with any Person, or amend the annual base salary of any existing employment agreement with any current or former director, officer, employee or other individual service provider, whose annual base salary would exceed, or exceeded, $300,000;

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(p)            implement or announce any employee layoffs, plant closings, reductions in force, furloughs, temporary layoffs, infectious disease emergency leave, salary or wage reductions, work schedule changes or other such actions that could reasonably be expected to trigger notice or other requirements under the WARN Act;

 

(q)            terminate (other than for “cause”) any director, officer, employee or other service provider of any VS Company whose annual base salary exceeds, or would exceed, $300,000;

 

(r)             enter into any Related Party Transaction;

 

(s)            change an annual accounting period for GAAP or adopt or change any material accounting method used by it for GAAP or adopt any material accounting method unless required by GAAP; or

 

(t)             enter into any Contract to do any action prohibited under this Section 5.1.

 

Section 5.2             Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations that may be applicable to information furnished to the VS Entities, any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the VS Entities’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information that is subject to attorney-client privilege (provided that, to the extent possible, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to permit disclosure of such information in a manner that preserves such privilege or compliance with such confidentiality obligation), to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the VS Entities shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, afford to Horizon and its accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period (including for the purpose of coordinating transition planning for employees), during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries, to all of their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries, and shall furnish such representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries that are in the possession of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries as such representatives may reasonably request; provided, that such access shall not include any Phase II invasive or intrusive investigations, testing, sampling or analysis of any properties, facilities or equipment of the VS Entities or their Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of Topco. All information obtained by Horizon and its representatives shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

Section 5.3              Preparation and Delivery of Quarterly Financial Statements.

 

(a)            As soon as reasonably practicable following May 14, 2021, Topco shall deliver to Horizon the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flow of Topco (or to the extent available, Intermediate) and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, presented in a similar format and fashion as the Audited Financial Statements (subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) (the “Q1 Financial Statements”); provided that upon delivery of such Q1 Financial Statements, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q1 Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

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(b)            If the Closing has not occurred prior to August 12, 2021, as soon as reasonably practicable following August 12, 2021, Topco shall deliver to Horizon the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flow of Topco (or, to the extent available, Intermediate) and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2021 (subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) (the “Q2 Financial Statements”); provided that upon delivery of such Q2 Financial Statements, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q2 Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)            If the Closing has not occurred prior to November 12, 2021, as soon as reasonably practicable following November 12, 2021, Topco shall deliver to Horizon the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, cash flow and change in stockholders’ equity of Topco (or to the extent available, Intermediate) and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three- and nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 (subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) (the “Q3 Financial Statements”); provided that upon delivery of such Q3 Financial Statements, the representation and warranties set forth in Section 3.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q3 Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.4              Acquisition Proposals. From the date hereof until the Closing Date or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article IX, the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries shall not, and the VS Entities shall instruct and use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause their respective representatives not to (i) initiate any negotiations with any Person with respect to, or provide any non-public information or data concerning any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries to any Person relating to, an Acquisition Proposal or afford to any Person access to the business, properties, assets or personnel of any VS Entity or any of the VS Entities’ Subsidiaries in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into any acquisition agreement, merger agreement or similar definitive agreement, or any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or agreement in principle, or any other agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) grant any waiver, amendment or release under any confidentiality agreement or the anti-takeover Laws of any state with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, or (iv) otherwise knowingly facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions, or negotiations or any effort or attempt by any Person to make an Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the VS Entities and their Subsidiaries and their respective representatives shall not be restricted pursuant to the foregoing sentence with respect to any actions taken in connection with (1) the Pre-Closing Restructuring and (2) the arrangement of financing in order to facilitate the consummation of the Transactions or for the financing of the Surviving Corporation and/or the VS Companies following the Closing.

 

Section 5.5              Support of Transaction. Without limiting any covenant contained in Article V or Article VII, the VS Entities shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to (a) use reasonable best efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that any of the VS Entities or their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Transactions and (b) take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or as another party hereto may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of Article VIII or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions as soon as practicable.

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Section 5.6           Confidentiality. All non-public information of Horizon provided to the VS Entities pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as confidential pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.6. Except as otherwise provided herein, the VS Entities shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, hold in confidence, and the VS Entities shall not, and shall cause any of their respective Subsidiaries to not, disclose any non-public information of Horizon provided hereunder, including exercising the same degree of care as the VS Entities exercise with their own confidential or proprietary information of a similar nature. The VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries acknowledge and agree that some of the information provided to the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 5.6 may be considered “material non-public information” for purposes of securities Laws, and the VS Entities shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, abide by all securities Laws relating to the handling of and acting upon material non-public information of or regarding Horizon. The VS Entities shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, only use any such non-public information for purposes of consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The VS Entities shall not, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to not, disclose any portion of such non-public information to any person other than its or their and their respective Affiliates’ managers, members, stockholders, officers, directors, partners, employees, legal counsel, accountants, advisors, agents and consultants (collectively, “Representatives”) and who “need to know” such non-public information in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 5.6 by any of its Representatives, and agrees, at its sole expense, to take commercially reasonable measures to restrain its Representatives from prohibited or unauthorized disclosure or use of such non-public information. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Section 5.6 shall not (i) prohibit the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries from disclosing any such non-public information (x) to the extent required in order for the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries to comply with applicable Law, provided that the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, provides prior written notice of such required disclosure to Horizon and uses commercially reasonable efforts to avoid or minimize the extent of such disclosure, at Horizon’s sole expense or (y) if such non-public information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the VS Entities or their respective Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives in breach of this or (ii) prohibit or limit the VS Entities, their respective Subsidiaries and their Affiliates from disclosing customary or any other reasonable information concerning the transactions contemplated hereby to the VS Entities’ and their respective Subsidiaries’ investors, prospective investors and advisors bound by customary confidentiality provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-public information of Horizon provided to the VS Entities and their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement may be disclosed, and no notice as referenced above is required to be provided, pursuant to requests or demands by any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the VS Entities, their respective Subsidiaries or their Representatives and not directed at Horizon or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that the VS Entities, their respective Subsidiaries or their Representatives, as applicable, inform any such authority of the confidential nature of the information disclosed to them and request they keep such information confidential in accordance with such Governmental Authority’s policies and procedures.

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Section 5.7              Post-Closing Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. Subject to the terms of the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents, VS PubCo shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Closing:

 

(a)             the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist of nine (9) directors, (i) one (1) of which shall be the chief executive officer of the Surviving Corporation, (ii) five (5) of which shall be designated by Topco, one (1) of which shall qualify as an “independent director” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Surviving Corporation (the “VS Designated Directors”) and (iii) three (3) of which shall be designated by the Sponsor, two (2) of which shall qualify as “independent directors” under stock exchange regulations applicable to the Surviving Corporation;

 

(b)            the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be designated by Topco and shall serve in such capacity in accordance with the terms of the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents following the Closing; and

 

(c)             the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be as set forth on Section 5.7(c) of the VS Disclosure Letter, who shall serve in such capacity in accordance with the terms of the Surviving Corporation Governing Documents following the Closing.

 

Section 5.8           Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a)             From and after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer of (x) any VS Company (in each case, solely to the extent acting in their capacity as such and to the extent such activities are related to the business of the VS Companies being acquired under this Agreement) (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) and (y) Horizon and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Horizon Indemnified Parties” together with the Company Indemnified Parties, the “D&O Indemnified Parties”) against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any Legal Proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Closing, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, to the fullest extent that the VS Companies, Horizon or their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, would have been permitted under applicable Law and its respective certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, limited liability partnership agreement, limited liability limited partnership agreement or other Governing Documents in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such D&O Indemnified Parties (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law). Without limiting the foregoing, the Surviving Corporation and the VS Companies shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to (i) maintain for a period of not less than six years from the Closing provisions in its certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, limited liability partnership agreement, limited liability limited partnership agreement and other Governing Documents concerning the indemnification and exoneration (including provisions relating to expense advancement) of Horizon’s, its Subsidiaries’ and the VS Companies’ former and current officers, directors, employees, and agents that are no less favorable to those Persons than the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, limited liability partnership agreement, limited liability limited partnership agreement and other Governing Documents of the VS Companies, Horizon or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) not amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions in any respect that would adversely affect the rights of those Persons thereunder, in each case, except as required by Law. The Surviving Corporation shall assume, and be liable for, and shall cause the VS Companies to honor, each of the covenants in this Section 5.8.

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(b)            For a period of six years from the Closing, the Surviving Corporation shall cause the VS Companies to maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering those Persons who are currently covered by Horizon’s, the VS Companies’ or their Subsidiaries’ directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies (true, correct and complete copies of which have been made available to Horizon or Topco, as applicable, prior to the date of this Agreement or their agents or representatives, respectively) on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage, except that in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of 300% of the aggregate annual premium payable by Horizon or the VS Companies, as applicable, for such insurance policy for the year ended December 31, 2020; provided, however, that (i) the Surviving Corporation or the VS Companies may cause coverage to be extended under the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance by obtaining a six-year “tail” policy with respect to claims existing or occurring at or prior to the Closing and if and to the extent such policies have been obtained prior to the Closing with respect to any such Persons, the VS Companies and the Surviving Corporation shall maintain (and cause their Subsidiaries to maintain) such policies in effect and continue to honor the obligations thereunder, and (ii) if any claim is asserted or made within such six-year period, any insurance required to be maintained under this Section 5.8 shall be continued in respect of such claim until the final disposition thereof.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 5.8 shall survive the Closing indefinitely and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on the Surviving Corporation and the VS Companies and all successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation and the VS Companies. In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of the VS Companies or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, the Surviving Corporation and the VS Companies shall ensure that proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation or any of the VS Companies, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8.

 

(d)            The provisions of this Section 5.8(a)-(d): (i) are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Person who is now, or who has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement or who becomes prior to the Closing, a D&O Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives, (ii) shall be binding on the Surviving Corporation and the VS Companies and their successors and assigns, (iii) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have, whether pursuant to Law, Contract, Governing Documents, or otherwise and (iv) shall survive the consummation of the Closing and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party without the consent of such D&O Indemnified Party.

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(e)             On the Closing Date, the Surviving Corporation shall enter into customary indemnification agreements reasonably satisfactory to Topco and Horizon with the post-Closing directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation, which indemnification agreements shall continue to be effective following the Closing.

 

Section 5.9              Surviving Corporation Organizational Documents. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, VS PubCo shall amend and restate its (a) certificate of incorporation so as to read in its entirety in the form set forth in Exhibit A (the “Surviving Corporation Charter”) and (b) bylaws so as to read in its entirety in the form set forth in Exhibit B (the “Surviving Corporation Bylaws”, together with the Surviving Corporation Charter, the “Surviving Corporation Governing Documents”).

 

Article VI

 

COVENANTS OF HORIZON

 

Section 6.1               Trust Account Proceeds and Related Available Equity.

 

(a)             If the amount of cash available in the Trust Account (the “Available Horizon Cash”) after (i) deducting the amount required to satisfy the Horizon Share Redemption Amount and (ii) including the PIPE Subscriptions is reasonably expected to be less than Three Hundred Eighty Million Dollars ($380,000,000) (which amount, for the avoidance of doubt, is determined before and without regard to the payment of Horizon Transaction Expenses or VS Transaction Expenses) as of the Closing (such amount, as calculated in accordance with the foregoing, the “Minimum Available Horizon Cash Amount”), then Sponsor and its Affiliates shall be entitled, with the prior written consent of Topco (not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), to arrange for the purchase by third Persons of additional shares of Horizon Common Stock at a price per share of $10.00 in an aggregate amount such that the Available Horizon Cash is, at or immediately prior to the Closing, equal to at least the Minimum Available Horizon Cash Amount after giving effect to such purchases, and such purchases made pursuant to this sentence shall be added to the definition and amount of Available Horizon Cash, including for purposes of Section 8.3(b). Horizon shall reasonably cooperate with and shall take all actions reasonably required to effect the foregoing, including, without limitation, by issuing additional shares of Horizon Common Stock.

 

(b)             Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice Horizon shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (i) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, Horizon (a) shall cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (b) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to (1) pay as and when due all amounts payable to Horizon Stockholders pursuant to the Horizon Share Redemptions, and (2) immediately thereafter, pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to Horizon for immediate use, subject to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement and (ii) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.

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Section 6.2               NYSE Listing. From the date hereof through the Closing, Horizon shall ensure that Horizon remains listed as a public company on the NYSE. Prior to the Closing, VS PubCo shall prepare, in consultation with Horizon, and submit to the NYSE a listing application covering the Class A Common Stock issuable in the Merger and the PIPE Subscriptions, and shall obtain approval for the listing of such Class A Common Stock and the parties shall reasonably cooperate with respect to such listing. VS PubCo shall use reasonable best efforts, in consultation with Horizon, to cause the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the Intermediate Common Units held by Topco are redeemable under the Second A&R LLCA, and will use reasonable best efforts to cause the Surviving Corporation Common Warrants, in each case, to be approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Closing.

 

Section 6.3              No Solicitation by Horizon. From the date hereof until the Closing Date or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article IX, Horizon shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and Horizon shall instruct its and their representatives not to, (i) make any proposal or offer that constitutes a Business Combination Proposal, (ii) initiate any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Business Combination Proposal or (iii) enter into any acquisition agreement, business combination, merger agreement or similar definitive agreement, or any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or agreement in principle, or any other agreement relating to a Business Combination Proposal, in each case, other than to or with Topco, its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives. From and after the date hereof, Horizon shall, and shall instruct its officers and directors to, and Horizon shall instruct and cause its representatives, its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives to, immediately cease and terminate all discussions and negotiations with any Persons that may be ongoing with respect to a Business Combination Proposal (other than Topco, its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives).

 

Section 6.4              Horizon Conduct of Business. During the Interim Period, Horizon shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as contemplated by this Agreement, as required by applicable Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures) or as consented to by Topco in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), operate its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as consented to by Topco in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), Horizon shall not, and Horizon shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or as required by Law:

 

(a)             seek any approval from the Horizon Stockholders to change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or the Horizon Governing Documents, except as contemplated by the Transaction Proposals;

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(b)            (i) make or declare any dividend or distribution to the stockholders of Horizon or make any other distributions in respect of any of Horizon’s or any of its Subsidiary’s capital stock, share capital or equity interests, (ii) split, combine, reclassify or otherwise amend any terms of any shares or series of Horizon’s or any of its Subsidiary’s capital stock or equity interests or (iii) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, share capital or membership interests, warrants or other equity interests of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries, other than a redemption of Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) made as part of the Horizon Share Redemptions;

 

(c)            (i) make or change any material method of accounting for Tax purposes, (ii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election that is inconsistent with past practices (except as required by the Code or applicable law), (iii) enter into any closing agreement relating to material Taxes, (iv) settle, concede, compromise or abandon any material Tax claim or assessment (v) surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, or (vi) consent to any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment, or (vii) file any amended income or other material Tax Return except as required by applicable Law;

 

(d)            other than as expressly required by the Sponsor Support Agreement, enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction or Contract with an Affiliate of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) Sponsor and (y) any Person in which Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership interest of 5% or greater);

 

(e)             incur or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Horizon or any of its Subsidiaries or guaranty any debt securities of another Person, other than any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee incurred in the ordinary course of business necessary to finance its ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and transaction expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

 

(f)            incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any material liabilities, debts or obligations, other than Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.4(e) and other fees and expenses for professional services incurred in the ordinary course in support of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(g)            (i) issue any Horizon Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into Horizon Common Stock, other than the issuance of the Horizon Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) grant any options, warrants or other equity-based awards with respect to Horizon Common Stock not outstanding on the date hereof or (iii) amend, modify or waive any of the material terms or rights set forth in any Horizon Common Warrant or Horizon Private Placement Warrant or the 2020 Warrant Agreement, including any amendment, modification or reduction of the warrant price set forth therein;

 

(h)            change an annual accounting period for GAAP or adopt or change any material accounting method used by it for GAAP or adopt any material accounting method unless required by GAAP;

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(i)              acquire any ownership interest in any real property;

 

(j)              acquire by merger or consolidation with, or merge or consolidate with, or purchase substantially all or a material portion of the assets of, any corporation, partnership, association, joint venture or other business organization or division thereof;

 

(k)             except as reasonably necessary to consummate the Transactions, enter into, renew, modify or revise any Contract; or

 

(l)              enter into any Contract to do any action prohibited under this Section 6.4.

 

Section 6.5              Horizon Public Filings. From the date hereof through the Closing, Horizon will keep current and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable Laws.

 

Section 6.6              PIPE Subscriptions. Unless otherwise approved in writing by Topco, Horizon shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, any waiver (in whole or in part) of, or provide consent to modify (including consent to termination), any provision or remedy under, or any replacements of, any of the PIPE Subscription Agreements. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, Horizon shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions required, necessary or that it otherwise deems to be proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the PIPE Subscription Agreements in all material respects on the terms described therein, including using its reasonable best efforts to enforce its rights under the PIPE Subscription Agreements to cause the PIPE Investors to pay to (or as directed by) Horizon the applicable purchase price under each PIPE Investor’s applicable PIPE Subscription Agreement in accordance with its terms. In the event that any PIPE Investor terminates, attempts to terminate or provides written notice to Horizon of its intent to terminate such PIPE Investor’s obligations under its PIPE Subscription Agreement, then, notwithstanding, but subject to, the foregoing, Horizon shall be entitled to arrange for the purchase by third Persons of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the PIPE Subscriptions on the same terms and conditions as the other PIPE Investors have agreed pursuant to their respective PIPE Subscription Agreements; provided that such third Persons shall be reasonably acceptable to Topco as confirmed in writing by Topco prior to Horizon’s entry into a PIPE Subscription Agreement with such third Persons.

 

Section 6.7              Support of Transaction. Without limiting any covenant contained in Article VI or Article VII, Horizon shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (a) use reasonable best efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that any of Horizon or its Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Transactions and (b) take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or as another party hereto may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of Article VIII or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions as soon as practicable.

 

Section 6.8             Treatment of Warrants. Horizon shall use commercially reasonable efforts to revise the terms of the Horizon Warrants such that the Horizon Warrants are treated as equity under the rules and guidelines of the SEC at and after the Closing, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any shareholder or warrantholder approvals if necessary to accomplish the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor shall support Horizon in taking the foregoing actions, including voting its Horizon Common Stock and Horizon Warrants in favor of any such changes if such a vote is required.

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Article VII

JOINT COVENANTS

 

Section 7.1          Regulatory Approvals; Other Filings.

 

(a)            Horizon shall cooperate in good faith with the VS Entities and any Governmental Authority and undertake (and not waive its rights under the PIPE Subscription Agreement with respect to the PIPE Investors’ obligations with respect to Regulatory Approvals) promptly any and all action required to satisfy the Regulatory Approvals and complete lawfully the Transactions as soon as practicable (but in any event prior to the Agreement End Date) and any and all action necessary or advisable to (x) consummate the Transactions as contemplated hereby and (y) avoid, prevent, eliminate or remove the actual or threatened commencement of any proceeding in any forum by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or the issuance of any Governmental Order that would delay, enjoin, prevent, restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Transactions.

 

(b)            With respect to each of the Regulatory Approvals and any other requests, inquiries, Actions or other proceedings by or from Governmental Authorities, Horizon shall (and, to the extent required, shall not waive its rights under the PIPE Subscription Agreement with respect to the PIPE Investors’ obligations with respect to Regulatory Approvals) (i) diligently and expeditiously defend and use reasonable best efforts to obtain any necessary clearance, approval, consent, or Governmental Authorization under any applicable Laws prescribed or enforceable by any Governmental Authority for the Transactions and to resolve any objections as may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions; and (ii) cooperate fully with each other in the defense of such matters. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the VS Entities shall promptly furnish to Horizon, and Horizon shall promptly furnish to the VS Entities, copies of any notices or substantive written communications received by such party or any of its Affiliates from any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions, and each party shall permit counsel to the other parties an opportunity to review in advance, and each party shall consider in good faith the views of such counsel in connection with, any proposed written communications by such party and/or its Affiliates to any Governmental Authority concerning the Transactions; provided, that none of the parties shall enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority relating to any Regulatory Approval contemplated in this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the VS Entities agree to provide Horizon and its counsel, and Horizon agrees to provide the VS Entities and their counsel, the opportunity, on reasonable advance notice, to participate in any substantive meetings or discussions, either in person, by telephone or video conference, between such party and/or any of its Affiliates, agents or advisors, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, concerning or in connection with the Transactions. Each of the VS Entities and Horizon agree to make all filings under Antitrust Laws (if any) as soon as practicable after execution of this Agreement, and to provide all information reasonably required of such Person and to reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with the Regulatory Approvals. To the extent applicable, the Parties shall request early termination of the applicable waiting period under any Antitrust Law.

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(c)           Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, Horizon shall use reasonable best efforts to take any and all actions necessary to consummate the Transactions in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(d)          Subject to Section 8.2, the VS Entities, on the one hand, and Horizon, on the other, shall each be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to the Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions.

 

Section 7.2        Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting and Approvals.

 

(a)          Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

(i)              As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, (x) Horizon and the VS Entities shall jointly prepare and Horizon shall file with the SEC, mutually acceptable materials which shall include the proxy statement to be filed by Horizon with the SEC as part of the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) and sent to the Horizon Stockholders relating to the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting (such proxy statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) and (y) Horizon and the VS Entities shall jointly prepare and VS PubCo shall file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included (the “Proxy Statement/Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock and Surviving Corporation Common Warrants to be issued in exchange for the issued and outstanding Horizon Common Stock and Horizon Common Warrants. Each of Horizon and the VS Entities shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Horizon and the VS Entities agrees to furnish to the other party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Transactions, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Horizon, the VS Entities or their respective Subsidiaries to any regulatory authority (including the NYSE) in connection with the Transactions (the “Solicitation Documents”). Horizon will cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to be mailed to the Horizon Stockholders in each case promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.

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(ii)           To the extent not prohibited by Law, each of Horizon and the VS Entities will advise the other parties, as promptly as practicable after such party receives notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Surviving Corporation Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or for additional information. To the extent not prohibited by Law, each of Horizon and the VS Entities and their counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any Solicitation Document each time before any such document is filed with the SEC by Horizon or VS PubCo, and each shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made by the other parties and their counsel. To the extent not prohibited by Law, each of Horizon and the VS Entities shall provide the other parties and their counsel with (i) any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that such party or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or Solicitation Documents promptly after receipt of those comments or other communications and (ii) a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of such party to those comments and to provide comments on that response (to which reasonable and good faith consideration shall be given), including by participating with the other parties or their counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC.

 

(iii)          Each of Horizon and the VS Entities shall ensure that none of the information supplied by or on its behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time it is amended and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (B) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Horizon Stockholders and at the time of the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

(iv)          If at any time prior to the Closing any information relating to Horizon, the VS Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates, directors or officers is discovered by Horizon or the VS Entities, which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, so that such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the Horizon Stockholders.

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(b)            Horizon Stockholder Approval. Horizon shall (a) as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, (i) cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to holders of Horizon Common Stock in compliance with applicable Law, (ii) duly (1) establish a record date for, (2) call and give notice of and (3) convene and hold a meeting of its members (the “Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with the Horizon Governing Documents and applicable NYSE Listing Rules for a date no later than thirty (30) Business Days following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective, and (iii) solicit proxies from the holders of Horizon Common Stock to vote in favor of each of the Transaction Proposals, and (b) provide its members with the opportunity to elect to effect an Horizon Share Redemption. Horizon shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its members (A) the approval by special resolution of the Plan of Merger and the authorization of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, (B) the adoption and approval of this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations, (C) the approval of the issuance of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock by the Surviving Corporation in connection with the Transactions pursuant to applicable NYSE Listing Rules, (D) the approval of the issuance of more than one percent (1%) of the Surviving Corporation’s outstanding common stock to a “related party” pursuant to applicable NYSE Listing Rules, (E) the adoption and approval of any other proposals as the SEC (or staff member thereof) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement or correspondence related thereto, (F) the adoption and approval of any other proposals as reasonably agreed by Horizon and the VS Entities to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the Transactions and (G) the adjournment of the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing (such proposals in (A) through (G), together, the “Transaction Proposals”), and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The Board of Directors of Horizon shall not withdraw, amend, qualify or modify its recommendation to the members of Horizon that they vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals (together with any withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification of its recommendation to the members of Horizon in Section 7.2(c), a “Modification in Recommendation”). To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) Horizon’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, (y) Horizon agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting and submit for approval the Transaction Proposals and (z) Horizon agrees that if the Horizon Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at any such Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting, then Horizon shall promptly continue to take all such necessary actions, including the actions required by this Section 7.2(b), and hold additional Horizon Stockholders’ Meetings in order to obtain the Horizon Stockholder Approval. Horizon may only adjourn the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Horizon Stockholder Approval, (ii) for the absence of a quorum and (iii) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that Horizon has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel is required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by members of Horizon prior to the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting; provided, that the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting (x) may not be adjourned to a date that is more than 20 days after the date for which the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law) and (y) is held no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Agreement End Date.

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(c)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Horizon Board of Directors may, at any time prior to, but not after, obtaining the Horizon Stockholder Approval, make a Modification in Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event (an “Intervening Event Change in Recommendation”) if the Board of Directors of Horizon determines in good faith that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of Horizon to the members of Horizon under applicable Law, provided, that: (A) the VS Entities shall have received written notice from Horizon of Horizon’s intention to make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation at least five (5) Business Days prior to the taking of such action by Horizon (the “Intervening Event Notice Period”), which notice shall specify the applicable Intervening Event in reasonable detail, (B) during such period and prior to making an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation, if requested by the VS Entities, Horizon and its representatives shall have negotiated in good faith with the VS Entities and their representatives regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the VS Entities to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable Horizon to proceed with its recommendation of this Agreement and the Transactions and not make such Intervening Event Change in Recommendation and (C) Horizon may make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation only if the Board of Directors of Horizon, after considering in good faith any revisions or adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement that the VS Entities shall have, prior to the expiration of the 5-Business Day period, offered in writing in a manner that would form a binding contract if accepted by Horizon, continues to determine in good faith that failure to make an Intervening Event Change in Recommendation would be a breach of its fiduciary duties to the Horizon Stockholders under applicable Law. An “Intervening Event” shall mean any fact, circumstance, occurrence, event, development, change or condition or combination thereof that (i) was not known to Horizon or its Board of Directors as of the date of this Agreement (or if known, the consequences of which were not known) and (ii) does not relate to any Business Combination Proposal; provided, however, that (1) any change in the price or trading volume of Horizon Common Stock shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether an Intervening Event has occurred (provided that the underlying factors may be taken into account); (2) in no event shall any fact, circumstance, occurrence, event, development, change or condition or combination thereof that has had or would reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the VS Companies constitute an Intervening Event unless such event, fact, circumstance or development constitutes a Company Material Adverse Effect; and (3) the VS Companies meeting, failing to meet or exceeding projections shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether an Intervening Event has occurred (provided that the underlying factors may be taken into account). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during an Intervening Event Notice Period, the obligations of Horizon and/or Horizon’s Board of Directors to make filings with the SEC with respect to the proposals contemplated herein, to give notice for or to convene a meeting, or make a recommendation, shall be tolled during such period, and in the event of filing and/or notice for a meeting was made prior to the Intervening Event Notice Period, Horizon shall be permitted to adjourn such meeting and amend such filing as necessary to provide sufficient time for the Horizon Stockholders to consider any revised recommendation.

 

(d)            Horizon agrees that it shall provide the holders of Horizon Common Stock the opportunity to elect redemption of such shares of Horizon Common Stock in connection with the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting as required by the Horizon Governing Documents.

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Section 7.3            Tax Matters.

 

(a)           Preparation of Tax Returns.

 

(i)          Intermediate shall, or at the option of Topco, Topco shall, at the cost and expense of the VS Companies, prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Flow-Thru Tax Returns of the VS Companies that solely relate to any tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date and that are filed after the Closing Date (“Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Returns”). Any such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Returns shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the past practices of the VS Companies, except as required by applicable Law or set forth herein. Unless Topco elects to prepare any such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Returns, at least twenty (20) days prior to the filing of any such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Return, a draft copy of such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Return shall be delivered to Topco for its review and approval. If Topco elects to prepare any such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Returns, at least twenty (20) days prior to the filing of any such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Return, Topco shall deliver a draft of such Pre-Closing Flow-Thru Tax Return to VS PubCo and consider in good faith any reasonable comments provided by VS PubCo.

 

(ii)         Intermediate shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Flow-Thru Tax Returns of the VS Companies for Straddle Periods (“Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Returns”). Any such Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Returns shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the past practices of the VS Companies, except as required by applicable Law or set forth herein. At least twenty (20) days prior to the filing of any such Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Return, a draft copy of such Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Return shall be delivered to Topco for its review and comment, and Intermediate shall incorporate any reasonable comments provided by Topco prior to the filing of such Straddle Period Flow-Thru Tax Return.

 

(iii)        Intermediate shall take all actions necessary or advisable to ensure that Intermediate (and, to the extent provided for in the Tax Receivable Agreement, any of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for applicable Tax purposes) will have made a valid election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and elections available under similar provisions of state or local Law) that is effective for the taxable period that includes the Closing Date. Determinations with respect to the allocation of taxable items of any VS Company that are to be made as a result of the transfer of interests in Intermediate made in connection with the Transactions shall be made under Section 706 of the Code utilizing the “interim closing method” described in Treasury Regulation 1.706-4 under the monthly convention. All deductions triggered in connection with the Transactions shall be reported on income Tax Returns of the VS Companies as attributable to Pre-Closing Tax Periods to the extent there is a reasonable basis for such position under applicable law.

 

(iv)        Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, with respect to any such matter that could reasonably be expected to result in any Tax liability for which Topco, Intermediate or any of their beneficial owners could be responsible, without the prior written consent of Topco (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), VS PubCo shall not, and shall not permit any of its Affiliates to file (other than in accordance with Section 7.3(a)(i)), re-file, or amend any Flow-Thru Tax Return of the VS Companies with respect to any taxable period beginning prior to the Closing Date, or make any Tax election that would have retroactive effect with respect to any taxable period beginning prior to the Closing Date. With respect to any taxable period that includes or begins after the Closing Date, VS PubCo agrees (i) that it will not take (and that it will cause its Affiliates not to take) any position with respect to any Tax Return, refund claim, or other document filed with any Tax authority, in any Tax information statement delivered to its stockholders, or in connection with an audit of VS PubCo’s Tax Returns; and (ii) that it will not make any other written filing, disclosure, or communication to or with any other Person (any action described in clauses (i) and (ii), a “VS PubCo Tax Position”) that is inconsistent with (or reasonably could be expected to provide a basis for taking a position inconsistent with) the positions taken by any VS Company (or any Subsidiary of a VS Company) on income Tax Returns or Schedules K-1 or with respect to Tax Matters, in each case, filed by the VS Companies or disclosed to VS PubCo (any such position taken by any VS Company or any Subsidiary of a VS Company, an “Applicable Tax Position”) or reasonably could be expected to suggest that the Tax Return positions reflected in any Applicable Tax Position is or may be incorrect, unless VS PubCo gives prior written notice to Topco and the VS Companies of any such VS PubCo Tax Position, considers the Applicable Tax Position in good faith, and discusses any such VS PubCo Tax Position (including the basis for such VS PubCo Tax Position) in good faith with Topco and the VS Companies.

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(v)         The parties acknowledge and agree that the Merger is intended to be treated as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes, and each party shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to so qualify and file all Tax Returns consistent with, and take no position inconsistent with, such treatment, except as otherwise required by applicable Law or pursuant to a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. The parties hereby adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

 

(vi)        To the extent any opinion relating to Tax matters with respect to Horizon (or its pre-Closing shareholders) is requested by the SEC in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, the parties hereby acknowledge and agree that legal counsel to Horizon shall deliver any such opinion (and, for the avoidance of doubt, legal counsel to the VS Companies shall not be obligated to deliver any such opinion). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates, to (i) cooperate in order to facilitate the issuance of any such opinion and (ii) deliver to Kirkland & Ellis LLP (or other applicable legal counsel to Horizon), in each case, to the extent requested by such counsel, a duly executed certificate dated as of the date requested by such counsel, containing such representations, warranties and covenants as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render any such opinion.

 

(b)           Tax Contest Matters. With respect to any Tax audit, examination, proceeding, claimed deficiency or other similar matter relating to the VS Companies that pertains to Flow-Thru Tax Returns with respect to Pre-Closing Tax Periods (a “Tax Matter”), if directed by VS PubCo in its sole discretion, with respect to any Tax liability arising out of a Tax Matter, the VS Companies shall make the election provided for in Section 6226(a) of the Code (or any similar or corresponding election for state or local Tax purposes) with respect to such liability, subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of the Second A&R LLCA. Each of the parties shall reasonably cooperate, at the expense of VS PubCo, in connection with VS PubCo’s decision to cause any VS Company to make any such election.

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(c)            Allocation Matters. For purposes of determining the U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax consequences of the Transactions, the parties agree to use any reasonable allocation of values among the assets of the VS Companies that is selected by Topco and VS PubCo together in good faith. The parties agree to (and to cause their Affiliates to) file all of their Tax Returns consistent with any such allocation of values selected by Topco and VS PubCo together in good faith, except as otherwise required pursuant to a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

(d)            Cooperation. Horizon, the Surviving Corporation, and the VS Entities shall reasonably cooperate, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to reasonably cooperate, in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns and any audit, examination, or other Legal Proceeding regarding Taxes with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period of the VS Companies. Such cooperation shall include the retention of and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return or any such audit, examination, or other Legal Proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder, and the provision of such powers of attorney as may be necessary to allow for the filing of Tax Returns or the control of any Legal Proceedings relating to Taxes.

 

(e)             Transfer Taxes. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, real property, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes, fees and costs (including any associated penalties and interest) (“Transfer Taxes”) incurred by Horizon, the Surviving Corporation, and the VS Companies in connection with this Agreement shall be borne by Intermediate.

 

Section 7.4              Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing, each of the VS Entities and Horizon shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of the equity interests of Horizon or the VS Company Interests or acquisitions of Surviving Corporation Common Stock or Surviving Corporation Common Warrants (including, in each case, securities deliverable upon exercise, vesting or settlement of any derivative securities) resulting from the Transactions by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with the Transactions to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 7.5              Incentive Equity Plan. Prior to the Closing Date, VS PubCo and Topco, as sole shareholder of VS PubCo prior to the Effective Time, shall approve and adopt (i) the Vivid Seats Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G (the “Incentive Equity Plan”) and (ii) the Vivid Seats Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit H. Subject to applicable Law, as promptly as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date (and, in any event, within ten (10) Business Days following the Closing Date), the Surviving Corporation shall file an effective registration statement on Form S-8 (or other applicable form) with respect to the Class A Common Stock (following the Effective Time) issuable under the Incentive Equity Plan and the ESPP, and the Surviving Corporation shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement(s) (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as awards granted pursuant to the Incentive Equity Plan and ESPP remain outstanding.

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Article VIII

CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

 

Section 8.1             Conditions to Obligations of Horizon and the VS Entities. The obligations of Horizon and the VS Entities to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by all of such parties:

 

(a)             The Horizon Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained;

 

(b)            All approvals or consents, and all waiting or other periods, or extensions thereof, under the Laws set forth and described on Section 8.1(a) of the VS Disclosure Letter (collectively, the “Regulatory Approvals”) shall have been obtained or have expired or been terminated, as applicable; and any agreement with the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice or other applicable Governmental Authority not to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby under any Antitrust Laws shall have expired or been terminated;

 

(c)             No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued or entered any Governmental Order, and no Law shall have been enacted or promulgated, that is in effect and prohibits or otherwise prevents the Transactions;

 

(d)            The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not withdrawn;

 

(e)            The Pre-Closing Restructuring shall have been consummated prior to the Closing in all material respects in accordance with the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan; and

 

(f)             The Class A Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE and such approval shall not be subject to any conditions or any plan of compliance to which the Surviving Corporation would be subject after the Closing.

 

Section 8.2              Conditions to Obligations of Horizon. The obligations of Horizon to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Horizon:

 

(a)             The representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1 (Company Organization), Section 3.3 (Due Authorization), Section 3.19(a) (Absence of Changes) and Section 3.24 (Brokers’ Fees) shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date. The representation and warranty in Section 3.6 (Capitalization) shall be true and correct in all respects other than de minimis inaccuracies as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date. Each of the other representations and warranties of the VS Entities contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or other similar materiality qualification set forth therein) as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representations and warranties expressly speaks as to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, except for, in each case, inaccuracies or omissions that individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect; provided, that for purposes of this Section 8.2(a), no Event that is contemplated by the Pre-Closing Restructuring Plan shall be deemed to constitute an inaccuracy in or breach of any such representations and warranties;

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(b)            Each of the covenants of the VS Entities to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects; and

 

(c)             There shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 8.3              Conditions to the Obligations of the VS Entities. The obligation of the VS Entities to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the VS Entities:

 

(a)             The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.1 (Company Organization), Section 4.2 (Due Authorization), Section 4.11 (Trust Account), Section 4.13 (Absence of Changes) and Section 4.19 (Brokers’ Fees) shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date. The representation and warranty in Section 4.5 (Capitalization) shall be true and correct in all respects other than de minimis inaccuracies as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date. Each of the other representations and warranties of Horizon contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Horizon Material Adverse Effect” or other similar materiality qualification set forth therein) as of the Closing Date, except to the extent that any such representations and warranties expressly speaks as to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, except for, in each case, inaccuracies or omissions that individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, an Horizon Material Adverse Effect;

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(b)            Each of the covenants of Horizon to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects; and

 

(c)            The Available Horizon Cash shall be no less than the Minimum Available Horizon Cash Amount immediately prior to the Closing after deducting the amount required to satisfy the Horizon Share Redemption Amount (and for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the Horizon Transaction Expenses and VS Transaction Expenses).

 

Article IX

TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

 

Section 9.1              Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned:

 

(a)             by mutual written consent of Topco and Horizon;

 

(b)            by written notice from Topco or Horizon to the other if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions;

 

(c)            by written notice from Topco to Horizon if the Horizon Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the Horizon Stockholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;

 

(d)            by written notice from Topco to Horizon after there has been a Modification in Recommendation;

 

(e)             prior to the Closing, by written notice to Topco from Horizon if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the VS Entities set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.2(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Company Breach”), except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the VS Entities through the exercise of their respective reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to twenty (20) days after receipt by Topco of notice from Horizon of such breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period, or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before October 21, 2021 (the “Agreement End Date”), unless Horizon is then in material breach hereof; or

 

(f)             prior to the Closing, by written notice to Horizon from Topco if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Horizon set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 8.3(a) or Section 8.3(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Horizon Breach”), except that, if any such Terminating Horizon Breach is curable by Horizon through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to twenty (20) days after receipt by Horizon of notice from Topco of such breach (the “Horizon Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Horizon Breach is not cured within the Horizon Cure Period or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before the Agreement End Date, unless any of the VS Entities is then in material breach hereof.

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Section 9.2              Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or stockholders, other than liability of the VS Entities or Horizon, as the case may be, for any fraud or willful and material breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination, except that the provisions of this Section 9.2 and Article X and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1            Trust Account Waiver. Each of the VS Entities acknowledges that Horizon is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a Business Combination. Each of the VS Entities further acknowledges that, as described in the prospectus dated August 20, 2020 (the “Prospectus”) available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of Horizon assets consist of the cash proceeds of Horizon’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account for the benefit of Horizon, certain of its public stockholders and the underwriters of Horizon’s initial public offering (the “Trust Account”). Each of the VS Entities acknowledges that it has been advised by Horizon that, except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to Horizon to pay its Tax and similar obligations, the Trust Agreement provides that cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only (i) if Horizon completes the transaction which constitutes a Business Combination, then to those Persons and in such amounts as described in the Prospectus; (ii) if Horizon fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period and liquidates, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, to Horizon in limited amounts to permit Horizon to pay the costs and expenses of its liquidation and dissolution, and then to Horizon’s public stockholders; and (iii) if Horizon holds a stockholder vote to amend Horizon’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of the obligation to redeem 100% of Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) if Horizon fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period, then for the redemption of any Horizon Common Stock (prior to the Effective Time) properly tendered in connection with such vote. For and in consideration of Horizon entering into this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the VS Entities, on behalf of themselves and their respective Affiliates, hereby agree that they do not now have and shall not at any time hereafter have, and irrevocably waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they or any of their respective Affiliates have or may have in the future, in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom and agree not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom as a result of, arising out of, this Agreement and any negotiations, Contracts or agreements with Horizon or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability. Each of the VS Entities agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by Horizon to induce Horizon to enter in this Agreement, and each of the VS Entities further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against such party and each of its Affiliates under applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit Topco and the VS Companies’ right to pursue a claim against Horizon for legal relief against monies or other assets held outside the Trust Account (other than distributions therefrom directly or indirectly to Horizon’s public stockholders), for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (including a claim for Horizon to specifically perform its obligations under this Agreement and cause the disbursement of the balance of the cash remaining in the Trust Account (after giving effect to the Horizon Share Redemptions) to Topco in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement) so long as such claim would not affect Horizon’s ability to fulfill its obligation to effectuate the Horizon Share Redemptions and (y) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that Topco or any of the VS Companies may have in the future against Horizon’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds, but excluding distributions from the Trust Account directly or indirectly to Horizon’s public stockholders).

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Section 10.2            Waiver. Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its Board of Directors, Board of Managers or other Persons thereunto duly authorized, (a) extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties (of another party hereto) that are contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver.

 

Section 10.3            Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email during normal business hours (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:

 

(a)          If to the Horizon Entities, to:

 

c/o Horizon Sponsor, LLC

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 200

Greenwich, CT 06830

Email: Robert.Ott@Eldridge.com
Attention: Robert Ott

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  with a copy to:
   
  Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  2049 Century Park East, 37th Floor
  Los Angeles, CA 90067
  Attention: Damon R. Fisher, P.C.
      Bianca Levin-Soler
  Email: dfisher@kirkland.com
    bianca.levin-soler@kirkland.com
   
  and
   
  Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  601 Lexington Avenue
  New York, NY 10022
  Attention: Christian Nagler
      Aslam Rawoof
  Email: christian.nagler@kirkland.com
    aslam.rawoof@kirkland.com
   
(b) If to the VS Companies, to:
   
  Vivid Seats LLC
  111 N. Canal Street, Suite 800
  Chicago, IL 60606
  Attention: Stanley Chia
      Lawrence Fey
  Email: stan@vividseats.com
     
    lawrence.fey@vividseats.com
   
  with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
   
  Latham & Watkins LLP
  330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800
  Chicago, IL 60611
  Attention: Bradley C. Faris
      Justin G. Hamill
      Owen Alexander
  Email: bradley.faris@lw.com
    justin.hamill@lw.com
    owen.alexander@lw.com

  

or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.

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Section 10.4            Assignment. No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

Section 10.5            Rights of Third Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to (i) confer upon or give any Person (including any equityholder, any current or former director, manager, officer, employee or independent contractor of the VS Companies, or any participant in any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof)), other than the parties hereto, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement, (ii) establish, amend or modify any employee benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement or (iii) limit the right of Horizon, the VS Companies or their respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, policy, agreement or other arrangement following the Closing; provided, however, that the D&O Indemnified Parties (and their successors, heirs and representatives) are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 5.8(a)-(d), and the VS Non-Recourse Parties and the Horizon Non-Recourse Parties (and their successors, heirs and representatives), are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 10.16.

 

Section 10.6           Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, each party hereto shall be responsible for and pay its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided that if the Closing shall occur, the Surviving Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid, in accordance with Section 2.10(c), the Horizon Transaction Expenses and the VS Transaction Expenses. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments to be made (or to cause to be made) by the Surviving Corporation shall be paid upon the Closing and release of proceeds from the Trust Account.

 

Section 10.7           Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction; provided, however, that, as relates to Horizon, the CICA shall govern the interpretation of the duties of the Horizon Board of Directors in connection with this Agreement, in each case, to the extent required by the Laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

Section 10.8            Headings; Counterparts. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by electronic mail or in .pdf), and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 10.9            VS Companies and Horizon Disclosure Letters. The VS Disclosure Letter and the Horizon Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to the VS Disclosure Letter and/or the Horizon Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a party in the applicable Disclosure Letter, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of applicable Disclosure Letter if it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter. Certain information set forth in the Disclosure Letters is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.

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Section 10.10         Entire Agreement. (i) This Agreement (together with the VS Disclosure Letter and the Horizon Disclosure Letter), (ii) the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2021, between Horizon and Topco (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), (iii) the Registration Rights Agreement, (iv) the Tax Receivable Agreement, (v) the Sponsor Support Agreement, (vi) the Second A&R LLCA, (vii) the Crescent Purchase Agreement, (viii) the PIPE Subscription Agreements, (ix) the Stockholders’ Agreement, and (x) the Exchange Agreement (clauses (ii) – (x), collectively with all other agreements contemplated hereby or thereby, including in connection with the Pre-Closing Restructuring, the “Ancillary Agreements”) constitute the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement relating to the Transactions and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the Transactions. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the Transactions exist between such parties except as expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

Section 10.11         Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed in the same manner as this Agreement and which makes reference to this Agreement.

 

Section 10.12         Publicity.

 

(a)           All press releases or other public communications relating to the Transactions, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall prior to the Closing be subject to the prior mutual approval of Horizon and Topco, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any party; provided that no party shall be required to obtain consent pursuant to this Section 10.12(a) to the extent any proposed release or statement is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this Section 10.12(a).

 

(b)          The restriction in Section 10.12(a) shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities Law, any Governmental Authority or stock exchange rule; provided, however, that in such an event, the party making the announcement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing.

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Section 10.13         Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.

 

Section 10.14        Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)           Any proceeding or Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the Transactions must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any proceeding or Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 10.14.

 

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

 

Section 10.15       Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.

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Section 10.16         Non-Recourse.

 

(a)            Solely with respect to Topco, the VS Companies and the Horizon Entities, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions may only be brought against, the VS Entities and the Horizon Entities as named parties hereto; and

 

(b)            Except to the extent a party hereto (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such party hereto), (i) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative of Topco, the VS Companies (each, a “VS Non-Recourse Party”) or the Horizon Entities (each, a “Horizon Non-Recourse Party”) and (ii) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in Contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of Topco, the VS Companies, or the Horizon Entities under this Agreement for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

(c)            For the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor shall not have any obligations under this Agreement (other than with respect to Section 6.8).

 

Section 10.17        Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 9.2, none of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing and shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (b) this Section 10.17.

 

Section 10.18        Conflicts and Privilege.

 

(a)           Horizon and the VS Entities hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions arises after the Closing between or among Horizon and/or Sponsor, on the one hand, and Topco and/or the VS Companies, on the other hand, any legal counsel (including Kirkland & Ellis LLP) that represented Horizon and/or Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent Sponsor in such dispute even though the interests of Sponsor may be directly adverse to Horizon, and even though such counsel may have represented Horizon in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for Horizon and/or Sponsor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by Topco or the VS Companies prior to the Closing with Horizon or Sponsor (in any capacity) under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of Topco and/or the VS Companies following the Closing.

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(b)            Horizon and the VS Entities hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions arises after the Closing between or among the VS Designated Directors and/or Topco, on the one hand, and the VS Companies and/or Horizon, on the other hand, any legal counsel (including Latham & Watkins LLP) that represented the VS Designated Directors and/or Topco prior to the Closing may represent the VS Designated Directors and/or Topco in such dispute even though the interests of the VS Designated Directors and/or Topco may be directly adverse to Horizon and/or the VS Companies, and even though such counsel may have represented Horizon and/or the VS Companies in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for Horizon, the VS Companies, the VS Designated Directors and/or Topco. Horizon and the VS Companies further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing between or among any legal counsel (including Latham & Watkins LLP) that represented Topco, the VS Designated Directors and/or the VS Companies prior to the Closing and any one or more such Persons that relate in any way to the Transactions, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence belongs to Topco and/or the VS Designated Directors and may be controlled by Topco and/or such VS Designated Directors, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by Horizon (after giving effect to the Closing) or the VS Companies; provided that Topco and/or the VS Designated Directors shall not waive such attorney/client privilege other than to the extent they determine appropriate in connection with the enforcement or defense of their respective rights or obligations existing under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by Horizon prior to the Closing with Topco or the VS Designated Directors (in any capacity) under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the VS Companies following the Closing.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

  Horizon Acquisition Corporation
  a Cayman Islands exempted company
   
  By: /s/ Todd Boehly
    Name Todd Boehly
    Title: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
       
  Horizon Sponsor, LLC
  a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Todd Boehly
    Name Todd Boehly
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

  Hoya Topco, LLC
  a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Stanley Chia
    Name: Stanley Chia
    Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
       
  Hoya Intermediate, LLC
  a Delaware limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Stanley Chia
    Name: Stanley Chia
    Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
       
  Vivid Seats Inc.
  a Delaware corporation
   
  By: /s/ Stanley Chia
    Name: Stanley Chia
    Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

 

[Signature Page to Transaction Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit A Form of Surviving Corporation Charter

 

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VIVID SEATS INC.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

  VIVID SEATS INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VIVID SEATS INC.

 

Article One. 

 

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

 

Article Two. 

 

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

 

Article Three. 

 

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

 

Article Four. 

 

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

 

1.˜ ] shares of Preferred Stock, par value $[ ˜ ] per share (the “Preferred Stock”);

 

2.˜ ] shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $[ ˜ ] per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); and

 

3.˜ ] shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $[ ˜ ] per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”).

 

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

 

Section 4.02        Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide, by resolution or resolutions for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the voting powers (if any), designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of each such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers (including voting powers), preferences, and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the approval of the Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, without the separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock as a class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

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Section 4.03        Common Stock.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.04        Certain Provisions Related to Redemption Rights.

 

(a)               Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock for Redemptions or Exchanges. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, for the purposes of effecting any redemptions or exchanges pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are issuable in connection with the redemption or exchange of all outstanding LLC Units as a result of any Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to the applicable provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement (including for this purpose any LLC Units issuable upon the exercise of any options, warrants or similar rights to acquire LLC Units), as applicable (without regard to any restrictions on Redemption contained therein and assuming no Redemptions for Cash Payment). All the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange of such LLC Units will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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

 

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

 

Article Five. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.04        Election and Term of Office. The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares cast; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one or more directors pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by such holders. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date hereof, the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders following the date hereof and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders following the date hereof. For the purposes hereof, the Board of Directors may assign directors already in office to Class I, Class II and Class III. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the date hereof, directors elected to replace those of a class whose terms expire at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting after their election and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which such director’s term expires and a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Nothing in this Certificate of Incorporation shall preclude a director from serving consecutive terms. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation (as amended and/or restated, the “Bylaws”) shall so provide.

 

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

 

Section 5.06        Removal and Resignation of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except as otherwise set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least a majority in voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class (“Voting Stock”) and (ii) on and after the Trigger Date, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (6623%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders called for that purpose. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation. “Trigger Date” means the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least thirty percent (30%) of the Voting Stock. “Principal Stockholder” means, collectively, [Hoya TopCo], GTCR Fund XI/B LP, GTCR Fund XI/C LP, GTCR Co-Invest XI LP, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., GTCR Golder Rauner II, L.L.C., GTCR Management XI LLC and GTCR LLC. “Affiliated Companies” means (a) in respect of the Principal Stockholder, any entity that Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Principal Stockholder (other than the Corporation and any entity that is Controlled by the Corporation) and any investment funds managed by the Principal Stockholder and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any entity Controlled by the Corporation. “Control” is defined in ARTICLE NINE.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article Six. 

 

Section 6.01        Limitation of Liability.

 

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

 

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

 

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Article Seven. 

 

Section 7.01        Action by Written Consent. Prior to the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Stock, any action which is required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice (except as otherwise set forth in the Stockholders’ Agreement)1 and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of the Corporation’s stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. From and after the first date on which the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies cease to beneficially own in the aggregate (directly or indirectly) at least fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Stock, any action which is required or permitted to be taken by the Corporation’s stockholders may be taken only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders and the power of stockholders to consent in writing without a meeting is specifically denied without a meeting; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided the resolutions creating such series of Preferred Stock.

 

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

 

Article Eight. 

 

Section 8.01        Certain Acknowledgments. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain of the directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees of the Principal Stockholder or its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation and (ii) the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) the Corporation and its Affiliated Companies may engage in material business transactions with the Principal Stockholder and its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies, and that the Corporation is expected to benefit therefrom, the provisions of this ARTICLE EIGHT are set forth to regulate and define to the fullest extent permitted by law the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve the Principal Stockholder and/or its Affiliated Companies or the Sponsor or the Sponsor Affiliated Companies and/or their respective directors, partners, principals, officers, members, managers and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation (collectively, the “Exempted Persons”), and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its officers, directors and stockholders in connection therewith. “Sponsor” means Horizon Sponsor, LLC. “Sponsor Affiliated Companies” means (a) in respect of the Sponsor, any entity that Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Sponsor (other than the Corporation and any entity that is Controlled by the Corporation) and any investment funds managed by the Sponsor and (b) in respect of the Corporation, any entity Controlled by the Corporation.

 

 

1 Note to Draft: Stockholders’ Agreement to include requirements to provide Sponsor 2 Business Days’ prior written notice before the taking of any stockholder action by written consent. Such prior written notice shall provide reasonable specificity regarding the proposed action, including reasons for the proposed action and any documents and reasonable documentation relating thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article Nine. 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)               at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (6623%) of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(c)               Business Combination” means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                Owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any Stock, means a Person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns such Stock, directly or indirectly, or has (A) the right to acquire such Stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; providedhowever, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of Stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered Stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; providedhowever, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any Stock because of such Person’s right to vote such Stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such Stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more Persons; or (C) any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in (B) of this Section 9.04(f)), or disposing of such Stock with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such Stock; provided, that, for the purpose of determining whether a Person is an Interested Stockholder, the Voting Stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include Stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of this definition of “owned” but shall not include any other unissued Stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article Ten. 

 

Section 10.01    Amendments to the Bylaws. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, prior to the Trigger Date, the Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board, (ii) the stockholders by, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock) and any other vote otherwise required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, on and after the Trigger Date, the Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws made by (i) the Board or (ii) by the stockholders by, in addition to the vote of any holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any resolution setting forth the terms of any series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (6623%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

 

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Section 10.02    Amendments to this Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock required by law or otherwise, no provision of ARTICLE FIVE, ARTICLE SIX, ARTICLE SEVEN, ARTICLE NINE, ARTICLE TEN or ARTICLE ELEVEN of this Certificate of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by the affirmative vote of holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (6623%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

 

Article Eleven. 

 

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

 

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

 

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Article Twelve. 

 

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

  

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Exhibit B Form of Surviving Corporation Bylaws

 

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VIVID SEATS INC.

 

A Delaware corporation
(Adopted as of [ ˜ ])

 

Article I.
OFFICES

 

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

 

Article II.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.11        Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations.

 

(a)               Business at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)               Nominations at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

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

 

(ii)              Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof or (B) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.11(b) on the record date for determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11(b). For the avoidance of doubt, clause (A) of this Section 2.11(b)(ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders. For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder at an annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form as described in Section 2.11(b)(iii) to the Secretary and the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Statement required by these Bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for the nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors (other than such a notice by the Principal Stockholder prior to the Advance Notice Trigger Date, which may be delivered at any time up to thirty-five (35) days prior to the next annual meeting of stockholders) must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in proper written form not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on [ ˜ ]); provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year (other than for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Class A Common Stock are first publicly traded), such stockholder’s notice must be delivered by the later of the tenth (10th) day following the day the Public Announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made and the date which is ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) will be deemed received on any given day if received prior to the Close of Business on such day (and otherwise on the next succeeding day). For the avoidance of doubt, a stockholder shall not be entitled to make additional or substitute nominations following the expiration of the time periods set forth in these Bylaws.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.12        Fixing a Record Date for Stockholder Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting in conformity herewith; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 at the adjourned meeting.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)               Generally. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Corporation, in the manner required by this Section 2.13, within sixty (60) (or the maximum number permitted by applicable law) days of the first date on which a consent is delivered to the Corporation in the manner required by applicable law. The validity of any consent executed by a proxy for a stockholder pursuant to an electronic transmission transmitted to such proxy holder by or upon the authorization of the stockholder shall be determined by or at the direction of the Secretary. A written record of the information upon which the person making such determination relied shall be made and kept in the records of the proceedings of the stockholders. Any such consent shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a meeting of stockholders. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given by the Corporation (at its expense) to those stockholders who have not consented and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

 

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Section 2.14        Conduct of Meetings.

 

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

 

(b)               Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (vi) restrictions on the use of mobile phones, audio or video recording devices and similar devices at the meeting. The chair of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chair should so determine, such chair shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The chair of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The chair of the meeting shall have the power, right and authority, for any or no reason, to convene, recess and/or adjourn any meeting of stockholders.

 

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

 

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

 

(a)               participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

 

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

 

Article III.
DIRECTORS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 3.07        Committees.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article IV.
OFFICERS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article V.
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 5.01        Form. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that, the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by applicable law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall certify the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by two authorized officers of the Corporation including, but not limited to, the Chair of the Board (if an officer), the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation at the date of issue. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified. The Board of Directors may appoint a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the transfer of any class or series of securities of the Corporation. The Corporation, or its designated transfer agent or other agent, shall keep a book or set of books to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each holder of record, together with such holder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such holder and the date of issue. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred, certificates representing the shares owned by such holder, and shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation or its designated transfer agent or other agent of the certificate or certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. In that event, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate or certificates and record the transaction on its books. When shares are not represented by certificates, shares of stock of the Corporation shall only be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, with such evidence of the authenticity of such transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps, and within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall, if required by applicable law, send the holder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other instrument, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Article VI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article VII.
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 7.01        Right to Indemnification and Advancement. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including involvement, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (“ERISA”) and any other penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in this Section 7.02 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advance of expenses (as defined below), the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred herein, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “advance of expenses”); provided, however, that if and to the extent that the DGCL requires, an advance of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 7.01 or otherwise. The Corporation may also, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification and advancement to employees and agents of the Corporation. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chair of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article IV, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article IV of these By-laws, and any reference to an officer of any other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other enterprise for purposes of this Article VII unless such person’s appointment to such office was approved by the board of directors pursuant to Article VII.

 

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

 

Section 7.03        Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expenses, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article VIII.
AMENDMENTS

 

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

 

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Exhibit C Form of Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

[Final Form]

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

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

 

RECITALS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

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

 

Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the chief executive officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (c) as to which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

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

 

Agreement” has the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

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

 

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

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

 

Closing Date” means [•], 2021.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

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

 

Demanding Holder” has the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

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

 

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