EX-1.1 2 d153461dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

SOLO BRANDS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

[•] Shares of Class A Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Dated: [•], 2021

 


SOLO BRANDS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

[•] Shares of Class A Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[•], 2021

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Jefferies LLC

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

c/o Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Solo Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) and Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11 hereof), for whom BofA, J.P. Morgan and Jefferies are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of [•] additional shares of Class A Common Stock. The aforesaid [•] shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the [•] shares of Class A Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The shares of Class A Common Stock to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby and the Transactions (as defined herein), together with the shares of Class B common stock, par value $[•] per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”) are hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock.”


The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that up to 5% shares of the Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Reserved Securities”) shall be reserved for sale by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (an affiliate of BofA, hereinafter referred to as “Merrill Lynch”) to certain persons designated by the Company (the “Invitees”), as part of the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Company solely determined, without any direct or indirect participation by the Underwriters or Merrill Lynch, the Invitees who will purchase Reserved Securities (including the amount to be purchased by such persons) sold by Merrill Lynch. To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.

In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, the Company will become the sole managing member of Solo Stove Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), and will [directly] own a [•]% membership interest in Holdings, assuming no exercise of the option to purchase Option Securities described in Section 2(b) hereof.

Any reference in this Agreement to the “Transactions”, to the extent the context requires, shall have the meanings ascribed to the term “Transactions” in the Prospectus (as defined below). In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Transactions, (a) Holdings has amended and restated the amended and restated limited liability company agreement of Holdings to, among other things, (i) provide for membership interests that will be a single class of common membership interests in Holdings (“LLC Interests”), (ii) recapitalize all of the existing membership interests in Holdings into LLC Interests, and (iii) appoint the Company as the sole managing member of Holdings (as so amended and restated, the “Holdings LLC Agreement”), (b) the Company has amended and restated its certificate of incorporation to, among other things, (i) provide for Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock and (ii) issue shares of Class B Common Stock to certain existing holders of membership interests of Holdings (as so amended and restated, the “Amended and Restated Charter”), (c) the Company will enter into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with certain existing holders of membership interests of Holdings, and (d) the Company will enter into a stockholders agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) with [•].

This Agreement, the Holdings LLC Agreement, the Amended and Restated Charter, the Tax Receivable Agreement, and the Stockholders Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-[•]), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such

 

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registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the “Rule 430A Information.” Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus.” The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).

As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means [•] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [•], 2021 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus that is distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time, and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show for an offering that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

“Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of or Rule 163B under the 1933 Act.

“Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.

 

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SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company and Holdings. Each of the Company and Holdings, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Registration Statement and Prospectuses. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has been declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued by the Commission under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, and, in each case, at the Applicable Time, the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(ii) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any post-effective amendment thereto, when considered together with the Registration Statement, at its effective time, on the date hereof, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time and any Date of Delivery, none of (A) the General Disclosure Package, (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package and (C) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, when considered together with the Prospectus, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this Section 1(a)(ii) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package, any Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this

 

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Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting–Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting–Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting–Electronic Distribution” in each case contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The Company has made available a “bona fide electronic road show” in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(iv) Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company has not (A) alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the 1933 Act or (B) authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule D hereto.

(v) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(vi) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the 1933 Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

(vii) Independent Accountants. Each of Ernst & Young LLP and Moss Adams LLP, the accountants who audited the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

(viii) Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules, if any, and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the applicable entity to which they relate and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the applicable entity to which they relate and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

 

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The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. The pro forma financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply, in all material respects, with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable.

(ix) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, that are material with respect to the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or Holdings on any class of its capital stock. As used herein, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse change (i) in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries considered as on enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) affecting the ability of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries to perform their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(x) Good Standing of the Company and Holdings. Each of the Company and Holdings has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate or limited liability power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents; and each of the Company and Holdings is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of the Company and each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of Holdings (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware or Texas, has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease

 

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and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or Holdings, as applicable, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding equity interests of any of the Subsidiaries were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any equity holder of such Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor Holdings owns or controls, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement.

(xii) Capitalization. The Company and Holdings have an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” and in the column entitled “Holdings, actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (in each case, except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, to effect the Transactions as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and the outstanding membership interests of Holdings have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and none of the outstanding membership interests of Holdings were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or Holdings, as applicable.

(xiii) Each of the Transaction Documents conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Transactions conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(xiv) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and Holdings. Each of the other Transaction Documents has been duly authorized and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and Holdings, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(xv) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and, the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive

 

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or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Transactions have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered as provided in the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof in each of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Class B Common Stock is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. All of the membership interests of Holdings outstanding as of the Closing Time have been duly authorized and, after giving effect to the Transactions, will be validly issued, and to the extent owned by the Company, will be owned free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or claims. No holder of Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.

(xvi) Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company or Holdings under the 1933 Act pursuant to this Agreement, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or have been validly waived.

(xvii) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company, Holdings nor any of their respective subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company and Holdings with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (x) the provisions of the organizational documents of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries or (y) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except, with respect to clause (y), such violations as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition that gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries.

 

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(xviii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, is threatened, and the Company and Holdings are not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of their or any of their respective subsidiaries’ principal manufacturers, which, in either case, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xix) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, threatened against or affecting the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries, which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect their respective properties or assets, the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or the performance by the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder.

(xx) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been so described and filed as required.

(xxi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company or Holdings of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, state securities laws or the rules of FINRA.

(xxii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company, Holdings and their respective Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure to so comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, Holdings nor any of their respective Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxiii) Title to Property and Leases. The Company, Holdings and their respective Subsidiaries do not own any real property. All of the leases and subleases of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company, Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, except where the failure of such leases and subleases to be in full force and effect would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company, Holdings or any such subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company, Holdings or such subsidiary, as applicable, to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, except, in each case, where such claim would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv) Possession of Intellectual Property. Except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, and (B) none of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries therein.

(xxv) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) none of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code or rule of common law or any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of the Company and Holdings, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

 

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(xxvi) Accounting Controls. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries maintains an effective system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “1934 Act Regulations”) under the 1934 Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (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. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s or Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s or Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting that has materially and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Company’s or Holdings’ internal control over financial reporting.

(xxvii) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will be in compliance, in all material respects, with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) that are then in effect and with which the Company is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and is taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that will become applicable to the Company after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(xxviii) Payment of Taxes. All United States federal income tax returns of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been provided. No assessment has been made against the Company, Holdings or any of their respective Subsidiaries with respect to their respective United States federal income tax returns that has not been settled. The Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been established by the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries, as applicable. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any taxable years not yet closed by the applicable statute of limitations are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any taxable years not yet closed by the applicable statute of limitations, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxix) Insurance. The Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect except where the failure to carry such insurance or have such insurance be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor Holdings has any reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company, Holdings, or their respective subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxx) Investment Company Act. Each of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries are not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(xxxi) Absence of Manipulation. None of the Company, Holdings nor, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, any of their respective affiliates, has taken, nor will the Company or Holdings take or cause any affiliate to take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.

(xxxii) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company, Holdings, any of their respective subsidiaries, directors or officers, or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, any affiliates or employees of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries or any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, Holdings their respective subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company and Holdings, the Company’s and Holdings’ affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

(xxxiii) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, threatened.

 

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(xxxiv) OFAC. (A) None of the Company, Holdings, their respective subsidiaries, directors or officers, or, to the knowledge of the Company or Holdings, any affiliates or employees of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries or any agent or representative of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”), currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria); and the Company and Holdings will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions; and (B) for the past five years, the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not, as of the date of this Agreement, knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

(xxxv) Sales of Reserved Securities. In connection with any offer and sale of Reserved Securities outside the United States, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it was filed, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the same is distributed. The Company has not offered, or caused the Representatives or Merrill Lynch to offer, Reserved Securities to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (a) a customer or supplier of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective affiliates to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with any such entity or (b) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company, Holdings or any of their respective affiliates, or their respective businesses or products.

(xxxvi) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xxxvii) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company and Holdings believe, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company and Holdings have obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

(xxxviii) No Rated Securities. The Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries do not have any debt securities or preferred shares that are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency” (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act).

 

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(xxxix) ERISA Compliance. (A) The minimum funding standard under Sections 412 and 430 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Sections 302 and 303 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), has been satisfied by each “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) that has been established or maintained by the Company, Holdings, their respective subsidiaries and their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below); (B) each of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under Section 515 of ERISA; (C) each pension plan and welfare plan established or maintained by the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries is in compliance with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA; (D) the fair market value of the assets under each pension plan established or maintained by the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such pension plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such pension plan); (E) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any pension plan established or maintained by the Company, Holdings and the respective subsidiaries excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; and (F) none of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries has incurred or, except as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, would reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, any liability under Section 4062, 4063, or 4064 of ERISA, or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to pension plans or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default); except, in each case with respect to clauses (A) through (F) hereof, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. “ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, could be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder.

(xl) Cybersecurity. (A)(x) There has been no security breach, incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other attack or compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s, Holding’s or any of their respective subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (“IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach, incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other attack or compromise of or relating to their IT Systems and Data, (B) the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (x) have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards, and (y) have complied, and are presently in compliance, with, all applicable laws, statutes or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, and (C) the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards, except, with respect to clause (A) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Officers’ Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, Holdings, or any such subsidiaries, as applicable, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A hereto, that number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [•] shares of Class A Common Stock, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A hereto, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time within the 30-day period from time to time upon written notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Ropes & Gray LLP, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second (third, if the Applicable Time is after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereof), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of,

 

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receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Each of BofA, J.P. Morgan and Jefferies, individually and not as a representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company and Holdings. Each of the Company and Holdings, jointly and severally, covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing (which may be by electronic mail), (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission on the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or suspension of the Registration Statement and, if any such order is issued, use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly obtain the lifting thereof.

(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of

 

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any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge and upon request, copies of the signed Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Blue Sky Qualifications. If required by applicable law, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(f) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h) Listing. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Class A Common Stock (including the Securities) on the New York Stock Exchange.

(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company and Holdings will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests or any securities convertible into or exercisable or

 

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exchangeable for Common Stock or LLC Interests or file or confidentially submit any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock or LLC Interests, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, LLC Interests or other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance of Common Stock or other securities to effect the Transactions, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (F) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 or other appropriate forms, and any amendments thereto, as required by the 1933 Act, relating to the Common Stock or other equity-based securities issuable pursuant to the Company’s equity or other incentive plans or employee stock purchase plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (G) the issuance of shares of Common Stock, restricted stock awards or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock in connection with (i) the acquisition of the securities, business, property or other assets of another Person or pursuant to any employee benefit plan assumed in connection with any such acquisition, (ii) joint ventures, (iii) commercial relationships or (iv) other strategic transactions, provided that, in the case of this clause (G), (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, restricted stock awards and shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of securities (on an as-converted or as-exercised basis, as the case may be) issued pursuant to this clause (G) does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the issuance and sale of the Initial Securities at the Closing Time pursuant hereto, and (2) the recipient of any such restricted stock awards, shares of Common Stock, options or other securities shall execute and deliver to the Representatives an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto for the period from the date of such agreement until the end of the 180-day restricted period provided for in this section 3(i).

(j) Lock-Up Waivers. If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement described in Section 6(j) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(k) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the 1933 Act.

(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any “road show for an offering that is a written

 

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communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(m) Compliance with FINRA Rules. The Company hereby agrees that it will ensure that the Reserved Securities will be restricted as required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of this Agreement. Merrill Lynch will notify the Company as to which persons will need to be so restricted. At the request of the Underwriters or Merrill Lynch, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such securities for such period of time. Should the Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters and Merrill Lynch for any reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.

(n) Testing-the-Waters Materials. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

(o) Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the 1933 Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 3(i).

(p) FinCEN Certificate. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a properly completed and executed certificate satisfying the beneficial ownership due diligence requirements of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), together with copies of identifying documentation, from the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Representatives have requested or may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing certificate.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Company and Holdings will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each

 

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preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates or security entitlements, as the case may be, for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s and Holdings’ counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company and Holdings relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and Holdings and any such consultants, and 50% of the the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities (provided that the aggregate amount of fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters pursuant to clauses (v) and (viii) of this Section 4(a) shall not to exceed $35,000), and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (x) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with reforming any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third sentence of Section 1(a)(ii) and (xi) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters and Merrill Lynch, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters and counsel for Merrill Lynch, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to Invitees. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 4, Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of their counsel and travel and lodging expenses of their representatives and employees, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 10(a)(i) or (iii) hereof, the Company and Holdings shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

SECTION 5. [Reserved].

SECTION 6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and Holdings contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and Holdings of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes

 

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have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s or Holdings’ knowledge, contemplated by the Commission; and the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company and Holdings. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance statement, dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company and Holdings, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion and letter for each of the other Underwriters.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance statement, each dated the Closing Time, of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion and letter for each of the other Underwriters.

(d) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of each of the Company and Holdings and the Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company and Holdings, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company and Holdings in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) each of the Company and Holdings has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated by the Commission.

(e) CFO Certificate. On the date of this Agreement and at the Closing Time, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Holdings with respect to certain financial data contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(f) Accountants’ Comfort Letters. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from each of Ernst & Young LLP and Moss Adams LLP, a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) Bring-down Comfort Letters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from each of Ernst & Young LLP and Moss Adams LLP, a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letters furnished pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

 

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(h) Approval of Listing. At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(i) No Objection. FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

(j) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.

(k) Transactions. The Transactions shall have been, or prior to the consummation of the issuance of sale of Securities contemplated by this Agreement, will be, consummated in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and have not been modified in any material respect or rescinded.

(l) Transaction Documents. As of the Closing Time:

(i) the Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered; and

(ii) the Amended and Restated Charter shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall be in full force and effect.

(m) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company and Holdings contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company, Holdings and any of their respective subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company and Holdings confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) CFO Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, addressed to the Underwriters, of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Holdings confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(iii) Opinion of Counsel for Company and Holdings. If requested by the Representatives, the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(c) hereof.

(iv) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. If requested by the Representatives, the favorable opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(b) hereof.

 

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(v) Bring-down Comfort Letters. If requested by the Representatives, a letter from each of Ernst & Young LLP and Moss Adams LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letters furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letters furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(n) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and Holdings in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(o) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, unless due to a result of a breach of this Agreement by any of the Underwriters, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company and Holdings, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and reasonable and documented expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials, of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and reasonable and documented expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company ;

 

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(iii) against any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, as incurred, including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives (provided however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel in the aggregate for all Underwriters, in addition to any local counsel), in the case of the Underwriters incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Holdings, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, Holdings, the Company’s directors, each of the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and reasonable and documented expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 7(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency

 

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or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 7(e) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e) Indemnification for Reserved Securities. In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company and Holdings, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates (including Merrill Lynch) and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter or Merrill Lynch within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Securities have been offered, (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any other material prepared by or with the consent of the Company or Holdings for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Securities or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Securities which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement or (iv) related to, arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Securities.

SECTION 8. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and Holdings, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and Holdings, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 7(e) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company and Holdings, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

 

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The relative fault of the Company and Holdings, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or Holdings or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 7(e) hereof.

The Company, Holdings and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 9. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, Holdings or their respective subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or any person controlling Holdings and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 10. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company and Holdings, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any

 

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material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, Holdings and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE MKT or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 10, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities that it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default that does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery that is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven business days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 11.

 

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SECTION 12. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery, as the case may be, to sell the number of Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting party; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18 and 19 shall remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

SECTION 13. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed (including by electronic mail) or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.

Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to:

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Syndicate Department

Email: dg.ecm_execution_services@bofa.com

Copy to: ECM Legal

Email: dg.ecm_legal@bofa.com

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk

Facsimile: +1 (212) 622-8358

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: General Counsel

Notices to the Company or Holdings shall be directed to:

Solo Brands, Inc.

1070 S. Kimball Ave. Suite 121

Southlake, TX 76092

Attention: Kent Christensen

Copy to Latham & Watkins LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attention: Ian Schuman, Adam Gelardi

Facsimile: +1 (212) 751-4864

Email:

 

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SECTION 14. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. Each of the Company and Holdings acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and Holdings, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, Holdings, any of their respective subsidiaries, or their respective stockholders, members, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or Holdings with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company, Holdings or any of their respective subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company or Holdings with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each of the Company and Holdings, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and each of the Company and Holdings has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

SECTION 15. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 15, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 16. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and Holdings and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and Holdings and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended

 

29


to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and Holdings and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 17. Trial by Jury. Each of the Company and Holdings (on their behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of their respective stockholders, members and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 18. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

SECTION 19. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

SECTION 20. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 21. Counterparts and Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

SECTION 22. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company and Holdings a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company and Holdings in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
SOLO BRANDS, INC.
By  

             

  Name:
  Title:
SOLO STOVE HOLDINGS, LLC
By  

             

  Name:
  Title:

Signature Page to Solo Brands, Inc. Underwriting Agreement


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By  

             

  Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Solo Brands, Inc. Underwriting Agreement

 


J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

By  

         

  Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Solo Brands, Inc. Underwriting Agreement


JEFFERIES LLC

 

By  

             

  Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

Signature Page to Solo Brands, Inc. Underwriting Agreement


SCHEDULE A

The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $[].

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $[], being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $[] per share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Name of Underwriter

   Number of
Initial
Securities

BofA Securities, Inc.

   [•]

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   [•]

Jefferies LLC

   [•]

[•]

   [•]
  

 

Total

   [•]
  

 

 

Sch A


SCHEDULE B-1

Pricing Terms

1. The Company is selling [•] shares of Class A Common Stock in the aggregate.

2. The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [•] shares of Class A Common Stock.

3. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $[].

 

Sch B - 1


SCHEDULE B-2

Free Writing Prospectuses

[None].

 

Sch B - 2


SCHEDULE C

List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up

[•]2

 

2 

NTD: To include all directors and Section 16 officers of the Company and holders of equity interests in the Company and Holdings.

 

Sch C - 1


SCHEDULE D

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

[•].

 

Sch D - 1


Exhibit A

Form of lock-up from directors, officers or other stockholders pursuant to Section 6(j)

            , 2021

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Jefferies LLC

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

c/o

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

c/o

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

 

c/o

Jefferies LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

 

  Re:

Proposed Public Offering by Solo Brands, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned is, will become or has a right to become an equity holder, an officer or a director of Solo Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and/or Solo Stove Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”), and understands that BofA Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Jefferies LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters (the “Representatives”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company and Holdings providing for the initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock” and, together with the Company’s Class B Common Stock, par value $[•] per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), the “Common Stock”). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a an equity holder, an officer or a director of the Company and/or Holdings, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 180 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, and will not cause any of its direct or indirect affiliates to, without the prior written consent of the Representatives , (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Common Stock, membership interests of Holdings or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Common Stock or membership interests of Holdings, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has

 

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or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-Up Securities, or file, cause to be filed or cause to be confidentially submitted any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, membership interests of Holdings or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to take any action described in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii). If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed shares of Common Stock the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Representatives as provided below, provided that (1) in the case of a transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (iii) through (x), such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value, (2) in the case of a transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (iii) or (iv) or clauses (vi) through (x), the Representatives receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (3) in the case of a transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iii) or clauses (vii) through (x) (in the case of clause (x), with respect to a transfer or distribution to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer or distribution would be permissible under clause (iii), (vii), (viii) or (ix)), such transfer or distribution is not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 (a “Form 4”) in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers during the Lock-Up Period, and (4) in the case of a transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (i), clauses (iv) through (vi), or clause (x) (in the case of clause (x), with respect to a transfer or distribution to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a transfer or distribution would be permissible under clause (vi)), any filing under the Exchange Act required to be made during the Lock-Up Period shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described below, as applicable, and the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filing or report regarding such transfer or distribution during the Lock-Up Period:

 

  (i)

if such Common Stock is acquired in one or more open market transactions after the effective date of the Public Offering;

 

  (ii)

if such Common Stock is purchased from the underwriters in the Public Offering, unless the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, whether or not issuer-directed;

 

  (iii)

as a bona fide gift or gifts;

 

  (iv)

by will or intestacy;

 

  (v)

pursuant to domestic relations or court orders, including a negotiated divorce settlement;

 

  (vi)

to any trust, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin);

 

  (vii)

to any immediate family member or dependent of the undersigned;

 

  (viii)

as a distribution by a trust to its beneficiaries;

 

A-2


  (ix)

as a distribution to partners, members, managers, limited partners, subsidiaries, affiliates or stockholders or other equity holders of the undersigned, to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity that directly or indirectly controls or manages, is under common control with, or is controlled or managed by, the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds controlled or managed by such partnership); or

 

  (x)

to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix) above;

 

  (xi)

pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to or with all holders of Common Stock, involving a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company, provided that (a) in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-Up Securities held by the undersigned shall remain subject to this lock-up agreement and (b) any Lock-Up Securities not transferred in connection with such transaction shall remain subject to this lock-up agreement;

 

  (xii)

the exchange of any membership interests of Holdings (or securities convertible or exchangeable for units of Holdings) and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock into or for shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Holdings LLC Agreement, as defined and described in the Prospectus), provided that (a) such shares of Class A Common Stock and other securities remain subject to the restrictions set forth in this lock-up agreement and (b) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the exchange, such announcement or filing shall clearly indicate that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (xii) and no transfer of the shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities received upon exchange may be made during the Lock-Up Period;

 

  (xiii)

the transfer, conversion, reclassification, redemption or exchange of any securities pursuant to the reorganization transactions described in the Prospectus, provided that any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock received in the reorganization transactions remain subject to the restrictions set forth in this lock-up agreement and provided further that to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the transfer, conversion, reclassification, redemption or exchange, as applicable, such announcement or filing shall clearly indicate that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (xiii) and no transfer of the shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities received upon exchange may be made during the Lock-Up Period;

 

  (xiv)

to the Company in connection with the “cashless” or “net” exercise of options, warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock for the purpose of exercising such options, warrants or other rights, or to cover tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with such exercise, the vesting of restricted shares of Common Stock or restricted stock units, or the settling of restricted shares of Common Stock or restricted stock units, provided that (i) any remaining Common Stock received upon such exercise or such vesting or settlement will be subject to the restrictions set forth in this lock-up

 

A-3


  agreement, (ii) with respect to the “cashless” or “net” exercise of options, no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act is made during the first 90 days of the Lock-Up Period, and (iii) (1) after the first 90 days of the Lock-Up Period with respect to the “cashless” or “net” exercise of options and at any time during the Lock-Up Period with respect to any other awards described in this (xi), any filing under Section 16 shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that (A) the filing relates to the circumstances described above and (B) no Lock-Up Securities were sold by the undersigned, other than such transfers to the Company as described above and (2) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filing or report regarding such transfers during the Lock-Up Period; or

 

  (xv)

pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Furthermore, the undersigned may establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the sale of any Lock-Up Securities, provided that (1) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Lock-Up Period, (2) no public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise is required to be made in connection with the establishment of such plan and (3) no such public report or filing is voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned during the Lock-Up Period.

For purposes of this lock-up agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an underwriter pursuant to the Public Offering), of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of outstanding voting securities of the Company (or surviving entity).

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (1) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of the Common Stock, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (2) the Company will agree or has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In the event that a Representative withdraws or is terminated from, or declines to participate in, the Public Offering, all references in this lock-up agreement to the Representatives shall refer to the lead left book runner in the Public Offering (“Replacement Entity”), and in such event, any written consent, waiver or notice given or delivered in connection with this lock-up agreement by or to such Replacement Entity shall be deemed to be sufficient and effective for all purposes under this lock-up agreement.

 

A-4


In the event that any Summit Investor (as defined in that certain registration rights agreement, dated as of October 9, 2020, among Holdings and the stockholders party thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”)) is granted an early release from the restrictions described herein during the Lock-up Period, then the same percentage of Lock-Up Securities held by each Other Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), director and officer of the Company shall be immediately and fully released on the same terms from any remaining lock-up restrictions set forth herein (the “Pro-Rata Release”). The Pro-rata Release shall not be applied in the case of a release effective solely to permit a transfer not involving a disposition for value and the Representatives receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from the transferee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no early release of a Summit Investor shall result in a Pro-Rata Release if such early release, in full or in part, is in connection with any underwritten public offering, whether or not such offering or sale is wholly or partially a secondary offering of the Common Stock, during the Lock-Up Period (a “Follow-On Offering”); provided that to the extent a director or officer of the Company or Other Investor has a contractual right to demand or require the registration of the undersigned’s Common Stock or otherwise “piggyback” on a registration statement filed by the Company for the offer and sale of its Common Stock, (i) such director or officer or Other Investor shall be offered the opportunity to participate in such Follow-On Offering in accordance with such contractual rights or (ii) such contractual rights are waived by such director or officer or Other Investor pursuant to the terms thereof.

If (i) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by March 31, 2022, (ii) after becoming effective, the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Class A Common Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iii) the Company notifies the Representatives, in writing, prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, that it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering, then as of such relevant date, this lock-up agreement shall terminate and the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this lock-up agreement.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the underwriters may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to you in connection with the Public Offering, the underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Letter Agreement, participate in the Public Offering, or sell any shares of Class A Common Stock at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that any underwriter is making such a recommendation.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the underwriters are relying upon the lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

Very truly yours,

Signature:                                                                      

Print Name:                                                                   

 

A-5


Exhibit B

FORM OF PRESS RELEASE

TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(j)

SOLO BRANDS, INC.

[Date]

SOLO BRANDS, INC. (the “Company”) announced today that BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan and Jefferies, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of                shares of Class A common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to                 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on        , 20        , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

B-1