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Form 8-K Walgreens Boots Alliance For: Jan 06

January 8, 2021 8:01 AM

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

AND

AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION

DATED AS OF JANUARY 6, 2021

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         PAGE  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      1  

ARTICLE 2 PURCHASE AND SALE

     29  

Section 2.1

  Purchase and Sale of the Shares      29  

Section 2.2

  Purchase Price      30  

Section 2.3

  Closing      30  

Section 2.4

  Determination of Final Purchase Price      32  

Section 2.5

  Withholding Tax      34  

ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

     35  

Section 3.1

  Organization and Authority of Seller      35  

Section 3.2

  Organization, Authority and Qualification of the Acquired Companies      36  

Section 3.3

  Capitalization; Organizational Documents      36  

Section 3.4

  Acquired Companies; JV Entities and Minority Interests      37  

Section 3.5

  No Conflicts; Consents      39  

Section 3.6

  Financial Statements; Internal Controls      40  

Section 3.7

  No Undisclosed Liabilities      41  

Section 3.8

  Absence of Certain Developments      41  

Section 3.9

  Title, Condition and Sufficiency of Assets      41  

Section 3.10

  Compliance with Laws; Permits      42  

Section 3.11

  Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders      43  

Section 3.12

  Material Contracts      44  

Section 3.13

  Intellectual Property      46  

Section 3.14

  Privacy and Personal Data      49  

Section 3.15

  Employee Benefit Plans.      50  

Section 3.16

  Labor Matters      52  

Section 3.17

  Taxes      54  

Section 3.18

  Environmental Matters      56  

Section 3.19

  Real Property      56  

Section 3.20

  Corruption; Sanctions; Export Controls; Money Laundering      57  

Section 3.21

  Insurance      58  

Section 3.22

  Customers and Suppliers      58  

Section 3.23

  Brokers      59  

Section 3.24

  Investment Purpose      59  

 

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Section 3.25

  Independent Investigation; No Other Representations and Warranties      59  

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

     60  

Section 4.1

  Organization and Authority of Buyer      60  

Section 4.2

  Capitalization      61  

Section 4.3

  No Conflicts; Consents      62  

Section 4.4

  Buyer SEC Documents      63  

Section 4.5

  Financial Statements; Internal Controls      64  

Section 4.6

  No Undisclosed Liabilities      65  

Section 4.7

  Absence of Certain Developments      65  

Section 4.8

  Sufficiency of Funds      65  

Section 4.9

  Brokers      65  

Section 4.10

  Solvency      66  

Section 4.11

  No Change in Control      66  

Section 4.12

  No Rights Agreement; Anti-Takeover Provisions      66  

Section 4.13

  Investment Purpose      66  

Section 4.14

  Independent Investigation; No Other Representations and Warranties      67  

ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS

     68  

Section 5.1

  Conduct of Business of the Company      68  

Section 5.2

  Access to Information      73  

Section 5.3

  Exclusivity      74  

Section 5.4

  Notification of Certain Matters      74  

Section 5.5

  Efforts to Consummate      74  

Section 5.6

  Consents; Shared Contracts; Wrong Pockets      75  

Section 5.7

  Governmental Approvals      78  

Section 5.8

  Reserved      80  

Section 5.9

  Reserved      80  

Section 5.10

  Public Announcements      80  

Section 5.11

  Books and Records      80  

Section 5.12

  Confidentiality      81  

Section 5.13

  Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance      81  

Section 5.14

  Employment and Benefits Arrangements      82  

Section 5.15

  Financing      91  

Section 5.16

  Termination of Affiliate Arrangements      97  

Section 5.17

  Ancillary Agreements      97  

 

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Section 5.18

  Post-Signing Financial Statements      100  

Section 5.19

  Trademarks      100  

Section 5.20

  Wrong Pockets; Omitted Assets and Liabilities      101  

Section 5.21

  Restructuring      103  

Section 5.22

  Credit Support for the Business      103  

Section 5.23

  Overhead and Shared Services      104  

Section 5.24

  Insurance      104  

Section 5.25

  Further Assurances      107  

Section 5.26

  Litigation Support      107  

Section 5.27

  NYSE Listing      107  

Section 5.28

  [Reserved]      107  

Section 5.29

  Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation      108  

Section 5.30

  Certain Additional Agreements      109  

ARTICLE 6 TAX MATTERS

     110  

Section 6.1

  Purchase Price Allocation      110  

Section 6.2

  Post-Closing Actions      111  

Section 6.3

  Transfer Taxes      111  

Section 6.4

  Tax Refunds      112  

Section 6.5

  Tax Elections      112  

Section 6.6

  Tax Information and Cooperation      112  

Section 6.7

  Tax Contests      113  

Section 6.8

  Straddle Period      113  

Section 6.9

  Tax Returns      114  

Section 6.10

  Intended Tax Treatment      115  

Section 6.11

  VAT Group      115  

Section 6.12

  Post-Acquisition Integration      115  

ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     116  

Section 7.1

  Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations      116  

Section 7.2

  Other Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer      116  

Section 7.3

  Other Conditions to the Obligations of Seller      117  

Section 7.4

  Frustration of Closing Conditions      118  

ARTICLE 8 TERMINATION

     118  

Section 8.1

  Termination      118  

Section 8.2

  Effect of Termination      119  

ARTICLE 9 SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY

     119  

Section 9.1

  Survival; R&W Insurance      119  

 

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Section 9.2

  Indemnification by Seller      121  

Section 9.3

  Indemnification by Buyer      122  

Section 9.4

  Limitations and Other Matters Relating to Indemnification      122  

Section 9.5

  Indemnification Procedures      127  

Section 9.6

  Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments      128  

Section 9.7

  Exclusive Remedy; No Duplication; No Set-off      129  

ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS

     129  

Section 10.1

  Fees and Expenses      129  

Section 10.2

  Notices      130  

Section 10.3

  Entire Agreement      131  

Section 10.4

  Amendment      131  

Section 10.5

  Waivers      131  

Section 10.6

  Severability      131  

Section 10.7

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      131  

Section 10.8

  Assignment      132  

Section 10.9

  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial      132  

Section 10.10

  Remedies      133  

Section 10.11

  Interpretation; Construction      134  

Section 10.12

  Counterparts and Electronic Signatures      136  

Section 10.13

  Time is of the Essence      136  

Section 10.14

  Provision Regarding Legal Representation      136  

Section 10.15

  Waiver of Claims Against Financing Sources      137  

 

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EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

A&R Shareholders Agreement

Exhibit B

AHDL PSA

Exhibit C

Transition Services Agreement

Exhibit D-1

Intellectual Property License Agreements Term Sheet to Buyer

Exhibit D-2

Intellectual Property License Agreements Term Sheet to Seller

Exhibit D-3

Support Agreements Term Sheet

Exhibit E

Purchase Price Allocation Methodology

Exhibit F

Project Thor MOU

Exhibit G

U.S. Distribution Agreement Amendment

Exhibit H

GPPSA Amendment

Exhibit I

Deed of Sale and Transfer

SCHEDULES

Seller Disclosure Letter

Specified Principles

 

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SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 6, 2021, is entered into between Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), and AmerisourceBergen Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Wight Nederland Holdco 2 B.V. is a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, with corporate seat in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, and Trade Register number 81284225 (the “Company”);

WHEREAS, the Company has an issued share capital of $1.00 divided into one share of $1.00 nominal value (together with any shares of the Company issued after the date hereof, the “Shares”) and Seller is indirectly the legal and beneficial owner of the Shares;

WHEREAS, the Company was formed on December 24, 2020 as a holding company to own, directly or indirectly, as of immediately prior to the Closing, the Company Subsidiaries and the Minority Interests and thereby the Business;

WHEREAS, the Company Subsidiaries and the Minority Interests collectively comprise the Business; and

WHEREAS, Seller wishes to cause the Designated Seller Subsidiary to sell to the Designated Buyer Subsidiary, and Buyer wishes to cause the Designated Buyer Subsidiary to purchase from the Designated Seller Subsidiary, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Shares and thereby sell to the Designated Buyer Subsidiary the Business.

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

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below.

A&R Shareholders Agreement” means the amendment and restatement of the Existing Shareholders Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

Accounting Firm” means KPMG LLP; provided, that if KPMG LLP shall decline such appointment or otherwise be unable to serve, “Accounting Firm” shall mean such other independent nationally recognized public accounting firm that will accept such appointment and that is mutually agreed to by Buyer and Seller; provided, further, that if Buyer and Seller are unable to agree on an independent public accounting firm that will accept such appointment within ten (10) Business Days after notice that KPMG LLP has declined such appointment or is otherwise unable to serve, then such other nationally recognized public accounting firm that has not had a material relationship with either of the Parties in the preceding two years as the parties shall mutually agree and, upon such selection, Accounting Firm shall mean such firm.


Accounting Firm’s Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

Acquired Companies” means the Company and each Company Subsidiary.

Acquired Company Benefit Plan” means any Benefit Plan, or portion thereof, that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to, or that is required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to (a) solely by any Acquired Company or, other than for purposes of Article 3, any Principal JV Entity or (b) by the Seller Business Group and is exclusively for the benefit of the Business Employees, in each case, excluding any Benefit Plan that provides defined benefit pension benefits to current or former employees primarily employed in the United Kingdom.

Acquired Company Labor Agreement” means (a) the EWCA and (b) any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any Employee Representative affecting or relating to Business Employees in one or more countries.

Additional Payment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, including through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. As used in this definition, the term “controls” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, including through one or more intermediaries, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement (a) both before and after the Closing, Buyer and Seller shall not be deemed Affiliates of one another, (b) prior to the Closing, the Acquired Companies and Seller shall be Affiliates of each other and (c) after the Closing, the Acquired Companies and Buyer shall be Affiliates of each other and (d) both before and after the Closing, the JV Entities shall not be deemed Affiliates of Buyer or Seller.

Affiliate Agreement” means any Contract between or among an Acquired Company, on the one hand, and any Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than an Acquired Company), on the other hand, excluding any Shared Contracts or Ancillary Agreements.

Agreed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(b)(i).

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

AHDL PSA” means the preferred supplier agreement between Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Limited and Boots UK Limited, in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.

Alternative Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(iii).

 

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Alternative Transaction” means any (a) acquisition, merger or consolidation with a third party of one or more Acquired Companies or the Principal JV Entities or (b) the sale or other disposition to a third party of a significant portion of the assets of the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole, or the Business, in each case, other than (x) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Restructuring, the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements any actions permitted under Section 5.1(a) and Section 5.1(b) hereof and the matters contemplated by Section 5.30(e) or Section 5.30(f) or Section 5.30(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, and (y) any indirect change in ownership of the Acquired Companies or the JV Entities as a result of changes in ownership of, or the merger or other consolidation of, Seller or any Subsidiary of Seller that is not an Acquired Company, so long as such merger or other consolidation does not prevent or, by its terms would, materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Ancillary Agreements” means the A&R Shareholders Agreement, the AHDL PSA, the Transition Services Agreement, the Intellectual Property License Agreements, the Support Agreements, the Project Thor MOU, the U.S. Distribution Agreement Amendment, the GPPSA Amendment, the Deed of Sale and Transfer, the Naples Agreement, the Distribution Agreements, the Real Estate Separation Agreements and the Volume Incentive Rebate Agreements.

Anticorruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).

Antitrust Laws” means all antitrust, competition or trade regulation Laws of any Governmental Body or Laws issued by any Governmental Body, including the United States, the European Union and its member states, Turkey and the United Kingdom, that are otherwise designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions or transactions having the purpose or effect of monopolization, restraint of trade or harm to competition, including the HSR Act.

Asset Purchase Price Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

Associated Person” means any agent, distributor or any other person who performs (or has performed) services for or who acts (or has acted) on behalf of any of the Acquired Companies.

Assume” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(e).

Assumed Seller Benefit Plan Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(d).

Assumed Vacation Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(j).

ASU” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations”.

Audited Balance Sheet” means the audited combined balance sheet of the Business as of and for the twelve months ended August 31, 2020.

Audited Balance Sheet Date” means August 31, 2020.

 

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Audited Financial Statements” means the audited combined balance sheet of the Business for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2020 and August 31, 2019, and the related audited combined statements of equity, earnings, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Business as of and for the fiscal year then ended, including any related notes thereto and the related reports of the independent public accountants.

Baker McKenzie” means Baker McKenzie LLP.

Base Cash Consideration” means $6,275,000,000.

Benefit Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA), and all other employee benefit, bonus, commission, incentive, profit sharing, pension, retention, retirement, deferred compensation, early retirement, old-age part-time, stock option (or other equity-based), equity inducement, severance, termination, retention, employment, consulting, independent contractor, change in control, health and welfare (including post-retirement medical, life insurance, hospitalization, health, dental and disability) and fringe benefit plans, programs, policies, agreements and arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA and whether written or oral.

Bridge Commitment Letter” means, collectively, the commitment letter, dated as of the date hereof, from the Financing Sources identified therein, pursuant to which such Financing Sources have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein (including in the exhibits and annexes attached thereto), to provide the Bridge Debt Financing, and the Bridge Debt Fee Letter related thereto, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced in accordance with the terms thereof and of this Agreement.

Bridge Debt Fee Letter” means any fee letter by and between Buyer and any of the Financing Sources, relating to the Bridge Debt Financing, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced in accordance with the terms of the Bridge Commitment Letter and this Agreement.

Bridge Debt Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(i).

Burdensome Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(c).

Business” means (a) the wholesale distribution of medicines, over-the-counter healthcare-related products, health and beauty products, durable medical equipment and other healthcare-related products (“Products”) to pharmacies, patients, doctors, health centers and hospitals provided under the “Alliance Healthcare” brand or any derivations thereof, including the sourcing and procurement of Products from manufacturers in connection therewith and related parallel trade involving the import and export of Products into or from the Wholesale Distribution Territory, (b) the provision of third-party logistics (3PL) services to healthcare clients that are Product manufacturers, as provided under the “Alloga” brand or any derivations thereof, (c) the provision of professional training, patient care, retail support, supply benefits, pharmacy and digital support and other similar services to retail pharmacies, as provided under the “Alphega” brand or any derivations thereof, (d) the provision of specialist supply chain, personalized patient care and homecare solutions, clinical trial and other services to Product manufacturers and clinical research and other similar organizations and individual customers and patients, as provided under the

 

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“Skills in Healthcare” and “Alcura” brands or any derivations thereof, (e) the sourcing, marketing, distribution, commercialization and sale of generic pharmaceuticals and other Products, as engaged in or conducted under the “Almus” and “Alvita” brands or any derivations thereof, (f) the ownership and operation of retail pharmacies in the Retail Territory, (g) consulting and similar services regarding parallel trade activities involving the import and export of Products as conducted by Alliance Boots Schweiz Investments GmbH, AH Schweiz GmbH and Nareks Ecza Deposu Ticaret Anonim Şirketi and (h) the ownership of the Minority Interests, in each case as owned, operated, engaged in or conducted by Seller and its controlled Affiliates; provided, however, that the Business shall not include (u) the Excluded Business Intellectual Property, (v) the Overhead and Shared Services, (w) the private label brands and offerings of Seller’s retail pharmacy, including the brands No 7, Botanics, Liz Earle, Sleek Make Up and Your Good Skin, (x) the activities or provision of services of the type contemplated by subparagraphs (a) through (d) above in any jurisdictions outside the Wholesale Distribution Territory, (y) the matters contemplated by Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter and (z) the ownership and operation of retail pharmacies in any jurisdiction other than the Retail Territory. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, for purposes of the definition of Business Employee and Sections 5.2, 5.6, 5.11, 5.20, and 5.29, “Business” shall mean all of the foregoing clauses (a) through (h) as owned, operated, engaged in or conducted by Seller and its controlled Affiliates as of the date hereof and through immediately prior to the Closing.

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, Chicago, Illinois or London, United Kingdom are authorized or required by Law to be closed.

Business Employee” means each individual (other than any Former Business Employee) who, as of the relevant date of determination, is an employee of the Seller Business Group and is (a) primarily employed in the Business as of such time, other than any individual listed on Section 1.1(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, provided that “primarily employed” shall mean the individual spends more than seventy percent (70%) of his or her working time for Seller and its Subsidiaries on the Business, (b) an individual listed on Section 1.1(a)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (c) an individual whose employment, by operation of applicable Law or Order or the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with an Employee Representative in connection with the Restructuring or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the assumption, on or prior to the Closing, by an Acquired Company of the provision of services to the Business which are currently provided by Seller or a Subsidiary of Seller which is not an Acquired Company is automatically transferred to the Acquired Companies on or before the Closing Date or (d) an individual mutually identified in writing by Seller and Buyer as a Business Employee.

Business Employee Liabilities” means (a) all Employee Liabilities (including in respect of Seller Benefit Plans) with respect to any Business Employee, any Former Business Employee, and any other individual service provider who as of immediately prior to the Closing is providing services to an Acquired Company and no other member of the Seller Business Group or otherwise spends more than seventy percent (70%) of his or her working time for Seller and its Subsidiaries on the Business, (b) liabilities in respect of the Acquired Company Benefit Plans (including such liabilities associated with Former Business Employees), and (c) all other liabilities Assumed by an Acquired Company under Section 5.14, in either case of (a), (b) or (c), regardless of (i) when or

 

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where such liabilities arose; (ii) whether the facts upon which they are based occurred prior to, on, or subsequent to the Closing Date; (iii) where or against whom such liabilities are asserted or determined and whether Seller, an Acquired Company, Buyer or their respective Affiliates is responsible for delivering any compensation or benefit attributable to such liability; and (iv) which entity is named in any Legal Proceeding associated with any liability; provided that Business Employee Liabilities shall not include any Transaction-Related Severance Costs.

Business Insurance Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(d).

Business Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property owned by (a) any Acquired Company as of the Closing Date, including Registered Company Intellectual Property or (b) any other Seller Business Group Member to the extent primarily related to the Business, but excluding, (x) in the case of clause (b), Trademarks (other than the In-Scope Trademarks) and (y) in the case of clauses (a) and (b), the Excluded Business Intellectual Property.

Business IT Systems” means the information technology systems, including servers, Software, hardware, data communication lines, networks and telecommunications systems, in each case owned, leased or otherwise controlled by an Acquired Company or by any other Seller Business Group Member, to the extent used or held for use in the conduct of the Business.

Business Manufactured Products” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(d)(ii).

Business Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, effect, circumstance or occurrence (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate with any other Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or results of operations of the Seller Business Group, taken as a whole, or the Business excluding any Effect resulting from: (i) changes or prospective changes in GAAP or the interpretation thereof, (ii) general economic, political or regulatory conditions in the United States, any Wholesale Distribution Territory, the Retail Territory, the jurisdictions of the JV Entities or any other country or region, including changes in financial, credit, securities or currency markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates), (iii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Business operates, (iv) changes or prospective changes in applicable Law or Order (including any COVID-19 Measure), (v) any geopolitical conditions, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, terrorism or military actions, or any escalation or worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), (vi) results of elections, trade wars, tariffs, withdrawal by a country from a transnational organization, interest rates or exchange rates for the currencies of any country, (vii) any epidemic, pandemic or new disease (including an epidemic or pandemic relating to COVID-19 and any worsening, resurgence or variation thereof) or a hurricane, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster or act of God, (viii) except for Section 3.5, the announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or the identity of or any facts or circumstances relating to Buyer or the Financing Sources, including the impact of any of the foregoing on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Seller Business Group or the Business with customers, suppliers, service providers, employees, Governmental Bodies or any other Persons, (ix) any failure by the Seller Business Group or the Business to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (it being understood that any underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not

 

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otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Business Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Business Material Adverse Effect), (x) any actions taken (or omitted to be taken) at the written request of Buyer, (xi) any matter disclosed in the Seller Disclosure Letter or in any Seller SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (but excluding any disclosures set forth in any “risk factors” section and any “forward-looking statements” in any other section, it being understood that any factual information contained within such sections shall not be excluded); (xii) any actions taken (or omitted to be taken) by Seller or an Acquired Company that are expressly required by this Agreement (other than Section 5.1) or (xiii) the matters contemplated by Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, except, in the case of clauses (i) through (vii) to the extent the Seller Business Group, taken as a whole, or the Business are disproportionately impacted thereby relative to other entities operating in the same industry or industries in which Business operates (in which case the incremental disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Business Material Adverse Effect).

Business Restructuring” means each of the transactions described in Section 1.1(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Buyer” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Buyer Adjustment Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Buyer Benefit Plans” means Benefit Plans of Buyer or its Affiliates (including Benefit Plans maintained by an Acquired Company as of the Closing Date).

Buyer Board” means the board of directors of Buyer.

Buyer Equity Plans” means Buyer’s Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, Buyer’s 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the Buyer ESPP.

Buyer ESPP” means the Amended and Restated 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Buyer.

Buyer Financial Assurances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(b).

Buyer Fundamental Representations” means Section 4.1, Section 4.2 and Section 4.10.

Buyer Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

Buyer Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect, that individually or in the aggregate with any other Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or results of operations of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding for any Effect resulting from (i) changes or prospective changes in GAAP or the interpretation thereof, (ii) general economic, political or regulatory conditions in the United States or any other country or region, including changes in financial, credit, securities or currency markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates), (iii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which Buyer and its Subsidiaries operate, (iv) changes or prospective changes in applicable Law or Order (including any COVID-19 Measure), (v) any geopolitical conditions, the outbreak or

 

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escalation of hostilities, any acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, terrorism or military actions, or any escalation or worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), (vi) results of elections, trade wars, tariffs, withdrawal by a country from a transnational organization, interest rates or exchange rates for the currencies of any country, (vii) any epidemic, pandemic or new disease (including an epidemic or pandemic relating to COVID-19 and any worsening, resurgence or variation thereof) or a hurricane, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster or act of God, (viii) except for Section 4.5, the announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or the identity of or any facts or circumstances relating to Seller or the Business, including the impact of any of the foregoing on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of Buyer with customers, suppliers, service providers, employees, Governmental Bodies or any other Persons, (ix) any failure by Buyer to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (it being understood that any underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Buyer Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Buyer Material Adverse Effect), (x) any actions taken (or omitted to be taken) at the written request of Seller, (xi) any matter disclosed in any Buyer SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (but excluding any disclosures set forth in any “risk factors” Section and any “forward-looking statements” in any other section, it being understood that any factual information contained within such sections shall not be excluded) or (xii) any actions taken (or omitted to be taken) by Buyer that are expressly required by this Agreement (other than Section 5.1), except, in the case of clauses (i) through (vii) to the extent Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are disproportionately impacted thereby relative to other entities operating in the same industry or industries in which Buyer and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case the incremental disproportionate impact or impacts may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Buyer Material Adverse Effect).

Buyer Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

Buyer’s Relief” means (i) any Relief arising to any Acquired Company in respect of a Pre-Closing Tax Period which was taken into account in computing (and thereby reducing or eliminating) any provision for tax or deferred tax in the Final Adjustment Report, or which is shown as an asset in the Final Adjustment Report, (ii) any Relief arising to any Acquired Company to the extent that it arises in respect of a Post-Closing Tax Period; or (iii) any Relief arising to Buyer or any other company which is treated as a member of the same group as, or otherwise connected or associated in any way with, Buyer for any Tax purpose (other than any Acquired Company).

Buyer SEC Document” means all reports, schedules, forms, statements, prospectuses, registration statements and other documents required to be filed with or furnished to the SEC by Buyer since August 31, 2018, together with any exhibits and schedules thereto and other information incorporated therein.

Buyer Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(c).

Buyer Stock” means the shares of common stock of Buyer, par value $0.01 per share.

 

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Buyer Stock Consideration” means 2,000,000 shares of Buyer Stock; provided that if, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, there shall occur any change, or the record date for any change, in the outstanding shares of Buyer Stock as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend, the Buyer Stock Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to reflect such change.

Buyer’s Knowledge” means, as to a particular matter, the actual knowledge of any one or more of the individuals listed on Section 1.1(j) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, after having made reasonable inquiry of the most senior employee(s) of Buyer and its Subsidiaries with primary responsibility for the relevant subject matter.

Capitalization Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that all leases of such Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance on February 25, 2016 of the Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “ASU”) shall not be deemed Capital Lease Obligations notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as capitalized lease obligations in the Audited Financial Statements.

Cash” means the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of all cash of the Acquired Companies and 50% of the cash of the Egypt JV and (b) the aggregate fair market value of all cash equivalents (including marketable securities, liquid instruments and short term investments) of the Acquired Companies and 50% of all cash equivalents (including marketable securities, liquid instruments and short term investments) of the Egypt JV, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with the Specified Principles. “Cash” shall (x) include cash payable to the Acquired Companies and 50% of cash payable to the Egypt JV resulting from checks, wires, drafts and credit card receivables deposited, initiated or charged prior to the Closing that clear thereafter and shall be net of cash payable by the Acquired Companies and 50% of the cash payable by the Egypt JV resulting from checks, wires, drafts and credit card receivables, deposited, initiated or charged prior to the Closing and (y) exclude Restricted Cash.

Change of Control Payments” means, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing, any transaction bonus, discretionary bonus, stay bonus, change in control, retention or single-trigger severance or other compensatory payment or benefit made to any Business Employee or Former Business Employee, or to any other Person that is an obligation of any of the Acquired Companies, solely and directly as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (together with the employer-paid portion of any social security, payroll, unemployment or other similar Taxes payable in connection therewith), but excluding any “double-trigger” severance payment (or other payment contingent on a future event or continued service for more than six months following the Closing Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Closing Retention Awards shall be treated as Change of Control Payments and (ii) neither the Post-Closing Retention Awards nor Transaction-Related Severance Costs shall be treated as Change of Control Payments.

 

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China JVs” means Nanjing Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Chosen Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9(b).

Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Claim Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Claims Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(a)(iii).

Cleary Gottlieb” means Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Closing Date Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Closing Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

CMA” means the UK Competition and Markets Authority.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

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

Company Subsidiary” means the Persons set forth on Section 3.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter that are specified to be direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company pursuant to the Restructuring, as of or prior to the Closing; provided that if any such Person does not become a Company Subsidiary pursuant to the Restructuring, such Person shall not be deemed to be a Company Subsidiary for any purposes hereunder.

Competing Business” means (a) the wholesale distribution of Products (other than the private label brands and offerings of Seller’s retail pharmacy, including the brands No 7, Botanics, Liz Earle, Sleek Make Up and Your Good Skin and other global branded products Manufactured by or on behalf of Seller and its Affiliates, including the sourcing and procurement of Products from manufacturers in connection therewith, that are not of the type sold by the Business under the “Alvita” and “Almus” brands or any derivations thereof) to pharmacies, patients, doctors, health centers and hospitals of the type provided under the “Alliance Healthcare” brand as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date or any derivations thereof from the Wholesale Distribution Territory, including the sourcing and procurement of Products from manufacturers in connection therewith (b) the provision of third-party logistics (3PL) services to healthcare clients that are Product manufacturers of the type provided under the “Alloga” brand or any derivations thereof in the Wholesale Distribution Territory as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, (c) the

 

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provision of professional training, patient care, retail support, supply benefits, pharmacy and digital support and other similar services to retail pharmacies, of the type provided under the “Alphega” brand or any derivations thereof in the Wholesale Distribution Territory as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, (d) the provision of specialist supply chain, personalized patient care and homecare solutions, clinical trial and other services to Product manufacturers and clinical research and other similar organizations and individual customers and patients, of the type provided under the “Skills in Healthcare” and “Alcura” brands or any derivations thereof in the Wholesale Distribution Territory as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, (e) the sourcing, Manufacture, marketing, distribution, commercialization and sale of generic pharmaceuticals and other Products of the type as engaged in or conducted under the “Almus” and “Alvita” brands or any derivations thereof in the Wholesale Distribution Territory as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and (f) the ownership and operation of retail pharmacies in the Retail Territory.

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.

Confidentiality Agreement” means, collectively, (a) the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2014, by and between Alliance Boots GmbH, a Subsidiary of Seller, and Buyer and (b) the Mutual Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2014, by and between Walgreen Co., a Subsidiary of Seller, and Buyer.

Consent” means any approval, authorization, consent, ratification, permission, exemption or waiver or the expiration, lapse or termination of any waiting period.

Contract” means any contract, agreement or other legally binding instrument, including any note, bond, mortgage, deed, indenture, commitment, undertaking, promise, lease, sublease, license or sublicense or joint venture, in each case whether written or oral but excluding any purchaser order.

Copyrights” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”

COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or any epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreak resulting therefrom.

COVID-19 Measures” means, with respect to any location, any quarantine, shelter in place, stay at home, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, return to work, employment, human resources or similar Law, Order, directive or guidelines promulgated by any Governmental Body in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, to the extent applicable to such location.

D&O Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(a).

Data Protection Laws” means any and all Laws relating to data protection, privacy, direct marketing and information security of Personal Data, including the EU GDPR, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002/58/EC, together with any national implementing or supplementing laws in the United Kingdom and any Member State of the European Union and any equivalent legislation, or legislation dealing with the same subject matter, anywhere in the world, including the Data Protection Act 2018, the UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

 

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Dedicated Business Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(c).

Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a)(i).

Deed of Sale and Transfer” means the notarial deed of sale, purchase and transfer of the Shares substantially in the form attached as Exhibit I.

De-grouping Charges” means any charges or liabilities in respect of Transfer Taxes arising as a result of an Acquired Company leaving the Seller’s Tax Group while holding any property or assets transferred to the Acquired Company in a Pre-Closing Tax Period by a member of the Seller’s Tax Group.

Delayed Employment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(b).

Delayed Employment Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(b).

De Minimis Investment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.29(b)(i).

De Minimis Threshold” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a)(ii).

Designated Buyer Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of Buyer that is a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales.

Designated Deferred Taxes” means any Taxes (including VAT) of the Acquired Companies arising from circumstances occurring on or prior to the Closing for which payment is not required until after the Closing and that would have constituted Taxes of the Acquired Companies for a Pre-Closing Tax Period but for an election, agreement, deferral or other arrangement made to defer such payment of Taxes, including such an election, agreement, deferral or other arrangement under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act, the Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster dated August 8, 2020, IRS Notice 2020-65 (2020-38 I.R.B. 567), or any other Law or Order or COVID-19 Measures promulgated by any Tax Authority.

Designated Seller Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(b)(i).

Designated Seller Subsidiary” means a wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of Seller that will hold the Shares as of immediately prior to the Closing.

DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Disregarded Entity” means a Company Subsidiary that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

 

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Disregarded Subsidiary” means any Disregarded Entity that is held by the Company directly or indirectly through other Disregarded Entities.

Distribution Agreements” means, (i) with respect to the cosmetic and skin care private label offering of Seller’s retail pharmacy, including the brands No 7, Botanics, Liz Earle, Sleek Make Up and Your Good Skin, (A) a distribution agreement between Boots International Limited, as supplier, and the Retained Business, as retailer, with respect to the distribution of such products in Norway, (B) a distribution agreement between Boots International Limited, as supplier, and an Acquired Company, as retailer, with respect to the distribution of such products in the Netherlands and (ii) a distribution agreement between an Acquired Company, as supplier, and the Retained Business, as distributor, with respect to the distribution of generic pharmaceuticals and other Products under the “Almus” brand in Mexico and the United States, in the case of this clause (ii), to the extent reasonably necessary to continue the arrangement in effect prior to the Closing.

DOJ” means the U.S. Department of Justice.

Effect” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Business Material Adverse Effect.”

Egypt JV” means United Company of Pharmacists S.A.E., an Egyptian joint stock company.

Employee Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(q).

Employee Liabilities” means all liabilities, commitments or obligations the Seller Business Group and their respective current and former Affiliates, arising out of, by reason of, or otherwise in connection with, the prospective employment or engagement of, the employment or engagement of, or termination of the employment or engagement of, any employee or individual service provider, whether accrued or fixed, known or unknown, absolute or contingent.

Employee Representative” means any union, works council, or other agency, individual or representative body certified or otherwise recognized for the purposes of bargaining collectively or established for the purposes of notification of or consultation on behalf of any Business Employee, including the EWC.

Employee Termination Costs” means (a) Employment Costs with respect to the relevant employee which arise in respect of the period from and including the Closing Date up to and including the termination of employment or the date of transfer (in each case pursuant to Sections 5.14(c)(i)(D) or (ii)(D), or Sections 5.14(c)(i)(E) or (ii)(E), respectively), as applicable and (b) Severance Costs.

Employment Costs” means all routine and periodic costs payable to the relevant employee or as a result of his or her employment, including wages, salaries, bonuses, commission, shift allowances, overtime pay, vacation pay, sick pay, maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay, the reimbursement of expenses, premiums in respect of insured employee benefits, employer contributions to any pension scheme and any Taxes payable by the employer in respect of any such amounts; provided that “Employment Costs” shall not include any Severance Costs.

 

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Encumbrance” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, claim, option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, charge, transfer restriction, right of way, right of first refusal, right of first offer or any other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

Enforceability Limitations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).

Entity Purchase Price Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

Environmental Law” means any applicable Law or Order relating to pollution or protection of or prevention of harm to the environment (including the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or discharge of, or exposure to, hazardous or toxic materials or wastes), the protection or restoration of natural resources or, solely to the extent related to exposure to hazardous or toxic materials, to the protection of human health and safety.

Environmental Permits” means all Permits required pursuant to Environmental Law.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means any Person which, together with Seller, would be treated as a “single employer” under Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code.

Estimated Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Estimated Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Estimated Transaction Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Estimated Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

EU GDPR” means the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

EWC” means the Walgreens Boots Alliance European Works Council, a European works council established pursuant to Directive 2009/38/EC, which has the scope, role, membership and operation governed by the EWCA.

EWCA” means the Walgreens Boots Alliance European Works Council Agreement for Alliance HealthCare & International Retail Divisions effective September 28, 2015, to the extent applicable to the Business Employees.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Excluded Business Intellectual Property” means those Trademarks set forth on Section 1.1(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Exclusions Indemnity Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(a)(iv).

Existing Tailed Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(a)(ii).

 

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Existing Shareholders Agreement” means the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, among Buyer, Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots GmbH.

Export Control Laws” means the applicable Laws or Orders regulating the export, re-export, import, transit, transfer and brokering of any goods, services, software or technology, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. 120 et seq.), the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. 730 et seq.), the UK Export Control Act 2002 and the UK Export Control Order 2008, EU Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009, and all other applicable Laws or Orders relating to export controls and import controls.

Fee Letter” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(iii).

Final Adjustment Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).

Final Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

Final Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

Final Purchase Price Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

Final Transaction Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

Final Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(i).

Financing Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(ii).

Financing Sources” means the agents, arrangers, lenders and other entities that have committed to provide or arrange the Bridge Debt Financing, including the parties to the Bridge Commitment Letter, in each case, together with their respective Affiliates and their, and their respective Affiliates’, current, former or future officers, directors, employees, partners, trustees, shareholders, equityholders, managers, members, limited partners, controlling persons, agents and representatives and respective successors and assigns of the foregoing Persons.

Former Business Employee” means any individual who, as of immediately prior to the Closing Date is a former employee of any Seller Business Group Member and who, upon his or her last termination of employment with any Seller Business Group Member, was employed by an Acquired Company or spent more than seventy percent (70%) of his or her working time for Seller and its Subsidiaries on the Business, as evidenced by the records of a Seller Business Group Member.

Framework Agreement” means the Framework Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, by and among Buyer, Walgreen Co. and Alliance Boots GmbH.

 

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Fraud” means, with respect to any Party, an actual and intentional fraudulent misrepresentation or omission of such Party in the making of any representation and warranty set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that an actual and intentional fraudulent misrepresentation or omission of any Party with respect to the making of any representation or warranty in this Agreement shall only be deemed to exist if (a) such Party had actual knowledge as of the date hereof of such misrepresentation or omission, (b) such Party intended that the other Party would rely thereon to its detriment, (c) the other Party actually relied to its detriment and (d) the other Party incurred a loss as a result of such reliance.

FTC” means the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

GDP” means the principles and guidelines of good distribution practice for medicinal products for human use contained in applicable Laws and Orders, including (a) Directive 2001/83/EC laying down the principles and guidelines of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products, (b) the European Commission’s Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of medicinal products for human use (2013/C 343/01) and (c) equivalent provisions in any market in the Wholesale Distribution Territory.

GMP” means current good manufacturing practices for the Manufacture of medicinal products required (a) if the Manufacturing site is within the European Union or the United Kingdom or the medicinal product is to be supplied to a country within the European Union or to the United Kingdom, by the provisions of EC Commission Directive 2003/94/EC; or (b) if outside the European Union or the United Kingdom, by the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), the relevant ICH Quality Guidelines relating to good manufacturing practice and by such standards as may be required to reflect the mandatory requirements of a Governmental Body in the country where the medicinal product is Manufactured or supplied.

Governmental Body” means any transnational, foreign, federal, state, provincial, local or other court, governmental authority, tribunal, commission or regulatory body or self-regulatory body (including any securities exchange or supervisory authorities), any subdivision, department, agency or branch of any of the foregoing or any arbitrator or arbitral panel.

GPPSA” means the Generic Pharmaceuticals Purchasing Services Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, by and among Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, Bellco Drug Corp. and J.M. Blanco, Inc.

GPPSA Amendment” means the amendment to the GPPSA in the form attached as Exhibit H hereto.

Group Tax Relief” means any right, in any jurisdiction, to allocate or reallocate Taxes or Reliefs between members of a group or consortium or other association for Tax purposes including by way of (i) the surrender of losses, (ii) the surrender of Tax refunds, (iii) the surrender of relievable Tax, (iv) the ability to allocate or reallocate a profit, gain or loss for Tax purposes, (v) the ability to allocate or reallocate any Tax arising as a result of any company ceasing to be a member of a group or consortium or other association for Tax purposes, (vi) the ability to rollover a gain on the assets of one member into the cost (for Tax purposes) of the assets of another, or (vii) the ability to allocate or reallocate any other Relief between members of a group or consortium or other association for Tax purposes.

 

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GVP” means the principles and guidelines of good pharmacovigilance practice for medicinal products for human use contained in applicable Laws and Orders, including (a) Directive 2001/83/E, (b) Commission Implementing Regulation No. 520/2012, (c) the European Medicines Agency’s Guideline on Good Pharmacovigilance Practice and (d) any equivalent provisions in any market in the Wholesale Distribution Territory.

Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), refined petroleum products, radioactive materials, medical wastes, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, radon or other radioactive materials, or polychlorinated biphenyls, and (b) any chemical, material or substance that is regulated or for which liability may be imposed under any Environmental Law.

HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards.

Indebtedness” means, as of any relevant time, determined in accordance with the Specified Principles and without duplication, the outstanding principal amount of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and other payment obligations (including any prepayment premiums payable, penalties and breakage costs) arising under, any obligations of the Acquired Companies and 50% of any obligations of the Egypt JV of (a) indebtedness or other obligations for borrowed money, (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property, goods, assets or services and any liabilities or obligations created or arising under any conditional sale, earn out, holdback, purchase price adjustment or other arrangement for the contingent consideration and deferral of purchase price and related obligations of any business, but excluding any trade payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (c) indebtedness or other obligations evidenced by any note, bond, debenture or other debt security, (d) Capital Lease Obligations, (e) all reimbursement or other obligations with respect to the letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, surety, appeal bond, performance bond or similar facility or credit transactions or other similar instruments, in each case, solely to the extent drawn or payable, (f) all unfunded payment obligations at the termination value thereof under any swaps, caps, forwards, hedges or similar arrangements to the extent payable by any Acquired Company as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (g) all unpaid liabilities for severance payable to any Business Employee or Former Business Employee whose employment is terminated (or notice of termination is served) prior to the Closing, including, solely to the extent payable upon termination of the relevant employment, any earned but unused vacation, sick leave or other applicable paid time-off benefits, but excluding Transaction-Related Severance Costs, any costs incurred pursuant to Section 5.14(c) and any severance costs solely incurred at the direction or request of Buyer, (h) in respect of each Acquired Company Benefit Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan or a statutory retirement indemnity arrangement set forth on Section 1.1(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, the excess (if any) of (A) the “accumulated benefit obligation” for such Acquired Company Benefit Plan, over (B) the aggregate fair value of assets held in trust or set aside through other

 

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funding vehicles for such Acquired Company Benefit Plan, in each case as calculated as of the date of the Closing in accordance with GAAP, using assumptions consistent with those used by Seller in the Audited Financial Statements, (i) in the case of the foregoing clauses (g), the employer-paid portion of any social security, payroll, unemployment or similar Taxes payable in connection therewith, (j) the amount, which may be a positive or negative number, equal to (1) the sum of current unpaid income Taxes that are Seller Taxes and Designated Deferred Taxes, minus (2) current income Tax assets with respect to Taxes that are Seller Taxes, (k) recourse factoring facilities and other receivables arrangements of a type included as debt in the Audited Financial Statements and (l) direct or indirect guarantees by any Acquired Company (to the extent of the amount of such guarantees) of any indebtedness or obligations of a third party described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (k). Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include any (i) intercompany obligations solely among Acquired Companies, (ii) obligations under operating or real property leases that are not Capital Lease Obligations, (iii) factoring facilities and other receivables arrangements of a type that are not included as debt in the Audited Financial Statements, (iv) undrawn amounts under letters of credit, (v) amounts otherwise taken into account in the calculation of Net Working Capital and (vi) amounts otherwise taken into account in the calculation of the Transaction Expenses.

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Initial Steps Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

Inside Collar Amount” means $500,000.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property rights of any kind or nature, including all U.S. and foreign rights in (a) patents, utility models, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, provisionals, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions, statutory invention registrations, priority rights and extensions thereof (“Patents”), and inventions (whether or not patentable), (b) trademarks, service marks, corporate names, trade names, logos, Internet domain names and trade dress, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing (“Trademarks”), (c) copyrights and rights in works or authorship (“Copyrights”), (d) trade secrets and such rights in all other confidential and proprietary information, including in know-how, algorithms, proprietary processes, formulae, methods, techniques, specifications, models and methodologies, in each case of the foregoing, to the extent confidential and proprietary (“Know-How”), (e) Software, (f) industrial designs and (h) all applications and registrations for any of the foregoing.

Intellectual Property License Agreements” means, collectively, those license agreements the terms of which are set forth on Exhibit D-2 hereto.

Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

Intercompany Accounts” means any intercompany accounts, balances, payables, receivables or indebtedness between Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than an Acquired Company), on the one hand, and any Acquired Company or JV Entity, on the other hand.

 

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IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

JV Entities” means, collectively, the Principal JV Entities and the Secondary JV Entities.

JV Financial Statements” means those financial statements for the Principal JV Entities other than the Egypt JV set forth on Section 1.1(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, as of the dates and for the periods ended set forth opposite the name of the relevant JV Financial Statements.

Key Employee Role” means a Business Employee or Former Business Employee who is or was classified as Grade 1 or Grade 2 or with any more senior classification.

Law” means any international, supranational, national, federal, state or local law, constitution, treaty, convention, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, common law or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by any Governmental Body, including GDP, GMP and GVP.

Leased Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

Legal Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, action, suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative or judicial), hearing, arbitration or proceeding, in each case commenced, brought, conducted by or before or otherwise involving any Governmental Body.

Losses” means all actual, out-of-pocket losses, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses, Taxes, judgments, awards, settlements, penalties, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of indemnification, without duplication.

Manufacture” means manufacturing, processing, compounding, storage, filling, packaging, labelling, leafleting, testing, waste disposal, quality assurance and control, importing, sample retention, stability testing and/or release and “Manufactured” and “Manufacturing” shall be construed accordingly.

Marketing Period” means the first period of fifteen (15) consecutive Business Days commencing on the date Buyer shall have received (i) financial statements of the Business that would satisfy clause (a) of the definition of Required Information during each day of such fifteen (15) consecutive Business Day period and (ii) the other information at that time required by clause (b) of the definition of Required Information; provided that (a) the Marketing Period shall not commence prior to February 8, 2021, (b) Buyer shall be entitled to a single Marketing Period and (c) the Marketing Period in any event shall end on any earlier date on which the Bridge Debt Financing (or any other debt financing contemplated by the Bridge Commitment Letter or any alternative financing) is consummated, in either case, the proceeds of which are no less than the aggregate amount of the Bridge Debt Financing.

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

Material Customers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(a).

 

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Material Suppliers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(b).

Minority Interests” means collectively, the Principal Minority Interests and the Secondary Minority Interests.

MWE” means McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

Naples Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(g).

Naples Personnel” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(g).

Naples Services” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(g).

Net Working Capital” means, as of a specified time, an amount (which may be a positive or negative number) equal to (a) the consolidated current assets of the Acquired Companies and 50% of the current assets of the Egypt JV, minus (b) the consolidated current liabilities of the Acquired Companies, including the Assumed Vacation Liabilities, the Assumed Bonus Liabilities and 50% of the current liabilities of the Egypt JV, in each case, determined in accordance with the Specified Principles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Net Working Capital” shall exclude (i) Cash, (ii) Indebtedness, (iii) Transaction Expenses, (iv) any intercompany payables or receivables solely among Acquired Companies and (v) any assets or liabilities or obligations related to any Affiliate Agreements or Intercompany Accounts terminated pursuant to Section 5.16.

Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(e).

Notary” means civil law notary K.F. Tan or any civil law notary of Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam N.V. or such civil law notary’s substitute.

Notice of Disagreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Offering Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(b).

Order” means any judgment, order, injunction, decision ruling, writ or decree of any Governmental Body.

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, the articles of incorporation or association, certificate of incorporation, charter, by-laws, articles of formation, certificate of formation, regulations, operating agreement, partnership agreement, shareholders agreement, joint venture agreement, certificate of limited partnership and all other similar documents and foreign equivalent documents, instruments or certificates executed, adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of such Person, including any amendments thereto or restatements thereof.

 

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Overhead and Shared Services” means all ancillary or corporate shared services that are provided by Seller or any of its Affiliates to both the Business and the Retained Businesses and are not primarily related to the Business, which are marketing, public relations and communications, public affairs, investor relations, legal and compliance (including healthcare regulatory, privacy and other compliance involving Governmental Bodies), the corporate secretarial function, treasury, Tax, financial, audit and statutory reporting, accounting and auditing, insurance and information technology. If any of the foregoing primarily relates to the Business, only the portion of such service that relates to the Business shall be deemed a part of the Business.

Owned Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

Party” means each of Buyer and Seller.

Patents” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”

Permanent Debt Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a)(i).

Permits” means all permits, licenses, consents, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, notifications, filings and similar rights or instruments obtained from or made to a Governmental Body, including marketing authorizations, manufacturing authorizations, import authorizations, wholesale distribution authorizations and parallel import authorizations (including any specifications forming part of any of the foregoing).

Permitted Encumbrances” means (a) Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Encumbrances of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen and other similar common law or statutory liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, (c) Encumbrances arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business, (d) with respect to real property, zoning, entitlement, building and land use ordinances, codes and regulations imposed by any Governmental Body which are not violated by the current use or occupancy of the real property affected thereby, (e) customary covenants, minor defects of title, easements, rights of way, restrictions and other similar non-monetary Encumbrances affecting real property that are disclosed in publicly recorded documents or in an accurate and current survey and that do not materially and adversely impact the utility or value of the applicable real property or the current business operations thereat, (f) any Encumbrance or title of a licensor, sublicensor, lessor or sublessor under any license, sublicense, lease, sublease or other similar agreement affecting leased or licensed property, (g) in respect of Intellectual Property, non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (h) Encumbrances arising under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement or other similar Laws, (i) transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws, (j) Encumbrances arising under Organizational Documents that have been made available to the other Party and (k) any other Encumbrances that will be released on or prior to the Closing Date.

Person” means any individual, general or limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, firm, association or other entity or organization (whether or not a legal entity), including any Governmental Body (or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof).

 

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Personal Data” means (a) any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“data subject”); an “identifiable natural person” is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person or (b) any other data or information that constitutes “personal data,” “personally identifiable information,” “personal information” or any similar defined term under any applicable Data Protection Law.

Post-Closing Tax Period” means a taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date.

Pre-Closing Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date.

Pre-Closing Tax Return” means any Tax Return required to be filed by an Acquired Company for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, other than any Straddle Period Tax Return.

Primary Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.29(a).

Principal JV Entities” means the Persons that issued the Principal Minority Interests.

Principal Minority Interests” means the equity interests set forth in Section 1.1(d) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Project Thor MOU” means that certain Memorandum of Understanding, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Buyer and Seller, and attached as Exhibit F hereto.

Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Purchase Price Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

R&W Insurance Policy” means the buy-side representations and warranties insurance policy related to this Agreement and bound on the date of this Agreement, together with each of the policies issued in connection therewith.

Real Estate Separation Agreements” means, collectively, those documents effectuating the real property transfers, assignments and post-Closing space sharing arrangements, in each case, as more particularly described in Section 5.17(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Registered Business Intellectual Property” means any Patents, Copyrights or Trademarks that are included in Business Intellectual Property and registered, filed or applied-for with any Governmental Body.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into or migration through the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

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Relief” means any relief, right to repayment of Tax, loss, allowance, exemption, set-off, deduction or credit in computing or against profits or Taxes.

Replacement Policy/New Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(a).

Representatives” means the directors, partners, members, officers, employees, investment bankers, consultants, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives of a Person.

Required Information” means (a) the financial statements of the Business that are required under Paragraph (viii) of Exhibit B to the Bridge Commitment Letter (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and (b) historical financial information relating to the Acquired Companies as may be necessary to permit Buyer to prepare the pro forma financial statements referred to in Paragraphs (iii) and (viii) of Exhibit B to the Bridge Commitment Letter (as in effect on the date of this Agreement).

Resolution Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).

Restricted Cash” means (a) any cash or cash equivalents that would not be freely usable by the Acquired Companies or the Egypt JV following the Closing because they are held on behalf of or for the benefit of another Person or are subject to restrictions on use by Contract, or constitute collateral for outstanding letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements and (b) without limiting the forgoing clause (a), as a result of Alloga’s serving as agent for a third party, cash and cash equivalents held by an Acquired Company as agent for the benefit of a third party that such Acquired Company is required by such agency relationship to remit to the relevant third party following the Closing.

Restructuring” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

Restructuring Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

Restricted Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.29(a).

Retail Territory” means Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway.

Retained Business” means any business or activity of Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), whether undertaken prior to or after the date hereof, other than the Business and shall include the wholesale distribution of medicines and healthcare products from territories other than the Wholesale Distribution Territory (including Germany) and parallel trade activities in any jurisdiction.

Review Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(i).

Sanctions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

Sanctions Authority” means (a) the United States, (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union or any member state thereof, (d) the United Kingdom or (e) the respective governmental institutions of any of the foregoing, including OFAC, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, any other agency of the U.S. government, and Her Majesty’s Treasury.

 

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

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secondary JV Entities” means the Persons that issued the Secondary Minority Interests.

Secondary Minority Interests” means the equity interests set forth in Section 1.1(g) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

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

Seller” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Seller Benefit Plan” means any Benefit Plan (a) sponsored, maintained or contributed to, or that is required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by Seller or any or its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any Business Employee, Former Business Employee, or any current or former director or individual consultant of an Acquired Company, or (b) in respect of which any Acquired Company has or could reasonably be expected to have any liability or other obligation to contribute, in the case of (a) and (b), other than the Acquired Company Benefit Plans.

Seller Business Group” means collectively, (a) the Acquired Companies, (b) the JV Entities and (c) Seller and any Subsidiary of Seller, but only to the extent Seller’s or such Subsidiary’s business, operations, assets, properties or liabilities relate to the Business; and “Seller Business Group Member” means, individually, any of the foregoing; provided that the JV Entities shall not be deemed to be members of the Seller Business Group for purposes of Article 3.

Seller Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter delivered by Seller to Buyer concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement dated as of the date hereof.

Seller Employee” means an employee of Seller or its Subsidiaries or the Retained Business, other than a Business Employee or a Former Business Employee.

Seller Employee Liabilities” means other than any such liabilities Assumed by the Acquired Companies pursuant to Section 5.14, (a) all Employee Liabilities with respect to any current or former employee or individual service provider of Seller or its Subsidiaries or an Acquired Company, in each case, other than a Business Employee, Former Business Employee or any other individual service provider who as of immediately prior to the Closing is providing services to an Acquired Company and no other member of the Seller Business Group or otherwise spends more than seventy percent (70%) of his or her working time for Seller and its Subsidiaries on the Business, (b) all liabilities in respect of any Seller Benefit Plan, other than the Assumed Seller Benefit Plan Liabilities and (c) all liabilities in respect of any Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed or that is required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or in respect of which Seller or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or could reasonably be expected to have any liability or other obligation to contribute, in each case,

 

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other than the Acquired Company Benefit Plans, including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, but excluding the Assumed Seller Benefit Plan Liabilities, in each case of (a), (b), or (c), regardless of (i) when or where such liabilities arose; (ii) whether the facts upon which they are based occurred prior to, on or subsequent to the Closing Date; (iii) where or against whom such liabilities are asserted or determined and whether an Acquired Company is responsible for delivering any compensation or benefit attributable to such liability; and (iv) which entity is named in any Legal Proceeding associated with any liability. For the avoidance of doubt, Seller Employee Liabilities shall not include Transaction-Related Severance Costs.

Seller Equity Plans” means the Seller 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, the Seller 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan and, in each case, including any sub-plan.

Seller Financial Assurances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a).

Seller Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1, Section 3.2(a), Section 3.3(a), Section 3.3(b), Section 3.3(c), Section 3.4(a), Section 3.4(b), Section 3.4(e), Section 3.9(a), Section 3.9(c) and Sections 3.13(b)(i) and (ii).

Seller Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(b).

Seller Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3.

Seller Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.24(a).

Seller SEC Document” means all reports, schedules, forms, statements, prospectuses, registration statements and other documents required to be filed with or furnished to the SEC by Seller since August 31, 2018, together with any exhibits and schedules thereto and other information incorporated therein.

Seller Shares” means Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of Seller.

Seller Taxes” means (a) Taxes of Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any Acquired Company), (b) Taxes of the Acquired Companies for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, including any Designated Deferred Taxes, (c) Taxes of the Acquired Companies directly arising from the Restructuring (or any transaction undertaken in anticipation of the Restructuring or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), solely with respect to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, (d) Taxes of the Acquired Companies directly arising from the transactions contemplated by Section 5.16, solely with respect to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, (e) Taxes relating to any Person (other than any Acquired Company) for which an Acquired Company becomes liable (1) as a result of being or having been at any time before Closing part of a consolidated, combined or unitary group or any group payment arrangements or (2) as a result of transferee or successor liability or by Contract (other than customary commercial agreements the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes), in each case of this clause (e) relating to events occurring at or prior to Closing, and (f) Taxes resulting from any breach of any covenant or agreement of Seller or any of its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies with respect to periods prior to Closing) under this Agreement.

 

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Seller’s Knowledge” means, as to a particular matter, the actual knowledge of any one or more of the individuals listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, having made reasonable inquiry of the most senior employee(s) of the Seller Business Group with primary responsibility for the relevant subject matter; provided that no inquiry shall be required of any employee of a JV Entity.

Seller’s Tax Group” means Seller and any other entities (other than the Acquired Companies) that, for any relevant Tax purposes, are treated as being members of the same group as, or otherwise connected or associated in any way with, Seller from time to time.

Senior Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.29(a).

Severance Costs” means the following amounts reasonably paid by the relevant employer to dismiss the relevant employee: (a) any redundancy, termination, severance, end of service gratuity or similar payment required by applicable Law or Order or the terms of any collective bargaining agreement, (b) any contractual or discretionary redundancy, termination or severance payment, (c) any payment in lieu of notice, (d) any payment in lieu of accrued but untaken vacation, (e) reasonable legal fees incurred by the relevant employer, (f) any amount reasonably required to secure the employee’s agreement to either entering into a termination, settlement or waiver of claims agreement or to otherwise minimize the risk of claims arising in connection with the termination of the relevant employee’s employment and (g) any reasonable contribution to the relevant employee’s legal fees if customary in the relevant jurisdiction to pay such amounts in connection with entering into a termination, settlement or waiver of claims agreement, in the case of clauses (f) and (g), only if the party reimbursing such Severance Costs pursuant to Section 5.14(c) is a beneficiary of any restrictive covenant or waivers in such agreements.

Shared Contract” means Contracts by and between any Seller Business Group Member(s) and a third party that relate both to the Business, on the one hand, and the Retained Business, on the other hand, excluding any Contracts related to Overhead and Shared Services and for the avoidance of doubt, Affiliate Agreements.

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

Significant Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

Software” means all computer programs, software and applications (including mobile applications) and computerized databases in any form, including source code, object code, firmware, operating systems and related specifications, algorithms, database management code, graphical user interfaces, computer programming menus, software engines, software platforms, software development tools, libraries and library functions, compilers, and data formats and all related documentation (including manuals, user guides, flow charts, comments, and training materials).

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person, that (a) the property of such Person, at a present fair saleable valuation, exceeds the sum of its debts, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person exceeds the amount that shall be required to pay such Person’s probable liability on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person has adequate capital to carry on its business and (d) such Person does not intend or believe it shall incur Indebtedness beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become actual or matured liabilities.

 

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Specified Principles” means the specific principles, practices, methodologies and procedures set forth in Section 1.1(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8.

Straddle Period Tax Returns” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(c).

Submitted Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(iii)

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person with respect to which such first Person (alone or in combination with any of such first Person’s other Subsidiaries) owns (a) capital stock or other equity interests having the ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or (b) if no such governing body exists, a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Person; provided that no JV Entity, shall be deemed a Company Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a) to this Agreement.

Support Agreements” means, collectively, those support services agreements the terms of which are set forth on Exhibit D-3 hereto.

Takeover Law” means a “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium,” “supermajority,” “affiliate transactions” or other anti-takeover Laws, including Section 203 of the DGCL.

Target Working Capital” means $446,500,000; provided that such amount shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 1.1(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxes of any kind, and all charges, fees, customs, levies, duties, imposts, withholdings or other assessments, in each case in the nature of a tax, including any income, excise, property, sales, use, occupation, transfer, conveyance, payroll, employment, recapture, license, registration, ad valorem, value added, social charges, social security, national insurance (or other similar contributions or payments), franchise, estimated severance, stamp, capital gains, net worth, gross receipts and other taxes, and any taxes based upon or measured by capital stock, in each case together with all interest, fines, surcharges, penalties and additions attributable to or imposed with respect to such amounts.

Tax Authority” means any Governmental Body, board, bureau, body, person, department or authority of any U.S. federal, state or local jurisdiction or any non-U.S. jurisdiction, having jurisdiction with respect to any Tax.

Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.

 

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Tax Contest” means any audit, court or administrative proceeding, action, suit, investigation or other dispute or similar claim by a Tax Authority with respect to any Tax matter that affects the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

Tax Return” means any report, return, information return, form, declaration, statement or other document filed or required to be filed with any Tax Authority with respect to Taxes, including any amendment thereof.

Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b).

Third-Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).

Third-Party Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(e).

Trademarks” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”

Transaction Expenses” means, to the extent not paid at or prior to the Closing, (a) the aggregate amount of all unpaid out-of-pocket fees and expenses (whether or not yet invoiced), that have been incurred prior to the Closing by the Acquired Companies or for which an Acquired Company is or will be otherwise liable (including, if applicable, such fees and expenses of the Sellers for which an Acquired Company has agreed to pay or is or will be otherwise liable) in each case in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including fees and expenses of third-party counsel, advisors, brokers, finders, consultants, investment bankers, accountants, auditors and experts related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (b) any Change of Control Payments; provided, however, that any fees, payments, costs or expenses (i) incurred (whether or not yet invoiced) by Buyer or its Affiliates or by Seller or its Subsidiaries (other than fees and expenses of the Seller or its Subsidiaries for which an Acquired Company has agreed prior to the Closing to pay or be liable for or is or will be otherwise liable as a result of actions taken prior to the Closing or by Seller or its Subsidiaries (other than the Acquired Companies after the Closing)) or (ii) agreed to be borne by the Buyer pursuant to, and in accordance, with this Agreement shall not constitute Transaction Expenses.

Transfer Taxes” means all transfer, goods, services, sales, use, real or personal property transfer, documentary, value-added, customs, stamp and all other similar Taxes.

Transferred Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(f).

Transition Services Agreement” means that certain transition services agreement, in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto.

Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

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TUPE” means the United Kingdom Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 or 2006, as the context requires.

UK GDPR” means the EU GDPR as it forms part of retained EU law (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

Undisclosed Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(c)(ii).

U.S. Distribution Agreement” means the Pharmaceutical Purchase and Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2013, by and among, Buyer, J. M. Blanco, Inc., Walgreen Co. and the other parties thereto.

U.S. Distribution Agreement Amendment” means the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Distribution Agreement, in the form attached as Exhibit G hereto.

U.S. Information Return” means any Tax Return required to be filed with respect to an Acquired Company by a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) that owns, or is treated as owning, the equity of such Acquired Company.

VAT” means (a) within the European Union, any Tax imposed in compliance with (but subject to derogations from) the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added Tax (EC Directive 2006/112) and (b) any other goods and services, sales, excise, use, value added, customs duty or similar Tax, wherever imposed (including any such Tax imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such Tax referred to in clause (a) above).

Volume Incentive Rebate Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(i).

Wholesale Distribution Territory” means the Czech Republic, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Willful Breach” means a material breach of this Agreement that is the consequence of an act or omission by the breaching party with the actual knowledge that the taking of such act or failure to take such action would cause or would reasonably be expected to cause or constitute such material breach of this Agreement.

Wrong Pocket Contract” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(e).

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of the Shares. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall cause the Designated Seller Subsidiary to sell and transfer to the Designated Buyer Subsidiary, and Buyer shall cause the Designated Buyer Subsidiary to purchase and accept from the Designated Seller Subsidiary, the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws or Encumbrances created by Buyer) in consideration for payment of the Purchase Price.

 

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Section 2.2 Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price payable by the Designated Buyer Subsidiary to the Designated Seller Subsidiary for the Shares (the “Purchase Price”) shall be an amount equal to (a) the Closing Payment (as determined in accordance with Section 2.3(d)), (b) plus the Buyer Stock Consideration, (c) plus the amount in cash, if any, payable by Buyer to Seller pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or (d) minus the amount in cash, if any, payable by Seller to Buyer pursuant to Section 2.4(c). To the extent required by Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, the Purchase Price shall be reduced as set forth therein.

Section 2.3 Closing.

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall take place at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, at the offices of the Notary, promptly following and in any event no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 7 have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefit thereof (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied as of the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefit thereof of such conditions as of the Closing), unless another date, place or time is agreed to in writing by Buyer and Seller; provided, that, notwithstanding the satisfaction or waiver in writing of the conditions set forth in Article 7, if the Marketing Period has not ended at the time of the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions (other than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied as of the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefit thereof of such conditions as of the Closing), and unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the Parties shall not be required to effect the Closing until the earlier of (i) any Business Day during the Marketing Period specified by Buyer on no less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to Seller and (ii) the third (3rd) Business Day after the final day of the Marketing Period. The date on which the Closing is actually held is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”.

(b) At the Closing:

(i) Buyer or the Designated Buyer Subsidiary shall deliver to Seller or the Designated Seller Subsidiary, as applicable:

(A) the Closing Payment, as determined pursuant to Section 2.3(c), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of Seller designated in writing by Seller to Buyer at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

(B) the Buyer Stock Consideration, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws and Encumbrances under the A&R Shareholders Agreement or created by Seller), and an original stock certificate representing the Buyer Stock Consideration;

(C) the certificate contemplated by Section 7.3(d); and

(D) a counterpart of each Ancillary Agreement (other than any Ancillary Agreements entered into prior to the Closing Date) to which Buyer or any of its Affiliates is a party, duly executed on behalf of Buyer or such Affiliates.

 

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(ii) Seller shall deliver to Buyer:

(A) the certificate contemplated by Section 7.2(d);

(B) a counterpart of each Ancillary Agreement (other than any Ancillary Agreements entered into prior to the Closing Date) to which Seller or any of its Affiliates is a party, duly executed on behalf of Seller or such Affiliate; and

(C) an executed certificate pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b) certifying that Seller (or the applicable Subsidiary of Seller) is not a foreign person within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code.

(iii) the Designated Buyer Subsidiary and the Designated Seller Subsidiary shall deliver to the Notary an executed and, to the extent required by the Notary, notarized and apostilled, power of attorney to execute the Deed of Sale and Transfer and the original shareholders’ register of the Company;

(iv) Seller shall cause the Company to deliver to the Notary an executed and, to the extent required by the Notary, notarized and apostilled, power of attorney to execute the Deed of Sale and Transfer;

(v) Seller shall cause the Designated Seller Subsidiary to, and Buyer shall cause the Designated Buyer Subsidiary to, confirm to the Notary that the Deed of Sale and Transfer may be executed and to instruct the Notary to execute the Deed of Sale and Transfer and update the original shareholders’ register of the Company; and

(vi) pursuant to the execution of the Deed of Sale and Transfer, Seller shall cause the Designated Seller Subsidiary to transfer the Shares to the Designated Buyer Subsidiary, and Buyer shall cause the Designated Buyer Subsidiary to accept the transfer, and Seller shall cause the Company to acknowledge this transfer.

(c) For purposes of determining the amount of cash to be paid by Buyer to Seller at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(i)(A) (the “Closing Payment”), at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to Buyer a written statement (the “Closing Date Report”) setting forth in reasonable detail Seller’s good-faith estimate of (i) Net Working Capital as of the Closing (the “Estimated Working Capital”), (ii) the Cash as of the Closing (the “Estimated Cash”), (iii) the Indebtedness as of the Closing (the “Estimated Indebtedness”) and (iv) the Transaction Expenses as of the Closing (the “Estimated Transaction Expenses”). The Purchase Price will be further adjusted as set forth in Section 2.3(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(d) The Closing Payment shall be an amount equal to:

(i) the Base Cash Consideration;

(ii) plus the amount, if any, by which Estimated Working Capital exceeds Target Working Capital;

 

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(iii) minus the amount, if any, by which Target Working Capital exceeds Estimated Working Capital;

(iv) plus the Estimated Cash;

(v) minus the Estimated Indebtedness;

(vi) minus the Estimated Transaction Expenses; and

(vii) minus, the adjustments set forth on Section 2.3(d) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(e) The Parties agree that the instrument of transfer of the Shares shall be executed and retained outside of the United Kingdom, and that the Company’s shareholders’ register shall be kept outside of the United Kingdom.

Section 2.4 Determination of Final Purchase Price.

(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date (but no later than ninety (90) days after the Closing Date), Buyer shall deliver to Seller a statement (the “Buyer Adjustment Report”) setting forth in reasonable detail Buyer’s good-faith calculation of (i) Net Working Capital as of the Closing, (ii) the Cash as of the Closing, (iii) the Indebtedness as of the Closing and (iv) the Transaction Expenses as of the Closing, in each case including reasonably detailed calculations of the components thereof and prepared in a manner consistent with the definitions thereof. If Buyer fails to timely deliver the Buyer Adjustment Report, then the Closing Date Report shall be deemed to be the Buyer Adjustment Report delivered to Seller hereunder and deemed to have been delivered on such ninetieth (90th) day (and for the avoidance of doubt, Seller may deliver a Notice of Disagreement with respect to the Closing Date Report that is deemed to be the Buyer Adjustment Report). In connection with the preparation or review of, or resolution of any disputes with respect to, the Buyer Adjustment Report, each of Buyer and Seller shall make available to the other Party and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to all relevant personnel, Representatives, books and records, and other items reasonably requested by the other Party in connection therewith.

(b) The following procedures shall apply with respect to the review of the Buyer Adjustment Report:

(i) Seller shall have a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt by Seller of the Buyer Adjustment Report to review such report (the “Review Period”).

(ii) If Seller does not deliver to Buyer a written statement describing any objections Seller has to the Buyer Adjustment Report (a “Notice of Disagreement”) on or before the final day of the Review Period, then Seller shall be deemed to have irrevocably accepted such Buyer Adjustment Report, and such Buyer Adjustment Report shall be deemed to be the “Final Adjustment Report” for purposes of this Agreement and the payment (if any) contemplated by Section 2.4(c). If Seller delivers to Buyer a Notice of Disagreement on or before the final day of the Review Period, then Buyer and Seller shall attempt to resolve in good faith the matters contained in the Notice of Disagreement within thirty (30) days after Buyer’s receipt of the

 

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Notice of Disagreement (the “Resolution Period”). If Buyer and Seller reach a resolution with respect to such matters on or before the final day of the Resolution Period, then the Buyer Adjustment Report, as modified by such resolution and supplemented by the items that were not disputed from the Closing Date Report, shall be deemed to be the “Final Adjustment Report” for purposes of this Agreement and the payment (if any) contemplated by Section 2.4(c).

(iii) If such a resolution is not reached on or before the final day of the Resolution Period, then Buyer and Seller shall promptly retain the Accounting Firm (including by executing a customary agreement with the Accounting Firm in connection with its engagement) and submit any unresolved objections covered by the Notice of Disagreement to the Accounting Firm for resolution in accordance with this Section 2.4(b)(iii) (any such items submitted to the Accounting Firm, the “Submitted Items”). Any item that is not a Submitted Item shall be deemed final and binding on the Parties. The Accounting Firm will be instructed to (A) make a final determination that is within the range of the respective positions taken by each of Buyer and Seller on an expedited basis (and in any event within thirty (30) days after submission of the Submitted Items) with respect to each of the Submitted Items (and only the Submitted Items) based solely on the Closing Date Report, Buyer Adjustment Report, the Notice of Disagreement and any statements provided to the Accounting Firm in accordance with Section 2.4(b)(ii) and (B) prepare and deliver to Buyer and Seller a written statement setting forth its final determination (and a reasonably detailed description of the basis therefor) with respect to each Submitted Item (the “Accounting Firms Report”). In making its determination, the Accounting Firm shall act as an expert, and not as an arbitrator. During the ten (10) Business Days after submission of the Submitted Items to the Accounting Firm, each of Buyer and Seller may provide the Accounting Firm with a definitive statement in writing of its positions with respect to the Submitted Items (and only the Submitted Items). Each of Buyer and Seller agrees that (1) the Accounting Firm’s determination with respect to each Submitted Item as reflected in the Accounting Firm’s Report shall be deemed to be final, conclusive, binding and non-appealable, absent fraud or manifest error, (2) the Buyer Adjustment Report, as modified by any changes thereto in accordance with the Accounting Firm’s Report and supplemented by the items that were not disputed from the Closing Date Report, shall be deemed to be the “Final Adjustment Report” for purposes of this Agreement and the payment (if any) contemplated by Section 2.4(c), (3) the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy with respect to the final determination of the Final Adjustment Report and (4) the Accounting Firm’s determination under this Section 2.4(b)(iii) shall be enforceable as an arbitral award, and judgment may be entered thereupon in any court having jurisdiction over the Party against which such determination is to be enforced, absent fraud or manifest error. Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Final Adjustment Report shall be deemed to be the “Final Working Capital” (provided that if the absolute value of the difference between Final Working Capital and Estimated Working Capital is less than the Inside Collar Amount, then Final Working Capital shall be deemed equal to Estimated Working Capital). “Cash” as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Final Adjustment Report shall be deemed to be the “Final Cash”. Indebtedness as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Final Adjustment Report shall be deemed to be the “Final Indebtedness”. Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Final Adjustment Report shall be deemed to be the “Final Transaction Expenses”. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties’ respective indemnification obligations set forth in Article 9 shall not be affected by any amount reflected in the Final Adjustment Report, except to the extent necessary to avoid duplication as provided in Section 9.4(e).

 

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(iv) In connection with the dispute resolution procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(b), Buyer and Seller agree to execute, if requested by the Accounting Firm, an engagement letter in customary form that is reasonably satisfactory to each of Buyer and Seller.

(v) Each of Buyer and Seller shall (A) pay its own respective costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Section 2.4 and (B) be responsible for the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm on a pro rata basis based upon the degree to which the Accounting Firm has accepted the respective positions of Buyer and Seller (which shall be determined by the Accounting Firm and set forth in the Accounting Firm’s Report).

(c) Within two (2) Business Days after the determination of the Final Adjustment Report in accordance with this Section 2.4:

(i) if the Additional Payment Amount is a positive number, then Buyer or the Designated Buyer Subsidiary shall pay an amount in cash equal to the Additional Payment Amount to Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of Seller or the Designated Seller Subsidiary designated in writing by Seller to Buyer; or

(ii) if the Additional Payment Amount is a negative number, then Seller or the Designated Seller Subsidiary shall pay an amount in cash equal to the absolute value of the Additional Payment Amount to Buyer or the Designated Buyer Subsidiary by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of Buyer designated in writing by Buyer to Seller.

For purposes hereof, “Additional Payment Amount” (which may be a positive or a negative number) means (A) Final Working Capital minus Estimated Working Capital, plus (B) Final Cash minus Estimated Cash, minus (C) Final Indebtedness minus Estimated Indebtedness, minus (D) Final Transaction Expenses minus Estimated Transaction Expenses.

(d) The Parties agree to treat all payments made under this Section 2.4 as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes to the extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section 2.5 Withholding Tax. Buyer and the Designated Buyer Subsidiary shall be entitled to withhold or deduct any amount in respect of Taxes from any amount otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to the extent required by applicable Law or Order; provided that Buyer or the Designated Buyer Subsidiary shall promptly provide notice to Seller upon becoming aware of any such withholding Taxes, together with an explanation of the legal basis for such withholding, and shall cooperate with Seller to minimize or eliminate such withholding. To the extent Buyer or the Designated Buyer Subsidiary withholds or deducts any amounts in accordance with the previous sentence, and timely pays such amounts to the applicable Tax Authority, such amounts shall be treated as having been paid to the applicable party from whom they were withheld or deducted.

 

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ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

Except as (i) set forth in the Seller Disclosure Letter (which shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 10.11(f)) or (ii) disclosed in any Seller SEC Document filed prior to the date hereof (but excluding any disclosures set forth in any “risk factors” section and any “forward-looking statements” in any other section, it being understood that any factual information contained within such sections shall not be excluded); provided that any matters to be disclosed with respect to any Seller Fundamental Representation must be identified with specific disclosure in the respective sections of the Seller Disclosure Letter, Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct as of such date):

Section 3.1 Organization and Authority of Seller.

(a) Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware, except where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Seller and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Seller (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary of Seller) has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or will be a party, carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements (including all power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and convey the Shares as provided by this Agreement and to effect the Restructuring).

(b) The execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements to which it (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary of Seller) is or will be a party, the performance by Seller (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary of Seller) of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Seller (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary of Seller) of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been and, in the case of the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements and the Restructuring, will be prior to Closing, duly and validly authorized and approved by all requisite corporate or other similar action on the part of Seller (or, if applicable, a Subsidiary of Seller).

(c) This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equity principles (the “Enforceability Limitations”).

(d) Each of the Ancillary Agreements to which Seller or its Subsidiary is or will be a party has been or will be duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller or such Subsidiary, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other party or parties thereto) constitutes or will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller or such Subsidiary enforceable against Seller or such Subsidiary in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Limitations.

 

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Section 3.2 Organization, Authority and Qualification of the Acquired Companies.

(a) Each Acquired Company and the Egypt JV is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the applicable jurisdiction) under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has all requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority to own, lease and operate its respective properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Seller and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

(b) Each Acquired Company and the Egypt JV is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the operation of its business makes such qualification necessary or advisable, except where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect.

(c) True and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Acquired Company have been made available to Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Capitalization; Organizational Documents.

(a) As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company consists of one (1) share. The Shares constitute all of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company. All of the Shares are validly issued and fully paid up. All of the Shares have been issued and granted in compliance with all applicable Laws and Orders or pursuant to valid exemptions therefrom. None of the Shares were issued in violation of any Contract or any preemptive or similar rights of any Person.

(b) Seller is the direct or indirect sole legal and beneficial owner of the Shares. The Shares are free and clear of all Encumbrances or any other restrictions on transfer (other than any restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws). Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Designated Buyer Subsidiary will own all of the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than any Encumbrances imposed by Buyer (or its nominee or Affiliate) or restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws.

(c) Except for the Shares, there are no equity securities of any class of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such equity securities issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible securities, subscriptions, call rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, preemptive rights or any other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any kind relating to the issued or unissued equity securities of the Company or obligating Seller or the Company to issue or sell any equity securities of, or any other interest in, the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, performance-based rights or profit participation or similar rights or obligations of the Company. There are no voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other Contracts, agreements or understandings in effect with

 

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respect to the voting or sale or transfer of any of the Shares or any other equity interests of the Company. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by the Company which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Shares or other equity interests or similar interests by stock ownership or otherwise in the Company are entitled to vote.

(d) The Company has not agreed and is not under any current or prospective obligation (contingent or otherwise) to form or participate in or make any capital contribution to or future investment in, or guarantee any obligations of, any Person.

(e) As of the date hereof, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Restructuring, the Company does not have any assets or liabilities other than liabilities incidental to its formation or arising under its Organizational Documents. As of the date hereof, the Company does not have a debt or equity interest in any other Person.

Section 3.4 Acquired Companies; JV Entities and Minority Interests.

(a) Section 3.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter contains a correct and complete list of the Acquired Companies and, for each such Acquired Company, as of the date hereof, (i) the form of entity and jurisdiction of organization, (ii) the name of each shareholder or equity owner thereof and (iii) the percentage of the aggregate equity or voting interests that are issued and outstanding and owned by each such holder. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company Subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Shares”) have, to the extent applicable under applicable Laws and Orders, been duly authorized and validly allotted and issued and are fully paid or properly credited as fully paid and non-assessable. None of the Subsidiary Shares were issued in violation of any Contract to which Seller or its Affiliates is party (or to Seller’s Knowledge, any other Contract) or any preemptive or similar rights of any Person. As of the date hereof, except to the extent a Company Subsidiary is not wholly-owned as set forth on Section 3.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter all of the Subsidiary Shares are owned, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially by a Subsidiary of Seller, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than any restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws. As of the Closing, except to the extent contemplated by the Restructuring and except to the extent that Company Subsidiary is not wholly-owned as set forth on Section 3.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, all of the Subsidiary Shares will be owned, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially by the Company or another Company Subsidiary, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than any Encumbrances imposed by Buyer (or its nominee or Affiliate) or restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws.

(b) Except for the Subsidiary Shares, there are no equity securities of any class of any Company Subsidiary or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such equity securities issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible securities, subscriptions, call rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, preemptive rights or any other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any kind relating to the issued or unissued equity securities of any Company Subsidiary or obligating Seller or any Acquired Company to issue or sell any equity securities of, or any other interest in, any Company Subsidiary. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, performance-based rights or profit participation or similar

 

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rights or obligations of any Company Subsidiary. There are no voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other agreements or understandings in effect with respect to the voting or sale or transfer of any of the Subsidiary Shares or any other equity interests of any Company Subsidiary. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by any Company Subsidiary which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of equity interests or similar interests by stock ownership or otherwise in the a Company Subsidiary are entitled to vote.

(c) As of immediately prior to the Closing, except for the Subsidiary Shares and the Minority Interests, no Acquired Company will have any direct or indirect equity interest or similar interest by stock ownership or otherwise in any Person.

(d) No Company Subsidiary has agreed or is under any current or prospective obligation (contingent or otherwise) to form or participate in or make any material capital contribution to or future investment in, or guarantee any obligations of, any Person (other than a JV Entity pursuant to the Organizational Documents of such JV Entity made available to Buyer prior to the date hereof).

(e) Section 3.4(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter contains a correct and complete list of each JV Entity, including as of the date hereof, (i) the form of entity and jurisdiction of organization, (ii) to Seller’s Knowledge, the name of each shareholder or equity owner thereof and (iii) the percentage, as of the date hereof, of the aggregate equity interests of such JV Entity issued and outstanding directly or indirectly owned by Seller and, to Seller’s Knowledge, the percentage, as of the date hereof, of the aggregate equity or voting interests owned by each other holder thereof (other than holders of Minority Interests). To Seller’s Knowledge, each JV Entity is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the applicable jurisdiction) under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has all requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority to own, lease and operate its respective properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. All of the Principal Minority Interests have, to the extent applicable under applicable Laws and Orders, been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. To Seller’s Knowledge, none of the Minority Interests were issued in violation of any Contract or any preemptive or similar rights of any Person. As of the date hereof, all of the Principal Minority Interests are owned, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially by a Subsidiary of Seller, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws or the Organizational Documents of the relevant Principal JV Entity. Except as set forth in Section 3.4(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, as of immediately prior to the Closing, all of the Principal Minority Interests will be owned, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially by an Acquired Company or another Principal JV Entity, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Encumbrances created by Buyer its nominee or Affiliates, or restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws or the Organizational Documents of the relevant Principal JV Entity.

(f) (i) No voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other Contracts, agreements or understandings are in effect with respect to the voting or sale or transfer of any of the Minority Interests with respect to JV Entities other than JV Entities set forth in clause (ii) below or that provide any Person with any right of first offer, right of first refusal, preemptive right, or other similar provision or right related to such JV Entity and exercisable in connection with the

 

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transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than as set forth in Section 3.4(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter in each case as in effect as of the date hereof and (ii) with respect to JV Entities for which Seller, to Seller’s Knowledge as of the date hereof, does not have Organizational Documents in its custody, to Seller’s’ Knowledge, no voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other Contracts, agreements or understandings are in effect with respect to the voting or sale or transfer of any of the Secondary Minority Interests or that provide any Person with any right of first offer, right of first refusal, preemptive right, or other similar provision or right related to such JV Entity and exercisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(g) True and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Principal JV Entity and, to Seller’s Knowledge, Secondary JV Entity have been made available to Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.5 No Conflicts; Consents.

(a) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by Seller of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements to which it or its Subsidiary is or will be a party, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the Restructuring, will (with or without notice or lapse of time or both):

(i) result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents of Seller or the Company or result in a material violation or material breach of, or material default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents any Company Subsidiary;

(ii) result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents of any Principal JV Entity or Seller Business Group Member;

(iii) result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge any of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby under, any Law or Order applicable to Seller or any Seller Business Group Member (or the properties or assets of the Seller Business Group or the Business); or

(iv) (A) result in a violation or breach of, (B) constitute a default or an event that (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) would constitute a default under, (C) result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate or cancel, or (D) require the Consent of, or the giving of notice to, any other Person under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance pursuant to, any Material Contract or other Contract that is material to the Acquired Companies or the Business or any Permit affecting the properties or assets of the Seller Business Group or the Business;

except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) where such conflict, violation, breach, event of default or other result described in such clauses, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business.

 

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(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, taken as a whole, or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Seller and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, no Consent, Permit, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Body is required by or with respect to any Seller Business Group Member, or the properties or assets of the Seller Business Group or the Business in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements or the consummation by Seller and its Affiliates of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Restructuring.

Section 3.6 Financial Statements; Internal Controls.

(a) Correct and complete copies of the Audited Financial Statements have been made available to Buyer and are included in Section 3.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter. The Audited Financial Statements have been, and the unaudited financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.18 will be, prepared in accordance with the books and records of Seller and the Acquired Companies and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Acquired Companies and the Business as of the dates indicated therein and the results of the operations of the Acquired Companies and the Business for the periods covered thereby, all in accordance with GAAP. Each of the Audited Financial Statements has been, and the unaudited financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.18 will be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.18, to normal year-end adjustments.

(b) Seller has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act that are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by Seller in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to Seller’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither Seller nor, to Seller’s Knowledge, Sellers’s independent registered public accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Seller’s internal control over financial reporting as it relates to the Seller Business Group, the Business. Since August 31, 2018, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to Seller’s Knowledge, any employee or Representative of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Seller or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in improper accounting or auditing practices relating to the Seller Business Group, the Business.

 

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(c) Correct and complete copies of the JV Financial Statements have been made available to Buyer and are included in Section 3.6(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter. The JV Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the books and records of the applicable Principal JV Entity and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the applicable Principal JV Entity as of the dates indicated therein and the results of the operations of the business of such Principal JV Entity for the periods covered thereby, all in accordance with IFRS. Each of the JV Financial Statements has been prepared in accordance with IFRS, in all material respects, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby. No Acquired Company has directly or indirectly guaranteed any indebtedness, liabilities or other obligations of a JV Entity.

Section 3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Seller Business Group and the Egypt JV do not have any liabilities (whether or not required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, whether due or to become due, and whether known or unknown), except for liabilities (i) that are reserved against in the Audited Balance Sheet, (ii) that have been incurred in the ordinary course of the operation of the Business since the Audited Balance Sheet Date, (iii) for future performance under existing Contracts of the Acquired Companies or (iv) except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.8 Absence of Certain Developments.

(a) Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including the Restructuring, (i) from the Audited Balance Sheet Date until the date hereof, the Seller Business Group and the Business have operated in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) from the Audited Balance Sheet Date until the date hereof, there has not been any Business Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, since the Audited Balance Sheet Date until the date hereof, there has not been any action or event that would have required Buyer’s consent pursuant to Section 5.1(b)(i), (iii), (iv), (viii), (x), (xi), (xiii) or (xiv), had such action or event occurred after the date hereof.

Section 3.9 Title, Condition and Sufficiency of Assets.

(a) The Business has, and following the Restructuring an Acquired Company will have, good and valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all personal property and other tangible assets primarily used in the conduct of the Business, except (i) as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, taken as a whole, or the Business or (ii) to the extent such asset relates to Overhead and Shared Services. Without limiting the foregoing, an Acquired Company has good and valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all personal property and other tangible assets reflected in the Audited Balance Sheet or acquired by an Acquired Company after the Audited Balance Sheet Date (that if acquired prior to the Audited Balance Sheet Date, would have been reflected in the Audited Balance Sheet), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances, except for (x) properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business since the Audited Balance Sheet Date and (y) as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies or the Business.

 

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(b) The buildings, structures, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Business are in all material respects in satisfactory operating condition for the uses to which they are being put, subject to ordinary wear and tear and maintenance requirements.

(c) Taken together with the rights of Buyer and the Acquired Companies pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements and assuming the retention of Business Employees and Transferred Employees following the Closing, the properties, assets and rights of the Acquired Companies include all properties, assets and rights, (i) primarily used or held for use by Seller and its Affiliates in connection with the conduct of the Business and (ii) necessary and sufficient for the continued conduct of the Business after the Closing in the same manner in all material respects as conducted prior to the Closing, in each case except for Shared Contracts, Seller Benefit Plans and Overhead and Shared Services.

(d) None of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.9 shall be deemed to relate to any intellectual property matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.13).

Section 3.10 Compliance with Laws; Permits.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, taken as a whole, (i) the Seller Business Group is, and since August 31, 2018 has been, in compliance in all respects with all Laws and Orders applicable to the Seller Business Group and the Business, (ii) since August 31, 2018, no Seller Business Group Member has received any written or, to Seller’s Knowledge, oral notice from any Governmental Body alleging any noncompliance by any Seller Business Group Member or the Business with respect to any such Law or Order applicable to the Business and (iii) no investigation by any Governmental Body regarding a violation of any such Law or Order applicable to the Business is, as of the date hereof, pending or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, taken as a whole, (i) the Principal JV Entities are, and since August 31, 2018 have been, in compliance in all respects with all Laws and Orders applicable to the Principal JV Entities. (ii) since August 31, 2018, no Principal JV Entity has received any written notice from any Governmental Body alleging any noncompliance by any Principal JV Entity with respect to any such Law or Order applicable to such Principal JV Entity and (iii) no investigation by any Governmental Body regarding a violation of any such Law or Order applicable to a Principal JV Entity is, as of the date hereof, pending or threatened in writing.

(c) All Permits required for the Seller Business Group to conduct the Business have been obtained by a Seller Business Group Member (and following the Restructuring will be held by an Acquired Company) and are valid and in full force and effect and the Seller Business Group is, and has been since August 31, 2018, in compliance in with all such Permits, except where the failure to obtain any such Permit or to be valid and in full force and effect or to be in compliance therewith would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business. Since August 31, 2018, no Governmental Body has threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally, to revoke, suspend, limit, vary or not renew any material Permit, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, taken as a whole:

(i) There are no actions threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally, by any Governmental Body to suspend or deny the distribution, supply or marketing of any products or services currently provided by any Seller Business Group Member or to seize or detain on import any such products.

(ii) Since August 31, 2018, all Products Manufactured by a Seller Business Group Member, or sold by a Seller Business Group Member or, to Seller’s Knowledge, sold or Manufactured by any Person on behalf of a Seller Business Group Member, including in each case products Manufactured and sold under Seller’s “Almus” and “Alvita” brands and any derivations thereof (collectively, the “Business Manufactured Products”), have been Manufactured and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Permits and applicable Laws and Orders and manufacturer requirements. As of the date hereof, no Governmental Body has initiated or commenced any currently pending, or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally to initiate or commence, any action to enjoin the Manufacture, sale or distribution of any Business Manufactured Product. To Seller’s Knowledge, no Business Manufactured Product is adulterated, mislabeled or misbranded (or similar terms under applicable Laws and Orders), except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Business or the Acquired Companies.

(e) None of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.10 shall be deemed to relate to any intellectual property matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.13), data privacy matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.14), employee benefits matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.15), employment and labor matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.16), tax matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.17) or environmental matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.18).

Section 3.11 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

(a) As of the date hereof, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally (i) against any Seller Business Group Member affecting any of its properties or assets that, if determined adversely to the relevant Seller Business Group Member, would be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, or (ii) against any Seller Business Group Member that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

(b) To Seller’s Knowledge, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or threatened in writing or orally (i) against any Principal JV Entity affecting any of its properties or assets that, if determined adversely to the relevant Principal JV Entity, would be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, or (ii) against any Principal JV Entity that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements.

 

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(c) (i) Section 3.11(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list as of the date hereof, and for the period since August 31, 2018, of all material Orders applicable to the Seller Business Group Members, their assets or the Business containing unsatisfied or continuing obligations, other than customary confidentiality, non-disparagement and release obligations, and (ii) the Seller Business Group Members as related to the Business are and have been since August 31, 2018 in material compliance with the terms of each such outstanding Order.

(d) None of the representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.11 shall be deemed to relate to any intellectual property matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.13), data privacy matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.14), employee benefits matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.15), employment and labor matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.16), tax matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.17) or environmental matters (such matters being the subject of Section 3.18).

Section 3.12 Material Contracts.

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list as of the date hereof of the following Contracts (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Seller Benefit Plans and Acquired Company Benefit Plans) to which an Acquired Company (or another Seller Business Group Member) is bound (the Contracts required to be set forth on Section 3.12(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, collectively, the “Material Contracts”):

(i) any Contract pursuant to which the Acquired Companies may be entitled to receive or obligated to pay more than $100,000,000 in any fiscal year;

(ii) any Contract relating to the creation, incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Indebtedness (excluding Indebtedness of the Egypt JV) in excess of $50,000,000 or which places an Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any material assets of the Acquired Companies;

(iii) any Contract that provides for any “earn-out” or similar payment by any Acquired Company that could result in payments in excess of $10,000,000;

(iv) any Contract that provides for the establishment or operation of any legal partnership, joint venture, or similar arrangement, including Contracts with respect to the Principal Minority Interests and with the Principal JV Entities;

(v) any Contract with (A) a Material Customer pursuant to which such Material Customer pays amounts in excess of $25,000,000 on an annual basis to the Business or (B) a Material Supplier pursuant to which the Business pays amounts in excess of $25,000,000 on an annual basis to such Material Supplier;

(vi) any Contract since August 31, 2018 that resolves or settles any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding (A) with a value in excess of $5,000,000 or (B) that provides for any ongoing injunctive or other non-monetary relief that is material to the Business, other than customary confidentiality, release and non-disparagement obligations;

 

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(vii) an Acquired Company Labor Agreement;

(viii) any factoring arrangement involving the transfer of receivables;

(ix) any Leases;

(x) any Shared Contract (or group of Shared Contracts) (A) pursuant to which a Seller Business Group Member may be entitled to receive, or obligated to pay, in excess of $10,000,000 in any fiscal year or (B) that is otherwise material to the Acquired Companies or the Business;

(xi) any Affiliate Agreement, and any Contract between or among an Acquired Company, on the one hand, and any JV Entity, on the other hand, in each case that will survive the Closing and (A) pursuant to which a Seller Business Group Member may be entitled to receive or obligated to pay in excess of $10,000,000 in any fiscal year or (B) that is otherwise material to the Acquired Companies or the Business;

(xii) any Contract that restricts in any material respect the ability of an any Seller Business Group Member or the Business to compete in any business or with any Person in any geographical area or which includes “most favored nation”, exclusive relations or non-solicitation clauses for the benefit of any Person other than Seller or a Seller Business Group Member (excluding customary provisions for the non-solicitation of employees entered into in commercial contracts in the ordinary course of business);

(xiii) any Contract that relates to the disposition or acquisition of any assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions, for aggregate consideration in excess of $10,000,000, by any Acquired Company, with obligations remaining to be performed or liabilities continuing after the date hereof (other than customary access and confidentiality obligations), excluding (A) Contracts related to dispositions and acquisitions of inventory and (B) dispositions and acquisitions of equipment in the ordinary course of business; and

(xiv) any Contract that requires any unsatisfied capital commitment or capital expenditure (or series of capital expenditures) by any Acquired Company in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 during the term of such Contract, understanding or undertaking.

(b) Seller has made available to Buyer accurate and complete copies of each Material Contract. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Business Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Material Contract is in full force and effect and is valid, binding and enforceable against an Acquired Company (or other Seller Business Group Member, as applicable) that is a party to such Material Contract, and, to Seller’s Knowledge, each other party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Limitations and (ii) none of the Acquired Companies (or other Seller Business Group Member, as applicable), nor to Seller’s Knowledge, any other party thereto, is in default, violation, or breach under any Material Contract to which it is a party. No event has occurred that has or, with notice or the passage of time or both, would (A) constitute a default, violation or breach by any Acquired Company (or other Seller Business Group Member, as applicable) or, to Seller’s Knowledge, any other party thereto, or (B) result in a right of termination by any counterparty, in each case under any Material Contract except in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business

 

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Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, no Seller Business Group Member has received written notice of termination or cancellation of any Material Contract, and no party to any Material Contract has provided written or, to Seller’s Knowledge, oral notice threatening exercise of any termination rights with respect thereto or of any material dispute with respect to any Material Contract. For the purposes of this Section 3.12(b), the term “Material Contract” shall be deemed to include any Contract that would qualify as a Material Contract if it had been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.13 Intellectual Property.

(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all Registered Business Intellectual Property, other than Internet domain names, and indicates for each item the registration or application numbers and dates, the applicable filing jurisdiction, title, registered owner, and the status of such application or registration, as applicable. The material Registered Business Intellectual Property used in the Business is subsisting and, to Seller’s Knowledge, valid and enforceable. All fees currently due and payable in respect of the maintenance and renewal of all such material Registered Business Intellectual Property have been paid on time and in full.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business:

(i) (A) the Acquired Companies exclusively own or have a valid license to or other right to use, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances, the Business Intellectual Property and any other Intellectual Property used by Seller and its Affiliates in connection with the current conduct of the Business (or, with respect to the Intellectual Property to be licensed to the Acquired Companies pursuant to the Intellectual Property License Agreements, Support Agreements or the Transition Services Agreement, will have a valid license as of Closing), except for (x) the Excluded Business Intellectual Property and (y) the Intellectual Property used in connection with the Overhead and Shared Services and (B) as of the Closing, an Acquired Company will own all right, title and interest currently owned by Seller and each other Seller Business Group Member in each of the “Alliance Healthcare”, “Alloga”, “Alphega”, “Skills in Healthcare”, “Alcura”, “Almus” and “Alvita” Trademarks or any derivations thereof (except for any Excluded Business Intellectual Property and subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the rights granted to Seller and its Affiliates under the Ancillary Agreements);

(ii) the Business Intellectual Property and the Intellectual Property licensed to Buyer or an Acquired Company pursuant to the Intellectual Property License Agreements, Support Agreements and the Transition Services Agreement comprise all Intellectual Property owned as of the Closing Date by Seller or its Affiliates and necessary and sufficient for the continued conduct of the Business immediately after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted immediately prior to the Closing, except for (x) the Excluded Business Intellectual Property and (y) the Intellectual Property used in connection with the Overhead and Shared Services;

 

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(iii) no Legal Proceeding is pending or threatened in writing against any Seller Business Group Member or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally (including any license demand, “invitation” to license or infringement assertion), against any Seller Business Group Member (or, in the case of sub-clause (2), any other Person) (1) that challenges the validity, enforceability or ownership of any material Business Intellectual Property (other than in the ordinary course of prosecuting any applications for registration of Registered Business Intellectual Property), (2) that, to Seller’s Knowledge, challenges the validity, enforceability or ownership of any other Intellectual Property used by Seller and its Affiliates in connection with the current conduct of the Business or (3) that alleges any material infringement, misappropriation or violation by the operation of the Business of any third party’s Intellectual Property;

(iv) no Legal Proceeding is pending or threatened in writing by any Seller Business Group Member against any third party or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally (including any license demand, “invitation” to license or infringement assertion), by any Seller Business Group Member against any third party (1) that challenges the validity, enforceability or ownership of any third party’s Intellectual Property that may be infringed, misappropriated or violated by the operation of the Business or (2) that alleges any material infringement, misappropriation or violation by any third party of any material Business Intellectual Property or to Seller’s Knowledge, any other Intellectual Property used by Seller and its Affiliates in connection with the conduct of the Business;

(v) the Business (including any of the products or services of the Business made available to customers) does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any third party; and

(vi) to Seller’s Knowledge, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the Business Intellectual Property in any material respect.

(c) The Seller Business Group has taken commercially reasonable actions to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of the material Know-How included in the Business Intellectual Property, and all Persons, including any third party contractors and employees, to whom a Seller Business Group Member has disclosed such Know-How have executed a binding agreement providing for the confidential treatment by such Person of such Know-How.

(d) Each Seller Business Group Member has obtained from each of its employees, consultants and contractors who create or develop material Business Intellectual Property, within the scope of their employment or engagement, as applicable, written assignments of all of such Person’s rights, title and interest in such Business Intellectual Property, except to the extent prohibited by law or to the extent such Business Intellectual Property is owned by the applicable Seller Business Group Member by operation of Law, and no such Person has retained any material ownership rights with respect to such created or developed material Business Intellectual Property. No current or former employee, consultant or contractor of a Seller Business Group Member has any material ownership interest in, or is entitled to a payment or compensation (in addition to any payment or compensation agreed with such Persons in connection with their engagement or employment) in respect of the material Business Intellectual Property, and no such Person has made a written claim or written threat to any Seller Business Group Member seeking such payment or compensation. Since August 31, 2018, no Seller Business Group Member has disclosed, delivered, licensed or otherwise made available, and no Seller Business Group Member has a duty or obligation (whether present, contingent, or otherwise) to disclose, deliver, license or otherwise make available, any source code for any product or service of any Seller Business Group Member or the Business to any third party.

 

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(e) No funding or facilities of any Governmental Body or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution is being used to create, in whole or in part, any material Business Intellectual Property, except for any such funding or use of facilities that does not result in such Governmental Body or institution obtaining any ownership of any such Business Intellectual Property.

(f) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, no material Software included in the Business Intellectual Property is subject to any obligation or condition under any license identified as an open source license by the Open Source Initiative (www.opensource.org) that conditions the distribution of such Software on (i) the disclosure, licensing or distribution of any source code for any portion of such Software, (ii) the granting to licensees of the right to make derivative works or other modifications to such Software, or (iii) redistribution of such Software at no license fee.

(g) Section 3.13(g) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of all Contracts pursuant to which any Acquired Company (i) licenses from a third party any Intellectual Property that is material to the Business as currently conducted (other than licenses for commercially available off-the-shelf Software or non-bespoke software-as-a-service (including shrink-wrap or click-wrap agreements), and any non-exclusive licenses incidental to the primary purpose of commercial agreements (including with respect to manufacturing, customer, supply, distribution, retail, packaging and marketing agreements)) or (ii) licenses to a third party any material Business Intellectual Property (other than any non-exclusive licenses incidental to the primary purpose of commercial agreements (including with respect to manufacturing, customer, supply, distribution, retail, packaging and marketing agreements)).

(h) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, material to the Seller Business Group, or the Business, the Seller Business Group maintains commercially reasonable measures (i) to protect the operation and security of the Business IT Systems and (ii) to prevent unauthorized or improper use, loss, access or corruption of such Business IT Systems and the material information and data (including Personal Data) residing therein. Since August 31, 2018, there have been no failure or crashes of any of the Business IT Systems nor have they been subject to any virus or extraneous induced malfunction that permits unauthorized access to or unauthorized disablement or erasure of any Software or data (including Personal Data), in each case that have caused a material disruption to the Business. The Seller Business Group has taken commercially reasonable steps to establish and implement business continuity and disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities that reasonably preserve the availability of the material Business IT Systems and the material data (including Personal Data) and information residing therein. To Seller’s Knowledge, since August 31, 2018, no Person has gained unauthorized access to the Business IT Systems, except for any such unauthorized access that would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Business or the Acquired Companies.

 

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Section 3.14 Privacy and Personal Data.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, the Acquired Companies, the Principal JV Entities and, in connection with the conduct of the Business, the other Seller Business Group Members, are in compliance with, and have Processed (as defined in the EU GDPR) Personal Data in accordance with, and made all registrations, appointments, designations and notifications required under (i) all Data Protection Laws applicable to the Business; and (ii) provisions governing privacy, data protection, or information security matters, to the extent relating to the Business, in any Contracts to which such Seller Business Group Member or, to Seller’s Knowledge, a Principal JV Entity is a party or is bound. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, since August 31, 2018, (A) no Personal Data Controlled (as defined in the EU GDPR) or held, by the Seller Business Group or, to Seller’s Knowledge, the Principal JV Entities has been lost, inappropriately accessed, misappropriated or misused in a manner not in compliance with applicable Data Protection Laws (provided, however, that the representation in this sub-clause (A) is made to the Seller’s Knowledge with respect to any Personal Data held by any third party to whom the processing of Personal Data has been delegated by the Acquired Companies or the Principal JV Entities) and (B) no Legal Proceedings (including enforcement notices or any other similar type of notice, letter, complaint or communication from a Governmental Body) have been asserted or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, orally, against any Seller Business Group Member or to Seller’s Knowledge, a Principal JV Entity alleging noncompliance or violation by the Business of any Data Protection Laws applicable to the Business.

(b) Since August 31, 2018, no Seller Business Group Member or, to Seller’s Knowledge, Principal JV Entity has been responsible under applicable Data Protection Laws for paying any material compensation (including in the form of credit monitoring or similar identity theft services) to any individual as a result of a breach of Data Protection Laws, and no such claim for material compensation has been made or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, orally, against any Seller Business Group Member or, to Seller’s Knowledge, a Principal JV Entity.

(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Companies, or the Business, after giving effect to the Transition Services Agreement and assuming the Buyer’s (and the Acquired Companies’) compliance after Closing with applicable Data Protection Laws and, where new agreements or changes to the parties to existing agreements are required as a result of Closing or otherwise to allow the Buyer or its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies or the Principal JV Entities), or third parties on their behalf to access to such Personal Data, execution of appropriate EU GDPR or UK GDPR compliant data processing and data transfer agreements, all Personal Data collected, stored and processed by any Seller Business Group Member in connection with the current conduct of the Business, can be used by the Acquired Companies or Buyer immediately after the Closing in substantially the manner currently used by the Seller Business Group in connection with the current conduct of the Business.

 

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Section 3.15 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Section 3.15(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list as of the date hereof of (i) each material Seller Benefit Plan applicable to employees of Seller and its Affiliates at a global level, (ii) each material Acquired Company Benefit Plan covering Business Employees who are primarily based in the United Kingdom and (iii) each Acquired Company Benefit Plan (marked with an asterisk) or material Seller Benefit Plan in the possession of, or reasonably accessible to (without the need for inquiry to anyone not listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter or so listed but not designated as having knowledge of human resources matters), any individual listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter and designated as having knowledge of human resources matters. Correct and complete copies of the plan documents (and all amendments or modifications thereto), to the extent applicable, of the Acquired Company Benefit Plans and Seller Benefit Plans required to be set forth on Section 3.15(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) have been made available to Buyer, and correct and complete copies of any of the plan documents (and all amendments or modifications thereto), to the extent applicable, of the Acquired Company Benefit Plans and Seller Benefit Plans required to be set forth on Section 3.15(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter pursuant to clause (iii) that are within the control of an individual listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter hand designated as having knowledge of human resources matters have been made available to Buyer. For the avoidance of doubt, no individual employment agreement with any Business Employee shall constitute a Seller Benefit Plan or an Acquired Company Benefit Plan for purposes of this Section 3.15(a).

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Acquired Company Benefit Plan has been established, operated, maintained, funded and administered in accordance with its terms and complies in form and operation with applicable requirements of all applicable Laws and Orders and (ii) each Seller Business Group Member is in compliance with all Laws applicable to the Acquired Company Benefit Plans and the Seller Benefit Plans. Other than routine claims for benefits and except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally, against or arising out of any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or the plan administrator or fiduciary of any Acquired Company Benefit Plan with respect to the operation of the Acquired Company Benefit Plan.

(c) No Acquired Company Benefit Plan or Seller Benefit Plan is (i) an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or any similar applicable Law or Order, or is otherwise a defined benefit pension plan, nor has an Acquired Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates sponsored, maintained or contributed to any such plan or a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), in in the six (6) years prior to the date hereof for the benefit of any Business Employee or Former Business Employee, or has or would reasonably be expected to have any liability with respect to any such plan or any other defined benefit pension plan that would reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to an Acquired Company, (ii) a “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 413 of the Code) or (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA). Neither an Acquired Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any liability under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or under Section 412 of the Code that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists that would reasonably be expected to result in an Acquired Company incurring any such liability thereunder, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Business Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, (i) result in any material payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, forgiveness of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any Business Employee under any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or Seller Benefit Plan, (ii) increase materially any benefits otherwise payable under any Acquired Company Benefit Plan, Seller Benefit Plan or otherwise, (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits, (iv) require the funding or acceleration of funding of any trust or other funding vehicle, (v) constitute a “change in control,” “change of control,” or other similar term under any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or Seller Benefit Plan, (vi) limit or restrict the right to merge, terminate or amend any Acquired Company Benefit Plan on or after the Closing unless such limitations or restrictions exist as a matter of applicable Law or under the terms of an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, or (vii) result in any payment or benefit received by any Business Employee, Former Business Employee or any other service provider of any Acquired Company or, to Seller’s Knowledge, the Principal JV Entities, not being deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code or being subject to an excise Tax under Section 4999 of the Code.

(e) Each Acquired Company Benefit Plan and each Seller Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received or is reasonably expected to receive a favorable determination letter from the IRS or is entitled to rely on an advisory or opinion letter from the IRS, and, to Seller’s Knowledge, nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of such favorable determination letter. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Business Material Adverse Effect, each Acquired Company Benefit Plan and each Seller Benefit Plan that is mandated by applicable Law or Order or by a Governmental Body outside of the United States or that is subject to the Laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States (each, a “Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan”), (i) if intended to qualify for special Tax treatment, meets all the requirement for such treatment, (ii) if required to be registered, has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable Law and Order and the applicable Governmental Bodies, and to Seller’s Knowledge, no circumstances exist as of the date hereof that would reasonably result in the loss of the good standing of such Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan and (iii) is funded, book-reserved or secured by an insurance policy to the extent required by the terms of the applicable Non-U.S. Company Benefit Plan or applicable Law or Order, based on reasonable actuarial assumptions in accordance with applicable accounting principles.

(f) No Business Employee, Former Business Employee or other service provider of any of the Acquired Companies or, to Seller’s Knowledge, any Seller Business Group Member, is or may become entitled under any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or Seller Benefit Plan to receive health, life insurance, dental, disability, hospitalization or other welfare benefits (whether or not insured) beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than health continuation coverage as required by Section 4980B of the Code or other applicable Law or Order for which the Business Employee pays full the cost of coverage or that would not result in a material liability to the Business.

 

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(g) None of the Acquired Companies is or has at any time been an “employer” (for the purpose of sections 38 to 51 of the United Kingdom Pensions Act 2004) of a UK registered occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993). No contribution notice or financial support direction under the United Kingdom Pensions Act 2004 has been issued to any Acquired Company or to any other Person in respect of any Acquired Company Benefit Plan and there is no fact or circumstance likely to give rise to any such notice or direction. No Business Employee or Former Business Employee has ever become employed by an Acquired Company as a result of a transfer under TUPE where that Business Employee or Former Business Employee was, prior to the transfer, a member of an occupational pension scheme that provided any benefits other than on old age, invalidity or death.

Section 3.16 Labor Matters.

(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list, as of the date therein indicated of, (i) for each country, the aggregate number of Business Employees primarily based in such country, (ii) for each country, the aggregate number of Business Employees employed by the Acquired Companies in each business area, or by Subsidiaries of Seller which are not Acquired Companies and (iii) for each “Grade” that is applied uniformly across Seller and its Affiliates on a global basis, including with respect to Business Employees, the aggregate number of Business Employees employed at each such “Grade” and the aggregate number of Business Employees that are not employed at any such “Grade”.

(b) Section 3.16(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list as of the date hereof of all (i) material Acquired Company Labor Agreements and (ii) other Acquired Company Labor Agreements in the possession of, or reasonably accessible to (without the need for inquiry to anyone not listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter), any individual listed on Section 1.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Letter and designated as having knowledge of human resources matters, in each case, that are applicable to the Business Employees; provided, however, in each case, where there are successive Acquired Company Labor Agreements with a particular labor union or other Employee Representative, only the most recent Acquired Company Labor Agreements in effect in the series shall be listed.

(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, (i) as of the date of this Agreement, there is no organizational effort pending or threatened (in writing or orally) by, or on behalf of, any works council, labor union or other employee representative body to organize any Business Employees, (ii) no Seller Business Group Member is currently involved in industrial action or a dispute with an Employee Representative or is aware of any such action being threatened (in writing or orally), (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, no demand for recognition of any Business Employees identified as of the date of this Agreement has been made by, or on behalf of, any labor union, and (iv) since August 31, 2018 there have been no material strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, slowdowns, picketing, hand billing or other labor disputes at the Business or against the Seller Business Group.

(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, since August 31, 2018 (i) no current or former independent contractor of the Business has been treated by a Seller Business Group Member as an independent contractor in circumstances where, pursuant to any applicable Law or Order, they should have been treated as an employee, and (ii) no Business Employee or Former Business Employee is currently furloughed and has a right of reinstatement under applicable Law or Order, any applicable Acquired Company Labor Agreement or pursuant to any applicable personnel policies of the Seller Business Group.

 

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(e) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, since August 31, 2018 (i) no allegations, claims or reports of sexual harassment, gross misconduct, discrimination or retaliation have been made to Seller or any of its Subsidiaries against or in respect of any Business Employee or Former Business Employee, in each case, in a Key Employee Role and (ii) no Seller Business Group Member has entered into any settlement agreement related to allegations, claims or reports of sexual harassment, gross misconduct, discrimination or retaliation by any Business Employee or Former Business Employee, in each case, in a Key Employee Role.

(f) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, each Acquired Company is and, in the case of each Business Employee and Former Business Employee, each other Seller Business Group Member is, and since August 31, 2018 has been, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws and Orders relating to labor or employment practices, including all such Laws with respect to terms and conditions of employment, the classification of employees, wages, hours, equal employment opportunity, employment discrimination, immigration, work authorization, occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, disability rights or benefits, affirmative action, labor relations, employee leave issues and unemployment insurance.

(g) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, there are, and since August 31, 2018 there have been, no Legal Proceedings against any Seller Business Group Member with respect to Business Employees or Former Business Employees in respect of their employment with the Seller Business Group or applicants for employment of any Acquired Company in respect of their prospective employment with the Seller Business Group, nor, to Seller’s Knowledge, are any such Legal Proceedings threatened.

(h) Since January 1, 2020, the Seller Business Group has not announced, and is not currently planning or anticipating, any material layoffs, material terminations material furloughs or material reductions in compensation and benefits affecting any Business Employees, in each case, other than any such actions in the ordinary course of business.

(i) No Seller Business Group Member was required by applicable Law or Order or the terms of an Acquired Company Labor Agreement to inform, consult or otherwise notify any Employee Representative about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Restructuring) or any Ancillary Agreement prior to the execution of this Agreement. To Seller’s Knowledge, there have been no acts or omissions that would constitute a failure by a Seller Business Group Member to comply with the requirements (if any) of applicable Law or Order or the terms of an Acquired Company Labor Agreement to inform, consult or otherwise notify any Employee Representative prior to effecting any Business Restructuring.

 

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Section 3.17 Taxes.

(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by the Acquired Companies or with respect to the Business have been filed in a timely manner (taking into account all extensions of time within which to file) and are accurate and complete in all material respects.

(b) All material Taxes owed by the Acquired Companies (whether or not shown as due and owing by the Acquired Companies on Tax Returns) or with respect to the Business have been paid when due, except for Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established (in accordance with GAAP).

(c) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment or reassessment of, material Taxes due from the Acquired Companies or with respect to the Business and no request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending, other than pursuant to extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course. All material transactions in respect of which a clearance application was made to a Tax Authority have been disclosed to Buyer prior to the date hereof, together with copies of the clearance documentation.

(d) There are no ongoing, pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened audits, examinations, contests, disputes or other proceedings with respect to material Taxes of any Acquired Company or with respect to the Business, and all deficiencies for material Taxes asserted or assessed against any Acquired Company or in respect of the Business have been fully and timely paid or settled, other than Taxes for which the applicable Acquired Company has made adequate reserves (in accordance with GAAP).

(e) Each of the Acquired Companies has properly withheld, and, to the extent required by applicable Law or Order, paid over to the appropriate Tax Authority, all material Taxes that it was required to withhold from any payment (including any dividend or interest payment) made to any employee, director, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or any other third party.

(f) No Acquired Company is liable for any material Tax of any other Person (i) as transferee or successor, (ii) by reason of its membership of any consolidated, combined or unitary group or (iii) pursuant to a Tax sharing, indemnification or allocation agreement (other than any agreement entered into in the ordinary course the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes).

(g) There are no Encumbrances for material Taxes on the assets of the Acquired Companies, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(h) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, material to the Seller Business Group, or the Business, all documents that are necessary to establish the title of any Acquired Company to any asset or to enforce any rights of any Acquired Company and in respect of which any material stamp duty, registration, transfer or similar Tax is required to be paid before the relevant title can be established or the relevant rights can effectively be enforced have been duly stamped or registered, and the applicable Taxes in respect of such documents have been fully accounted for and paid within the applicable period).

 

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(i) No Acquired Company has received written notice from a Tax Authority that it is considered, nor to Seller’s Knowledge is any Acquired Company, resident for Tax purposes or liable to Tax in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, and no Acquired Company has received written notice from a Tax Authority that it is considered to have or ever had, nor to Seller’s Knowledge does any Acquired Company have or ever had, a permanent establishment, branch or agency or any presence for Tax purposes in a jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated.

(j) No Acquired Company has been a party to or otherwise involved in any transaction, agreement or arrangement otherwise than by way of a bargain at arm’s length in consequence of which it is or might be assumed for Tax purposes to have received or paid for any material goods, services or facilities in an amount that differs from that actually received or paid, and no notice or inquiry has been made by any Tax Authority in connection with any such transaction, agreement or arrangement. Each Acquired Company has prepared any material transfer pricing documentation in accordance with the relevant statutory transfer pricing documentation requirements.

(k) No Acquired Company has been a party to any scheme, arrangement or transaction the main purpose or a main purpose of which was to avoid, defer or reduce a Tax liability, and no Acquired Company participates or has participated in any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

(l) None of the Acquired Companies is subject to a closing agreement or other similar agreement with a Tax Authority or any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or similar agreement or ruling by a Tax Authority, in each case that could affect the liability of the Acquired Companies for material Taxes after the Closing.

(m) None of the Acquired Companies will be required to include any material items in income, or exclude any material items of deduction, in a Post-Closing Tax Period as a result of (i) a change in or incorrect method of accounting occurring prior to the Closing, (ii) an installment sale or open transaction disposition occurring prior to the Closing, (iii) a prepaid amount received, or deferred revenue accrued, prior to the Closing other than in the ordinary course, or (iv) any intercompany transaction occurring prior to the Closing.

(n) None of the Acquired Companies will be required to pay any material amount of Designated Deferred Taxes after the Closing Date.

(o) Section 3.17(o) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth each Acquired Company that has made an election under Treasury Regulation section 301.7701-3 to be treated as other than its default classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as of immediately prior to the Closing (after giving effect to the Restructuring).

(p) Each Acquired Company (other than Alloga UK Ltd.) is a member of a group for the purposes of VAT, and Section 3.17(p) of the Seller Disclosure Letter identifies each VAT group of which an Acquired Company is, or has been at any time since August 31, 2018, a member (together with the other members of such group).

 

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(q) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Seller is not making any representations with respect to the availability or use of any Tax attribute, Tax basis, net operating loss carryovers, net capital loss carryovers, credits or similar items with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (except with respect to Sections 3.17(l)-(n)) with respect to the amount of Taxes payable, in a Post-Closing Tax Period.

Section 3.18 Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect:

(a) (i) The Seller Business Group and the Business are, and since August 31, 2017, have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, (ii) the Seller Business Group and the Business, have obtained and are, and since August 31, 2017, have been, in compliance with all Environmental Permits required for their operation of the Business as currently conducted and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing, and (iii) no Seller Business Group Member has received any written notice, demand or request for information (the subject matter of which remains unresolved) from any Governmental Body alleging any noncompliance by or liability of a Seller Business Group Member or the Business with respect to any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.

(b) There is no Legal Proceeding pursuant to Environmental Law pending or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally, against any Seller Business Group Member or regarding the operation of the Business.

(c) No Seller Business Group Member is a party to or subject to (and the Business is not subject to) any Order pursuant to Environmental Law.

(d) There has been no Release of or exposure to any Hazardous Materials, including with respect to any property currently or, to Seller’s Knowledge or otherwise during the period of ownership or operation by any Seller Business Group Member, or, to Seller’s Knowledge, formerly owned or operated by any Seller Business Group Member, that requires investigation or remediation by or that would reasonably be expected to result in any liability of any Seller Business Group Member under any Environmental Law.

(e) No Seller Business Group Member has contractually retained or assumed any liabilities or obligations that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Legal Proceeding under Environmental Law against Seller Business Group Member.

Section 3.19 Real Property.

(a) Section 3.19(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, (i) a correct and complete list of all real property that is or will, following the Restructuring, be owned by an Acquired Company (the “Owned Property”) and (ii) a correct and complete list of all real property that is or will, following the Restructuring, be leased, subleased or licensed by an Acquired Company and is either (A) material to the operation of the Business or (B) requires rental payments in excess of $1,000,000 per year (the “Leased Property” and the leases, subleases, occupancy agreements and licenses underlying such Leased Property (or documents having equivalent effect in any jurisdiction), collectively, the “Leases”).

 

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(b) Except for Permitted Encumbrances, an Acquired Company has (or will have following the Restructuring) marketable fee simple title to the Owned Property, free and clear of all Encumbrances. An Acquired Company has a valid leasehold or subleasehold interest or licensee rights in and to all Leased Property pursuant to the Leases and fee simple title or a leasehold interest in all material tangible personal property that is reflected in the Audited Financial Statements or that has been acquired since the Audited Balance Sheet Date, in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances, except for such tangible personal property and inventory that has been disposed of in the ordinary course of business. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, such tangible personal property is, taken as a whole, in good operating condition, subject to normal wear and tear, and is free from defects. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect, the buildings and structures owned or leased by the Acquired Companies are structurally sound, in good operating condition, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such property is in need of maintenance or repairs.

(c) With respect to the Owned Property and Leased Property, no Seller Business Group Member has (i) leased, sublet, assigned, mortgaged or otherwise granted any third party the right to hold or occupy all or any portion thereof, or (ii) as of the date hereof, received written notice of any condemnation proceeding or proposed action or agreement for taking in lieu of condemnation that, if determined adversely to the relevant Seller Business Group Member, would be material to the Seller Business Group or the Business, nor is any such proceeding, action or agreement pending or threatened in writing or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened orally as of the date hereof. There are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase any Owned Property or any portion thereof and no Seller Business Group Member is a party to any agreement or option to sell or transfer any Owned Property.

Section 3.20 Corruption; Sanctions; Export Controls; Money Laundering.

(a) Within the past five (5) years, none of (i) the Acquired Companies, (ii) any director, officer or employee of the Acquired Companies (iii) in connection with the Business and to Seller’s Knowledge, any Associated Person or (iv) in connection with the Business, the Seller or the Seller’s Subsidiaries or any Principal JV Entity has committed a material violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or any other applicable anti-bribery or anticorruption Laws (collectively, the “Anticorruption Laws”).

(b) None of (i) the Seller, (ii) the Acquired Companies, (iii) the Principal JV Entities or (iv) any director, officer or employee of any Acquired Company is a Person with whom dealings are prohibited under the economic or financial sanctions, restrictive measures, or trade embargos imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any Sanctions Authority (“Sanctions”), to the extent applicable, whether as a result of the specific designation of that Person, its ownership or control, the jurisdiction in which it is located, organized or resident, or otherwise.

 

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(c) The Acquired Companies and the Principal JV Entities are operating and, within the past five (5) years, have been operated in all material respects in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Business is conducted, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and, to Seller’s Knowledge, no Legal Proceeding by or before any Governmental Body involving an Acquired Company or Principal JV Entity with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

(d) The Seller has established, maintained and implemented, with regard to the Acquired Companies, policies, procedures and controls designed to promote compliance with the Anticorruption Laws, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Export Control Laws. To Seller’s Knowledge, the Principal JV Entities have established, with regard to the Business, policies, procedures and controls designed to promote compliance with the Anticorruption Laws, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Export Control Laws.

(e) No Acquired Company and, to Seller’s Knowledge, no Principal JV Entity, has exported, re-exported or retransferred any article, item, component, software, technology, service or technical data or taken any other act in material violation of any applicable Export Control Laws.

Section 3.21 Insurance. Section 3.21 of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all material insurance policies maintained by a Seller Business Group Member that are for the benefit of the Business. As of the date hereof, such policies are in full force and effect, and all premiums due on such policies have been paid in accordance with their terms, and no written notice of cancellation, non-renewal or termination has been received by a Seller Business Group Member with respect to any such policy, except, in each case, as has not had a Business Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.22 Customers and Suppliers.

(a) Section 3.22(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth, for each Wholesale Distribution Territory, a correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of the top ten (10) customers (by revenue) in such jurisdiction for the twelve (12) months ended on the Audited Balance Sheet Date (collectively, the “Material Customers”) and the amount of consideration paid to the Seller Business Group or the Business by each Material Customer for such jurisdiction during such twelve (12) month period. During the twelve (12) months prior to the date of this Agreement, no Seller Business Group Member has received any written notice from any Material Customer indicating that it intends to cancel, terminate or otherwise adversely modify in any material respect its relationship with the Seller Business Group or the Business.

(b) Section 3.22(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth, for each Wholesale Distribution Territory, a correct and complete list, as of the date hereof, of the top ten (10) third-party suppliers and service providers (by spend), in such jurisdiction, for the twelve (12) months ended on the Audited Balance Sheet Date (collectively, the “Material Suppliers”) and the amount of consideration paid to each Material Supplier by the Seller Business Group for such jurisdiction during such period. During the twelve (12) months prior to the date of this Agreement, no Seller Business Group Member has received any written notice from any Material Supplier indicating that it intends to cancel, terminate or otherwise adversely modify in any material respect its relationship with the Seller Business Group or the Business.

 

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Section 3.23 Brokers. Except for Centerview Partners LLC, the fees of which will be borne by Seller, no broker, finder, investment banker, agent or other similar Person is or shall be entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of an Acquired Company.

Section 3.24 Investment Purpose. Seller is acquiring the Buyer Stock Consideration for its own account for investment only and not with a view to (or for) resale in connection with any public sale or distribution thereof. Seller acknowledges that the Buyer Stock Consideration is not registered under the Securities Act or any state or foreign securities laws, and that the Buyer Stock Consideration may not be transferred or sold except pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act (including by exercise of Seller’s rights under the A&R Shareholders Agreement) or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom and subject to state and foreign securities laws and regulations, as applicable.

Section 3.25 Independent Investigation; No Other Representations and Warranties.

(a) Seller has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of, and reached its own independent conclusions regarding, the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) and prospects of Buyer. In entering into this Agreement, Seller acknowledges that it has relied solely upon its own investigation, review and analysis and has not relied on and is not relying on any representation, warranty or other statement (whether written or oral) made by, on behalf of or relating to Buyer, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 4 of this Agreement or in the certificate contemplated by Section 7.3(c) or in any Ancillary Agreement (and, with respect to such representations and warranties, subject to any limitations included in this Agreement).

(b) Seller acknowledges and agrees that (i) other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 4 of this Agreement or in the certificate contemplated by Section 7.3(c), neither Buyer nor any other Person has made or makes any other representation or warranty, written or oral, express or implied, at law or in equity, with respect to Buyer or its rights properties, assets, liabilities or otherwise, including any representation or warranty as to (A) value, merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose or for ordinary purposes, (B) the operation or probable success or profitability of Buyer following the Closing or (C) the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding Buyer made available or otherwise provided to Seller and its Representatives in connection with this Agreement or their investigation of Buyer (including any estimates, forecasts, budgets, projections or other financial information with respect to Buyer), and (ii) Seller will have no right or remedy (and Buyer will have no liability whatsoever) arising out of, and Seller expressly disclaims any reliance upon, any representation, warranty or other statement (whether written or oral) made by, on behalf of or relating to Buyer, including in any information regarding Buyer made available or otherwise provided to Seller and its Representatives in connection with this Agreement or their investigation of Buyer (including any estimates, forecasts, budgets, projections or other financial information with respect Buyer and any information disclosed in any Data Room), or any errors therein or omissions therefrom, other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 4 of this Agreement and the certificate contemplated by Section 7.3(c).

 

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ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

Except as disclosed in any Buyer SEC Document filed prior to the date hereof (but excluding any disclosures set forth in any “risk factors” section and any “forward-looking statements” in any other section, it being understood that any factual information contained within such sections shall not be excluded); provided that the foregoing qualification shall not apply to the Buyer Fundamental Representations, Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct as of such date):

Section 4.1 Organization and Authority of Buyer.

(a) Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware, except where the failure to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Buyer (or if applicable, a Subsidiary of Buyer) has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or will be a party, carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including all power and authority to issue the Buyer Stock Consideration to Seller at the Closing).

(b) The execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements to which it (or if applicable, a Subsidiary of Buyer) is or will be a party, the performance by Buyer (or if applicable, a Subsidiary of Buyer) of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Buyer (or if applicable, a Subsidiary of Buyer) of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been, and in the case of the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements, will be prior to the Closing, duly and validly authorized and approved by all requisite corporate or other similar action on the part of Buyer (or if applicable, a Subsidiary of Buyer).

(c) This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Limitations.

(d) Each of the Ancillary Agreements to which Buyer or its Subsidiary is or will be a party has been or will be duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer or such Subsidiary, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other party or parties thereto) constitutes or will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer or such Subsidiary enforceable against Buyer or such Subsidiary in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Limitations.

 

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(e) Buyer is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the operation of its business makes such qualification necessary or advisable, except where the failure to be so qualified has not had a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.2 Capitalization.

(a) The Buyer Stock Consideration has been duly authorized and when issued and delivered to Seller at the Closing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been validly issued in accordance with applicable Law and Order, will be fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of Buyer Stock to be issued and delivered by Buyer to Seller on the Closing Date will be issued free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws and any Encumbrances imposed by Seller, and the issuance thereof will not be subject to any preemptive rights. No vote of the stockholders of Buyer is required to issue the Buyer Stock Consideration to Seller or its designee under applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the NYSE. The Buyer Stock Consideration constitutes, and will constitute as of the Closing, less than one percent (1%) of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Buyer Stock before giving effect to such issuance.

(b) The authorized capital stock of Buyer consists of 600,000,000 shares of Buyer Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Buyer Preferred Stock”). At the close of business on December 31, 2020 (the “Capitalization Date”), (i) 204,692,947 shares of Buyer Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 84,422,104 shares of Buyer Stock were held by Buyer as treasury stock, (iii) 6,924,789 shares of Buyer Stock were reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Buyer Equity Plans, other than the Buyer ESPP, of which (A) 4,793,729 shares of Buyer Stock were issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, (B) 1,697,236 shares of Buyer Stock were issuable upon settlement of outstanding restricted stock units awarded under a Buyer Equity Plan and (C) 433,824 shares of Buyer Stock were issuable upon settlement of outstanding performance stock units awarded under a Buyer Equity Plan, assuming all applicable performance goals are achieved at target performance levels, (iv) no shares of Buyer Stock were reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Buyer ESPP and (v) no shares of Buyer Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding. Since the Capitalization Date through the date hereof, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has (1) issued any Buyer Securities or incurred any obligation to make any payments based on the price or value of any Buyer Securities (except for the issuance of equity or equity-based awards to directors, officers, employees or consultants of Buyer or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business under a Buyer Equity Plan) or (2) established a record date for, declared, set aside for payment or paid any dividend on, or made any other distribution in respect of, any shares of the Buyer’s capital stock, other than, in each case, pursuant to the vesting, exercise, forfeiture or the withholding of Taxes with respect to any equity awards of Buyer.

 

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(c) Except as described in this Section 4.2, there are no (i) equity securities of any class of Buyer or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such equity securities issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (ii) no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible securities, subscriptions, call rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, preemptive rights or any other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any kind relating to the issued or unissued equity securities of Buyer or obligating Buyer to issue or sell any equity securities of, or any other interest in, Buyer (the items in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to collectively as “Buyer Securities”) and (iii) no other obligations by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payments based on the price or value of any Buyer Securities (other than pursuant to a Buyer Equity Plan that provides for notional investment in shares of Buyer Stock). Other than the Framework Agreement and the Existing Shareholders Agreement, there are no outstanding agreements of any kind which obligate Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Buyer Securities (other than pursuant to the cashless exercise of stock options or the forfeiture or withholding of Taxes with respect to equity awards in Buyer), or obligate Buyer to grant, extend or enter into any such agreements relating to any Buyer Securities, including any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any Buyer Securities. No direct or indirect Subsidiary of Buyer owns any Buyer Stock. Other than the Existing Shareholders Agreement and the Framework Agreement, none of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any stockholders’ agreement, voting trust agreement, registration rights agreement or other similar agreement or understanding relating to any Buyer Securities or any other agreement relating to the disposition, voting or dividends with respect to any Buyer Securities. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by Buyer which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Buyer Stock or other equity interests or similar interests by stock ownership or otherwise in Buyer are entitled to vote.

(d) Except as would not be material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Significant Subsidiary of Buyer are owned directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by Buyer free and clear of all Encumbrances and transfer restrictions, except for Permitted Encumbrances. Except as would not be material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each outstanding share of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of Buyer is held, directly or indirectly, by Buyer, and is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, and there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, calls, contracts or other commitments, understandings, restrictions or arrangements relating to the issuance, acquisition, redemption, repurchase or sale of any shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests of any Significant Subsidiary of Buyer, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security, instrument or agreement, any agreements granting any preemptive rights, subscription rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any securities of any Significant Subsidiary.

Section 4.3 No Conflicts; Consents.

(a) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by Buyer of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements to which it or its Subsidiary is or will be a party, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will (with or without notice or lapse of time or both):

(i) result in a violation or breach of, or material default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents of Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer;

 

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(ii) result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby under, any Law or Order applicable to Buyer (or its properties, assets or business);

(iii) (A) result in a violation or breach of, (B) constitute a default or an event that (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) would constitute a default under, (C) result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate or cancel or (D) require the Consent of, or the giving of notice to, any other Person under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance pursuant to, any material Contract or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of Buyer;

except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) where such conflict, violation, breach, event of default or other result described in such clauses would not reasonably be expected to be material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Buyer and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Buyer and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, no Consent, Permit, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Body is required by or with respect to Buyer or its properties, assets or business in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements or the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Section 4.4 Buyer SEC Documents. Buyer has timely filed with the SEC all material reports, schedules, forms, statements (including financial statements) and other documents required to be filed by Buyer with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. As of their respective effective dates (in the case of Buyer SEC Documents that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and as of their respective SEC filing dates or, if amended prior to the date hereof, the date of the filing of such amendment, with respect to the portions that are amended (in the case of all other Buyer SEC Documents), the Buyer SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Buyer SEC Documents, and none of the Buyer SEC Documents as of such respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, the date of the filing of such amendment, with respect to the disclosures that are amended) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation is made as to the accuracy of any financial projections or forward-looking statements, or the completeness of any information furnished by Buyer to the SEC for the purpose of complying with Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act. Since August 31, 2018, Buyer has been in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE. None of Buyer’s Subsidiaries is as of the date hereof, or has been since August 31, 2018, required to file or furnish any report, schedule, form, statement (including financial statements) or other documents or make any filing of any sort, or furnish any material to, the SEC. No executive officer of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has failed in any respect to make the certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to any Buyer SEC Documents. As of the date of this Agreement, none of the Buyer SEC Documents is the subject of unresolved comments received from the SEC (whether orally or in writing) or is otherwise, to Buyer’s Knowledge, the subject of ongoing SEC review.

 

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Section 4.5 Financial Statements; Internal Controls. (a) The consolidated financial statements of Buyer (including all related notes or schedules) included or incorporated by reference in the Buyer SEC Documents, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto, the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) have been prepared in in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of notes) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Buyer and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods shown (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments) and (iv) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of Buyer and its consolidated Subsidiaries. The books and records of Buyer and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

(b) Buyer has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act that are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by Buyer in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to Buyer’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither Buyer nor, to Buyer’s Knowledge, Buyer’s independent registered public accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of (i) “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in the design or operation of Buyer’s internal controls over financial reporting which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect Buyer’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, in each case which has not been subsequently remediated or (ii) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Buyer’s internal control over financial reporting. Since August 31, 2018, (x) neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any employee or Representative of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in improper accounting or auditing practices, and (y) no attorney representing Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported written, or to Buyer’s Knowledge oral, evidence of a material violation of applicable Law or Order or breach of fiduciary duty by Buyer or any employee or other Representative of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to the Buyer Board or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of Buyer.

 

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Section 4.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Buyer does not have any liabilities (whether or not required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, whether due or to become due, and whether known or unknown) except for liabilities (i) that are reserved against in the audited balance sheet contained in Buyer’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the period ended June 30, 2020 (or the notes thereto), (ii) that have been incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2020, (iii) for future performance under existing Contracts of Buyer or (iv) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Buyer and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

Section 4.7 Absence of Certain Developments. Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, (a) from September 30, 2020 until the date hereof, Buyer has operated in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice and (b) from September 30, 2020 until the date hereof, there has not been any Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.8 Sufficiency of Funds.

(a) Buyer will have on the Closing Date sufficient funds available to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to pay all amounts payable by Buyer hereunder, including the Purchase Price, and to pay the fees and expenses of Buyer related to the transactions contemplated hereby. Buyer expressly acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not subject to any condition or contingency with respect to any financing or funding by any third party.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, Buyer has delivered to Seller (a) a correct and complete copy of the Bridge Commitment Letter and the executed related fee letter (it being understood that fee amounts, pricing caps and other customarily redacted items may be redacted), dated as of the date of this Agreement, from the Financing Sources identified therein, pursuant to which such Debt Financing Sources have committed to provide the Bridge Debt Financing, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. As of the date of this Agreement, the Bridge Commitment Letter has not been withdrawn, terminated, rescinded or amended in any respect that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the Closing. As of the date of this Agreement, the Bridge Commitment Letter is in full force and effect and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer and to Buyer’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms against Buyer and, to Buyer’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto, except to the extent of the Enforceability Limitations.

Section 4.9 Brokers. Except for J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, no broker, finder, investment banker, agent or other similar Person is or shall be entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Buyer.

 

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Section 4.10 Solvency. Buyer is not entering the transactions contemplated hereby with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of Buyer or any of its Affiliates. Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties set forth in Article 3, Buyer and its Subsidiaries (including the Acquired Companies) shall be Solvent.

Section 4.11 No Change in Control. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the ability of Buyer and its Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the other Ancillary Agreements nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will (a) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, forgiveness of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries under any Buyer Benefit Plan; (b) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Buyer Benefit Plan; (c) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits; (d) require the funding or acceleration of funding of any trust or other funding vehicle; or (e) constitute a “change in control,” “change of control” or other similar term under any Buyer Benefit Plan.

Section 4.12 No Rights Agreement; Anti-Takeover Provisions.

(a) Buyer is not party to a stockholder rights agreement, “poison pill” or similar anti-takeover agreement or plan.

(b) No Takeover Law applies or will apply to Seller in connection with to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and the Buyer has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of the Buyer Stock Consideration for all purposes under any Takeover Law (including so that Seller and its Affiliates will not be an “interested stockholder” for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL).

(c) The Buyer Board, on behalf of Buyer, has duly waived any “standstill” or similar arrangement between Buyer or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and Seller or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, including as set forth in the Existing Shareholders Agreement, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and any such restriction is inapplicable to, and will not restrict, inhibit, prevent or delay, the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the Buyer Stock Consideration. As a result of the waiver described in the preceding sentence, Buyer acknowledges that Seller is not in violation of Section 2.2 of the Existing Shareholders Agreement.

Section 4.13 Investment Purpose. Buyer is acquiring the Shares for its own account for investment only and not with a view to (or for) resale in connection with any public sale or distribution thereof. Buyer acknowledges that the Shares are not registered under the Securities Act or any state or foreign securities laws, and that the Shares may not be transferred or sold except pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom and subject to state and foreign securities laws and regulations, as applicable.

 

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Section 4.14 Independent Investigation; No Other Representations and Warranties.

(a) Buyer has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of, and reached its own independent conclusions regarding, the business, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) and prospects of the Acquired Companies and the Business. Buyer acknowledges that it and its Representatives have been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, premises, records and other documents and information of and relating to the Acquired Companies and the Business for such purpose. In entering into this Agreement, Buyer acknowledges that it has relied solely upon its own investigation, review and analysis and has not relied on and is not relying on any representation, warranty or other statement (whether written or oral) made by, on behalf of or relating to Seller, any Acquired Company or the Business except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 3 of this Agreement or in the certificate contemplated by Section 7.2(d) or in any Ancillary Agreement (and, with respect to such representations and warranties, subject to any limitations included in this Agreement).

(b) Buyer acknowledges and agrees that (i) other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 3 of this Agreement or in in the certificate contemplated by Section 7.2(d), none of Seller, any Acquired Company or any other Person has made or makes any other representation or warranty, written or oral, express or implied, at law or in equity, with respect to the Acquired Companies, the Business or their respective rights, properties, assets, liabilities or otherwise, including any representation or warranty as to (A) value, merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose or for ordinary purposes, (B) the operation or probable success or profitability of the Acquired Companies or the Business following the Closing or (C) the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Acquired Companies or the Business made available or otherwise provided to Buyer and its Representatives in connection with this Agreement or their investigation of the Acquired Companies and the Business (including any estimates, forecasts, budgets, projections or other financial information with respect to the Acquired Companies or the Business), and (ii) Buyer will have no right or remedy (and Seller will have no liability whatsoever) arising out of, and Buyer expressly disclaims any reliance upon, any representation, warranty or other statement (whether written or oral) made by, on behalf of or relating to Seller, any Acquired Company or the Business, including in any information regarding the Acquired Companies or the Business made available or otherwise provided to Buyer and its Representatives in connection with this Agreement or their investigation of the Acquired Companies and the Business (including any estimates, forecasts, budgets, projections or other financial information with respect to the Acquired Companies or the Business and any information disclosed in any Data Room), or any errors therein or omissions therefrom, other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 3 of this Agreement and in the certificate contemplated by Section 7.2(d).

 

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ARTICLE 5

COVENANTS

Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company.

(a) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the Closing Date (the “Pre-Closing Period”), except (i) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement, or as contemplated by the Restructuring and Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by any Law or Order (including any COVID-19 Measure) applicable to the Seller Business Group or the assets, or operation of the Business, (iv) for actions (A) reasonably designed to protect the health and safety of employees, consultants, customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with the Business or to respond to third-party supply or service disruption in response to COVID-19 or any worsening, resurgence or variation thereof or effects arising therefrom or (B) reasonably designed to respond to the inapplicability of Laws of Orders as a result of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union or termination of the subsequent transition period and the coming in to effect of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act and The Northern Ireland Protocol, as set out in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement; provided that Seller shall reasonably consult with Buyer prior to taking any action under this clause (iv)(B); provided, further that Seller shall give Buyer written notice as soon as reasonably practicable after taking any action pursuant to this clause (iv); or (v) as consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cause the Acquired Companies to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries and permitted by the Organizational Documents of the JV Entities shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to) use commercially reasonable efforts to (A) operate the Seller Business Group and the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) (1) maintain and preserve the Seller Business Group’s and the Business’ present business organizations, assets and technology, (2) keep available the services of the Business Employees and the employees of the Seller Business Group and (3) maintain and preserve the Seller Business Group’s and the Business’ relationships and good will with customers, suppliers and others having material business dealings with the Seller Business Group or the Business.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing Section 5.1(a), during the Pre-Closing Period, except (u) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement or as contemplated by the Restructuring and Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (v) as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (w) as required by any Law or Order (including any COVID-19 Measure) applicable to the Seller Business Group or the Business, (x) as necessary to effect the Restructuring, or (y) as consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Seller shall not, and shall cause the Acquired Companies not to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member not to), take any of the following actions:

(i) issue, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or grant or suffer to exist any Encumbrance with respect to any of the Acquired Companies’ or, to the extent within the control of Seller, the Principal JV Entities’ capital stock, or grant any options, warrants or other rights to acquire any such capital stock or other interest or any instrument convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such capital stock or other interest, other than issuances, sales, grants, pledges or disposals to another Acquired Company or that would constitute Shares that will be transferred to Buyer (or its nominee) hereunder;

(ii) transfer the Minority Interests other than to an Acquired Company;

 

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(iii) adopt any plan of merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution of any Acquired Company or, to the extent within the control of Seller, any Principal JV Entity, file a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law on behalf of any Acquired Company or, to the extent within the control of Seller, any Principal JV Entity or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against any Acquired Companies or Principal JV Entities under any similar Law (other than mergers and consolidations solely between Acquired Companies or dissolutions or liquidations of an Acquired Company to another Acquired Company);

(iv) make any changes in any accounting methods, principles or practices as they relate to or affect the Business or the Acquired Companies, except (A) as required by GAAP, Law or Order or any interpretation thereof or (B) as disclosed in the notes to any of the Audited Financial Statements;

(v) (A) accelerate, terminate, cancel, waive any rights under any Material Contract, or amend any Material Contract in a manner that, when taken as a whole, is adverse to the Seller Business Group or the Business in any material respect when viewed in the context of any benefits received by the Seller Business Group or the Business as a result of such acceleration, termination, cancellation, waiver or amendment, other than forgiveness of trade payables in the ordinary course of business, or (B) enter into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract under clauses (iii), (iv), (x), (xi), (xii) or (xiii) of the definition thereof, if in effect as of the date hereof, in each case, other than as may be reasonably designed to respond to third-party supply or service disruption in response to COVID-19 or any worsening, resurgence or variation thereof or effects arising therefrom;

(vi) make any commitments for capital expenditures by a Seller Business Group Member or the Business that are unsatisfied as of the Closing Date (other than as expressly provided for in the budget (including the programs set forth in Section 5.1(b)(v) of the Seller Disclosure Letter) of the Business for the fiscal year 2021 as made available to Buyer by Seller prior to the date of the Agreement or that will be fully discharged prior to the Closing) in an amount not exceeding $2,500,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate, other than capital expenditures reasonably designed to protect the health and safety of employees, consultants, customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with the Business in response to COVID-19 or any worsening, resurgence or variation thereof or effects arising therefrom;

(vii) make any capital investment in, or make or forgive any loan to, any other Person by a Seller Business Group Member or the Business, except (A) to any JV Entity as required by the terms of such JV Entity’s Organizational Documents, (B) to another Acquired Company, (C) for forgiveness of trade payables in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (D) advances of expenses to employees or service providers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(viii) sell, lease, pledge, abandon, assign or otherwise dispose of any of the material assets, properties or rights (other than Intellectual Property) of any Seller Business Group Member or the Business, except (A) transfers to an Acquired Company, (B) sales of assets or inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (C) dispositions of obsolete, worn-out or excess equipment or assets or inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

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(ix) transfer, sell, lease, license by a Seller Business Group Member or the Business (other than non-exclusive licenses incidental to commercial agreements (including with respect to manufacturing, customer, supply, distribution, retail, packaging and marketing agreements) granted in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or otherwise convey or dispose of, abandon or allow to lapse, fail to maintain or prosecute, or subject to any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances), or grant a covenant not to sue with respect to the material Business Intellectual Property;

(x) purchase or acquire, directly or indirectly (including by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets or any other business combination), any corporation, partnership, other business organization or division thereof, or any assets or properties of any of the foregoing that are material to the Business, except for (A) purchases or acquisitions of another Acquired Company, (B) the acquisition of additional Minority Interests in the JV Entities in accordance with the Organizational Documents of the JV Entities and (C) purchases of supplies and inventory;

(xi) enter into a new line of business that is materially different from the Business’ or abandon or discontinue any existing line of business;

(xii) settle any Legal Proceeding where such settlement would (A) require payments after the Closing that exceed in the aggregate the legal reserves established in the Audited Financial Statements by $250,000 (excluding any amounts that are actually paid under existing insurance policies) or (B) impose any non-de minimis injunctive or other equitable relief or operating restrictions, admissions of wrongdoing or other obligations upon the Business or the Acquired Companies, the Principal JV Entities (to the extent within the control of Seller) or Buyer or its Subsidiaries following the Closing, other than customary confidentiality, release and non-disparagement obligations;

(xiii) (A) grant any increase in the base salaries, target bonus opportunity, or other compensation or benefits (including change in control, severance, termination pay, cash or equity-based compensation) payable by a Seller Business Group Member to any of the Business Employees, Former Business Employees or any other current or former service provider of the Business, other than increases in the ordinary course of business, (B) enter into, adopt, terminate, or take any action to accelerate the timing of payments or vesting under, or fund or otherwise secure the payment of or otherwise amend or supplement, any Seller Benefit Plan or Acquired Company Benefit Plan, or any plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a Seller Benefit Plan or Acquired Company Benefit Plan if in effect on the date hereof, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in connection with routine, immaterial or ministerial amendments to health and welfare plans that do not materially increase benefits or result in a material increase in administrative costs, (C) enter into or amend any employment, consulting, change in control, retention, severance or termination agreement, other than for amendments to employment or consulting agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (D) hire or engage any Person as an employee or individual consultant of the Business in a Key Employee Role, or furlough or terminate the employment of any Business

 

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Employee in a Key Employee Role, other than terminations for “cause” (as determined by Seller in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or, in the ordinary course of business, (x) hiring or engaging any Person as an employee to replace departed employees or (y) filling any position which is open on the date of this Agreement and has been made available to Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement, (E) transfer any Business Employee outside the Business or transfer any employees of any Seller Business Group Member who is not a Business Employee into the Business such that they would become Business Employees or (F) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and, in any case, only after consultation with Buyer, enter into or materially amend any Acquired Company Labor Agreement, in each case of (A) through (F), other than (1) as required by applicable Law or Order, (2) as required by any Seller Benefit Plan, Acquired Company Benefit Plan or Acquired Company Labor Agreement, each as in effect on the date hereof or (3) to the extent undertaken in connection with the implementation of a program that affects all similarly situated employees of Seller or any of its Affiliates and does not disproportionately increase the compensation and benefits of the Business Employees relative to such other similarly situated employees;

(xiv) make or change any material Tax election, materially amend any Tax Returns, enter into any closing agreement with respect to material Taxes, settle or compromise any material Tax claim, audit or assessment, or surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability, in each case, solely to the extent such relates to the Acquired Companies, the Principal JV Entities or is with respect to the Business;

(xv) amend the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Company or Principal JV Entity (to the extent within the control of Seller);

(xvi) incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $37,500,000 in the aggregate, or cause or permit the Egypt JV to incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money, except for (A) Indebtedness that will be paid off at or prior to Closing, (B) Indebtedness that will be assumed or retained by Seller or the Retained Business at or prior to the Closing, (C) Indebtedness that refinances other Indebtedness as of the date hereof, so long as such refinancing Indebtedness does not increase the principal amount thereof and (D) drawdowns of existing facilities;

(xvii) alter or modify any sourcing, supply or procurement arrangement between or among any Affiliates of Seller, on the one hand, and the Business, on the other hand, in a manner that would reasonably be expected to be adverse to the Seller Business Group or the Business in any material respect; or

(xviii) authorize, resolve, commit or agree in writing to take any of the actions in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xvii).

(c) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (w) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement, (x) as set forth in Section 5.1(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (y) as required by any Law or Order applicable to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or the assets, or operation of the business, of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) as consented to in writing by Seller (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Buyer shall not:

 

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(i) adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or similar or arrangement or plan that is applicable to the issuance of the Buyer Stock Consideration or cause any Takeover Law to become applicable to the issuance of the Buyer Stock Consideration;

(ii) amend, repeal or otherwise modify any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Buyer in a manner that would adversely affect Seller or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements;

(iii) make, declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution on any shares of its capital stock, voting securities, other equity interests or any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of other events) into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests (except (A) dividends paid by any wholly owned Subsidiary to its parent and (B) Buyer’s regular quarterly dividend in an amount approved by its board of directors);

(iv) adopt or enter into any Contract in respect of any plan of complete or partial liquidation, arrangement, dissolution, merger, consolidation or effect any recapitalization, reclassification, equity split (or reverse equity split) or like change in its capitalization;

(v) effect repurchases of Buyer Stock that would cause the Buyer Stock Consideration to exceed one percent (1%) of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Buyer Stock, before giving effect to such issuance;

(vi) enter into any transaction or acquire or dispose of (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or any other business combination) assets or equity securities if such transaction, acquisition or disposition would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay (A) the filing and obtaining of any Consents required under the HSR Act or under any Antitrust Law to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or (B) securing satisfaction of the mutual conditions to Closing set forth in Section 7.1; or

(vii) authorize, resolve, commit or agree in writing to take any of the actions in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi).

(d) Except as specifically set forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall (i) give Buyer, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the business and operations of the Seller Business Group or the Business prior to the Closing or (ii) give Seller, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the business and operations of the Buyer and its Affiliates. Prior to the Closing, Seller, the Seller Business Group shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over their respective businesses and operations, including the Business. Prior to the Closing, Buyer and its Affiliates shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over their respective businesses and operations. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Article 5 shall restrict any Seller Business Group Member (other than an Acquired Company or a JV Entity) to the extent any action by such Seller Business Group Member does not relate to or affect the Business or an Acquired Company.

 

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Section 5.2 Access to Information.

(a) During the Pre-Closing Period, Seller shall, and shall cause the Acquired Companies to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), provide Buyer and its Representatives with reasonable access to (i) all of the Seller Business Group’s (to the extent related to the Business) and the Business’ properties, Contracts, books and records and other documents, data and information; (ii) all of their respective officers, employees and other personnel involved in the Seller Business Group (to the extent related to the Business) or the Business; and (iii) any other information of the Seller Business Group (to the extent related to the Business and, with respect to JV Entities, to the extent Seller or its Subsidiaries has, or has the right to, access to such information) or the Business as Buyer or any of its Representatives may reasonably request. All access and investigation pursuant to this Section 5.2(a) shall be (A) conducted during normal business hours upon reasonable advance notice to Seller, (B) conducted in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the normal operations of the Seller Business Group or the Business, (C) coordinated through the managing director of international wholesale or general counsel (or equivalent) of the Business or designee thereof and (D) conducted at Buyer’s sole cost and expense; provided that Seller shall have the right, at its cost and expense, to have one or more of its Representatives present at all times during any visits, examinations, discussions or contacts contemplated by this Section 5.2(a). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during the Pre-Closing Period, no Seller Business Group Member shall be required to provide access or disclose information to the extent such access or disclosure would, (w) jeopardize the attorney-client privilege or other immunity or protection from disclosure of a Seller Business Group Member or the Business, (x) violate any (i) Law or Order applicable to any Seller Business Group Member or the Business, including any Data Protection Law, or (ii) any COVID-19 Measure applicable to any Seller Business Group Member or the Business, or (y) require the disclosure of any information with respect to the Retained Business; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (w), (x) or (y), Seller shall inform Buyer of the nature of the information being withheld and, upon Buyer’s request, cooperate with Buyer to provide such information, in whole or in part, in a manner that would not result in any of the outcomes described in the foregoing clauses (w), (x) or (y). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during the Pre-Closing Period, (1) without the prior written consent of Seller (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Buyer shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its Representatives not to, contact any Person known by Buyer to be a vendor, supplier, customer or employee that is not a member of senior management of the Business regarding the Business, the Acquired Companies (or otherwise regarding Seller or any of its Affiliates), the subject matter of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (it being understood that Buyer, its Affiliates and Representatives may contact any such Person in the ordinary course of their respective businesses and consistent with past practice), and (2) without the prior written consent of Seller, Buyer shall have no right to perform invasive or subsurface investigations of the properties or facilities of any Seller Business Group Member or the Business.

(b) Buyer will hold any information obtained pursuant to Section 5.2(a) in confidence in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

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(c) No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation by Buyer or other information received by Buyer pursuant to Section 5.2(a) shall operate as a waiver or be deemed to modify or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement contained herein or in any certificate, document or other instrument delivered in connection herewith, the conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the Closing in Article 7 or otherwise prejudice in any way the rights and remedies of Buyer hereunder.

(d) From and after the Closing, for a period of five (5) years, Seller shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and its and their Representatives to, maintain in confidence, not disclose to any Person, any non-public, confidential or proprietary information in its possession, under its control or to which it has access to the extent relating to the Business. It is understood that Seller shall not have any liability under this Section 5.2(d) with respect to the disclosure of information that (A) is in or comes into the public domain, through no breach of this Section 5.2(d) by Seller, its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives, (B) is accessible to Seller, its Affiliates or any of its or their Representatives from a third party that is not known by Seller, its Affiliates or any of their Representatives to be bound by a duty or obligation of confidentiality to the Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies or the JV Entities) with respect to such information, (C) it is required by Law or Order or stock exchange regulation to disclose, (D) is disclosed by Seller or its Affiliates or its or their Representatives in accordance with Section 5.11 or (E) in connection with enforcing its rights under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; provided, that in the case of clause (C), Seller shall notify Buyer as early as practicable prior to disclosure to allow Buyer to take appropriate measures at Buyer’s expense to preserve the confidentiality of such information.

Section 5.3 Exclusivity. During the Pre-Closing Period, other than with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, Seller shall not and shall cause its Affiliates not to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member not to), authorize or permit any of Seller’s Representatives to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, seek, knowingly encourage, knowingly facilitate, support or induce the making, submission or announcement of any offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction, (ii) enter into, participate in, maintain or continue any negotiations regarding, or deliver or make available to any Person any non-public information with respect to, any offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction or (iii) enter into any letter of intent or any other Contract relating to any Alternative Transaction.

Section 5.4 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any occurrence of which it is aware that is reasonably likely to result in any of the conditions set forth in Article 7 becoming incapable of being satisfied; provided, however, that either Party’s failure to give notice of any such occurrence as required pursuant to this Section 5.4 shall not be (i) deemed to be a breach of the covenant contained in this Section 5.4 or (ii) taken into account in determining whether the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 7 have been satisfied.

Section 5.5 Efforts to Consummate(a) . During the Pre-Closing Period, each of Buyer and Seller shall, and Seller shall cause the Acquired Companies to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), use its respective reasonable best efforts (unless, with respect to any action, another standard of performance is expressly provided for herein) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable, including satisfaction (but not waiver) of the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 7.1.

 

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Section 5.6 Consents; Shared Contracts; Wrong Pockets.

(a) During the Pre-Closing Period, each of Buyer and Seller shall cooperate with the other Party and shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to (and, as regards Seller, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), use its respective commercially reasonable efforts (unless, with respect to any action, another standard of performance is expressly provided for herein) to give all notices to, and obtain all Consents, required or necessary pursuant to any Material Contract and any other Contract that is material to the Business, including any Contract set forth, or required to be set forth, in Section 3.5 or Section 5.17(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, or any Permit, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements; provided, however, that neither Seller nor Buyer have any obligation to (i) amend or modify any Contract or otherwise relinquish or forbear any rights under any such Contract, in each case unless such amendment, modification, relinquishment or forbearance is conditioned upon the Closing, (ii) pay any consideration to any Person for the purpose of obtaining any such Consent or (iii) pay any costs and expenses of any other Person (other than ordinary course out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees) resulting from the process of obtaining such Consent, unless, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) the other Party agrees to bear such costs and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 5.6(a) shall not apply with respect to any Shared Contracts or Contracts related to the Overhead or Shared Services, which are the subject of Section 5.6(d), or with respect to any Affiliate Agreements.

(b) Buyer acknowledges that certain Consents and waivers with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby may be required and that such Consents and waivers may not be obtained prior to or after Closing and are not conditions to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Buyer agrees that, without limiting Section 8.2, Seller shall not have any liability whatsoever under this Agreement to Buyer or its Affiliates and neither Buyer nor its Affiliates shall be entitled to assert any claims against Seller or its Affiliates arising out of or relating to the failure to obtain any Consents that may have been or may be required from the parties to such Contracts in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or because of the default, acceleration, termination or loss of right under any such Contract as a result of the failure to obtain any such Consents, in each case (i) so long as Seller has complied with its obligations under this Agreement and (ii) except for claims in respect of any of the representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement to the extent such matter would otherwise result in a breach or inaccuracy of any such representations and warranties. Buyer further agrees that no representation, warranty or covenant of Seller contained herein shall be deemed inaccurate or breached and no condition to the obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed not to be satisfied solely as a result of (x) the failure to obtain any such Consent or as a result of any default, acceleration, termination or loss of right under any such Contract as a result of the failure to obtain any such Consent or (y) any Legal Proceeding commenced or threatened, or any other action taken, by or on behalf of any Person relating to the failure to obtain any such Consent or any default, acceleration, termination or loss of right under any such Contract as a result of the failure to obtain any such Consent, in each case (A) so long as Seller has complied with its obligations under this Agreement and (B) except for claims in respect of any of the representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement to the extent such matter would otherwise result in a breach or inaccuracy of any such representations and warranties.

 

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(c) If any such Consent or waiver to any Contract referred to in Section 5.6(a) is not obtained prior to the Closing, Buyer and Seller shall cooperate (each at its own expense) in any lawful and commercially reasonable arrangement proposed by Buyer under which Buyer shall obtain (without infringing upon the legal rights of such third party or violating any applicable Contract, Law or Order) the rights and benefits and assume the costs, liabilities and obligations with respect to the asset, claim or right with respect to which the Consent has not been obtained in accordance with this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.6(c) shall not apply with respect to any Shared Contracts, which are the subject of Section 5.6(d).

(d) Except to the extent expressly agreed in connection with the Transition Services Agreement, with respect to any Shared Contract, other than a Shared Contract that relates to the Business in only a de minimis respect, during the Pre-Closing Period and for the two-year period following the Closing, at the request of Buyer (in the case of a Shared Contract to which Seller or its Subsidiaries is party) or Seller (in the case of a Shared Contract to which an Acquired Company is party), the Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) assist the other Party in negotiating and entering into arrangements for the benefit of the Business or the Retained Business, as the case may be, with the counterparty to such Shared Contract that replicates as nearly as reasonably practicable the rights and benefits of the portion of such Shared Contract related to the Business or the Retained Business, as the case may be, including the split and novation of such Shared Contract, (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable Law or Order and by the terms of such Shared Contract, enter into arrangements with the other Party to provide such Party, as nearly as reasonably practicable with rights and benefits applicable to the Business or the Retained Business under such Shared Contract (whether by entering into a separate agreement with the other Party with respect to such Shared Contract or by including such arrangements as an additional service under the Transition Services Agreement), in each case, taking into account the changes in the Business and the Retained Business resulting from the separation and resulting reduction in scale of the Business and the Retained Business and (iii) in the case of a Contract relating to Overhead and Shared Services to which an Acquired Company is a party, at the request of Seller, assign such Contract to Seller or its Subsidiary (other than an Acquired Company). Except to the extent expressly agreed otherwise in connection with the Transition Services Agreement, in the case of any Shared Contract to which both an Acquired Company and Seller or one of its Affiliates (other than an Acquired Company) is a party that relates primarily to the Business and is identified on Section 3.12(a)(x) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, the relevant Acquired Company shall bear all the costs, liabilities and obligations with respect to such Contract from and after the Closing and shall pay, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies) for any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon Seller or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such Contract arising from and after the Closing (unless such Loss is directly attributable to actions taken by a Seller Business Group Member or to the extent related to the Retained Business, whether before or after the Closing). In the case of any Shared Contract to which both an Acquired Company and Seller or one of its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies) is a party that relates primarily to the Retained Business, Seller or its relevant Subsidiary shall bear all the costs, liabilities and obligations with respect to such Contract from and after the Closing and shall pay, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the relevant Acquired Company for any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon such Acquired Company with respect to such Contract arising from and after the Closing (unless such Loss is directly attributable to actions taken by Buyer or its Subsidiaries or to the extent related to the Business, whether before or after the Closing). For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.1(d) shall not apply with respect to any Affiliate Agreements.

 

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(e) During the Pre-Closing Period, the Parties shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to, use commercially reasonable efforts to identify any Contracts that (i) primarily relate to the Business but to which only Seller or one of its Subsidiaries (other than an Acquired Company) is party or (ii) primarily relate to the Retained Business but to which only an Acquired Company (but neither Seller nor its Affiliates) is party (each of clauses (i) and (ii), a “Wrong Pocket Contract”) and notify the other Party of such Wrong Pocket Contract. In the event that during the Pre-Closing Period or the two-year period following the Closing, the Parties identify any Wrong Pocket Contract, at the request of Buyer (in the case of a Wrong Pocket Contract that primarily relates to the Business) or Seller (in the case of a Wrong Pocket Contract primarily relates to the Retained Business), the Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) seek the assignment of such Wrong Pocket Contract to the other Party or one of its Subsidiaries, or (y) to the extent permitted by applicable Law or Order and by the terms of such Wrong Pocket Contract, enter into arrangements with the other Party to provide such Party with rights and benefits that are similar in all material respects to the rights and benefits applicable to the Business or the Retained Business under such Wrong Pocket Contract (whether by entering into a separate agreement with the other Party with respect to such Wrong Pocket Contract or by including such arrangements as an additional service under the Transition Services Agreement).

(f) If (and to the extent) that it is determined during the two-year period following the Closing that legal title to or beneficial or other interest in all or part of any assets (other than Intellectual Property) that primarily relate to the Retained Business has been transferred to (or has not been transferred from) any Acquired Company, or that legal title to, or beneficial or other interest in, all or part of any assets (other than Intellectual Property) primarily related to the Business have not been transferred to any Acquired Company, Buyer shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, or Seller and its Subsidiaries shall (and, to the extent within the control of Seller and its Subsidiaries, shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), (i) execute all such agreements, assignments, licenses, deeds or other documents as may be necessary for the purposes of transferring such assets (or part thereof) or the relevant interests in them, or the relevant licenses or other rights to them, to such other Party (or to a designee of such other Party), (ii) complete all such further acts or things as the other Party may reasonably direct in order to transfer such assets or the relevant interests in them, or the relevant licenses or other rights to them, to such other Party (or to a designee of such other Party) and (iii) hold the asset (or part thereof), or relevant interest in the asset, or the relevant licenses or other rights to them, in trust for such other Party (or for the designee of such other Party) (to the extent permitted by applicable Law and Order) until the transfer or grant to the other Party is effected. To the extent that either Buyer (or an Acquired Company) or any Seller Business Group Member acquires any Wrong Pockets Contract (or any rights and benefits relating thereto) or any property, asset, license, or other right in accordance with this Section 5.6(f), the transfer or provision of such Wrong Pockets Contract (or any rights and benefits relating thereto) or property, asset, license, or other right shall be for no additional consideration. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.6(f) shall not apply with respect to any Intellectual Property, any Contracts related to the Overhead or Shared Services or any Shared Contracts, which are the subject of Section 5.6(d), or any Affiliate Agreements.

 

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(g) Seller shall (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain as promptly as possible any Consent of any Person that may be necessary for the performance of the Services (as defined in the Transition Services Agreement) and the Parties’ respective obligations pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement and (ii) if any such Consent cannot be obtained as a result of such efforts, enter into, or, as applicable, cause one of its Affiliates to enter into, a new agreement with a third party or an alternate provider in order to provide such Services thereunder in a manner compliant with the Transition Services Agreement. Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide reasonable assistance as necessary in obtaining such Consents. The costs associated with this Section 5.6(g) shall be borne in accordance with the last sentence of Section 3.1(e) of the Transition Services Agreement.

Section 5.7 Governmental Approvals.

(a) Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Section 5.7, during the Pre-Closing Period, each of Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to) use its respective reasonable best efforts to, as promptly as practicable following the date hereof (and in any event prior to the date specified in the relevant succeeding clause): (i) prepare and make all relevant filings and notices to the Governmental Bodies applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements and obtain, or cause to be obtained, the Consents of such Governmental Bodies at the earliest possible date, including in respect of the Laws set forth in Section 7.1(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (ii) prepare and file, within fifteen (15) Business Days of the date hereof (or such later date as may be agreed by the Parties in writing) the required Notification and Report Forms under the HSR Act with the FTC and DOJ in respect of Seller’s acquisition of the Buyer Stock Consideration and cause the waiting periods under the HSR Act to terminate or expire at the earliest possible date after filing, (iii) prepare and file a briefing paper with the CMA Merger Intelligence Committee within ten (10) Business Days of the date hereof (or such later date as may be agreed by the Parties in writing) describing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and requesting that the CMA confirm that that it does not intend to request further information in respect of such transactions nor refer any matter in relation thereto to a phase 1 investigation, and, should the CMA indicate, following submission of the above-referenced briefing paper, that it intends to open a phase 1 investigation, prepare and file a substantially complete draft merger notice (within the meaning of Section 96(2) of the Enterprise Act) within six (6) weeks from the date hereof (or by such later date as agreed between the Parties in writing) and use reasonable best efforts to file a definitive merger notice within three (3) months following the date hereof and in any event, as promptly as practicable following the date hereof, (iv) prepare and file, within four (4) weeks from the date hereof (or by such later date as agreed between the Parties in writing), a substantially complete draft of the Form CO (within the meaning of Article 4 of Council Regulation No 139/2004) to the EU Commission and use reasonable best efforts to file the definitive Form CO within three (3) months following the date hereof and in any event as promptly as practicable following the date hereof, (v) prepare and file, within one month following the date hereof (or by such later date as agreed to between the Parties in writing), the notification with the Turkish

 

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Competition Authority in Turkey, (vi) consult with the applicable Governmental Body to determine the applicability of the Law set forth in Section 5.7(a)(vi) of the Seller Disclosure Letter to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (vii) obtain the information necessary to reasonably determine the applicability of the Law set forth in Section 5.7(a)(vii) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, (viii) respond promptly to any requests for information made by any Governmental Body and (ix) cooperate fully with the other Party in seeking, promptly, to obtain all such Consents of such Governmental Bodies, including by considering in good faith proposed commercially reasonable amendments to this Agreement that would make the Consent of a Governmental Body unnecessary. All filings made in connection with the foregoing sentence shall be made in substantial compliance with the requirements of applicable Law or Order, including Antitrust Laws. All filing fees payable in connection with the notifications, filings, registrations, submissions or other materials contemplated by this Section 5.7(a) shall be paid entirely by Buyer, other than the fees associated with the filings under the HSR Act, which shall be borne by Seller.

(b) To the extent not prohibited by applicable Law or Order, each of Buyer and Seller shall (i) promptly notify and furnish the other Party copies of any correspondence or communication (including, in the case of any oral correspondence or communication, a summary thereof) between it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Body, on the other hand, or any filing such Party submits to any Governmental Body, (ii) consult with and permit the other Party to review in advance any proposed filing and any written or oral communication or correspondence by such Party to any Governmental Body and (iii) consider in good faith the views of such other Party in connection with any proposed filing and any written or oral communication or correspondence to any Governmental Body, in each case, to the extent relating to the subject matter of this Section 5.7 or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Neither Buyer nor Seller shall agree to, or permit any of its Affiliates or Representatives to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall not permit any other Seller Business Group Member to), participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental Body in respect of any filings, investigation, inquiry or any other matter contemplated by this Section 5.7 or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements unless it consults with the other Party in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Body, gives the other Party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting or discussion.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Buyer shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, take any and all actions necessary to obtain any Consents required under any Antitrust Law, and to enable all waiting periods under any Antitrust Law to expire, and to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under any Antitrust Law asserted by any Governmental Body, in each case, to cause the Closing and the other transactions contemplated hereby to occur as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement and, in any event, prior to the Termination Date, including (i) promptly complying with or modifying any requests or inquiries for additional information or documentation (including any second request) by any Governmental Body, (ii) offering, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, (A) the sale, divestiture, license or other disposition of any and all of the equity securities, assets, rights, products or businesses of Buyer and its Subsidiaries and the Acquired Companies and the Business and (B) any other restrictions on the activities of Buyer and its Subsidiaries and the Acquired Companies and the Business, including terminating, amending or assigning existing relationships and contractual rights and

 

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obligations, continuing certain lines of business and agreeing to restrictions on pricing, and (iii) contesting, defending and appealing any threatened or pending Legal Proceeding or preliminary or permanent injunction or other Order or Law that would adversely affect the ability of either Party to consummate, or otherwise delay the consummation of, the transactions contemplated hereby, and taking any and all other actions to prevent the entry, enactment or promulgation thereof; provided that in no event shall Buyer be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 5.7 that, when combined with other actions taken pursuant to this Section 5.7, would reasonably be expected to have an adverse impact that is material to the Business, taken as a whole, or if such action is imposed on the existing business of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, an adverse impact that is material to such existing business, taken as a whole, assuming that such existing business were the size of the Business (a “Burdensome Condition”). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Buyer, Seller or any Acquired Company or any of their respective Affiliates be obligated to, commit to take any action pursuant to this Section 5.7(c), the consummation of which is not conditioned on the consummation of the Closing.

Section 5.8 Reserved.

Section 5.9 Reserved.

Section 5.10 Public Announcements. Except (i) as otherwise expressly contemplated by or necessary to implement the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) for the joint press release to be issued by the Parties in the form previously agreed, neither Buyer nor Seller (nor any of their respective Affiliates) shall issue any press release or otherwise make any public statements or disclosure with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements without the prior written consent of the other Party, except to the extent such disclosure is required by applicable Law or Order or the rules of any stock exchange (including each Party’s obligation to file reports, schedules, forms or statements with the SEC), in which case the Party seeking to make such disclosure shall promptly notify the other Party thereof and provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such disclosure and shall consider such comments in good faith; provided that (x) the foregoing shall not apply to any public release or announcement so long as the statements contained therein concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are substantially similar to information previously released or disclosed in compliance with this Section 5.10 and (y) no consent or consultation shall be required with respect to any release, statement or disclosure issued or made in connection with a dispute between the Parties.

Section 5.11 Books and Records. For a period of six (6) years after the Closing, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and Buyer shall cause the Acquired Companies to): (a) give Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to its books and records and other information with respect to the Business and the JV Entities (in the case of the JV Entities, to the extent Seller or its Subsidiaries has, or Buyer or its Subsidiaries has the right to, access to such information) and the Business relating to periods prior to the Closing (including, in each case, the assistance of its Representatives and employees that are responsible for such books, records or other information) solely as may be necessary for (i) the preparation of financial statements and (ii) complying with any audit request, subpoena or other investigative demand by any Governmental Body or for any Legal Proceeding (including any

 

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Third-Party Claim pursuant to Article 9), subject in all cases to reasonable restrictions imposed from time to time upon advice of counsel in respect of applicable Laws or Orders relating to the confidentiality of information (including any Antitrust Laws), and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain all such books and records in the same or a similar accessible format as currently existing. The access provided pursuant to this Section 5.11 shall be conducted in such a manner so as not to interfere unreasonably with the operation of the business of Buyer, the Acquired Companies or the Business, or Seller and its Affiliates, as the case may be, and in no event will Buyer, Seller or any Seller Business Group Member be required to furnish any documents or information pursuant to this Section 5.11 to the extent it would (i) jeopardize any attorney-client or other immunity or protection from disclosure or (ii) violate (A) any Law or Order applicable to Buyer or its Subsidiaries or the assets or operations of the business of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, including any Data Protection Law or (B) any COVID-19 Measure; provided, however, that Buyer shall inform Seller of the nature of the information being withheld and, upon Seller’s request and at Seller’s sole cost and expense, cooperate with Buyer to provide such information, in whole or in part, in a manner that would not result in any of the outcomes described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Parties are in an adversarial relationship in any Legal Proceeding, this Section 5.11 shall not apply to the furnishing of information, documents or records for such Legal Proceeding. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.11 shall not apply to Tax Returns or other books and records pertaining to Taxes, which are governed by Section 6.6.

Section 5.12 Confidentiality. The Confidentiality Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference as if set forth herein and shall continue in full force and effect; provided that (x) any information to the extent relating to the Acquired Companies will be treated as “Confidential Information” (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) of Buyer from and after the Closing for purposes of the Confidentiality Agreement and (y) rating agencies shall be deemed Representatives (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement).

Section 5.13 Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance.

(a) Buyer agrees that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Acquired Companies or any indemnification agreement to which any D&O Indemnified Person is party for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing, whether (i) asserted or claimed prior to, on or after the Closing Date (including in respect of any matters arising in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements), (ii) now existing or (iii) arising prior to Closing, in favor of each Person who is now, or who has been at any time prior to the date hereof, or who becomes prior to the Closing, a director, officer, employee or other fiduciary of an Acquired Company or JV Entity or was serving as a director, officer, employee or other fiduciary of another Person at the request of an Acquired Company or the Business (each, a “D&O Indemnified Person”) shall survive the Closing and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and remain in full force and effect. For a period of six (6) years after the Closing, (A) Buyer shall not, and shall not permit any Acquired Company to, without the prior written consent of the relevant D&O Indemnified Persons, amend, repeal or modify in a manner adverse to such D&O Indemnified Person any provision in any Acquired Company’s Organizational Documents relating to the exculpation, indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any D&O Indemnified Person in connection with acts

 

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or omissions occurring on or prior to the Closing Date, whether asserted or claimed prior to, on or after the Closing Date (including in respect of any matters arising in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements), unless, and only to the extent, required by applicable Law or Order and (B) Buyer shall, and shall cause the Acquired Companies to, maintain in full force and effect any indemnification agreements between any Acquired Company and any D&O Indemnified Person in accordance with their terms. Seller will indemnify Buyer for any amounts required to be paid by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Acquired Companies) in respect of any of the foregoing matters to the extent the conduct of the applicable D&O Indemnified Person relates to the Retained Business. Buyer will indemnify Seller for any amounts required to be paid by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries to any director, officer, employee or other fiduciary of an Acquired Company to the extent such conduct relates to the Business.

(b) The provisions of this Section 5.13 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each D&O Indemnified Person, his or her heirs and his or her executors, administrators and personal representatives, each of whom is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 5.13, and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights, including rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have by Contract or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 5.13 shall survive consummation of the Closing.

Section 5.14 Employment and Benefits Arrangements.

(a) Business Employee List; Benefit Plans.

(i) No later than fifteen (15) Business Days following the date hereof, Seller shall update Section 3.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter to provide such information as of December 31, 2020 and to provide, for each Acquired Company, the aggregate number of Business Employees employed by such Acquired Company as of December 31, 2020. No later than thirty (30) days following the date hereof, Seller shall make available to Buyer a then-current correct and complete pseudonymised list as of the date thereof of all Business Employees, and with respect to each Business Employee, to the extent such information can be made available in compliance with applicable Law, such employee’s (A) employing identification number, (B) employing entity, (C) job title, (D) years of continuous service or start date, (E) annual salary, (F) variable compensation and (G) principal work location (collectively, the “Census Information”).

(ii) No earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Buyer with an updated version of the list of Business Employees made available to Buyer to reflect new hires, terminations or other personnel changes occurring to the Census Information following the date on which it is delivered to Buyer and the date that such updated list is delivered, and, for each individual listed as a Business Employee, indicating the transfer mechanism (e.g., transfer automatically by operation of applicable Law, or with an Acquired Company).

(iii) No later than thirty (30) days following the date hereof, (A) Seller shall provide Buyer with a correct and complete list as of the date thereof of each Acquired Company Benefit Plan (marked with an asterisk) and material Seller Benefit Plan, and (B) Seller will make available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all material Acquired Company Benefit Plans and material Seller Benefit Plans (or, in the case of any such plan that is an unwritten

 

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plan, a written description thereof). To the extent applicable, with respect to each material Acquired Company Benefit Plan and material Seller Benefit Plan, Seller shall also make available to Buyer no later than thirty (30) days following the date hereof, correct and complete copies of (1) all current summary plan descriptions and plan documents and all amendments or modifications thereto, (2) any current related trust agreements, funding agreements, insurance contracts or other funding arrangements, (3) any material or non-routine notices, letters or other correspondence to or from any Governmental Body received by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries within the past two (2) years and (4) the most recent actuarial valuation and financial statements.

(b) Transfer of Business Employees to Acquired Companies, Seller Employees to Seller Group. Effective no later than immediately prior to the Closing, Seller and the Company shall, or shall cause their respective Affiliates to (i) cause each Business Employee to cease to be employed by Seller or its Subsidiaries (other than an Acquired Company) (the “Seller Group”) (if applicable) and to be employed by an Acquired Company, and (ii) cause any individual who is employed by an Acquired Company who is not spending more than seventy percent (70%) of his or her working time for Seller and its Subsidiaries performing services to the Business and who is not otherwise properly identified as a Business Employee pursuant to clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of Business Employee to be employed by Seller or its Affiliates (other than an Acquired Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any applicable Law, Order, Governmental Body, Employee Representative, consent requirement or consultation obligation prevents an Acquired Company from employing as of the Closing an individual otherwise identified as a Business Employee (each such employee, a “Delayed Employment Employee”), Seller shall retain such Delayed Employment Employee and Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to cause such individual to be employed by an Acquired Company on the earliest permissible date following the Closing (the “Delayed Employment Date”). The obligations under this Agreement of the Acquired Companies in respect of a Delayed Employment Employee shall not commence unless and until the Delayed Employment Date occurs; provided, however, upon a Delayed Employment Employee’s Delayed Employment Date, as applicable, all Employee Liabilities pertaining to such Delayed Employment Employee including those arising between the Closing and the Delayed Employment Date shall be Assumed by an Acquired Company.

(c) Automatic Transfer Employees.

(i) If the contract of employment of any of the Business Employees expected to transfer automatically by operation of applicable Law or Order to an Acquired Company, Buyer or one of their respective Affiliates as a consequence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Restructuring), is within six (6) months of the Closing Date found or alleged not to have so transferred: (A) the Party who first becomes aware of such finding or allegation shall notify the other within ten (10) Business Days of becoming so aware, (B) Buyer shall, within five Business Days of becoming so aware or receiving such notice (as applicable), in consultation with Seller, make or procure that an Acquired Company or one of their respective Affiliates makes an offer to employ the relevant Business Employee which complies with this Section 5.14, (C) upon the relevant Business Employee refusing or not accepting within ten Business Days an offer made pursuant to Section 5.14(c)(i)(B), or if no such offer is made within the time period required by Section 5.14(c)(i)(B), the relevant member of the Seller Group may within a further ten Business Days terminate the relevant Business Employee’s employment, (D) if the relevant member of the Seller Group terminates the employment of the

 

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relevant Business Employee in accordance with Section 5.14(c)(i)(C), Buyer shall reimburse, indemnify and hold the Seller Group harmless against all Employee Termination Costs suffered or incurred by the Seller Group in respect of such Business Employee, (E) if the relevant Business Employee accepts such offer and subsequently transfers to Buyer or one of its Affiliates, Buyer shall reimburse, indemnify and hold the Seller Group harmless against all Employee Termination Costs suffered or incurred by the Seller Group in respect of such Business Employee; and (F) if the relevant Business Employee refuses or does not accept such offer or such offer is not made, and the relevant member of the Seller Group does not terminate the employment of the relevant Business Employee in accordance with Section 5.14(c)(i)(C), the relevant employee will no longer be considered for any purposes under this Agreement as a Business Employee.

(ii) If the contract of employment of any person other than a Business Employee (an “Undisclosed Employee”) is, within six (6) months of the Closing Date, found or alleged to have transferred automatically by operation of applicable Law or Order to an Acquired Company, Buyer or one of their respective Affiliates as a consequence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Restructuring): (A) the Party who first becomes aware of such finding or allegation shall notify the other within five (5) Business Days of becoming so aware, (B) a member of the Seller Group shall, in consultation with Buyer, within ten (10) Business Days of becoming so aware or receiving such notice (as applicable), offer to re-employ such Undisclosed Employee with terms and conditions that are equivalent to the terms and conditions of such Undisclosed Employee’s employment with the Seller Group immediately prior to the date such Undisclosed Employee is identified, (C) upon an Undisclosed Employee refusing or not accepting within ten Business Days an offer made pursuant to Section 5.14(c)(ii)(B), or if no such offer is made within the time period required by Section 5.14(c)(ii)(B), the Acquired Company, Buyer or relevant Affiliate may within a further ten Business Days terminate such Undisclosed Employee’s employment, (D) if the Acquired Company, Buyer or relevant Affiliate terminates the employment of an Undisclosed Employee in accordance with Section 5.14(c)(ii)(C), Seller shall reimburse, indemnify and hold Buyer harmless against all Employee Termination Costs suffered or incurred by the Buyer and its Affiliates in respect of such Undisclosed Employee, (E) if the relevant Undisclosed Employee accepts such offer and subsequently transfers to a member of the Seller Group, Seller shall reimburse, indemnify and hold Buyer harmless against all Employee Termination Costs suffered or incurred by Buyer in respect of such Undisclosed Employee and (F) if the relevant Undisclosed Employee refuses or does not accept such offer or such offer is not made, and the Acquired Company, Buyer or relevant Affiliate does not terminate the employment of the relevant Undisclosed Employee in accordance with Section 5.14(c)(ii)(C), the Undisclosed Employee will be considered for all purposes under this Agreement a Business Employee and a Transferred Employee

(d) Allocation of Employee Liabilities. Effective as of no later than the Closing, (i) the Parties shall cause the Acquired Companies to accept, assume, agree to pay, discharge, fulfill, honor, retain, and, to the extent applicable, comply with and defend on a timely basis (“Assume”), all of the Business Employee Liabilities and (ii) the Parties shall, or shall cause Seller to, Assume, all of the Seller Employee Liabilities. Unless otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or Order, there shall be: (i) in respect of all or any portion of any Seller Benefit Plans that are Business Employee Liabilities (the “Assumed Seller Benefit Plan Liabilities”), a transfer of such Business Employee Liabilities and, as applicable, any related assets that are dedicated to satisfaction of such Business Employee Liabilities by Seller or its Affiliates to an

 

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Acquired Company in respect of such Seller Benefit Plan and the related Assumption by an Acquired Company of such Business Employee Liabilities and assets and (ii) in respect of all or any portion of any Acquired Company Benefit Plans that are Seller Employee Liabilities, a transfer of such Seller Employee Liabilities and, as applicable, any related assets that are dedicated to satisfaction of such Seller Employee Liabilities by an Acquired Company to a member of Seller or any of its Affiliates in respect of any Acquired Company Benefit Plan and the related Assumption by a member of the Seller Group of such Seller Employee Liabilities and assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) shall not Assume any liabilities, and the Assumed Seller Benefit Plan Liabilities shall not include any liabilities, in respect of the Closing Retention Awards, the Seller Equity Plans or any predecessor to the Seller Equity Plans (other than in respect of the obligations that Buyer has expressly agreed to assume pursuant to Section 5.14(q)(ii)) and any Benefit Plan that provides defined benefit pension benefits to current or former employees that is not an Acquired Company Benefit Plan and (B) Seller and its Affiliates shall not Assume any liabilities in respect of the Post-Closing Retention Awards.

(e) Compensation and Benefits. All Business Employees employed by an Acquired Company as of the Closing, together with the Delayed Transfer Employees and any Business Employees whose employment is transferred to Buyer pursuant to Section 5.14(c) and Section 5.14(d) shall be referred to as “Transferred Employees”. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, provide each Transferred Employee with:

(i) a base salary or wage rate no less than the base salary or wage rate such employee received immediately prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) a target annual cash bonus compensation opportunity no less than the target annual cash bonus opportunity such employee received immediately prior to the Closing Date;

(iii) a target long-term incentive award opportunity substantially comparable to the target long-term equity incentive award opportunity (if any) such employee received in the ordinary course equity grant cycle of Seller that occurred immediately prior to the Closing Date;

(iv) employee benefits that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to the employee benefits such employee received in the ordinary course immediately prior to the Closing Date, unless a higher standard of comparability is required under applicable Law; and

(v) other terms and conditions of employment substantially similar to those that applied to such Business Employee immediately prior to the Closing Date, including a comparable position and primary work location to the position and primary work location applicable to such Business Employee immediately prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(f) Severance Entitlement. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, for the twelve (12) month period immediately following the Closing Date, Buyer shall, or shall cause the Acquired Companies to provide each Transferred Employee whose employment terminates in such period with cash severance no less favorable than the cash severance such employee would have received upon any such Transferred Employee’s termination of employment under the same or similar circumstances immediately prior to the Closing Date under the applicable severance plans, policies or customs and practices of Seller, and for purposes of any severance formula, factoring in his or her additional length of service and changes in his or her eligible pay between the Closing Date and the date of his or her termination.

(g) Enrollment in Benefit Plans. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, other than with respect to the Delayed Employment Employees:

(i) Seller shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, take commercially reasonable actions to cause each Business Employee to cease to be an active participant in any Seller Benefit Plan effective as of the Closing Date; and

(ii) Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, cause, effective as of the Closing Date, each Business Employee to be eligible to commence participation in Benefit Plans of Buyer or its Affiliates (including Acquired Company Benefit Plans from and after the Closing) (the “Buyer Benefit Plans”). With respect to (A) any Buyer Benefit Plan that is self-insured, Buyer shall, and shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, and (B) with respect to each other Buyer Benefit Plan, Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, or to cause the applicable Acquired Company or other Persons to, waive any limitations as to preexisting conditions, evidence of insurability, exclusions, actively at work requirements, and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements for each Business Employee under his or her respective Buyer Benefit Plans, and credit each Business Employee, for the plan year in which the Closing Date occurs, with the amount of any co-insurance, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums he or she paid prior to the Closing Date during such plan year.

(h) Length of Service Crediting. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, recognize all service before the Closing Date (or, as applicable, a Delayed Employment Employee’s later Delayed Employment Date) of any Business Employee with any Seller Business Group and with any predecessor employer for purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting and benefit accrual under any Buyer Benefit Plans in which the Business Employee is, or in which the Business Employee becomes, eligible to participate on or after the Closing Date; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent otherwise required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, Buyer, the Company and each Acquired Company shall not be required to recognize such service (w) under Buyer Benefit Plans in which such Business Employee did not participate prior to the Closing Date that are frozen or for which participation is limited to a grandfathered population that does not include the applicable Business Employee, (x) for purposes of any defined benefit pension accrual under any benefit plan of Buyer and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), (y) for purposes of any subsidy provided for any post-employment welfare benefits under any benefit plan of Buyer or its Affiliates that is frozen to new participants or (z) to the extent doing so would result in the duplication of benefits.

 

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(i) Assumed Paid Time-Off Liabilities. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, credit earned but unused vacation, sick leave or other applicable paid time-off benefits of the Business Employees through the Closing Date (the “Assumed Vacation Liabilities”). Except for any such earned but unused benefits paid out to Business Employees pursuant to Section 5.14(i) hereof, Buyer shall not, and shall not permit any Acquired Company to, take away from any Business Employee any such earned but unused vacation, sick leave or other applicable paid-time off benefits to the extent such earned but unused benefits were not subject to forfeiture in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable policy of Seller Business Group pursuant to which they were earned as in effect on the date hereof.

(j) Payment of Paid Time-Off Benefits Where Required by Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, where required by applicable Law or Order or an Acquired Company Labor Agreement, as soon as administratively practicable following the Closing Date or, if earlier, any internal reorganization (and no later than the earlier of the dates required by applicable Law or Order or the applicable Acquired Company Labor Agreement), Seller or Buyer shall, as applicable, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, pay out all earned but unused vacation, sick leave or other applicable paid time-off benefits to each Business Employee and Former Business Employee entitled to be paid such benefits by reason of the occurrence of any of the Closing or any internal reorganization to facilitate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Buyer shall reimburse Seller or the applicable Seller Business Group Member for the amount of any such payments.

(k) Severance Liabilities. Seller and its Affiliates (other than any Acquired Company) and Buyer and its Affiliates shall each be responsible for, and indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party from, 50% of any statutory, contractual, common Law or other severance obligations that arise as a result of (A) the Restructuring and the transfer of Business Employees pursuant to Section 5.14(b), (B) an objection to an automatic transfer by operation of applicable Law or the refusal to transfer their employment by way of novation or assignment, in each case, to an Acquired Company by any Business Employee not employed by an Acquired Company or (C) any Business Employee who treats themselves as having been constructively dismissed (or similar concept under applicable Law) in response to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Restructuring (100% of such obligations pursuant to clauses (A), (B) and (C), the “Transaction-Related Severance Costs”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) Seller and its Affiliates (other than any Acquired Company) shall be responsible for, and indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) from any statutory, contractual, common Law or other severance obligations that arise solely as a result of the gross negligence of Seller or any of its Affiliates or any action taken by Seller or any of its Affiliates that is not required or not permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and (y) Buyer and its Affiliates shall be responsible for, and indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates from any

 

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statutory, contractual, common Law or other severance obligations that arise solely as a result of the gross negligence of Buyer or any of its Affiliates or any action taken by Buyer or any of its Affiliates that is not required or not permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or which arise under clause (C) solely as a result of post-Closing changes, proposals or other measures of Buyer or any of its Affiliates related to terms and conditions, benefits and incentive arrangements, working conditions, reductions in force or other aspects of post-Closing employment communicated by Buyer or any of its Affiliates (excluding any Acquired Company) prior to Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Transaction-Related Severance Costs shall not include Liabilities arising under Section 5.14(c) and (ii) any other Employee Liabilities with respect to Business Employees that are not covered by this Section 5.14(k) (including any other amounts described within the definition of Severance Costs) but may otherwise arise as a result of the circumstances described in (A), (B) or (C) above shall be Business Employee Liabilities.

(l) Annual Cash Incentives. Annual cash incentive compensation earned or accrued by any Business Employee or Former Business Employee in respect of any fiscal year, and unpaid as of the Closing Date, shall be paid by Buyer or an Acquired Company, as applicable, pursuant and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable cash incentive compensation plan or policy in effect in respect of such year and in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (the “Assumed Bonus Liabilities”).

(m) Retention Awards. In respect of certain Business Employees identified in Section 5.14(m) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (each, a “Designated Retention Employee”), (i) Seller or one of its Affiliates shall, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, grant each such Designated Retention Employee a cash retention award in the applicable amount set forth in Section 5.14(m) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (each, a “Closing Retention Award”), and (ii) Buyer or one of its Affiliates shall, upon the Closing or as soon as practicable thereafter, grant each Designated Retention Employee one or more retention awards with an aggregate grant date value equal to the applicable amount set forth in Section 5.14(m) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (each, a “Post-Closing Retention Award”). The Post-Closing Retention Awards may be in the form of cash, equity awards with respect to Buyer Stock or a combination thereof, as determined by Buyer in its sole discretion; provided that, for purposes of this Section 5.14(m), the value of any equity awards shall be determined based on the closing price of Buyer Stock on the Closing Date. Vesting of the Closing Retention Awards shall be subject to the applicable Designated Retention Employee’s continued employment with Seller and its Affiliates through the Closing and vesting of the Post-Closing Retention Awards shall be in accordance with the applicable schedule set forth in Section 5.14(m) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, with payment or settlement of any earned awards occurring as soon as practicable following, but in no event more than fifteen (15) Business Days following, the applicable vesting date.

(n) Labor Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to recognize each Employee Representative and Assume, in accordance with their terms, each of the Acquired Company Labor Agreements covering Business Employees as of no later than the Closing; provided, however, in the event any Employee Representative also represents any Seller Employees, or any such Acquired Company Labor Agreement also covers any Seller Employees, Buyer shall, or shall cause the applicable Acquired Company to, recognize such Employee Representative and Assume such Acquired Company Labor Agreement only with respect to Business Employees and Seller shall, or shall cause the applicable Seller Business Group Member to recognize such Employee Representative and Assume such Acquired Company Labor Agreement only with respect to Seller Employees.

 

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(o) Information and Consultation Obligations. As regards employment-related information and consultation requirements the following shall apply:

(i) Buyer and Seller, each respectively, shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), fully comply with all of its obligations to inform and consult with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement with, and in respect of, (A) the Business Employees, (B) any Employee Representative and (C) any governmental labor agency. Buyer and Seller each respectively shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), take such steps as are required by applicable Law or Order or Acquired Company Labor Agreement, or as are otherwise reasonably required by any other Party or any of its Subsidiaries, to facilitate compliance with such information and consultation obligations, including timely providing all documents and information necessary to complete such information and/or consultation requirements.

(ii) In case Seller or any member of its Affiliates or an Acquired Company is required under applicable Law or Order or Acquired Company Labor Agreement to negotiate any agreement with the applicable Employee Representative or governmental labor agency prior to the Closing Date with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, Seller shall, and shall cause the relevant Acquired Company to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), as applicable, keep Buyer informed about the course of negotiations on a regular basis.

(iii) During the Pre-Closing Period, Seller shall, and shall cause its relevant Subsidiaries to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), coordinate and cooperate with and assist Buyer in any material communications with any Employee Representative or governmental labor agency, with respect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement; provided that (A) Buyer provides reasonable time for Seller or its relevant Subsidiary, as applicable, to review and comment on any such communication and take due consideration of any reasonable comments of Seller and (B) Seller, and its relevant Subsidiary, and Buyer mutually agree to any such communication (which approval is not needed in case such communication is required by applicable Law or Order).

(iv) In the event Seller determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary or desirable prior to the Closing Date to provide information to, meet and consult with the EWC or a limited committee of the EWC pursuant to the EWCA, Buyer shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the Seller Business Group in good faith and take such steps as are reasonably required by any Seller Business Group Member to facilitate such information and consultation process in a timely fashion prior to the Closing Date. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that such steps may include (A) arranging for appropriate representatives of Buyer or its

 

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Subsidiaries to attend one or more meetings with the EWC or its limited committee, (B) promptly considering and providing responses to questions, proposals, and reasonable requests for information, which are directed at Buyer or its Subsidiaries from the EWC or its limited committee in the course of such information and consultation process, including in any opinion delivered by the EWC or its limited committee and (C) giving consideration to and providing reasonable assistance to Seller and its Subsidiaries in the preparation of a reasoned reply to any such opinion, to the extent relating to matters which are directed at Buyer or its Subsidiaries.

(p) Communications. During the Pre-Closing Period, Buyer shall request consent from Seller prior to making any broad-based employee notices or communications (including website postings) to the Business Employees, including notices or communications with respect to employment, compensation or benefits matters addressed in this Agreement or related, directly or indirectly, to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or employment thereafter (such notices or communications, the “Employee Communications”). To the extent Seller consents to any such request, Buyer shall provide Seller with a copy of such Employee Communications, and a reasonable opportunity to review and revise in good faith all such Employee Communications. During the Pre-Closing Period, prior to making any Employee Communications to the Business Employees with respect to post-Closing employment, compensation or benefits matters or other employment, compensation or benefits matters addressed in this Section 5.14, Seller shall provide Buyer with a copy of such Employee Communications, and a reasonable opportunity to comment on such Employee Communications, and Seller shall consider in good faith any such comments. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 5.14(p) shall otherwise fetter the Seller Group’s ability to communicate with its employees (including the Business Employees).

(q) Accounting for Seller Equity Awards.

(i) Seller shall deliver Seller Shares to any Transferred Employee who validly exercises an option granted under the Seller Equity Plans following Closing after the following steps, which the Seller and the Buyer shall (subject to applicable Laws and any applicable regulatory rules) use commercially reasonable efforts to effect within 30 days of the exercise. Seller shall, within seven (7) days of the exercise of such option, notify Buyer of the number of Seller Shares in respect of which such option was exercised and the market value of such Shares on the date of exercise. Buyer (provided it has been notified of exercise in accordance with this Section 5.14(q)) shall inform Seller, within seven (7) days of being so notified, of the amount (if any) of income Tax and employee’s National Insurance contributions or other equivalent employee contributions that are due to be accounted for in respect of the exercise of such option. If any Transferred Employee has not accompanied his or her notice of exercise with a sufficient amount to cover the liability for income Tax and National Insurance contributions or other equivalent employer contributions (if any) arising on exercise, Seller shall exercise its power to withhold or collect such amounts using any of the methods set out in the Seller Equity Plan, and Seller shall thereafter promptly pay all such amounts (being both amounts accompanying the notice of exercise and amounts withheld or otherwise collected by the Seller) to Buyer.

(ii) Buyer shall cause the relevant employing entity to pay such amounts, and an amount equal to such employing entity’s National Insurance contributions or other equivalent employer contributions due in respect of the exercise of the option, to HMRC or other applicable Governmental Body.

 

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(r) No Third Party Beneficiaries. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Section 5.14 is for the sole benefit of the Parties. Without limiting the generality of Section 10.7, nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall (a) be treated as an amendment to, or be construed as amending, any Seller Benefit Plan, Acquired Company Benefit Plan or other benefit plan, program or agreement sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Seller, any other Seller Business Group Member, Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates, (b) prevent Buyer or its Affiliates from terminating any Acquired Company Benefit Plan or any other benefit plan in accordance with its terms, (c) prevent Buyer or its Affiliates, on or after the Closing Date, from terminating the employment of any Business Employee or (d) confer any rights or remedies (including third-party beneficiary rights) on any current or former director, employee, consultant or independent contractor of any Seller Business Group Member, Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates or any beneficiary or dependent thereof or any other Person.

Section 5.15 Financing.

(a)

(i) Buyer will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and use its reasonable best efforts to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to obtain and consummate the financing on the terms and conditions described in the Bridge Commitment Letter (as such terms and conditions may be modified or adjusted in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and within the limits of any “market flex” provisions therein) (the debt financing contemplated by the Bridge Commitment Letter, together with any amendment, modification, supplement, restatement, substitution of waiver thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement being referred to as the “Bridge Debt Financing”), and Buyer will not, without the prior written consent of Seller, permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any provision or remedy or voluntarily reduce commitments under, the Bridge Commitment Letter if such amendment, modification, waiver or reduction of commitments would (1) reduce the aggregate amount of the Bridge Debt Financing (including by changing the amount of fees to be paid in respect of, or original issue discount of, the Bridge Debt Financing (or payment of fees having similar effect)(other than within the limits of any “market flex” provisions therein)) below the amount necessary, when taken together with proceeds of any permanent financing and available cash, to fund the Closing Payment, (2) impose new or additional conditions, or otherwise amend, modify or expand any conditions to the receipt of the Bridge Debt Financing, in each case, in a manner that would make any portion of the Bridge Debt Financing (or satisfaction of the conditions to obtaining the Bridge Debt Financing) less likely to be funded or (3) prevent, impede or delay the ability of Buyer to consummate the Closing on the Closing Date or adversely impact the ability of Buyer to enforce its rights against the other parties to the Bridge Commitment Letter; provided that Buyer may, without the consent of Seller, amend the Bridge Commitment Letter (i) in accordance with any “market flex” provisions thereof and (ii) to add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar entities in accordance with the terms thereof (in each case, excluding any Affiliates of Buyer) who had not executed the Bank Debt Commitment Letter or the Bridge Commitment Letter, as applicable, as of the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.15, Buyer shall have the

 

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right to replace all or a portion of the Bridge Debt Financing with (x) the proceeds of consummated capital markets debt financing that are segregated by the Buyer so as to be available to consummate the Closing on the Closing Date and/or (y) other long term debt from the same and/or alternative bona fide third-party financing sources (any such financing, the “Permanent Debt Financing” and, together with the Bridge Debt Financing, the “Financing”) so long as all conditions precedent to effectiveness of definitive documentation for such financing have been satisfied or the conditions precedent to funding of such financing are in the aggregate, in respect of certainty of funding, substantially equivalent to (or more favorable and less onerous to Buyer and Seller than) the conditions precedent set forth in the Bridge Commitment Letter and would not prevent, impede or delay the ability of Buyer to consummate the Closing on the Closing Date.

(ii) Buyer will use reasonable best efforts to (A) (1) maintain in effect the Bank Debt Commitment Letter (including any definitive agreements entered into in connection therewith) and (2) maintain in effect, until the earlier of the initial funding of the Bridge Debt Financing and the replacement of the Bridge Debt Financing with the Permanent Debt Financing, the Bridge Commitment Letter and (B) satisfy on a timely basis (or obtain the waiver of) all conditions in the Bridge Commitment Letter applicable to, and within the control of, Buyer necessary to obtaining the Bridge Debt Financing on the Closing Date and comply with (or obtain a waiver of) its obligations thereunder (but excluding any condition where the failure to be so satisfied is a direct result of Seller’s failure to furnish information as required under Section 5.15(b), subject to the terms and upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Bridge Commitment Letter (without limiting clause (B) above), and (C) cause the Financing Sources under the Bridge Commitment Letter to fully fund the Bridge Debt Financing provided for thereunder on or prior to the Closing Date. Buyer will keep Seller reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis and in reasonable detail of the status of Buyer’s efforts to obtain the Bridge Debt Financing and to satisfy the conditions thereof and shall provide to Seller, upon Seller’s request and otherwise within three (3) Business Days of the occurrence thereof, copies of any material amendments, modifications or supplements to the Bridge Commitment Letter related to the availability of the Bridge Debt Financing, the commitment by the lenders to provide the Bridge Debt Financing, or the conditions, the “certain funds” provisions, any “market flex” provisions (redacted in a customary manner) or the termination provisions of the Bridge Commitment Letter as well as copies of any definitive financing documents. In the event that Buyer commences an enforcement action to enforce its rights under the Bridge Commitment Letter or the definitive financing documents entered into in connection therewith and/or to compel the Financing Sources under the Bridge Commitment Letter to fund the Bridge Debt Financing (any such action, a “Financing Action”), Buyer shall keep Seller reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis and in reasonable detail of the status of the Financing Action; provided that neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to provide access or disclose information to the extent such access or disclosure would, (x) jeopardize the attorney-client privilege or other immunity or protection from disclosure of Buyer or its Affiliates, (y) violate any (i) Law or Order applicable to Buyer, its Affiliates or the assets, or operation of the business, of Buyer or its Affiliates, including any Data Protection Law, or (ii) any COVID-19 Measure, however, that, in the case of clauses (x) or (y), Buyer shall inform Seller of the general nature of the information being withheld and, upon Seller’s request and cooperate with Seller to provide such information, in whole or in part, in a manner that would not result in any of the outcomes described in the foregoing clauses (x) or (y), including, in the case of clause (y)(ii), providing such information electronically.

 

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(iii) If any portion of the Bridge Debt Financing becomes unavailable (other than as a result of a breach by Seller of this Agreement that would cause the Bridge Debt Financing not to be available in accordance with the terms of the Bridge Commitment Letter), in each case, on the terms and conditions contemplated in the Bridge Commitment Letter (including any “market flex” provisions), (A) Buyer will promptly notify Seller and (B) Buyer will use reasonable best efforts to obtain promptly following the occurrence of such event alternative financing (from the same financing sources or other bona fide third party financing sources) (1) in an amount sufficient, when added to any portion of the Bridge Debt Financing that is available and proceeds of any permanent financing and available cash, to pay in cash the Closing Payment and (2) that does not impose new or additional conditions that were not contained in the Bridge Commitment Letter or otherwise expand, amend or modify any of the conditions that were contained in the Bridge Commitment Letter (taking into account any “market flex” provisions of the Bridge Commitment Letter), in each case, in a manner materially less favorable or more onerous to Buyer or Seller, taken as a whole, or that could reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or delay the ability of Buyer to consummate the Closing or prevent, impede or delay the funding of the Bridge Debt Financing (any such alternative financing satisfying such requirements, an “Alternative Financing”). Buyer shall provide a correct and complete copy of each alternative financing commitment letter (together with a correct and complete copy of any related fee letter, which may be redacted as provided in Section 4.8 with respect to the Fee Letters) to Seller promptly but in any event within three (3) Business Days of Buyer’s entry into such commitment letter. In such event (w) the term “Financing” will be deemed to include any Alternative Financing, (x) the term “Bridge Commitment Letter” will be deemed to include any bridge commitment letters with respect to any such Alternative Financing, (y) the term “Fee Letter” will be deemed to include any fee letter with respect to any such Alternative Financing and (z) any reference to the “Financing Sources” will include the financing institutions contemplated to provide any such Alternative Financing.

(iv) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Buyer shall give Seller notice as promptly as practicable and in any event within five (5) Business Days: (A) of any material breach or default by any party to Bridge Commitment Letter or definitive document related to the Bridge Debt Financing of which Buyer becomes aware, (B) of the receipt by Buyer of any written notice or other written communication from any Financing Source with respect to any breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to Bridge Commitment Letter or any definitive document related to the Bridge Debt Financing of any provisions of Bridge Commitment Letter or any definitive document related to the Bridge Debt Financing, (C) of any material dispute or disagreement between Buyer (and/or its Subsidiaries) on one hand, and the other parties to Bridge Commitment Letter or any definitive document on the other hand, that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the timing, availability or amount of the Bridge Debt Financing (but excluding for the avoidance of doubt any ordinary course or bona fide negotiations with respect to the terms of the Bridge Debt Financing), and (D) if for any reason Buyer believes in good faith that it will not be able to obtain all or any portion of the Bridge Debt Financing on the terms, in the manner or from the sources contemplated by the Bridge Commitment Letter or the definitive documents related to the Bridge Debt Financing.

 

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(b) Until the earlier of the Closing Date and the replacement of the Bridge Debt Financing with the Permanent Debt Financing, Seller will use reasonable best efforts to provide Buyer, and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to use reasonable best efforts to provide Buyer, in each case subject to Section 5.12 and this Section 5.15, all cooperation reasonably requested by Buyer that is customary and reasonably necessary in connection with arranging, obtaining and syndicating the Financing and causing the conditions in the Bridge Commitment Letter and the definitive transaction documents for the Financing to be satisfied as such matters relate to the Seller Business Group and the Business (in each case, to the extent that (x) such matters require Seller’s cooperation and are within their control and (y) such cooperation is customarily provided for financings of the type contemplated), including using reasonable best efforts in (i) assisting with the preparation of reasonable and customary bank information memoranda and packages (confidential and public), lender and investor presentations, rating agency materials, private placement offering memoranda or circulars, prospectuses and similar documents, and providing reasonable and customary authorization letters to the Financing Sources authorizing the distribution of information to prospective lenders and containing reasonable and customary information and representations (all such documents and materials, collectively, the “Offering Documents”), (ii) promptly, and in any event furnishing to Buyer and the Financing Sources (A) the Required Information and (B) other pertinent financial information of the Seller Business Group and Business that is reasonably available to Seller and that is required by Regulation S-X or of a type that is customarily included in offering documents for transactions similar to the Financing, (iii) having Seller designate members of senior management of the Business to participate in a reasonable number of presentations, meetings (including a reasonable number of customary meetings with the parties acting as lead arrangers, agents, underwriters, initial purchasers or placement agents for, and prospective lenders of, the Financing), due diligence sessions, drafting sessions and sessions with ratings agencies in connection with the Financing or other customary syndication activities (but not including any presentations, meetings, sessions or other interactions with any investors in securities), all at reasonable times and locations to be mutually agreed (it being understood that any participation by senior management may be by videoconference or teleconference, as appropriate) and upon reasonable advance notice, (iv) assisting in (x) the granting of security interests in collateral for the Financing and (y) satisfying the conditions precedent to the Financing to the extent the satisfaction of such condition requires the cooperation of, or is within the control of, any Seller Business Group Member, (v) providing Buyer with all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities, as reasonably requested by Buyer on behalf of Financing Sources at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, with respect to the Acquired Companies and the Business in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT ACT, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), (vi) cooperating reasonably with the Financing Sources’ and their respective advisors’ due diligence, including reasonable and customary due diligence with respect to the Seller Business Group and the Business (including their businesses and operations) for any period subsequent to the last day of the most recent fiscal period included in the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (ii)(A) above or required by Section 5.18 (but not including any presentations, meetings, sessions or other interactions with any investors in securities), (vii) requesting its independent auditors to cooperate with the Financing in a manner consistent with its reasonable and customary practices, including by participating in a reasonable number of drafting sessions, providing customary “comfort letters” (including customary “negative assurances”) covering the financial statements and certain financial information of the Business described in clause (ii)(A) above or required by Section 5.18 and customary assistance with the due diligence activities of Buyer, the Financing

 

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Sources and their respective advisors (including by participating in a reasonable number of accounting due diligence sessions), and customary consents to the inclusion of audit reports in any relevant marketing materials, registration statements and related regulatory filings (it being understood that the assistance with respect to customary comfort letters and customary negative assurances should not be required with respect to the Financing under the Bridge Commitment Letter) and (viii) preparing and delivering to Buyer any supplements to the above information as may be reasonably required pursuant to the Bridge Commitment Letter or the documentation pursuant to any other Financing. Buyer shall provide Seller with reasonable advance notice of any cooperation required by this Section 5.15(b) with reasonable specificity. Seller hereby consents to the use of the Seller Business Group’s and the Business’s logos, trademarks and service marks in connection with the Financing in a form and manner mutually agreed with Seller; provided, however, that such logos, trademarks and service marks are used in a customary manner and solely in a manner that is not intended, or reasonably likely, to harm or disparage any Seller Business Group Member or the reputation or goodwill thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no breach of this Section 5.15(b) by the Seller will result in a failure of the condition set forth in Article 7.2(b) to be satisfied other than a breach that is the primary cause of the Financing not being obtained; provided, that in the event Buyer believes any such breach has occurred, it shall provide to the Seller notice thereof, including the details of such breach and the actions necessary to cure such breach, and the Seller shall have ten (10) days following receipt of such notice to cure such breach before it will be deemed to be a breach hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, no failure of a Financing to be consummated shall, on its own, constitute breach of this Section 5.15(b) or a failure of any condition herein to Buyer’s obligations to consummate the Closing.

(c) Buyer shall afford Seller a reasonable opportunity (but not less than three (3) Business Days) to review and comment upon the Offering Documents. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 5.15(b) or any other provision of this Agreement, (i) Buyer shall be solely responsible for provision of any pro forma or projected financial information, including cost savings, synergies, capitalization, ownership, purchase accounting adjustments or other pro forma adjustments, (ii) no Seller Business Group Member or Representative thereof shall be required to authorize, approve, execute or enter into any certificate, document, agreement or instrument (including any credit agreement, note, guaranty, security or pledge agreement or other related agreement or document), or encumber any of their assets, in connection with the Financing (other than the customary authorization letters with respect to the provision of bank information memoranda and the customary representation letters with respect to the “comfort letters,” each as described in Section 5.15(b)); provided that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit the adoption or execution of any resolutions or consents effective no earlier than the Closing by any Persons that will become officers or directors of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Closing), (iii) nothing in this Agreement shall require cooperation to the extent that it would interfere unreasonably or materially with the business or operations of the Seller Business Group (it being agreed that contacting the customers, vendors or other business relationships of any Seller Business Group Member prior to the Closing Date without Seller’s consent shall constitute unreasonable interference unless such contact is in the ordinary course of business and not related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements), or to the extent that it would require a Seller Business Group Member to take any action that would reasonably be expected to (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) conflict with or violate in any material respect any of its Organizational Documents, any material Contract or any Law, (iv) nothing in this Agreement shall require the Seller Business Group or any Representative thereof to provide

 

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(A) any financial statements other than as and when required by clause (ii) of Section 5.15(b) above or by Section 5.18, (B) any pro forma or projected financial information (including of the types referenced in clause (i) above), (C) any financial information as of any date or for any period subsequent to the last day of the most recent fiscal period required by clause (ii)(A) of Section 5.15(b) or by Section 5.18 (other than such financial information available to Seller and prepared in the ordinary course) or (D) any management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, any compensation discussion and analysis, any information regarding the compensation of directors, executive officers or key employees, any risk factors, any forward-looking information or any other information of the types described in Items 104 through 703 of Regulation S-K, or any similar information, (v) nothing in this Agreement shall require the Seller Business Group or any Representative thereof to obtain an audit of any financial statements except to the extent required by clause (ii) of Section 5.15(b), (vi) no Seller Business Group Member or Representative thereof will be required to pay any commitment or other fee or incur any other liability in connection with the Financing, (vii) without limiting clause (ii) above, nothing in this Agreement shall require cooperation or assistance from a Representative of the Seller Business Group to the extent such Representative could reasonably be expected to incur any personal financial liability by providing such cooperation or assistance that will not be repaid, reimbursed or indemnified in full by Buyer and (viii) none of the Seller Business Group Members or their Representatives (excluding the Acquired Companies and the JV Entities on the Closing Date after the Closing) shall have any liability or obligation under any credit agreement or any related agreement or document or any other agreement or document related to the Financing (including any Alternative Financing) or be required to incur any other liability in connection therewith, other than ordinary course out-of-pocket costs and expenses subject to reimbursement pursuant to Section 5.15(e).

(d) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.15, Buyer acknowledges that its obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein are not conditioned upon the availability or the consummation of the Financing (including any Alternative Financing) or receipt of proceeds therefrom.

(e) Buyer will promptly, upon request by Seller, reimburse Seller for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Seller Business Group (including the Acquired Companies) in the ordinary course in connection with the cooperation of the Seller Business Group contemplated by Section 5.15(b) (other than ordinary course out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Seller and its Affiliates, including attorney’s fees, and other than any costs and expenses relating to the preparation or audit of the Audited Financial Statements). Buyer will indemnify and hold harmless each Seller Business Group Member and Representative thereof from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, claims, costs or expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees), interest, awards, judgments, fines, penalties and settlement payments suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with, or in any way relating to or arising from, the Financing (including any action taken in accordance with this Section 5.15) and any information used in connection therewith, except with respect to any bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct by any such Persons.

 

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(f) All information provided by the Seller Business Group or any of their respective Representatives pursuant to this Section 5.15 that consists of “Confidential Information” pursuant to any confidentiality agreement related to the Financing shall be kept confidential in accordance with such confidentiality agreement, except that Buyer shall be permitted to disclose such information (i) to Financing Sources and other lenders or potential lenders in accordance with the terms of the Bridge Commitment Letter and other financial institutions and investors that are or may become parties to the Financing, or to their respective counsel and auditors, in each of the foregoing cases, subject to customary confidentiality undertakings by them similar to those in such confidentiality agreements and of which Seller is the beneficiary, and to rating agencies in connection with obtaining ratings of the Financing and (ii) in the Offering Documents used in connection with the replacement of the Bridge Debt Financing with the Permanent Debt Financing.

Section 5.16 Termination of Affiliate Arrangements. Effective as of the Closing, but subject to the occurrence of the Closing, (a) except for the Intercompany Accounts set forth on Section 5.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, Seller and its controlled Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), on the one hand, and the Acquired Companies, on the other hand, shall eliminate by payment, settlement, netting, capitalization, set off, cancellation, forgiving, release or otherwise in a manner that is reasonably satisfactory to Buyer any obligations or liabilities under the Intercompany Accounts between or among such parties , in each case, such that the Acquired Companies, on the one hand, and Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), on the other hand, do not have any further liability to one another (and without any costs or other liabilities of Buyer or any of its controlled Affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Acquired Companies)) in respect of such Intercompany Accounts following the Closing and (b) except for the Contracts set forth in Section 5.16(b) of Seller Disclosure Letter, the Affiliate Agreements shall be terminated in their entirety and shall be without any further force or effect, without any further obligations or liabilities of Seller and its controlled Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), on the one hand, and Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Acquired Companies), on the other hand, following the Closing by termination agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, intercompany accounts and balances solely between or among any of the Acquired Companies shall not be affected by this Section 5.16.

Section 5.17 Ancillary Agreements.

(a) On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and, if applicable, each shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver each of the A&R Shareholders Agreement, the GPPSA Amendment, and the U.S. Distribution Agreement Amendment, each in the form attached as Exhibit A, Exhibit H and Exhibit G hereto, respectively, if such agreement has not been executed prior thereto.

(b) On the Closing Date, Seller shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries party to the AHDL PSA to execute and deliver the AHDL PSA in the form attached as Exhibit B, with such changes as may be agreed upon in writing by the Parties, a copy of which shall be made available to Buyer at the Closing.

 

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(c) During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to negotiate and document Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the Transition Services Agreement in accordance with the principles set forth on Section 5.17(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter. On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller Shall execute and deliver the Transition Services Agreement, in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto (with Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 thereof amended pursuant to the foregoing sentence).

(d) During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to (i) negotiate and document each Intellectual Property License Agreement in a manner that reflects the terms set forth on, Exhibit D-1 (with respect to any licenses to Buyer or an Affiliate thereof (including an Acquired Company)) and Exhibit D-2 (with respect to any licenses to Seller or an Affiliate thereof) hereto. On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and, if applicable, each shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver each Intellectual Property License Agreement.

(e) During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to (i) negotiate and document each Support Agreement in a manner that reflects the terms set forth on Exhibit D-3 hereto and (ii) document the services to be set forth on the schedule to each such Support Agreement. On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and, if applicable, each shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver each Support Agreement.

(f) During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to implement the terms and provisions set forth in Schedule 5.17(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter) in accordance with the principles and parameters set forth therein. On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and, if applicable, each shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver each Real Estate Separation Agreement.

(g) Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to negotiate and document an agreement (the “Naples Agreement”) whereby Buyer (or an Affiliate thereof (including an Acquired Company), as applicable) shall receive services with respect to, or shall carry out (if the necessary Naples Personnel and assets are made available to Buyer or an Affiliate thereof), the support, development and maintenance of proprietary key systems of the Business, including Leonardo and Garibaldi, which were provided to the Business during the thirteen (13) months preceding the Closing Date by employees and other service providers of Seller or its Subsidiaries in Naples, Italy (the “Naples Personnel”), including those services described on Section 5.17(g) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Naples Services”), on commercially reasonable terms. The Naples Agreement shall include the following provisions: (i) scope and performance levels for the Naples Services shall be comparable to the scope and performance levels for such services during the thirteen- (13)- month period prior to the Closing Date, (ii) if applicable, pricing for the Naples Services shall be at Fully Loaded Cost (as defined in the Transition Services Agreement), calculated consistent with the methodology used to calculate the amounts attributable to the Naples Services in the Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, (iii) in case of a services agreement, Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 5.29(a), be permitted to solicit for employment or consulting service, hire and engage any Naples Personnel, and Seller and its Subsidiaries shall reasonably cooperate with any such efforts by Buyer and its Affiliates, with

 

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appropriate reduction in service levels and obligations to reflect any such engagement by Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) of Naples Personnel, (iv) Seller and its Subsidiaries shall reasonably assist Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) to transition the assets required to perform the Naples Services from Seller or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies), as applicable, and (v) an initial term of five (5) years from the Closing Date, with up to five (5) extensions of twelve (12) months each at Buyer’s election, subject to any provisions for early termination which are agreed. Buyer and Seller shall consider in good faith whether, in each case, for the agreed term, the Naples Services will be provided directly by Seller (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) to Buyer (or its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies), as applicable), through a services agreement between Seller (or its Subsidiaries, as applicable) and Buyer (or its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies), as applicable), the employment of the Naples Personnel by Buyer (or its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies)), the secondment of Naples Personnel to Buyer (or its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies), as applicable), or through other arrangements mutually agreed between the Parties. On or prior to the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and, if applicable, each shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver the Naples Agreement and such other documents, and take such other actions as may be reasonably required, to give effect to the mutually agreed arrangements contemplated by this Section 5.17(g). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.17(g) to the contrary, the terms of the Naples Agreement shall be in compliance with applicable Law, Order and Contract (including rights under applicable Law of any employee or individual service provider of Seller or its Subsidiaries, any Employee Representative or any other third party, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement or other Contract).

(h) During the Pre-Closing Period, Seller shall make available to Buyer any Contracts between the Retained Business, on the one hand, and third parties, on the other hand, related to the distribution of generic pharmaceuticals and other Products under the “Almus” brand in the United States and Mexico. During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to negotiate and document each Distribution Agreement on terms, including with respect to scope and pricing, comparable to the applicable arrangement that is currently in effect; provided that the term and termination provisions of each Distribution Agreement shall be the same as the term of the Intellectual Property License Agreement set forth on Exhibit D-1. On the Closing Date, each of Buyer and Seller shall (and if applicable, shall cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to) execute and deliver each Distribution Agreement. To the extent that the Parties fail to agree upon, document, execute and deliver any Distribution Agreement during the Pre-Closing Period, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 5.16, the relevant arrangement currently in effect shall continue in accordance with its terms post-Closing and the Distribution Agreement shall not be considered an Ancillary Agreement for purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that in any such case, each of the Parties shall cooperate in good faith post-Closing to negotiate and document, and to execute and deliver (or if applicable, cause its applicable Affiliate party thereto to execute and deliver), such Distribution Agreement, in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.17(h), and upon execution and delivery thereof, the relevant arrangement currently in effect shall be terminated in its entirety and shall be without any further force or effect, without any further obligations or liabilities of Seller and its controlled Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), on the one hand, and Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Acquired Companies), on the other hand, by a termination agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.

 

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(i) During the Pre-Closing Period, Seller shall cause Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH to use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate and document an agreement or agreements pursuant to which the Business will receive volume incentive rebates from generic manufacturers in respect of generic drug volumes on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Business than those volume incentive rebates in place as of the date of this Agreement. To the extent Consent from the applicable third-party manufacturer is not obtained prior to the Closing, the Parties shall enter into, at the Closing, a back-to-back or other arrangement pursuant to which Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH shall provide the Business with its ratable portion of volume incentive rebates under Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH Contracts with generic manufacturers that currently benefit the Business. The arrangements entered into pursuant to this Section 5.17(i) are referred to as the “Volume Incentive Rebate Agreements”.

(j) During the Pre-Closing Period, Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Galencia AG or its Affiliates to execute and deliver to an Acquired Company all documentation reasonably necessary to effect the transfer of any of their right, title and interest in and to any In-Scope Trademarks (except, for the avoidance of doubt, any Trademark containing the “3 stripes” design) to an Acquired Company, in each case in a form reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.

Section 5.18 Post-Signing Financial Statements. During the Pre-Closing Period, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) days of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Business, Seller shall deliver to Buyer financial statements of the Business with respect to such fiscal quarter of the type described in, and satisfying the requirements of, clause (a) of the definition of Required Information.

Section 5.19 Trademarks .

(a) Buyer hereby acknowledges and agrees (i) that all right, title and interest in, to and under the Trademarks listed in Section 5.19(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, are, and following the Closing will be, owned exclusively by Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), and that, except as expressly provided in the Intellectual Property License Agreements, the Support Agreements and the Distribution Agreements, neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) shall use any such Trademarks following the Closing and (ii) Buyer and its Affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Acquired Companies are not acquiring any right, title or interest in any Trademarks other than the In-Scope Trademarks, except as expressly provided in the Intellectual Property License Agreements, the Support Agreements and the Distribution Agreements.

(b) Seller hereby acknowledges and agrees that all right, title and interest in, to and under the Trademarks listed in Section 5.19(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “In-Scope Trademarks”) following the Closing will be owned exclusively by Buyer and its Affiliates, and that, except as expressly provided in the Intellectual Property License Agreements, the Support Agreements and the Distribution Agreements, neither Seller nor any of its Affiliates shall use any such Trademarks following the Closing.

 

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(c) Except as set forth in the Intellectual Property License Agreements, promptly after the Closing, but in no event later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Closing, (i) Buyer shall cause the Acquired Companies to change their name to a name that does not contain, incorporate or consist of the name “WALGREENS” or “BOOTS” or any other Trademarks listed in Section 5.19(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter or otherwise used in the Business, or any Trademarks confusingly similar to any of the foregoing and (ii) Seller shall cause its applicable Affiliates, if any, to change their name to a name that does not contain, incorporate or consist of any other Trademarks listed in Section 5.19(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, or any Trademarks confusingly similar thereto. Buyer or the Acquired Companies or Seller and its Affiliates, as applicable, shall promptly deliver to Buyer or Seller any relevant documentation evidencing such name change, including any name change amendment and name change notice filed with or submitted to any Governmental Body in each jurisdiction in which any such Person is qualified to do business.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) shall not be in breach of this Section 5.19 by reason of any use by Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) of any name or Trademark to identify the products or services of Seller or its Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies) in a descriptive manner that constitutes a “nominal fair use” and would not be considered trademark infringement or dilution under applicable Law or otherwise give rise to any likelihood of confusion as to the source or origin of any goods or services or imply any endorsement by, or ongoing association with, Seller

(e) No later than thirty (30) days following the date hereof, Seller shall update Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter to provide all internet domain names constituting Registered Business Intellectual Property as of the date hereof.

Section 5.20 Wrong Pockets; Omitted Assets and Liabilities.

(a) From and after the Closing Date until the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing Date, if a Party becomes aware of any material assets (including Excluded Business Intellectual Property, but excluding all other Trademarks) or liabilities that primarily relate to the Retained Business that remain owned and in the possession of Buyer or the Acquired Companies, including any funds intended for Seller or its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any funds that were included or will be included in the calculation of Final Cash or Final Working Capital, any assets made available to the other Party pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements and any amounts payable from insurers in respect of the matter set forth in Section 5.24(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter), (i) such Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing and (ii) the Parties shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, cause such asset or liability is transferred or assumed, with any necessary prior third party Consent or approval to be sought in accordance Section 5.6, to Seller or its designee.

(b) From and after the Closing Date until the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing Date, if a Party becomes aware of any material assets (including any In-Scope Trademarks, but excluding all other Trademarks) or liabilities that primarily relate to the Business that remain owned and in the possession of Seller or its Subsidiaries, including any funds intended for the Acquired Companies (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any funds that should have

 

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been, but were not, including in the calculation of Final Cash or Final Working Capital and excluding any assets made available to the other Party pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements), (i) such Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing and (ii) the Parties shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, cause such asset or liability is transferred or assumed with any necessary prior third party Consent or approval to be sought in accordance Section 5.6, to Buyer or its designee.

(c) Without limiting Section 5.20(a) and Section 5.20(b), from and after the Closing until the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing Date, upon the request of Buyer, Seller shall, at no cost to Buyer, transfer to Buyer, or arrange for Buyer to otherwise have access to or use in connection with the Business (including by way of a new service under the Transition Services Agreement), any asset (other than Intellectual Property) owned by and in the possession or control of Seller or its Subsidiary to the extent that the failure of Seller or its Subsidiary to transfer, or otherwise grant such access or use to, such asset as of the Closing resulted in a breach, as of the Closing, of any of the representations and warranties of Seller contained in Section 3.9(c).

(d) Without limiting Section 5.20(a) and Section 5.20(b), from and after the Closing Date until the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing Date, if a Party becomes aware of any Intellectual Property that (x) was acquired pursuant to this Agreement (including Intellectual Property required to be transferred or assumed in accordance with Section 5.20(b)) that remains owned and in the possession of Buyer or the Acquired Companies and (y) was used in and necessary for the conduct of the Retained Business as conducted as of the Closing Date, then (i) such Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing and (ii) unless the other Party reasonably disputes such use or necessity, the Parties shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, negotiate a Contract (or Contracts) in good faith under which Seller or its designee will receive a perpetual, royalty-free license on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms to use such Intellectual Property; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not apply with respect to any Intellectual Property already licensed to Seller pursuant to the Intellectual Property License Agreements, the Support Agreements or the Distribution Agreements.

(e) Without limiting Section 5.20(a) and Section 5.20(b), from and after the Closing Date until the second (2nd) anniversary of the Closing Date, if a Party becomes aware of any Intellectual Property (including Intellectual Property required to be transferred or assumed in accordance with Section 5.20(a)) that remains owned and in the possession of Seller or its Subsidiaries and was used in and necessary for the conduct of the Business as conducted as of the Closing Date, (i) such Party shall promptly notify the other Party in writing and (ii) unless the other Party reasonably disputes such use or necessity, the Parties shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, negotiate a Contract (or Contracts) in good faith under which Buyer or its designee will receive a perpetual, royalty-free license on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms to use such Intellectual Property; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not apply with respect to any Excluded Business Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property used in connection with the Overhead and Shared Services, or Intellectual Property already licensed to Buyer or the Acquired Companies pursuant to the Intellectual Property License Agreements, Support Agreements and the Transition Services Agreement.

 

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Section 5.21 Restructuring.

(a) Seller intends to cause the proposed steps that shall be acknowledged in writing by Buyer and Seller (the “Initial Steps Plan”) (as such Initial Steps Plan may be further amended from time to time as agreed by the Parties, the “Restructuring”) to be completed prior to the Closing. Seller shall consult regularly with Buyer on the timing, structure, implementation steps, intended tax treatment and all other matters relating to the Restructuring and shall keep Buyer reasonably informed via email notification to the address set forth on Section 5.21 of the Seller Disclosure Letter of any proposed modifications to the Initial Steps Plan (as it may be further amended from time to time) or the Restructuring, and shall permit Buyer a reasonable opportunity to review such proposed modifications before they are executed. Reasonably in advance of the Closing (or, if earlier, prior to the time such Contracts are to be entered into), Seller shall provide Buyer with the execution versions of all Contracts to which any Acquired Company or JV Entity is to be a party relating to the Restructuring and any other documents implementing the Restructuring (the “Restructuring Documents”).

Section 5.22 Credit Support for the Business.

(a) Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to procure on or promptly after the Closing Date (and Seller shall cooperate with Buyer in procuring) the return or unconditional release by the applicable counterparty of each obligation of Seller or any of its Affiliates with respect to the Business or any Acquired Company or the assets thereof (including any guarantee or credit support provided by, or any letter of credit, performance bond or surety posted by, Seller or any of its Affiliates or any third party on behalf thereof), including those set forth on Section 5.22(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules (the “Seller Financial Assurances”), including by providing substitute guarantees, furnishing letters of credit, instituting escrow arrangements or posting surety or performance bonds with terms that are at least as favorable to the counterparty as the terms of the applicable Seller Financial Assurance. Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates from and against any and all Losses resulting from any failure of Buyer to obtain any return and/or unconditional release with respect to any Seller Financial Assurance or to otherwise comply with its obligations under this Section 5.22(a).

(b) Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to procure on or promptly after the Closing Date (and Buyer shall cooperate with Seller in procuring) the return or unconditional release by the applicable counterparty of each obligation of the Acquired Company or the assets thereof with respect to any Retained Business (including any guarantee or credit support provided by, or any letter of credit, performance bond or surety posted by, Seller or any of its Affiliates or any third party on behalf thereof), that is set forth in Section 5.22(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Buyer Financial Assurances”), including by providing substitute guarantees, furnishing letters of credit, instituting escrow arrangements or posting surety or performance bonds with terms that are at least as favorable to the counterparty as the terms of the applicable Buyer Financial Assurance. Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) from and against any and all Losses resulting from any failure of Seller to obtain any return and/or unconditional release with respect to any Buyer Financial Assurance or to otherwise comply with its obligations under this Section 5.22(b).

 

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Section 5.23 Overhead and Shared Services. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Transition Services Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, (a) all Overhead and Shared Services provided to the Acquired Companies or the Business shall cease without any further liability or obligation to Seller or its Affiliates or Buyer or its Affiliates or the Business or the Acquired Companies and (b) Seller and its Affiliates shall have no further obligation to provide any Overhead and Shared Services to the Acquired Companies or the Business.

Section 5.24 Insurance.

(a) General Assistance. At Buyer’s request, Seller shall, and cause its Subsidiaries to, during the Pre-Closing Period and for a period of three (3) months after the Closing, reasonably assist Buyer in obtaining replacement insurance policies (including, where relevant, “tail” or “run-off” policies or policy endorsements, as the case may be) for the Acquired Companies (in each case that will be effective not earlier than the Closing) with respect to any insurance policy (other than the Designated Seller Programs, the Dedicated Business Policies and self-insurance arrangements) of Seller and its Subsidiaries that currently benefits the Business (each such policy, excluding the Dedicated Business Policies and self-insurance arrangements, a “Seller Policy”). Such assistance by Seller shall not include incurring any out-of-pocket financial expense or liability or taking, or agreeing to take, any action that would adversely affect any such Seller Policy (including as a result of any increased deductibles or decreased, allocated or shared coverage limits).

(b) Designated Seller Programs. With respect to the Seller Policies comprising each of the insurance programs identified in Section 5.24(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter (each a “Designated Seller Program”):

(i) At Buyer’s request, Seller shall use reasonable best efforts to (A) obtain “tail” or “run-off” policies or policy endorsements (each, a “New Tail Policy”) for the Acquired Companies (in each case that will be effective at the Closing) with an aggregate coverage limit of at least the amount set forth in Section 5.24(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter for such Designated Seller Program (the “Agreed Amount”), or such high amount as Buyer may reasonably request), and otherwise on prevailing market terms (any such New Tail Policy or Policies with an aggregate coverage limit of at least the Agreed Amount and that otherwise complies with such requirements, an “Acceptable Tail Policy”) and (B) reasonably assist Buyer if it determines to seek to obtain directly a New Tail Policy (it being understood that Buyer and Seller shall coordinate any approaches to the insurance market in order to avoid disruptions or duplication of efforts). Seller’s obligations under this paragraph (b) shall not include incurring any out-of-pocket financial expense or liability or taking, or agreeing to take, any action that would adversely affect any such Designated Seller Program (including as a result of any increased deductibles or decreased, allocated or shared coverage limits), but without limiting Seller’s obligations in clause (ii) of this paragraph (b). Seller shall consult with Buyer on a reasonable basis during such process and, if Seller advises Buyer that an Acceptable Tail Policy is available to be bound, Buyer will have the right to direct Seller to accept and bind such policy on behalf of the Acquired Companies (with any premiums or other costs of doing so being borne by Buyer).

 

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(ii) If Seller is unable to obtain an Acceptable Tail Policy for any Designated Seller Program by the Closing, Seller shall,

(A) With respect to the Designated Seller Programs not designated with an asterisk Section 5.24(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, Seller shall, at Buyer’s request, agree that coverage limits for such Designated Seller Program may be allocated to or shared with a related New Tail Policy to be obtained by Buyer (and at Buyer’s expense) at or prior to Closing for the benefit of the Acquired Companies, but only (A) to the extent necessary to permit the New Tail Policy or Policies to have an aggregate coverage limit of at least the Agreed Amount and (B) so long as such sharing or allocation does not result in a reduction in excess of the Agreed Amount of the coverage limit exclusively available for such Designated Seller Program. The manner of implementation of any such allocation or sharing shall be agreed by Buyer and Seller, each acting reasonably.

(B) With respect to the Designated Seller Program designated with an asterisk on Section 5.24(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (the “Existing Tailed Policy”), Seller shall permit the Acquired Companies following the Closing, and each applicable D&O Indemnified Person, to submit claims against such Existing Tailed Policy in accordance with its terms in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Agreed Amount for the Existing Tailed Program. Seller shall (at Buyer’s expense) cooperate with Buyer in submitting such claims, including by, at Buyer’s request, using commercially reasonable efforts to amend the terms of the Existing Tailed Policy to permit such claims so long as such amendment has no adverse impact on (x) the Existing Tailed Policy (other than permitting such claims) or (y) on Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. If this paragraph (B) is implemented, from and after the Closing, Buyer shall bear a portion of the premiums and related costs of the Existing Tailed Policy equal to the ratio of the Agreed Amount to the aggregate coverage limit of the Existing Tailed Policy. The manner of implementation of the terms of this paragraph (B) shall be agreed by Buyer and Seller, each acting reasonably.

For the avoidance of doubt, Seller shall have no obligations to take the actions in the foregoing clause (ii) with respect to any Designated Seller Program as to which Seller identified an Acceptable Tail Policy and Buyer determined to not accept and bind such Acceptable Tail Policy.

(c) Dedicated Business Policies. Buyer and Seller shall take the actions specified to be taken in Section 5.6(a) with respect to any insurance policy that is held by any Acquired Company or that otherwise exclusively insures the Business or one or more Acquired Companies (the “Dedicated Business Policies”); provided that no such action shall be required if it would require incurring any out-of-pocket financial expense or liability (other than reasonable outside counsel fees and expenses) or adversely affect any insurance policy of Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than the Acquired Companies from and after Closing) or Seller’s and its Subsidiaries’ coverage (including as a result of any increased deductibles or decreased, allocated or shared coverage limits) under any such policy.

 

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(d) Claims Pending at Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as set forth on Section 5.24(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule with respect to any claims under Seller Policies made prior to the Closing, to the extent such claims (x) relate to the Business or any of the Acquired Companies or any D&O Indemnified Person or any Loss incurred by the Business or any Acquired Company or any D&O Indemnified Person and (y) are in respect of any Loss as to which Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including any of the Acquired Companies) will have a liability following the Closing (collectively, the “Business Insurance Claims”):

(i) Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Seller Policies in full force and effect to the extent they apply to the Business Insurance Claims (without any amendment that would be adverse, in any material respect, to the Business or the Acquired Companies) and shall take no action to exclude or remove the Business Insurance Claims from coverage under such policies,

(ii) Seller shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, relinquish any of their rights, or take any actions (other than the making of claims under the Seller Policies) that would reasonably be expected to reduce or otherwise limit the available coverage for any Business Insurance Claims under any Seller Policies,

(iii) Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, in consultation with Buyer, use commercially reasonable efforts to take the actions required under the Seller Policies to recover from the insurance carriers for such Seller Policies all amounts available in respect of such Business Insurance Claims, and

(iv) With respect to amounts recovered by Seller or a Seller Business Group Member following the Closing under such Seller Policies in respect of any such Business Insurance Claims, Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, remit such amounts to Buyer (or, if applicable, a D&O Indemnified Person) promptly upon receipt.

Buyer shall exclusively bear (and Seller or its Affiliates shall have no obligation to repay or reimburse Buyer for) all deductibles and retentions and uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts relating to or associated with the Business Insurance Claims. Buyer shall reimburse Seller, promptly upon request, for any increased retrospective premiums, increased deductible and other increased retention amounts and any other reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses related to the recovery of any such Business Insurance Claims.

(e) No Other Rights. Without limiting Buyer’s rights under paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 5.24(b), (i) Buyer hereby acknowledges that, other than Dedicated Business Policies, , none of the insurance policies or self-insurance programs maintained by Seller and its Affiliates for the benefit of the Business will transfer to Buyer or its Subsidiaries (including the Acquired Companies at the Closing), (ii) Buyer shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) not to, assert, by way of any Legal Proceeding or otherwise, any right to any insurance policies or arrangements (including self-insurance arrangements) of Seller or its Affiliates or any of their respective assets, rights, titles or interests or any benefit under or with respect thereto and (iii) Seller and its Affiliates shall retain after the Closing all assets, right, title and interest in and to such policies and arrangements, including the right to any credit or return premiums due, paid or payable in connection with the termination thereof with respect to the Acquired Companies and all amounts paid in respect of an insurance policy, including in respect of any casualty or liability relating to the Business prior to the Closing.

 

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Section 5.25 Further Assurances. Following the Closing, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to (and, to the extent within the control of Seller or its Subsidiaries, Seller shall cause each other Seller Business Group Member to), execute and deliver such additional documents, instruments and assurances and take such other actions as may reasonably be requested to carry out and give effect to the provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Section 5.26 Litigation Support. In the event and for so long as Buyer or Seller, or their respective Affiliates, as applicable, is prosecuting, contesting or defending any Legal Proceeding, other investigation, charge, claim or demand by a third party (including the NYSE or any Governmental Body) in connection with (a) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, or (b) any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction relating to, in connection with or arising from the Acquired Companies or the Business (in the case of Buyer) or the Retained Business (in the case of Seller), the other Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective employees to, cooperate with such first Party and its counsel at the expense of the first such Party in such prosecution, contest or defenses, including making reasonably available its personnel, and providing such testimony and access to its books and records during normal business hours and in a manner that does not interfere with such other Party’s business as shall be reasonably necessary in connection with such prosecution, contest or defense; provided that the first Party shall treat all such information as confidential and hereby waives any right to use such information for any purpose other than in connection with such Legal Proceeding, other investigation, charge, claim or demand by a third party; and provided, further that no Party shall be obliged to disclose or provide access to any documents, records or information subject to attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product protection except as set forth in Section 10.14 or that are trade secrets (provided that such Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow for such disclosure (or as much of it as possible) in a manner that does not result in a loss of attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product protection or that would not jeopardize such trade secret).

Section 5.27 NYSE Listing. Buyer shall cause the Buyer Stock Consideration to be approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. Seller shall cooperate with Buyer in the preparation of the materials to be submitted to the NYSE and the resolution of any comments thereto received from the NYSE at Buyer’s cost and expense.

Section 5.28 [Reserved].

 

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Section 5.29 Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.

(a) As a necessary measure to ensure that Buyer realizes the goodwill and associated benefits of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, from the Closing Date and for a period of two (2) years following the Closing Date, Seller shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit for employment or consulting service any Business Employee with a title of Managing Director or higher (each, a “Senior Employee”), any Business Employee who directly reports to a Managing Director (each, a “Primary Report”) and any Business Employee who directly reports to a Primary Report (together with the Senior Employees and the Primary Reports, “Restricted Persons”), or (ii) hire, whether as a manager, director, officer, employee, contractor, consultant or other individual service provider, any Restricted Person; provided that the restrictions contained in this Section 5.29(a)(i) shall not apply to the placement of general advertisements (whether in paper or digital media), conducting any other form of general solicitation or the use of general search firm services that are not targeted towards any Restricted Persons; provided, further, that the restrictions contained in this Section 5.29(a) shall not prohibit the solicitation or hiring with respect to any Restricted Person from and after the date that is six (6) months after the date that such Restricted Person ceases to be employed by Buyer or any of its Affiliates or from and after the date that such Restricted Person is terminated by Buyer or any of its Affiliates without cause.

(b) As a necessary measure to ensure that Buyer realizes the goodwill and associated benefits of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, from the Closing Date and for a period of three (3) years after the Closing Date, Seller shall not, and shall cause its controlled Affiliates not to directly or indirectly, invest in, acquire, own, manage, control, operate or otherwise engage in a Competing Business, or enter into any business arrangement with or otherwise partner with any third party for the primary purpose of engaging in a Competing Business; provided, that the foregoing shall not prohibit:

(i) Seller or any of its controlled Affiliates from owning or acquiring, directly or indirectly, (A) as a passive, non-controlling investor (without any membership on the board of directors or similar governing body of such Person or role in the management thereof) ten percent (10%) or less of the outstanding securities of any Person, owning or acquiring securities held as investments of any pension fund or employee benefit plan of Seller, or investing in any fund in which Seller or any of its Subsidiaries have no discretion with respect to the investment strategy of such fund (a “De Minimis Investment”), or (B) equity interests in Alliance Healthcare Italia, S.p.A., Alliance Healthcare Deutschland AG and the China JVs or their successors or any of their respective assets or businesses;

(ii) the acquisition of any equity interests of Seller or any of its Affiliates by a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in a Competing Business or the activities of any such Person or its Affiliates (other than Seller or its Subsidiaries);

(iii) Seller or any of its controlled Affiliates from acquiring and, after such acquisition, owning an interest in any Person or business that is engaged in a Competing Business other than a De Minimis Investment, and operating such Competing Business, if (A) Seller or its Affiliates, as applicable, divests or otherwise disposes of the operations of such Person or business that are engaged in a Competing Business promptly after the acquisition thereof and in any event no later than one (1) year following such acquisition; provided, that if Seller or its Affiliate enters into a written binding agreement to divest such operations during such one (1)-year period, then the one (1)-year period shall be extended until the closing of such transaction or (B) the revenues derived from the Competing Business are less than ten percent (10%) of the total revenues of such Person in its most recently completed fiscal year;

 

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(iv) Seller or any of its controlled Affiliates from taking any actions required in order to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, or conducting any business or operations that are expressly permitted to be conducted by Seller and its Affiliates and the JV Entities under any Ancillary Agreement or any Affiliate Agreement that survives the Closing;

(v) Seller or any of its controlled Affiliates from (A) engaging in the Retained Business, including the distribution of the private label brands and offerings of Seller’s retail pharmacy, including the brands No 7, Botanics, Liz Earle, Sleek Make Up and Your Good Skin and other global branded products Manufactured by or on behalf of Seller and its Affiliates that are not of the type sold by the Business under the “Alvita” and “Almus” brands or any derivations thereof as of the Closing Date by or on behalf of the Retained Business in the Wholesale Distribution Territory, (B) the Retained Business (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Alliance Healthcare Deutschland AG, Alliance Healthcare Italia, S.p.A. and the China JVs) engaging in parallel trade in any jurisdiction in the world, including the Wholesale Distribution Territory or (C) engaging in the Competing Business from Germany, Italy, China or any other jurisdiction to pharmacies, patients, doctors, health centers and hospitals in the Wholesale Distribution Territory in a manner materially consistent with the conduct of such businesses during the twelve (12) months preceding the Closing Date;

(vi) the activities contemplated by Section 5.29(b)(vi) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(vii) the wholesale distribution of Products to pharmacies owned and operated by Seller and its Subsidiaries in any jurisdiction, including in the Wholesale Distribution Territory, which pharmacies were acquired by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries as part of an acquisition of a pharmacy chain which prior to such acquisition acquired all or any portion of its Products through vertically integrated self-distribution or through an Affiliate of such pharmacy chain that was also acquired by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries as part of such pharmacy chain acquisition to the same extent such self-distribution occurred prior to such acquisition; or

(viii) Seller or any of its Affiliates from owning Buyer Stock or acquiring Buyer Stock in accordance with the terms set forth in any of the Ancillary Agreements.

(c) Seller agrees and acknowledges, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that (i) Buyer is relying to its detriment on the covenants set forth in this Section 5.29 in connection with entering into this Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and would not have entered into this Agreement absent the provisions of this Section 5.29, (ii) the enforcement of any covenants set forth in this Section 5.29 against Seller or its Affiliates would not impose any undue burden upon Seller or its Affiliates and (iii) none of the covenants set forth in this Section 5.29 are unreasonable as to duration or scope as of the date of this Agreement.

Section 5.30 Certain Additional Agreements. The parties will comply with their respective obligations set forth in Section 5.30 of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

 

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ARTICLE 6

TAX MATTERS

Section 6.1 Purchase Price Allocation.

(a)

(i) Within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to Buyer a schedule allocating the Purchase Price (together with any other amounts constituting consideration for Tax purposes) among the equity interests of each Company Subsidiary (including Company Subsidiaries treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and Company Subsidiaries treated as Disregarded Entities) and the JV Entities in a manner consistent with the methodology set forth on Exhibit E hereto and applicable Law and Order (the “Entity Purchase Price Allocation”) along with supporting material provided by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by Seller and reasonably satisfactory to Buyer establishing the valuations.

(ii) Buyer shall have the right to review and raise any objections in writing to the Entity Purchase Price Allocation during the thirty (30) day period after receipt thereof, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis of its objections and Buyer’s proposed allocation. Buyer shall also be entitled to allocate any portion of the Purchase Price that, in the Entity Purchase Price Allocation has been allocated to a Disregarded Subsidiary and that is not further allocated in the Entity Purchase Price Allocation to the equity of another Company Subsidiary held by the Disregarded Subsidiary, among the assets of such Disregarded Subsidiary other than equity in another Company Subsidiary, and deliver such allocation (the “Asset Purchase Price Allocation”) to Seller within the thirty (30) day period after receipt of the Entity Purchase Price Allocation.

(iii) Buyer shall consider in good faith any comments provided by Seller within the fifteen (15) day period after receipt of the Asset Purchase Price Allocation, and, to the extent Buyer makes any change, shall deliver a revised Asset Purchase Price Allocation. The Asset Purchase Price Allocation delivered by Buyer shall be binding among the Parties. If Buyer does not raise any objections to the Entity Purchase Price Allocation in accordance with this Section 6.1(a), Buyer shall be deemed to have agreed to the Entity Purchase Price Allocation, and the Entity Purchase Price Allocation shall be deemed final.

(iv) If Buyer raises an objection in writing in accordance with this Section 6.1(a), Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith to resolve their differences. If Buyer and Seller are unable to resolve their differences within thirty (30) days after the commencement of such good faith negotiations (or such longer period as Buyer and Seller may mutually agree in writing), then the Parties shall engage the Accounting Firm to review the Entity Purchase Price Allocation and make a determination resolving any disputes with respect thereto, which determination must be consistent with the methodology set forth on Exhibit E hereto. The Parties shall instruct the Accounting Firm to deliver its determination as soon as reasonably practicable following engagement of the Accounting Firm, but in no event more than sixty (60) days thereafter, and that determination shall be final and binding on Buyer and Seller. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be allocated between Buyer and Seller in the manner set forth in Section 2.4(b)(v). To the extent the Entity Purchase Price Allocation has been revised by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the foregoing, Buyer may revise the Asset Purchase Price Allocation accordingly, consistent with the principles of this Section 6.1(a).

 

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(v) The Entity Purchase Price Allocation and the Asset Purchase Price Allocation, as finalized pursuant to Section 6.1(a), will be the “Final Purchase Price Allocation”. Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to update the Final Purchase Price Allocation for any adjustments to the Purchase Price (together with any other amounts constituting consideration for Tax purposes), and such updated allocation shall become the Final Purchase Price Allocation. The Parties shall allocate the Purchase Price consistently with the Final Purchase Price Allocation for all applicable Tax purposes (including for purposes of filing Tax Returns).

(b) In the event that any Tax Authority disputes the Final Purchase Price Allocation, Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the other Party of the nature of such dispute, and shall cooperate in good faith to preserve the effectiveness of the Final Purchase Price Allocation, unless otherwise required by a “final determination” under Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable Law or Order).

Section 6.2 Post-Closing Actions. Without prior written consent of Seller (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Buyer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in each case to:

(a) file (except in accordance with Section 6.9 hereof) amend or revoke any Tax Return or U.S. Information Return of or with respect to the Acquired Companies for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, or make, change or revoke any Tax election that has retroactive effect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period of or with respect to any Acquired Company;

(b) enter into any voluntary disclosure with any Tax Authority regarding any Tax or Tax Return of, or any U.S. Information Return with respect to, the Acquired Companies for a Pre-Closing Tax Period (including any voluntary disclosure with a Tax Authority with respect to filing Tax Returns or paying Taxes for any such period in a jurisdiction that the Acquired Companies did not previously file a Tax Return or pay Taxes); or

(c) file any ruling or request with any Tax Authority that relates to Taxes or Tax Returns of, or U.S. Information Returns with respect to, the Acquired Companies for a Pre-Closing Tax Period.

Section 6.3 Transfer Taxes. All Transfer Taxes (other than any De-grouping Charges) imposed by or payable to any Tax Authority, regardless of the Person (if any) on whom such Taxes are imposed, resulting from this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, other than the Restructuring, shall be borne by Buyer, and Seller shall bear any De-grouping Charges and any Transfer Taxes imposed by or payable to any Tax Authority resulting from the Restructuring. Buyer shall be responsible for the timely filing of any Tax Return relating to Transfer Taxes (other than any such Tax Return relating to De-grouping Charges or Transfer Taxes resulting from the Restructuring), and Seller shall be responsible for the timely filing of any Tax Return relating to De-grouping Charges and Transfer Taxes resulting from the Restructuring, in each case except to the extent that the other Party is responsible for the filing of any such Tax

 

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Return under applicable Law or Order. To the extent that any Transfer Taxes arise as a result of this Agreement, including any documents required to be executed as a result of this Agreement (other than the Restructuring), and Buyer is responsible for such Taxes under this Section 6.3, Buyer shall reimburse Seller an amount equal to any such Transfer Taxes paid by Seller, including any interest or penalties other than such interest or penalties that would not have arisen but for Seller’s delay or negligence in properly filing the relevant Tax Return.

Section 6.4 Tax Refunds. Any refund of Taxes (whether received in cash or applied as an offset against Taxes due, or as a result of a reduction to Taxes due attributable to an overpayment of Taxes or estimated Taxes in prior periods or the same Tax period), accruing to Buyer or any of its Affiliates in respect of the Company or a Company Subsidiary (each, a “Tax Benefit”) attributable to any Seller Taxes shall be for the account of Seller, except to the extent such refund results from the use of any Buyer’s Relief. If Seller so requests and at Seller’s expense, Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, take commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all available Tax Benefits and shall forward, and shall cause its Affiliates to forward, to Seller the amount of the Tax Benefit within ten (10) days after such Tax Benefit is received or after such Tax Benefit is allowed or applied against another Tax liability, as the case may be; provided, however, that if any portion of such Tax Benefit is subsequently disallowed by any Tax Authority, then Seller shall promptly reimburse Buyer for such disallowed amounts.

Section 6.5 Tax Elections. Seller shall make or cause to be made the election to close the tax year of each applicable Acquired Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to U.S. Treasury Regulation §1.245A-5(e)(3)(i) (or any successor guidance) with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Buyer shall cooperate as necessary to effect such elections. For purposes of Section 245A, the parties shall allocate all items of income, loss, profit and deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date with respect to each such Acquired Company to periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date based on a “closing of the books” method to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation §1.245A-5(e)(3)(i) (or any successor guidance).

Section 6.6 Tax Information and Cooperation. After the Closing, Buyer and Seller shall cooperate, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries (including the Acquired Companies) to cooperate, with respect to Tax matters, including by making available such books and records, forms, contracts, documents, information or data, and employees as the other Party may reasonably request in connection with the preparation of any Tax Return or the conduct of any Tax Contest. The requesting Party shall reimburse the Party providing such cooperation for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the request. Each of Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to, retain until sixty (60) days after the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations (taking into account any extensions) all books and records, forms, contracts, documents, information or data in their possession related to Taxes of the Acquired Companies for any Pre-Closing Tax Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.6 or any other agreement between Seller and Buyer executed on or prior to the date hereof, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries (including, prior to the Closing, the Acquired Companies) shall have any obligation to make available to Buyer or its Representatives any consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return filed by Seller or any of its Affiliates or predecessors or any related material, or any other information related to Taxes that does not exclusively relate to the Acquired Companies (other than any such Tax Return filed by

 

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an Acquired Company); provided that Seller shall make available to Buyer and its Representatives any such Tax Return (or such related material or such other information) on a pro forma basis to the extent such Tax Return (or such related material or such other information) relates to the Acquired Companies and is not duplicative of other information (including Tax Returns) provided by Seller to Buyer hereunder.

Section 6.7 Tax Contests.

(a) Notification. Unless Buyer has previously received written notice from Seller of the existence of a Tax Contest, Buyer shall give written notice to Seller (and for the avoidance of doubt shall take reasonable efforts to simultaneously provide such notice to the Sr. Vice President of Global Tax at Seller) of the existence of any Tax Contest that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a Seller Tax or any other Taxes that could otherwise be Seller’s responsibility within ten (10) Business Days from the receipt by Buyer of any written notice of such Tax Contest. Failure to give such notice shall not relieve Seller from its indemnity obligations under Section 9.2, except to the extent Seller is materially prejudiced thereby.

(b) Control of Tax Contests for Pre-Closing Tax Periods. Seller shall, at its timely election, have the right to employ reputable counsel of its choice and control (at its own cost and expense) the conduct of any Tax Contest relating to Pre-Closing Tax Periods (including any Straddle Period). Seller shall have the right to settle or dispose of any such Tax Contest; provided, however, that (i) Seller shall consult with Buyer regarding any such Tax Contest, (ii) Buyer shall have the right (at its own cost and expense) to participate in such Tax Contest and (iii) Buyer’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be required for any settlement by Seller that could reasonably be expected to adversely impact Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Acquired Companies) for any Post-Closing Tax Period.

(c) Control of Other Tax Contests. With respect to any Tax Contest that Seller does not elect to control pursuant to Section 6.7(b), Buyer shall control (at its own cost and expense) such Tax Contest, including the disposition thereof; provided, however, that (x) Buyer shall consult with Seller regarding any such Tax Contest, (y) Seller shall have the right (at its own cost and expense) to participate in such Tax Contest and (z) Seller’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be required for any settlement by Buyer that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a Seller Tax or any other Taxes that could otherwise be Seller’s responsibility.

Section 6.8 Straddle Period. In the case of any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any Taxes that are allocable to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be (x) in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis, the amount of such Taxes for the entire period (or, in the case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis (such as real property taxes), the amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding period) multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the Straddle Period ending on (and including) the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle Period; and (y) in the case of Taxes not described in (x), the amount that would be payable if the taxable year or period ended on the Closing Date based on an interim closing of the books (and for such purpose, the taxable period of any “controlled foreign corporation”, partnership or “flow-through” entity in

 

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which the Acquired Companies hold a beneficial interest will be deemed to terminate at such time). For purposes of clause (y) of the preceding sentence, any exemption, deduction, credit or other item that is calculated on an annual basis shall be allocated to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date on a pro rata basis, determined by multiplying the entire amount of such item allocated to the Straddle Period by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the Straddle Period ending on (and including) the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle Period.

Section 6.9 Tax Returns.

(a) In the case of any Pre-Closing Tax Return that is required by applicable Law or Order to be filed on or before the Closing Date (taking into account extensions), Seller shall (x) timely file, or cause to be filed, such Tax Return with the relevant Tax Authority and (y) timely pay, or cause to be paid, to the relevant Tax Authority the amount shown as due on such Tax Return.

(b) Seller shall be responsible for filing or causing to be filed any U.S. Information Return with respect to the Acquired Companies for any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period. With respect to any U.S. Information Return that is required by applicable Law or Order (taking into account extensions) to be filed after the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver to Buyer for review and comment at least ten (10) Business Days before it is due, and consider in good faith Buyer’s reasonable comments received by Seller within five (5) Business Days after Buyer received such U.S. Information Return.

(c) Subject to Section 6.9(b), in the case of any Pre-Closing Tax Return that is required by applicable Law or Order (taking into account extensions) to be filed after the Closing Date and all Tax Returns required to be filed by an Acquired Company for any Straddle Period (“Straddle Period Tax Returns”), Seller shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, such Tax Return and deliver to Buyer for review and comment at least ten (10) Business Days (or in the case of a non-income Tax Return, three (3) Business Days) before it is due. Seller shall consider in good faith Buyer’s reasonable comments received by Seller (in the case of an income Tax Return, within five (5) Business Days after Buyer received such Tax Return from Seller), and, to the extent necessary, deliver a revised Tax Return to Buyer. In the case of a Straddle Period Tax Return, Seller and Buyer shall negotiate in good faith to resolve any differences; provided that, if Buyer and Seller are unable to resolve their differences within fifteen (15) Business Days after Buyer provides comments, the Parties shall engage an Accounting Firm to review and make a determination resolving any disputes with respect thereto, which determination must be consistent with prior year Returns (except as required by applicable Law). Buyer shall file, or cause to be filed, such revised Tax Return with the relevant Tax Authority.

(d) All Tax Returns and U.S. Information Returns prepared pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be prepared on a basis consistent with prior year Tax Returns (including U.S. Information Returns), except as required by applicable Law.

 

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Section 6.10 Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties hereto agree that, for U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) tax purposes, the purchase and sale of the Shares shall be treated as a purchase and sale of all of the assets held by the Company and its Disregarded Subsidiaries (such assets including, inter alia, equity interests in Company Subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and an assumption of all of the liabilities of the Company and its Disregarded Subsidiaries (the “Intended Tax Treatment”) and shall file all Tax Returns (including U.S. Information Returns) consistently therewith unless otherwise required by a “final determination” under Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable Law or Order). In the event that any Tax Authority disputes the Intended Tax Treatment, Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the other Party of the nature of such dispute, and shall cooperate in good faith to preserve the effectiveness of the Intended Tax Treatment, unless otherwise required by a “final determination” under Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable Law or Order). It is the intention of the Parties that the assets owned by any Acquired Companies that are treated as corporations for U.S. tax purposes and by Disregarded Entities of such Acquired Companies shall not have a cost basis for U.S. tax purposes as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and in furtherance of the foregoing, (1) neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates (including any Acquired Company) shall make an election under Sections 338 or 336 of the Code with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Restructuring for the Acquired Companies and (2) neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates (including any Acquired Company) shall take the position on any Tax Return (including a U.S. Information Return) in a Post-Closing Tax Period that a transaction (or series of transactions) involving the formation of an Acquired Company, and which is reflected as a non-recognition transaction (for U.S. tax purposes) on a Tax Return or U.S. Information Return of or with respect to an Acquired Company that is Seller’s responsibility under Sections 6.9(a), (b) or (c) and was not required to be filed (and was not filed) by the date of this Agreement, is treated as a recognition transaction for U.S. tax purposes.

Section 6.11 VAT Group. Seller shall cause the representative member (or equivalent) of any VAT group of which the Acquired Companies are members to, at or before the Closing, provide notice to the relevant Tax Authority (copying such notice to Buyer) that the Acquired Companies will cease to be under its control with effect from the Closing and will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the date on which the Acquired Companies cease to be members of the VAT group is the Closing Date. Buyer shall provide Seller such reasonable assistance and cooperation as may be necessary for purposes of supporting such application. Seller shall cause the representative member (or equivalent) to notify Buyer as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving confirmation from the relevant Tax Authority that the relevant Acquired Companies have been excluded from the VAT group.

Section 6.12 Post-Acquisition Integration. For purposes of benefiting from the exception set out under Article 223 B 8th al. (c) of the French code général des impôts (exception de rétrocession), Buyer expressly indicates that the acquisition of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is made with the intent that, after the Closing, a new entity to be incorporated under the laws of France shall acquire Alliance Healthcare Group France SAS and procure that Alliance Healthcare Group France SAS and its French Subsidiaries elect to become members of the French tax group formed by such newly established French entity in accordance with Articles 223 A et seq. of the French code général des impôts.

 

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ARTICLE 7

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligations. The respective obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing by both Buyer and Seller), as of the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

(a) Any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) or Consent required under any of the Laws set forth in Section 7.1(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall have expired or been terminated or obtained, as applicable, subject to Section 7.1(a)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(b) No Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order that is in effect and would (i) make the Closing illegal or (ii) otherwise prohibit or enjoin consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including the Restructuring.

(c) The Restructuring shall have been completed.

Section 7.2 Other Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer. In addition to the conditions set forth in Section 7.1, the obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in writing by Buyer, of each of the following conditions as of the Closing:

(a) (i) The representations and warranties of Seller set forth in Section 3.8(a)(ii) shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) each Seller Fundamental Representation shall be true and correct in all material respects (without regard for any qualification as to materiality or Business Material Adverse Effect) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that any such representations and warranties that are specifically made as of a particular date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date), and (iii) each other representation and warranty of Seller contained in Article 3 of this Agreement (other than those set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.2(a)) shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that any such representations and warranties that are specifically made as of a particular date shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be true and correct as of such date (without regard to any qualification as to materiality or Business Material Adverse Effect included therein) has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Seller shall have performed and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date.

(c) Since the date hereof, no Business Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred.

 

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(d) Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Seller, stating on behalf of Seller that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a), Section 7.2(b) and Section 7.2(c) have been satisfied.

(e) Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a counterpart of each other Ancillary Agreement (except as set forth in Section 5.17 and other than any Ancillary Agreement entered into prior to the Closing Date) to which Seller or any of its Affiliates is a party, in each case duly executed on behalf of Seller or such Affiliate, and each Ancillary Agreement entered into prior to the Closing Date shall be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, unless it has terminated or expired in accordance with its terms.

(f) Any applicable waiting period (and extension thereof) or Consent required under any of the Laws set forth in Section 7.1(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements shall have expired or been terminated or obtained, as applicable, without the imposition of any Burdensome Condition.

Section 7.3 Other Conditions to the Obligations of Seller. In addition to the conditions set forth in Section 7.1, the obligations of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in writing by Seller, of each of the following conditions as of the Closing:

(a) (i) The representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in Section 4.7(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) the Buyer Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (without regard for any qualification as to materiality or Buyer Material Adverse Effect) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that any such representations and warranties that are specifically made as of a particular date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date) and (iii) each of the representations and warranties of Buyer contained in Article 4 of this Agreement (other than those set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.3(a)) shall be true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that any such representations and warranties that are specifically made as of a particular date shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be true and correct as of such date (without regard to any qualification as to materiality or Buyer Material Adverse Effect included therein) has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Buyer Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Buyer shall have performed and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date.

(c) Since the date hereof, no Buyer Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred.

(d) Seller shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Buyer, stating on behalf of Buyer that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a), Section 7.3(b) and Section 7.3(c) have been satisfied.

 

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(e) The Buyer Stock Consideration shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

(f) Buyer shall have delivered to Seller counterpart of each other Ancillary Agreement (other than any Ancillary Agreement entered into prior to the Closing Date) to which Buyer or any of its Affiliates is a party, in each case duly executed on behalf of Buyer or such Affiliate, and each Ancillary Agreement entered into prior to the Closing Date shall be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, unless it has terminated or expired in accordance with its terms.

Section 7.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.1, Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 to be satisfied if such Party’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder was a principal cause of the failure of such condition.

ARTICLE 8

TERMINATION

Section 8.1 Termination. At any time prior to the Closing, this Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements abandoned as follows (and the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1 (other than Section 8.1(a)) shall give written notice of such termination to the other Party setting forth a brief description of the basis on which it is terminating this Agreement):

(a) by the mutual written consent of Buyer and Seller;

(b) subject to Section 10.10(c), by either Buyer or Seller, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on October 6, 2021 (the “Termination Date”); provided that either party may extend the Termination Date to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on January 6, 2022 only if, at the time of such extension, (x) the only condition in Article 7 that is not satisfied is in Section 7.1(a), Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.2(f) and (y) the extending party’s breach of this Agreement is not the primary cause preventing the satisfaction of such condition; provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, if a breach of this Agreement by such Party has been a principal cause of the failure of the Closing to occur before the Termination Date;

(c) by either Buyer or Seller, if any Governmental Body of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any (i) any Law that makes consummation of the Closing illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) any Order permanently enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than as set forth in Section 8.1(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter) or the Ancillary Agreements and such Order shall have become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall have complied with its obligations hereunder, including Section 5.5 and Section 5.7;

 

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(d) by Buyer, if (i) there shall have been a breach by Seller of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 to be satisfied, (ii) Buyer is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 to be satisfied and (iii) such breach by Seller is incapable of being cured or shall not have been cured on or prior to the earlier of (A) the Termination Date and (B) thirty (30) days after receipt by Seller of written notice of such breach from Seller; or

(e) by Seller, if (i) there shall have been a breach by Buyer of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.3 to be satisfied, (ii) Seller is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein that would result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 to be satisfied and (iii) such breach by Buyer is incapable of being cured or shall not have been cured on or prior to the earlier of (A) the Termination Date and (B) thirty (30) days after receipt by Buyer of written notice of such breach from Seller.

Section 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article 8:

(a) this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void (except for this Section 8.2, Section 5.10, Section 5.12, Section 5.15(e), Article 10, and Article 1 (to the extent necessary to give meaning to the foregoing) each of which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the Parties in accordance with their terms); and

(b) there shall be no liability of any kind on the part of Buyer or Seller or any of Buyer’s or Seller’s former, current or future Affiliates, Representatives, officers, directors, direct or indirect general or limited partners, equityholders, stockholders, controlling persons, managers or members; provided, however, that termination pursuant to this Article 8 shall not relieve either Party from such liability (i) pursuant to the sections specified in Section 8.2(a) that survive termination or (ii) for any Willful Breach of this Agreement prior to such termination or for Fraud.

ARTICLE 9

SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY

Section 9.1 Survival; R&W Insurance.

(a) The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Parties hereto contained in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing to the following extent:

(i) The representations and warranties of Seller and Buyer contained in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive until the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date; provided that the Seller Fundamental Representations (other than Section 3.9(a), Section 3.9(c) and Sections 3.13(b)(i) and (ii)) and the Buyer Fundamental Representations shall survive until the date that is sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and the representations and warranties of Seller that are the subject to Section 9.2(h) shall survive until the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date.

 

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(ii) All covenants and agreements of Seller and Buyer that by their terms are to be performed in full prior to the Closing shall survive the Closing until the date that is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date, and all covenants and agreements that by their terms survive the Closing shall so survive the Closing in accordance with their respective terms.

(b) The obligations of Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.2(a) and Section 9.2(b) shall survive until the applicable representation or warranty or covenant or agreement, as applicable, terminates pursuant to Section 9.1(a); provided, however, that this Section 9.1(b) shall not limit any claim for Fraud. The obligations of Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.2(c), Section 9.2(f), Section 9.2(g) and Section 9.2(i) shall survive indefinitely. The obligations of Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.2(d) shall survive until the date that is sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. The obligations of Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.2(e) shall survive for thirty-six (36) months following the Closing Date. The obligations of Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.2(h) shall survive for twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date. Written notice of a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 9.2 must be given by Buyer to Seller in accordance with the provisions of this Article 9 prior to the expiration of the applicable indemnity, in which event the claim asserted in such notice shall survive until such time as such claim is fully and finally resolved.

(c) The obligations of Buyer to indemnify the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.3(a) and Section 9.3(b) shall survive until the applicable representation or warranty or covenant or agreement, as applicable, terminates pursuant to Section 9.1(a); provided, however, that this Section 9.1(c) shall not limit any claim for Fraud. The obligations of Buyer to indemnify the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.3(c), Section 9.3(f) and Section 9.3(g) shall survive indefinitely. The obligations of Buyer to indemnify the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.3(d), shall survive for thirty-six (36) months following the Closing Date. The obligations of Buyer to indemnify the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to Section 9.3(e) shall survive the Closing Date until the date that is thirty (30) days after the applicable statute of limitation for employment liabilities. Written notice of a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 9.3 must be given by Seller to Buyer in accordance with the provisions of this Article 9 prior to the expiration of the applicable indemnity, in which event the claim asserted in such notice shall survive until such time as such claim is fully and finally resolved.

(d) The Parties acknowledge, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer has obtained a R&W Insurance Policy, and that a true and correct copy of the binder for such R&W Insurance Policy has been made available to Seller. Except as consented to by Seller in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the R&W Insurance Policy shall provide that: (i) the insurer shall not have, and shall waive and not pursue, any and all subrogation rights against Seller (other than in connection with Fraud) and (ii) Seller and its Affiliates are third-party beneficiaries of such waiver. Buyer shall not amend the R&W Insurance Policy in any manner adverse to Seller or its Affiliate (including with respect to the subrogation provisions or the exclusion provisions) and none of Buyer, any

 

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Acquired Company or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and/or agents shall have any obligation to pursue any claim against Seller (other than in connection with Fraud). All costs and expenses related to the R&W Insurance Policy, including the total premium, underwriting costs, brokerage commission for its brokers, Taxes related to such policy and other fees and expenses of such policy shall be borne solely and exclusively by Buyer.

Section 9.2 Indemnification by Seller. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article 9, from and after the Closing, Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Acquired Companies) and their respective Representatives, successors and permitted assigns (collectively, the “Buyer Indemnitees”) from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of the Buyer Indemnitees for, any and all Losses of the Buyer Indemnitees, to the extent arising out of:

(a) any inaccuracy in, or breach or failure of (i) any representation or warranty made by Seller in Article 3 or any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than any Seller Fundamental Representations except for Section 3.9(a), Section 3.9(c) and Section 3.13(b)(i) and (ii)) to be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, in which case the inaccuracy in or breach or failure of which will be determined with reference to such specified date) and (ii) any Seller Fundamental Representation (other than Section 3.9(a), Section 3.9(c) and Sections 3.13(b)(i) and (ii)) to be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, in which case the inaccuracy in or breach or failure of which will be determined with reference to such specified date), it being understood that this Section 9.2(a) shall not apply to any such breach or failure that is not covered by the R&W Insurance Policy as a result of the policy exclusions set forth on Section 9.2(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, which breaches and failures are exclusively the subject of Section 9.2(h) below;

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by Seller in this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date;

(c) any Third-Party Claim against the Buyer Indemnitees to the extent related to the operation of the Retained Business and arising as a result of or relating to the former affiliation between the Business and the Retained Business, whether prior to, at or after the Closing;

(d) any Seller Taxes;

(e) as set forth in Section 5.6(d);

(f) as set forth in Section 5.13(a);

(g) as set forth in Section 5.22(b);

(h) any inaccuracy in, or breach or failure of any representation or warranty made by Seller in Article 3 or any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement to be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, in which case the inaccuracy in or breach or failure of which will be determined with reference to such specified date) that is not covered by the R&W Insurance Policy as a result of the policy exclusions set forth on Section 9.2(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter; and

 

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(i) any of the matters set forth on Section 9.2(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.

Section 9.3 Indemnification by Buyer. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Article 9, from and after the Closing Date, Buyer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and its Affiliates and their respective Representatives, successors and permitted assigns (collectively, the “Seller Indemnitees”) from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of the Seller Indemnitees for, any and all Losses of the Seller Indemnitees, to the extent arising out of:

(a) any inaccuracy in, or breach or failure of (i) any representation or warranty made by Buyer in Article 4 or any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than any Buyer Fundamental Representations) to be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, in which case the inaccuracy in or breach or failure of which will be determined with reference to such specified date) and (ii) any Buyer Fundamental Representation to be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, in which case the inaccuracy in or breach or failure of which will be determined with reference to such specified date);

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by Buyer in this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date;

(c) any Third-Party Claim against the Seller Indemnitees to the extent related to the operation of the Business and arising as a result of or relating to the former affiliation between the Business and the Retained Business, whether prior to, at or after the Closing;

(d) as set forth in Section 5.6(d);

(e) as set forth in Section 5.14(l);

(f) as set forth in Section 5.15(e);

(g) as set forth in Section 5.22(a); and

(h) as set forth in Section 5.13(a).

Section 9.4 Limitations and Other Matters Relating to Indemnification.

(a) Recovery by the Buyer Indemnitees pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the following limitations:

(i) the Buyer Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim under Section 9.2(a)(i), Section 9.2(h) or Section 9.2(i) (other than in respect of a Seller Fundamental Representation) unless and until the amount of indemnifiable Loss thereunder exceeds $500,000 (the “De Minimis Threshold”) (and no such Loss at or below the De Minimis Threshold shall be applied toward the Deductible or the Exclusions Indemnity Deductible);

 

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(ii) the Buyer Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim under Section 9.2(a)(i) unless and until the aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses thereunder exceeds an amount equal to $24,281,250 (the “Deductible”), and then only to the extent of any such excess;

(iii) with regard to indemnification for Losses under Section 9.2(a)(i) (other than those that are the subject of Section 9.2(h)), the Buyer Indemnitees may not recover an amount of aggregate Losses in respect of such claims that exceeds $24,281,250;

(iv) with regard to indemnification for Losses under Section 9.2(h) and Section 9.2(i), (A) the Buyer Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim thereunder (other than in respect of a Seller Fundamental Representation) unless and until the aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses thereunder exceeds an amount equal to $48,562,500 (the “Exclusions Indemnity Deductible”), and then only to the extent of any such excess, and (B) the Buyer Indemnitees may not recover an amount of aggregate Losses in respect of such claims that exceeds $194,250,000.

(b) Recovery by the Seller Indemnitees pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the following limitations:

(i) the Seller Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim under Section 9.3(a)(i) unless and until the aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses thereunder exceeds an amount equal the Deductible, and then only to the extent of any such excess;

(ii) the Seller Indemnitees shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim under Section 9.3(a)(i) unless and until the amount of indemnifiable Loss thereunder exceeds the De Minimis Threshold (and no such Loss at or below the De Minimis Threshold shall be applied toward the Deductible);

(iii) with regard to indemnification for Losses under Section 9.2(a)(i), the Seller Indemnitees may not recover an amount of aggregate Losses in respect of such claims that exceeds $24,281,250; and

(iv) with regard to indemnification for Losses under Section 9.2(a)(ii), the Seller Indemnitees may not recover an amount of aggregate Losses in respect of such claims that exceeds $195,500,000.

(c) Reserved.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in no event shall the aggregate liability of a Party under this Agreement exceed $6,475,000,000.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Buyer or Seller be required to indemnify, defend, hold harmless, pay or reimburse any Indemnified Party under Article 6 or this Article 9, or otherwise be liable in connection with this Agreement, the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby, for any Losses that are punitive, incidental, consequential, special or indirect, or any damages based on any type of multiple, in each case, in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether at law or in equity, and whether in contract or in tort or otherwise); provided, however, that the foregoing limitations shall not apply to the extent any Indemnified Party is held liable to a third party for such Losses, or to any Losses that are consequential or indirect in nature to the extent reasonably foreseeable as of the date of this Agreement.

(f) The amount of any Losses that are subject to indemnification, compensation or reimbursement under this Article 9 shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance (other than the R&W Insurance Policy) proceeds and any indemnity, contribution or other similar payment actually received by the Indemnified Party in respect of such Losses or any of the events, conditions, facts or circumstances resulting in or relating to such Losses, net of the costs of collection and Taxes attributable to receipt of such payments (“Third-Party Payments”). If an Indemnified Party receives any Third-Party Payment with respect to any Losses for which it has previously been indemnified (directly or indirectly) by an Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall promptly pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to such Third-Party Payment or, if it is a lesser amount, the amount of such previously indemnified Losses. The Indemnified Party shall (and shall cause its Affiliates to) use its commercially reasonable efforts to pursue all legal rights and remedies available in order to mitigate and minimize any Losses subject to indemnification pursuant to this Article 9 promptly upon becoming aware of any event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or give rise to such Losses, including seeking to recover under insurance policies or indemnity (including any Specified Tail Policies and amounts remitted pursuant to Section 5.24(d)), contribution or other similar agreements other than this Agreement for any Losses to the same extent such Party would if such Losses were not subject to indemnification, compensation or reimbursement hereunder.

(g) The amount of any Losses that are subject to indemnification, payment or reimbursement under this Article 9 shall be reduced by an amount equal to any Tax Benefit actually realized as a result of such Losses by the Indemnified Party in the taxable year in which the Loss is incurred, through the year the indemnification payment or reimbursement is made under this Article 9. The Indemnified Party shall be deemed to have “actually realized” such a Tax Benefit only to the extent that, and at such time as, the amount of Taxes paid by the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates for the relevant taxable years set forth in the preceding sentence is reduced below the amount of Taxes that such Persons would have been required to pay but for any such Tax Benefit in such years. If such a Tax Benefit is actually realized by an Indemnified Party with respect to any Losses for which it has previously been indemnified (directly or indirectly) by an Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days after such Tax Benefit is actually realized) pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to such actually realized Tax Benefit or, if it is a lesser amount, the amount of such previously indemnified Losses. If such a Tax Benefit is reasonably available to an Indemnified Party in connection with any such Losses, the Indemnified Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Tax Benefit to be actually realized.

 

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(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall any Indemnifying Party be required to indemnify, defend, hold harmless, pay or reimburse any Indemnified Party for Losses under this Article 9 to the extent such Losses were specifically taken into account in the determination of the amounts reflected in the Final Adjustment Report pursuant to Section 2.4. If Seller makes a claim pursuant to Section 9.2(d), the applicable Claim Notice shall set forth a certification that the amount of Seller Taxes for which such claim relates were not reflected in the Final Adjustment Report.

(i) No Indemnified Party will be entitled to recover damages in respect of any claim under this Agreement or otherwise obtain indemnification more than once in respect of the same Losses suffered. In the event that any circumstance gives rise to more than one right of claim or constitutes a breach of more than one covenant or agreement hereunder, the relevant party shall be entitled to be indemnified or make recovery only once in respect of any such Losses incurred.

(j) No Indemnifying Party shall be liable under Section 9.2(d) of this Agreement for any increase in Losses based on or arising out of any change in Law or GAAP occurring after the Closing Date.

(k) Seller shall not be liable under this Article 9 in respect of any Seller Taxes to the extent that the relevant Seller Taxes would not have arisen or been incurred but for a voluntary action or omission carried out or effected by the Buyer or its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Acquired Companies) after the Closing, unless such action or omission was carried out: (i) pursuant to an obligation of an Acquired Company incurred prior to the Closing, (ii) as necessary in order to comply with any Law or Order; (iii) with the written agreement or at the written request of Seller, or (iv) in the ordinary course of business of the Acquired Companies.

(l) Seller shall not be liable under this Article 9 in respect of any Seller Taxes that comprise United Kingdom stamp duty in respect of a document if Buyer or any of its Affiliates brings the relevant document into the United Kingdom, or uses the document in the United Kingdom for any purpose, in circumstances where (i) bringing the document into the United Kingdom or using the document for such purpose is not necessary to establish the title of any Acquired Company to any asset or to enforce any rights of any Acquired Company, or (ii) it would be reasonably possible to bring or use a copy of the relevant document instead.

(m) Seller shall not be liable under this Article 9 in respect of Seller Taxes to the extent that (i) any Relief other than a Buyer’s Relief is available, or is for no consideration made available, to any of the Acquired Companies to set against or otherwise reduce or eliminate such Seller Taxes, or (ii) any Relief other than a Buyer’s Relief would have been available to any of the Acquired Companies to set against or otherwise reduce or eliminate the Seller Taxes had such Relief not been used after Closing to set against or otherwise reduce or eliminate Taxes (or payments on account of Taxes) which are not Seller Taxes. For the purposes of this Section 9.4(m), (i) any Relief arising in respect of a Straddle Period shall be apportioned on a time basis, unless some other basis is more reasonable, and (ii) any Relief that is available (or that would have been available) in relation to more than one Seller Tax shall be deemed, so far as possible, to be used in such a way as to reduce to the maximum extent possible Seller’s total liability under this Article 9.

 

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(n) If Seller becomes liable under this Article 9 in respect of Seller Taxes, Seller may at its option, and wholly or partly instead of making a payment under this Article 9, surrender or allocate Reliefs (or procure such surrender or allocation) to the Acquired Companies by way of Group Tax Relief (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) for no consideration in order to eliminate, reduce or otherwise compensate for the relevant Seller Taxes. Buyer shall procure that the relevant Acquired Company shall take as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within any time limit required by applicable Law) all such steps as are reasonably requested by Seller to effect any such Group Tax Relief. Seller and Buyer shall procure that, save as provided in this Section 9.4(n), any prior agreements between the Seller’s Tax Group and the Acquired Companies in respect of Group Tax Relief will cease to have effect from Closing as between the Seller’s Tax Group and the Acquired Companies. Seller shall procure that any group payment arrangements in respect of Tax between the Seller’s Tax Group and the Acquired Companies (including a simplified arrangement for group relief in respect of UK corporation Tax) will cease to have effect no later than the Closing, and Seller shall submit to the relevant Tax Authority any notices and documents required to terminate any such arrangements.

(o) If any Group Tax Relief has been effected pursuant to Section 9.4(n), and the surrender or allocation to which it relates is subsequently determined by a Tax Authority to have been invalid, ineffective or excessive to any extent, then, for the avoidance of doubt, Seller will remain liable under this Article 9 in respect of the relevant Seller Taxes (or such portion of the relevant Seller Taxes that relate to the part of the surrender or allocation found to be invalid, ineffective or excessive) subject to Seller’s ability, at its option, and wholly or partly instead of making a payment under this Article 9, to surrender or allocate other Reliefs (or procure such surrender or allocation) to the Acquired Companies by way of Group Tax Relief pursuant to Section 9.4(n). Other than as permitted by Section 9.4(m) (including as contemplated by this Section 9.4(o)) Seller shall not (and shall procure that the relevant member of the Seller’s Tax Group shall not) take any steps in relation to a surrender or allocation of a Relief to any Acquired Company by way of Group Tax Relief without the written consent of Buyer, unless necessary in order to comply with any Law or Order.

(p) The Seller Indemnitees shall not be liable for any inaccuracy in, or breach or failure of (i) any representation or warranty made by Seller in Section 3.9 for failure of the Acquired Companies to possess a properties, assets or right if (i) Seller conveys such property, asset or right or a substantially equivalent property, asset or right to the relevant Acquired Company following the Closing or (ii) Seller otherwise makes available such asset, property or right to Buyer pursuant to a lawful arrangement.

(q) For the purposes of determining any breach of a representation or warranty of Seller or Buyer contained in this Agreement and calculating any Losses under this Article 9, any “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” qualifications in such representations, warranties and covenants (other than the reference to “Material Contract” in Section 3.5(a)(iv), Section 3.6(a), Section 3.6(c), Section 3.8(a)(ii), Section 3.12(a), Section 3.13(g) and Section 3.15(a)) shall be disregarded.

 

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Section 9.5 Indemnification Procedures.

(a) All claims for indemnification pursuant to this Article 9 shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9.5. A Person entitled to assert a claim for indemnification (a “Claim”) pursuant to this Article 9 (an “Indemnified Party”) shall give the Indemnifying Party written notice of any such Claim (a “Claim Notice”), which notice shall include a description in such detail as is reasonably available in good faith (i) the basis for, and nature of, such Claim, including the facts constituting the basis for such Claim, (ii) the estimated amount of the Losses that have been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party in connection with such Claim or a statement that the amount of Losses is not reasonably ascertainable and (iii) reasonable supporting documentation to the extent available. Any Claim Notice shall be given by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party, (A) in the case of a Claim in connection with any Legal Proceeding made or brought by any Person (other than a Buyer Indemnitee or a Seller Indemnitee in connection with this Agreement) against such Indemnified Party (a “Third-Party Claim”), reasonably promptly after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such potential Legal Proceeding, and (B) in the case of a Claim other than a Third-Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”), reasonably promptly after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of the facts constituting the basis for such Direct Claim; provided, however, that no failure to give such prompt written notice shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of any of its indemnification obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially and adversely prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party will cooperate in good faith to resolve any Direct Claim for a period of sixty (60) days before commencing any Legal Proceeding in connection with such Claim. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indemnifying Party” means Buyer (in the case of a claim for indemnification by a Seller Indemnitee) or Seller (in the case of a claim for indemnification by a Buyer Indemnitee).

(b) With respect to any Third-Party Claim (including the matter set forth in Section 9.2(i)(B) of the Seller Disclosure Letter), the Indemnifying Party shall have the right, by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party within thirty (30) days after delivery of the Claim Notice with respect to such Third-Party Claim, to assume control of the defense of such Third-Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense with counsel of its choosing, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, however, that such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to control the defense of any Third-Party Claim if (A) the Third-Party Claim (excluding the matter set forth in Section 9.2(i)(B) of the Seller Disclosure Letter) relates to or arises in connection with any criminal claim involving the Indemnified Party as a defendant, (B) the matter that is the subject of such Third-Party Claim seeks as its primary cause of action the imposition of an injunction or equitable relief against any Indemnified Party or (C) the Third Party Claim has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, Losses in excess of the amounts available for indemnification pursuant to this Article 9 (excluding the matter set forth in Section 9.2(i)(B) of the Seller Disclosure Letter). The Indemnified Party or Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, that is not controlling such defense shall have the right, at its own cost and expense, to participate in the defense of any Third-Party Claim with counsel selected by it; provided that the Indemnifying Party will pay the costs and expenses of separate counsel for the Indemnified Party if, based on the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to the Indemnified Party reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Party, a conflict or potential conflict of interest exists between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party which makes representation of both parties inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct; provided, further, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be required to pay for more than one such counsel (plus any appropriate local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any Third-Party Claim.

 

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(c) If the Indemnifying Party elects not to control the defense of such Third-Party Claim or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may control the defense of such Third-Party Claim with counsel of its choosing, and the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel to the Indemnified Party if the Indemnifying Party is required to indemnify the Indemnified Party for such Third-Party Claim pursuant to this Article 9. Each of Buyer and Seller shall reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with the defense of any Third-Party Claim, including by retaining and providing to the Party controlling such defense records and information that are reasonably relevant to such Third-Party Claim and making available employees on a mutually convenient basis for providing additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder; provided that neither Party shall be required to furnish any such information which would (in the reasonable judgment of such party upon advice of counsel) be reasonably likely to (x) waive any privileges, including the attorney-client privilege, held by such party or any of its Affiliates or (y) breach any duty of confidentiality owed to any Person (whether such duty arises contractually, statutorily or otherwise) or any Contract with any other Person or violate any applicable Law or Order (provided, further, however, that such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any required consents and take such other reasonable action to permit such access). The Indemnified Party or Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, that is controlling such defense shall keep the other Party reasonably advised of the status of such Legal Proceeding and the defense thereof and shall consider in good faith any recommendations made by the other Party with respect thereto.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) an Indemnifying Party shall not agree to any settlement on behalf of the Indemnified Party of any Third-Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party controls without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, unless such settlement would (A) include a complete and unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities or obligations with respect thereto, (B) not impose any liability or obligation (including any equitable remedies) on the Indemnified Party and (C) not involve a finding or admission of any wrongdoing on the part of the Indemnified Party and (ii) an Indemnified Party shall not agree to any settlement of a Third Party Claim for which the Indemnifying Party is providing indemnification hereunder without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, condition or delayed).

(e) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 9.5 shall not apply to any Tax Contests, which shall be governed exclusively by Article 6.

Section 9.6 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. The Parties agree to treat all indemnification payments made under Article 6 and this Article 9, and all payments made pursuant to Section 5.30(h) of the Seller Disclosure Letter as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes to the extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

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Section 9.7 Exclusive Remedy; No Duplication; No Set-off.

(a) Subject to Section 9.7(b), from and after the Closing, the Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) this Article 9 and Article 6 shall be the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of the Indemnified Parties, including Buyer and Seller, in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (except pursuant to the R&W Insurance Policy), (ii) except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article 9 and Article 6, neither Buyer nor Seller shall be liable or responsible in any manner whatsoever (whether for indemnification or otherwise) to any Indemnified Party for any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or for any breach of this Agreement or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the purchase of the Shares pursuant hereto, and (iii) except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article 9 and Article 6, each Party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law or Order, any and all rights, claims, causes of action, suits, demands and Legal Proceedings (A) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or (B) otherwise relating to or in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case, that it may have against the other Party and any of such Party’s Affiliates or Representatives arising under or based upon any applicable Law or Order; provided, however, that the limitations set forth in this Section 9.7(a) shall not (x) limit the rights or remedies of, or constitute a waiver or modification of any rights or remedies by, any Person pursuant to (or shall otherwise operate to interfere with the operation of) Section 2.4, or Section 10.10, (y) apply to the provisions of the Ancillary Agreements or Contracts between Buyer and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller and its Subsidiaries on the other hand (other than this Agreement), which remedies shall be governed by such Ancillary Agreements or Contracts, or (z) apply to the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement that by their respective terms survive the Closing.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Article 9 (including Section 9.4 and Section 9.7(a)) shall limit either Party’s right to bring claims based on Fraud or Willful Breach with respect to this Agreement (which such right shall survive until the applicable statute of limitations).

(c) Neither Buyer nor Seller shall have any right to set-off any unresolved claim for indemnification pursuant to this Article 9 against any payment due pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any other Contract between Buyer and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller and its Subsidiaries on the other hand. For the avoidance of doubt, no party to an Ancillary Agreement shall have a right of recovery pursuant to this Article 9 in respect of such Ancillary Agreement, and such rights to recovery and remedies shall be governed by the terms of such Ancillary Agreement.

ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, including in Section 5.6(a), Section 5.7(a), Section 5.15, Section 5.23(b), Section 6.3, Section 9.1(c) or in any Ancillary Agreements, whether or not the Closing is consummated, (a) all costs and expenses incurred, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements (including the Restructuring) shall be borne by the Party incurring such costs and expenses and (b) any such costs and expenses incurred on behalf of the Acquired Companies prior to the Closing shall be borne by Seller to the extent they are Transaction Expenses hereunder.

 

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Section 10.2 Notices. All notices or other communications to be delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly delivered, given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand during normal business hours of the recipient during a Business Day, otherwise on the next Business Day, (b) on the date of successful transmission if sent via email during normal business hours of the recipient during a Business Day, otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) on the date of receipt by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, if received on a Business Day, otherwise on the next Business Day. Such notices or other communications must be sent to each respective Party at the address or email address set forth below (or at such other address or email address as shall be specified by a Party in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.2):

 

If to Seller:    Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc..   
   108 Wilmot Road   
   Deerfield, Illinois 60015Email:    as set forth in Section 10.2(a)
   of the Seller Disclosure Letter   
   Attention:    General Counsel   
   with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
   Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
   One Liberty Plaza   
   New York, NY 10006   
   Email: [email protected]   
               [email protected]   
   Attention:    Christopher E. Austin
      Matthew P. Salerno   
If to Buyer:    AmerisourceBergen Corporation   
   227 Washington Street   
   Conshohocken, PA 19428 Email:    as set forth in Section 10.2(b)
   of the Seller Disclosure Letter   
   Attention:    General Counsel   
   with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
   Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP   
   Worldwide Plaza   
   825 Eighth Avenue   
   New York, NY 10019   
   Email: [email protected]   
               [email protected]   
   Attention:    Damien R. Zoubek, Esq.
      O. Keith Hallam, III, Esq.

 

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Section 10.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Seller Disclosure Letter, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and any other agreements, instruments or documents being or to be executed and delivered by a Party or any of its Affiliates pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement constitute the sole and entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein and shall supersede all other prior understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

Section 10.4 Amendment. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or supplemented except by an instrument in writing specifically designated as an amendment hereto and executed by each of the Parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement of which the Financing Sources are expressly made third party beneficiaries pursuant to Section 10.7 may be amended, modified or supplemented in a manner that is material and adverse to the Financing Sources without the prior written consent of the applicable Financing Sources.

Section 10.5 Waivers. Either Party may, at any time, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained herein or (c) waive compliance by the other Party with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. No waiver by any Party of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in a written instrument referencing this Agreement and executed and delivered by the Party so waiving. No waiver by any Party of any breach of this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach, whether of a similar or different character, unless expressly set forth in such written waiver. Neither any course of conduct or failure or delay of any Party in exercising or enforcing any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right, remedy or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy or power.

Section 10.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced in any situation or in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof or the offending term or provision in any other situation or any other jurisdiction, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either Party. Upon any such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible, in a mutually acceptable manner, in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 10.7 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except to the extent provided in Article 9, Section 5.13 or Section 10.14 (the provisions of which shall inure to the benefit of the Persons referenced therein as third-party beneficiaries of such provisions, including all Buyer Indemnitees and Seller Indemnitees), this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable

 

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rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Financing Sources shall be express third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 10.4, this Section 10.7, and Section 10.15. Except as set forth in Section 10.4, this Agreement may be amended or terminated, and any provision of this Agreement may be waived, in accordance with the terms hereof without the consent of any Person other than the Parties.

Section 10.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any purported assignment or delegation in contravention of this Section 10.8 shall be null and void and of no force and effect; provided that either Party may, without the prior written consent of the other Party, assign its rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to one or more of its Subsidiaries; provided, further that any such assignment by a Party shall not relieve such Party of its obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence of this Section 10.8, this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 10.9 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) This Agreement and all matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements (but not any such matter relating solely to any Ancillary Agreement, for which the parties’ choice of law for such Ancillary Agreement shall govern), including all rights of the Parties (whether sounding in contract, tort, common or statutory law, equity or otherwise) in connection therewith, shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with, and enforced pursuant to, the internal Laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

(b) Each of the Parties hereby (i) agrees and irrevocably consents to submit itself to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, and only if such court declines to exercise jurisdiction, any other state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware, as well as the appellate courts of the foregoing (the “Chosen Courts”) in any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of any such Legal Proceeding will be heard and determined in the Chosen Courts, (iii) agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from the Chosen Courts, (iv) agrees not to bring or support any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements whether in contract, tort, common or statutory law, equity or otherwise, anywhere other than the Chosen Courts and (v) agrees that a final and non-appealable judgment in any such Legal Proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law or Order. For the avoidance of doubt, (A) the preceding

 

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sentence shall not limit the jurisdiction of the Accounting Firm as set forth in Section 2.4 or Section 6.1(a) solely with respect to the matters set forth therein, (B) any Legal Proceeding brought for the purpose of enforcing the jurisdiction and judgments of the Accounting Firm with respect to the matters set forth in Section 2.4 or Section 6.1(a), shall be subject to the preceding sentence and (C) the preceding sentence shall not apply to any Legal Proceeding relating solely to any Ancillary Agreement, for which the parties’ submission to jurisdiction as set forth therein shall govern. Each of the Parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Legal Proceeding brought in any Chosen Court in accordance with this Section 10.9(b). Each of the Parties agrees that the service of any process, summons, notice or document in connection with any such Legal Proceeding in the manner provided in Section 10.2 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Law or Order, will be valid and sufficient service thereof.

(c) EACH PARTY (I) ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING THAT MAY ARISE UNDER OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND (II) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS (INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE DEBT FINANCING OR ANY ALTERNATIVE FINANCING OR OTHERWISE INVOLVING A FINANCING SOURCE). EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 10.9(c), (C) UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER AND (D) MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY.

Section 10.10 Remedies.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including in Section 9.7), any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy expressly conferred hereby or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one such remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other such remedy.

(b) The Parties agree that irreparable damage and harm would occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its terms or were otherwise breached and that, although monetary damages may be available for such a breach, monetary damages would be an inadequate remedy therefor. Accordingly, each of the Parties agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Agreement by such Party, the other Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance

 

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and other equitable relief to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches hereof and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions hereof without proof of actual damages, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. A Party seeking an order or injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof shall not be required to provide, furnish or post any bond or other security in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any such order or injunction, and each Party hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the provision, furnishing or posting of any such bond or other security. In the event that any Legal Proceeding should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, each Party agrees that it shall not allege, and each Party hereby waives the defense, that a remedy of specific performance is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, and that there is an adequate remedy available at law.

(c) If either Party brings a Legal Proceeding to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement (other than a Legal Proceeding to enforce specifically any provision that expressly survives termination of this Agreement) when expressly available to such Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Termination Date shall automatically be extended to the later of (i) the tenth (10th) Business Day following the resolution of such Legal Proceeding or (ii) such other time period established by the court presiding over such Legal Proceeding.

Section 10.11 Interpretation; Construction.

(a) The table of contents, articles, titles and headings to sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Articles”, “Sections”, “Disclosure Letters” and “Exhibits” are intended to refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement and Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement. The Seller Disclosure Letter and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein. Any capitalized terms used in the Seller Disclosure Letter, any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall be defined as set forth in this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires.

(b) For purposes of this Agreement: (i) “include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”; (ii) “hereof,” “herein”, “hereby”, “hereto” and “hereunder” shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (iii) “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other item extends and shall not simply mean “if”; (iv) “Dollars” and “$” shall mean United States Dollars; (v) the singular includes the plural and vice versa; (vi) reference to a gender includes the other gender; (vii) “any” shall mean “any and all”; (viii) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”; (ix) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented and modified in effect from time to time in accordance with its terms and includes any annexes, schedules and exhibits thereto; (x) reference to any Law means such Law as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (xi) “applicable Law” shall exclude Laws that were not in effect as of the date of the underlying action; (xii) when any amount is in a non-U.S. currency but referenced in this Agreement in Dollars, including any inputs to Estimated Cash and Estimated Indebtedness. Final Cash and Final Indebtedness and Estimated Working

 

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Capital and Final Working Capital, it shall be deemed converted into Dollars from the relevant currency at the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into Dollars as of 12:00am New York City time on such day using mid spot rates quoted by Bloomberg under its “BFIX” function (which, in the case of Estimated Cash and Estimated Indebtedness or Final Cash and Final Indebtedness shall be the Closing Date); (xiii) when calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which, any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded; (xiv) the term “individual service provider” shall mean independent contractors as well as other individuals performing services personally who are not employees, including individuals who are considered “workers” under applicable Laws of the European Union and the United Kingdom and (xv) where matters relate to “material” with respect to the Seller Business Group or a Seller Business Group Member that is not an Acquired Company, materiality shall be assessed with respect to the Business.

(c) Neither the specification of any dollar amount in any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item in the Seller Disclosure Letter is intended to imply that such amount, or higher or lower amounts, or the item so included or other items, are or are not material, and no Party shall use the fact of the setting forth of any such amount or the inclusion of any such item in any dispute or controversy between the Parties as to whether any obligation, item or matter not described herein or included in the Seller Disclosure Letter is or is not material for purposes of this Agreement.

(d) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement with the benefit of competent legal representation, and the language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent. In the event that an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either Party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions hereof.

(e) References to any document or information having been “made available” by Seller to Buyer shall include or its Representatives having posted any such document or information to the Data Room or otherwise having made a copy of such document or information available (electronically or otherwise, including by email or as an exhibit to the Seller SEC Documents or the Buyer SEC Documents), on the day prior to the date hereof.

(f) The Seller Disclosure Letter shall be arranged in sections that correspond to the Sections of this Agreement to which such sections of the Seller Disclosure Letter relate; provided, however, that the disclosure of any information in any Section of the Seller Disclosure Letter or shall also constitute disclosure for purposes of all other Sections of this Agreement with respect to which the relevance of such disclosure is reasonably apparent on its face. The inclusion of any information, matter or document disclosed or referenced in, or attached to, the Seller Disclosure Letter shall not (i) be used as a basis for interpreting the terms “material”, “Business Material Adverse Effect” or “Buyer Material Adverse Effect” or other similar terms in this Agreement or to establish a standard of materiality, (ii) represent a determination that such item or matter did not arise in the ordinary course of business, (iii) be deemed or interpreted to expand the scope of Seller’s or Buyer’s respective representations and warranties, obligations, covenants, conditions or agreements contained herein, or (iv) constitute, or be deemed to constitute, an admission of liability or obligation to a third party regarding such matter.

 

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Section 10.12 Counterparts and Electronic Signatures. This Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement or document. A signed copy of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement transmitted by email, .pdf or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original executed copy of this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement for all purposes.

Section 10.13 Time is of the Essence. Time is of the essence in the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 10.14 Provision Regarding Legal Representation. Recognizing that each of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie has acted as legal counsel to Seller, the Acquired Companies and their Affiliates prior to the date hereof, and that Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie intend to act as legal counsel to Seller and its Affiliates (which will no longer include the Acquired Companies) after the Closing, Buyer hereby waives (on its own behalf) and agrees to cause its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Acquired Companies) to waive, any conflicts arising under such representation that may prevent Cleary Gottlieb, MWE or Baker McKenzie from representing Seller or any of its Affiliates after the Closing, as such representation may relate to Buyer or the Acquired Companies or the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements, including in any Legal Proceeding against Buyer or the Acquired Companies. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all communications involving attorney-client confidences between Seller, the Acquired Companies and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and any of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie on the other hand, in the course of or otherwise in connection with the consideration, negotiation, documentation and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be deemed to be attorney-client confidences that belong solely to Seller and its Affiliates (and not the Acquired Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a dispute arises between Buyer or its Affiliates and a third party (other than a party to this Agreement or any of their respective Affiliates) after the Closing, the Acquired Companies may assert attorney-client privilege to prevent disclosure of confidential communications by each of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie to such third party or the use thereof by Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie in connection with its representation of such third party in such dispute; provided that no Acquired Company may undertake any actions that would reasonably be expected to waive any right to attorney-client privilege or disclose any information covered by such attorney-client privilege without the prior written consent of Seller. The Acquired Companies shall not have access to any such communications or to the files of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE or Baker McKenzie relating to such engagement from and after the Closing, and no actions taken by Seller or any of its Affiliates or Representatives to retain, remove or otherwise protect such communications will be deemed a breach or violation of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the Closing, (a) Seller and its Affiliates (and not the Acquired Companies) shall be the sole holders of the attorney-client privilege with respect to such engagement, and no Acquired Company shall be a holder thereof (except as provided in the second preceding sentence), (b) such privilege shall

 

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survive the Closing and remain in full effect and shall not be deemed waived as a result of the Closing or any actions taken or not taken in connection with or following the Closing (and the Parties and their respective Affiliates agree to take all steps necessary to ensure that such privilege shall survive the Closing and remain in full effect), (c) Buyer and its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Acquired Companies) shall not use or rely on any such communications in any Legal Proceeding against or involving Seller or any of its Affiliates or otherwise relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements, (d) to the extent that files of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE or Baker McKenzie in respect of such engagement constitute property of the client, only Seller and its Affiliates (and not the Acquired Companies) shall hold such property rights (subject to the second preceding sentence) and (e) each of Cleary Gottlieb, MWE and Baker McKenzie shall have no duty whatsoever to reveal or disclose any such attorney-client communications or files to any of the Acquired Companies by reason of any attorney-client relationship between Cleary Gottlieb, MWE or Baker McKenzie and the Acquired Companies or otherwise (subject to the second preceding sentence).

Section 10.15 Waiver of Claims Against Financing Sources. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to the contrary, the Seller on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, and each of their respective Representatives, hereby: (i) agrees that all matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings (whether sounding in contract, tort, common or statutory law, equity or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Bridge Debt Financing or any of the agreements (including the Bridge Commitment Letter) entered into in connection with the Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder involving the Financing Sources shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, so long as such forum is and remains available, and any appellate court thereof and each party hereto irrevocably submits itself and its property with respect to any such matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court, and such matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings (except to the extent relating to the interpretation of any provisions in this Agreement (including any provision in the Bridge Commitment Letter or in any definitive documentation related to the Financing that expressly specifies that the interpretation of such provisions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of the Delaware)) shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws, (ii) agrees not to bring or support or permit any of its controlled Affiliates to bring or support any matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings (whether sounding in contract, tort, common or statutory law, equity or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, the Financing, the Bridge Debt Financing or any of the agreements (including the Bridge Commitment Letter) entered into in connection with the Financing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder against any Financing Source in any forum other than any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, (iii) agrees that service of process upon the Seller in any matters, claims, controversies, disputes, suits, actions or proceedings shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 10.2, (iv) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such matter, claim, controversy, dispute, suit, action or proceeding in any such court, (v) irrevocably and unconditionally waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right it may have to a trial by jury in any

 

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matter, claim, controversy, dispute, suit, action or proceeding brought against the Financing Sources directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, the Financing, the Bridge Commitment Letter or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder, (vi) agrees that this Agreement may not be enforced against any Financing Source and agrees that none of the Financing Sources will have any liability to Seller, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives (in each case, other than Buyer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements) relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Financing, the Bridge Commitment Letter or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the performance of any services thereunder (whether sounding in contract, tort, common or statutory law, equity or otherwise) (provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall affect the rights of Buyer or its Affiliates against the Financing Sources with respect to the Financing, the Bridge Debt Financing or any of the agreements (including the Bridge Commitment Letter) or any of the transactions contemplated thereby or any services thereunder following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement the Ancillary Agreements) and (vii) agrees that the Financing Sources are express third party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, any of the provisions in this Agreement reflecting the foregoing agreements in this Section 10.15 and such provisions and the definition of “Financing Sources” shall not be amended in any way material and adverse to the Financing.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stefano Pessina

  Name: Stefano Pessina
  Title:   Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Steven H. Collis

  Name: Steven H. Collis
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AMERISOURCEBERGEN SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

Dated as of [•], 2021

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I GOVERNANCE

     2  

1.1

  Composition of the Board of Directors      2  

1.2

  Objection to Investor Designee      3  

1.3

  No Adverse Action; Voting Agreement      4  

1.4

  Board Committees      5  

1.5

  Termination of Board Designation Rights      6  

1.6

  Information Rights      6  

ARTICLE II TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL PROVISIONS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

     9  

2.1

  Transfer Restrictions      9  

2.2

  Standstill Provisions      10  

2.3

  Preemptive Rights      15  

2.4

  Outside Activities      19  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     20  

3.1

  Representations and Warranties of the Investors      20  

3.2

  Representations and Warranties of the Company      21  

3.3

  Representations and Warranties of WBA      22  

ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION

     22  

4.1

  Demand Registrations      22  

4.2

  Piggyback Registrations      24  

4.3

  Shelf Registration Statement      26  

4.4

  Withdrawal Rights      28  

4.5

  Holdback Agreements      29  

4.6

  Registration Procedures      29  

4.7

  Registration Expenses      35  

4.8

  Miscellaneous      36  

4.9

  Registration Indemnification      36  

4.10

  Free Writing Prospectuses      39  

ARTICLE V DEFINITIONS

     39  

5.1

  Defined Terms      39  

5.2

  Interpretation      54  

ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS

     55  

 

-i-


6.1

  Term      55  

6.2

  Notices      55  

6.3

  Investor Actions      57  

6.4

  Amendments and Waivers      57  

6.5

  Successors and Assigns      57  

6.6

  Severability      57  

6.7

  Counterparts      57  

6.8

  Entire Agreement      57  

6.9

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction      58  

6.10

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      58  

6.11

  Specific Performance      58  

6.12

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      59  

6.13

  Obligation to Update Annex A      59  

Annex A     Ownership Schedule

 

-ii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of [•], 2021 (this “Agreement”), between (i) AmerisourceBergen Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and (ii) Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“WBA”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2013, the Company, Walgreen Co., an Illinois corporation (“Walgreens”), and Alliance Boots GmbH, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Switzerland (“Alliance Boots”), entered into a Framework Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Framework Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Company (i) issued on March 18, 2013 Warrant 1 and Warrant 2 (together, the “Warrants”) to Permitted Transferees of Walgreens and Alliance Boots and (ii) agreed with Walgreens and Alliance Boots with respect to certain rights of Walgreens and/or Alliance Boots, and/or their respective permitted designees, as applicable, to acquire the Initial Open Market Shares and the Additional Open Market Shares, subject to the terms and conditions herein and therein;

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2013, each of Walgreens, Alliance Boots and the Company entered into a Shareholders Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”) setting forth certain terms and conditions regarding, among other things, the Investors’ ownership of the Warrants, Warrant Shares, Initial Open Market Shares and/or Additional Open Market Shares, as applicable (the Warrant Shares, Initial Open Market Shares, Additional Open Market Shares and 2021 Shares (as defined below), collectively, the “Shares”);

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2013, Walgreens, Alliance Boots, Walgreens Pharmacy Strategies, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company and wholly owned Subsidiary of Walgreens, Alliance Boots Luxembourg S.à r.l., a societé à responsabilité limitée organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and wholly owned Subsidiary of Alliance Boots, and WAB Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, jointly owned, directly or indirectly, by Walgreens and Alliance Boots (the “FW JV”), entered into that certain Transaction Rights Agreement (the “Transaction Rights Agreement”), providing for certain rights and obligations of each of Walgreens and Alliance Boots with respect to the transactions contemplated herein and in the other Transaction Documents;

WHEREAS, on December 31, 2014, Walgreens and Alliance Boots assigned the Prior Agreement to WBA;

WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, each of WBA and the Company entered into that certain Share Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) pursuant to which, on the date hereof, the Company acquired from WBA the Business (as defined in the SPA) in exchange for cash consideration and 2,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock (the “2021 Shares”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the SPA and the issuance by the Company of the 2021 Shares to the Designated Seller Subsidiary (as defined in the SPA) on the date hereof, each of WBA and the Company desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety;


WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Prior Agreement, the Prior Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing signed by (i) the Company, (ii) the Walgreens Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned by all Walgreens Investors and (iii) the Alliance Boots Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned by all Alliance Boots Investors; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto, representing sufficient signatory authority to amend and restate the Prior Agreement, wish to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety to update the terms of the Prior Agreement to reflect the changes set forth herein.

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

ARTICLE I

GOVERNANCE

1.1 Composition of the Board of Directors.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) took the action necessary to cause one (1) Walgreens Designee to be appointed to the Board.

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event, the Board shall promptly (and in any case within ten (10) Business Days) after receiving a Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event Notice take all action necessary (including by amending the organizational documents of the Company, if necessary) to cause one (1) additional Walgreens Designee to be appointed to the Board, such that the Board shall have two (2) Walgreens Directors.

(c) During the Walgreens Investor Rights Period, subject to the other provisions of this Section 1.1, including Section 1.1(d), and Section 1.2, at each annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which directors are to be elected to the Board, the Company will nominate and use its reasonable best efforts (which shall, subject to Applicable Law, include including in any proxy statement used by the Company to solicit the vote of its stockholders in connection with any such meeting the recommendation of the Board that stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the slate of directors) to cause the election to the Board of a slate of directors that includes (i) during the Walgreens Enhanced Investor Rights Period, two (2) Walgreens Designees or (ii) otherwise, one (1) Walgreens Designee.

(d) WBA shall notify the Company of the identity of any proposed Walgreens Designee, in writing, on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board or the Governance and Nominating Committee for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders, together with all information about such proposed Walgreens Designee as shall be reasonably requested by the Board or the Governance and Nominating Committee (including, at a minimum, any information regarding such proposed Walgreens Designee to the extent required by applicable securities laws or for any other person nominated for election to the Board).

 

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(e) Subject to Section 1.1(d) and Section 1.2, so long as no Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event has occurred, in the event of (i) the death, disability, removal or resignation of a Walgreens Director, the Board will promptly appoint as a replacement Walgreens Director the Walgreens Designee designated by WBA to fill the resulting vacancy, or (ii) the failure of a Walgreens Designee to be elected to the Board at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which such Walgreens Designee stood for election but was nevertheless not elected (such Walgreens Designee, a “Walgreens Specified Designee”), the Board will promptly appoint another Walgreens Designee designated by WBA to serve in lieu of such Walgreens Specified Designee as a Walgreens Director during the term that such Walgreens Specified Designee would have served had such Walgreens Specified Designee been elected at such meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and, in each case of clause (i) and clause (ii), such individual shall then be deemed a Walgreens Director for all purposes hereunder. Neither the Company nor the Board will remove any Walgreens Director without the prior written consent of WBA, unless such Walgreens Director is no longer eligible for designation as a member of the Board pursuant to Section 1.2 or to the extent necessary to remedy a breach of Section 1.5.

(f) The Company will at all times provide each Walgreens Director (in his or her capacity as a member of the Board) with the same rights to indemnification and exculpation that it provides to the other members of the Board. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any such indemnification obligations to indemnify or advance expenses to each Walgreens Director, in his or her capacity as such, for the matters covered by such indemnification obligations, shall be the primary source of indemnification and advancement of such Walgreens Director in connection therewith, and any obligation on the part of any Investor Indemnitor under any Investor Indemnification Agreement to indemnify or advance expenses to such Walgreens Director shall be secondary to the Company’s obligation and shall be reduced by any amount that such Walgreens Director may collect as indemnification or advancement from the Company. In the event that the Company fails to indemnify or advance expenses to each Walgreens Director as required by such indemnification obligations and this Agreement (such unpaid amounts, the “Unpaid Indemnitee Amounts”), and any Investor Indemnitor makes any payment to such Walgreens Director in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses under any Investor Indemnification Agreement on account of such Unpaid Indemnitee Amounts, such Investor Indemnitor shall be subrogated to the rights of such Walgreens Director under this Agreement in respect of such Unpaid Indemnitee Amounts.

1.2 Objection to Investor Designee.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article I, WBA will not be entitled to designate a particular Walgreens Designee (or, for the avoidance of doubt, any Walgreens Director) to the Board pursuant to this Article I in the event that the Board reasonably determines that (i) the election of such Walgreens Designee to the Board would cause the Company to not be in compliance with Applicable Law, (ii) such Walgreens Designee has been involved in any of the events enumerated in Item 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act or Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act or is subject to any order, decree or judgment

 

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of any Governmental Authority prohibiting service as a director of any public company, (iii) such Walgreens Designee does not satisfy the director eligibility requirements applicable to the other members of the Board (e.g., mandatory retirement age) or (iv) such Walgreens Designee is not reasonably acceptable to the Board or Governance and Nominating Committee; provided, that for the purposes of this clause (iv), each of the Persons set forth on Section S-1.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be acceptable to the Board and Governance and Nominating Committee for so long as this Agreement remains in effect and none of the circumstances set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence shall be applicable with respect to such Person. In any such case described in clauses (i) through (iv) of the immediately preceding sentence, WBA will withdraw the designation of such proposed Walgreens Designee and, so long as no Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event has occurred, be permitted to designate a replacement therefor (which replacement Walgreens Designee will also be subject to the requirements of this Section 1.2).

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.2(a) and the Persons set forth on Section S-1.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter, WBA shall not be entitled to designate SP as a Walgreens Designee (or, for the avoidance of doubt, a Walgreens Director) to the Board pursuant to this Article I, and SP shall have no right to be appointed to the Board, unless and until SP shall have first executed a customary joinder agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and WBA, pursuant to which SP shall agree during any time the SP Standstill Period is in effect to be bound by, and to cause any SP Investor to comply with, Section 2.2, and, to the extent applicable, Article VI, of this Agreement mutatis mutandis as if SP and each SP Investor were a “Alliance Boots Investor” hereunder.

1.3 No Adverse Action; Voting Agreement.

(a) Until the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event, without the prior consent of WBA, except as required by Applicable Law, neither the Company nor the Board shall (i) increase the size of the Board such that the number of directors on the Board is greater than the sum of (A) nine (9) and (B) the number of Walgreens Designees to which WBA is entitled pursuant to Section 1.1 (such sum, the “Maximum Board Size”) or (ii) take any action to cause the amendment of its charter, bylaws or other organizational documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any documents giving rise to the eligibility requirements described in clause (iii) of Section 1.2(a)) such that WBA’s rights under this Article I would not be given effect; provided, that the Maximum Board Size can be increased by a maximum of one (1) additional director for a period of up to one year (or such shorter period ending upon the effectiveness of the retirement described in this proviso) to accommodate the pending retirement of a director that will occur during such one-year period.

(b) During any time in which the Standstill Period is in effect, each Investor agrees to cause each Voting Security owned by it or any of its respective Permitted Transferees or over which it or any of its respective Permitted Transferees has voting control to be voted (including, if applicable, through the execution of one or more written consents if stockholders of the Company are requested to vote through the execution of an action by written consent in lieu of any such annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company): (x) in favor of all those persons nominated to serve as directors of the Company by the Board or its Governance and Nominating Committee and (y) with respect to any other action, proposal or other matter to be

 

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voted upon by the stockholders of the Company (including through action by written consent), in accordance with the recommendation of the Board; provided, however, that no Investor or any of its Affiliates shall be under any obligation whatsoever to vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Board or in any other manner, other than in its sole discretion, with respect to the approval (or non-approval) or adoption (or non-adoption) of, or other proposal directly related to, any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Transaction.

(c) For so long as it is subject to the voting requirements of Section 1.3(b), each Investor hereby appoints the Chairman of the Board and any designee thereof, and each of them individually, its proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote or act by written consent during the term of this Agreement with respect to shares of Company Common Stock owned by such Investor or any of its Permitted Transferees or over which such Investor or any of its Permitted Transferees has voting control to be voted in accordance with Section 1.3(b). This proxy and power of attorney is given to secure the performance of the duties of such Investor under this Agreement. Each Investor hereby agrees that it shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy; this proxy and power of attorney granted by such Investor shall be irrevocable during the term of this Agreement (but subject to Section 1.3(b)), shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest sufficient under Applicable Law to support an irrevocable proxy and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by such Investor with respect to shares of Company Common Stock. The power of attorney granted by each Investor herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the dissolution or bankruptcy of such Investor.

1.4 Board Committees

(a) At any time when at least one (1) Walgreens Director is a member of the Board, each committee of the Board shall include (to the extent that a Walgreens Director elects to serve on such committee), as a full member with the same voting and other privileges as other members of such committee, at least one (1) Walgreens Director, subject to such Walgreens Director meeting the applicable eligibility requirements for such committee mandated by Applicable Law or the charter of such committee; provided, that to the extent more than one (1) Walgreens Director shall meet such eligibility requirements, WBA shall determine which such one (1) Walgreens Director shall be entitled to be included as a member of such committee.

(b) Until no Walgreens Director serves as a director on the Board (and WBA either no longer has any rights under this Article I to designate any Walgreens Designee to serve on the Board or irrevocably waives any such rights), the Company shall not amend the charter, bylaws or any other organizational documents of the Company, or the charter or other governing documents of any committee of the Board, in any manner that, either directly or indirectly through impact or effect, adversely and disparately affects the ability of any Walgreens Director to be a member of any such committee.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.4, no Walgreens Director shall be entitled to serve on any ad hoc, special or similar committee established by the Board to consider a matter with respect to which the Board has determined in good faith, following consultation with outside counsel to the Company, that WBA or its Affiliates (expressly including Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH), or such particular Walgreens Director, as applicable, has a conflict with respect to such matter.

 

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1.5 Termination of Board Designation Rights. Promptly upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event, all obligations of the Company with respect to the Investors and any Walgreens Director or Walgreens Designee pursuant to this Article I (other than Section 1.1(f)) shall terminate and unless otherwise consented to by a majority of the members of the Board (in each case, excluding Walgreens Directors, if any) the Investors shall cause any Walgreens Directors to immediately resign from the Board. Promptly upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Down Event, to the extent there is more than one (1) Walgreens Director, unless otherwise consented to by a majority of the members of the Board (in each case, excluding Walgreens Directors, if any), the Investors shall cause one (1) Walgreens Director to immediately resign from the Board.

1.6 Information Rights.

(a) For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Applicable Law, prior to a Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event, the Company and its Subsidiaries will prepare and provide, or cause to be prepared and provided, to each Walgreens Director (in his or her capacity as such) any materials or other information prepared for or given to any other member of the Board (excluding any such materials or other information prepared for and given to solely the Chief Executive Officer and no other member of the Board), as and when prepared for or given to any such other member, or any other materials or other information relating to the management, operations and finances of the Company and its Subsidiaries as and when generally provided to directors of the Company or as and when reasonably requested by such Walgreens Director (in his or her capacity as such). Each Walgreens Director shall be bound by and subject to the same confidentiality obligations as each other director of the Company.

(b) During the Walgreens Investor Rights Period:

(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries will prepare and provide, or cause to be prepared and provided, to WBA:

(A) within the time periods applicable to the Company under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or if the Company is at any time not subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act, the time periods that would be applicable to the Company if it were so subject) all quarterly and annual financial statements required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K; and

(B) within thirty (30) days after the end of each monthly accounting period in each fiscal quarter, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of each such monthly period, and the unaudited consolidated statements of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each such monthly period and for the current fiscal year to date.

 

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(ii) The Company will consider and respond in good faith to reasonable requests for information, to the extent already existing or that can be prepared without excessive cost or management time, regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries from WBA (to the extent such requests are made in its capacity as a direct or indirect stockholder of the Company and to the extent such requests are made by the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Chairman, Chief Financial Officer or Controller of WBA), it being understood that the Company shall have discretion as to (1) whether or not to provide, in whole or in part, any such requested information and (2) whether or not to impose restrictions on WBA with respect to the types or categories of Representatives to whom such information may be disclosed (including, for example, requiring that any such information only be disclosed to corporate staff of WBA, and not to employees with operational responsibility), in each case in light of the nature of the request and the facts and circumstances at the time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries will not be required to provide any such information if (i) the Company determines that such information is competitively sensitive, (ii) the Company determines in good faith that providing such information would adversely affect the Company (taking into account the nature of the request and the facts and circumstances at such time) or (iii) providing such information (A) would reasonably be expected to jeopardize an attorney-client privilege or cause a loss of attorney work product protection, (B) would violate a confidentiality obligation to any person or (C) would violate any Applicable Law; provided, that, with respect to clauses (i)-(iii), the Company uses reasonable efforts, and cooperates in good faith with WBA, to develop and implement reasonable alternative arrangements to provide WBA (and its Representatives) with the intended benefits of this Section 1.6.

(c) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, during the Walgreens Investor Rights Period, the Company and its Subsidiaries will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and provide, or to cause to be prepared and provided, including, if requested and reasonably available, in electronic data format, to WBA, or to assist WBA with preparing (at the expense of WBA), in a reasonably timely fashion upon reasonable prior request by WBA, any (A) financial information (including those described in clauses (A)-(B) of Section 1.6(b)(i)) or other data relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) any other relevant information or data, in each case to the extent necessary, as reasonably determined in good faith by WBA, for WBA, to (x) comply with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, or to comply with its reporting, filing, tax, accounting or other obligations under Applicable Law or (y) apply the equity method of accounting, in the event WBA, is required to account for its investment in the Company under the equity method of accounting under GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives to cooperate in good faith with such Investor in connection with the foregoing; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will WBA or its Affiliates disclose (including by reflecting such information on their financial statements) any financial information or other financial data provided to WBA pursuant to this Section 1.6 prior to the Company first publicly disclosing such information in its ordinary course of business, other than pursuant to the terms of Section 1.6(d)(i) or Section 1.6(d)(iv) (solely to the extent required by subpoena, order or other compulsory legal process). WBA shall promptly, upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any actions taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 1.6(c).

 

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(d) In furtherance of and not in limitation of any other similar agreement such party or any of its Representatives may have with the Company or its Subsidiaries, each of the Investors hereby agrees that all Confidential Information with respect to the Company shall be kept confidential by it and shall not be disclosed (including by reflecting such information on their financial statements) by it in any manner whatsoever, except as permitted by this Section 1.6(d). Any Confidential Information may be disclosed:

(i) by an Investor (x) to each other Investor, (y) to any of its Affiliates and (z) to such Investor’s or such Affiliate’s respective directors, managers, officers, employees and authorized representatives (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and financial advisors thereof) (each of the Persons described in clauses (y) and (z)), collectively, for purposes of this Section 1.6(d) and the definition of Confidential Information, “Representatives” of such Investor), in the case of clause (y) and clause (z), solely if and to the extent any such Person needs to be provided such Confidential Information to assist such Investor or its Affiliates in evaluating or reviewing its existing or prospective direct or indirect investment in the Company, including in connection with the disposition thereof. Each Representative of an Investor shall be deemed to be bound by the provisions of this Section 1.6(d) and such Investor shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 1.6(d) (or such other agreement or obligation, as applicable) by any of its Representatives;

(ii) by an Investor or any of its Representatives to the extent the Company consents in writing;

(iii) by an Investor or any of its Representatives to a potential Transferee (so long as such Transfer is permitted hereunder); provided, that such Transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 1.6(d) (or a confidentiality agreement having restrictions substantially similar to this Section 1.6(d)) and such Investor shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 1.6(d) (or such confidentiality agreement) by any such Transferee; and

(iv) by any Investor or any of its Representatives to the extent that such Investor or Representative has been advised by its outside counsel that such disclosure is required to be made by such Investor or Representative under Applicable Law or by a Governmental Authority, including as (and to the extent) may be required by Applicable Law or by a Governmental Authority in furtherance of any action taken by such Person not in contravention of the terms of Section 2.2(b)(ii), and in any case such Investor or Representative is not otherwise in material breach of Section 2.2 of this Agreement; provided, that prior to making such disclosure, such Person uses commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of the Confidential Information to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, including, to the extent practicable and permitted by Applicable Law, consulting with the Company regarding such disclosure and, if reasonably requested by the Company, assisting the Company, at the Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order to prevent the requested disclosure; provided, further, that such disclosing Investor or Representative, as the case may be, uses reasonable best efforts to disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information as is requested by the applicable Governmental Authority or as is, based on the advice of its

 

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outside counsel, legally required or compelled; and provided, further, that the parties hereto expressly agree that notwithstanding anything in the Alliance Boots Confidentiality Agreement, the Walgreens Confidentiality Agreement, or any other confidentiality agreement between or among the Company, the Investors or their Respective Affiliates or Representatives, to the contrary, any Confidential Information that is permitted to be disclosed or used in any manner pursuant to this Agreement can be so disclosed or used.

ARTICLE II

TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL PROVISIONS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

2.1 Transfer Restrictions.

(a) Reserved.

(b) “Permitted Transfers” means, in each case so long as such Transfer is in accordance with Applicable Law:

(i) a Transfer of Shares to a Permitted Transferee of the applicable Investor, so long as such Permitted Transferee, to the extent it has not already done so, executes a customary joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, in which such Permitted Transferee agrees to be an Investor for all purposes of this Agreement;

(ii) [reserved];

(iii) a Transfer of Shares in connection with an Acquisition Transaction approved by the Board (including if the Board (A) recommends that its stockholders tender in response to a tender or exchange offer that, if consummated, would constitute an Acquisition Transaction, or (B) does not recommend that its stockholders reject any such tender or exchange offer within the ten (10) Business Day period specified in Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act);

(iv) a Transfer of Shares that constitutes a tender into a tender or exchange offer commenced by the Company or any of its Affiliates, or a Transfer in accordance with Section 2.2(e); and

(v) a Permitted Distribution in Kind.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, including Article IV (but subject in all cases to the other provisions of this Section 2.1), no Investor shall Transfer any Shares or other Voting Securities:

(i) other than in accordance with all Applicable Laws and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement;

 

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(ii) except in a Permitted Transfer, (A) in one or more transactions in which any Person or Group, to such Investor’s knowledge, acquires Shares representing Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock equal to or in excess of five percent (5%) or more of the Total Voting Power or the Total Economic Interest or (B) (x) to any Person or Group (other than any Person who, to such Investor’s knowledge, is an Activist or Group that, to such Investor’s knowledge, includes an Activist) whose Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock, to such Investor’s knowledge, after giving effect to such Transfer, would equal or exceed ten percent (10%) or who would Beneficially Own ten percent (10%) or more of the Total Voting Power or Total Economic Interest or (y) to any Person who, to such Investor’s knowledge, is an Activist or Group that, to such Investor’s knowledge, includes an Activist, whose Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock, to such Investor’s knowledge, after giving effect to such Transfer, would equal or exceed five percent (5%) or who would Beneficially Own five percent (5%) or more of the Total Voting Power or Total Economic Interest;

(iii) except in a Permitted Transfer, on any given day in an amount (calculated in the aggregate together with all other transfers of all other Investors) greater than ten percent (10%) of the average daily trading volume of Company Common Stock for the twenty (20) trading day period immediately preceding the date of such Transfer; or

(iv) except in a Permitted Transfer, to any Prohibited Transferee; provided, however, that the restrictions of sub-clauses (ii)-(iii) of this Section 2.1(c) shall not apply to Transfers effected through (A) a bona fide Underwritten Offering pursuant to an exercise of the registration rights provided in Article IV of this Agreement so long as the Investors effecting any such Transfers shall instruct the managing underwriter(s) of any such Underwritten Offering to exclude (as a Transferee) Prohibited Transferees from such Underwritten Offering or (B) a Block Trade effected on a registered basis or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act through a broker dealer, placement agent or other similar intermediary so long as the Investors effecting any such Transfers shall instruct the broker dealer, placement agent or other intermediary to exclude from such Block Trade (as a Transferee) both (x) Prohibited Transferees and (y) any Person or Group that would exceed the limitations of sub-clause (ii) of this Section 2.1.

(d) Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of Warrants or Shares or other Voting Securities in violation of this Section 2.1 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall not, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties not to, record or recognize any such purported transaction on the share register or other books and records of the Company.

(e) In the event that a Transfer involves a Permitted Distribution in Kind, the Company will reasonably cooperate with WBA to facilitate such distribution in the manner reasonably requested by WBA and in compliance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.

2.2 Standstill Provisions.

 

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(a) During any time in which the Standstill Period is in effect, each of the Investors shall not, directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of their Controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, to, without the prior written consent of, or waiver by, the Company:

(i) acquire, agree to acquire, propose or offer to acquire, or facilitate the acquisition (including through the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership) of, Equity Securities or Derivative Instruments of the Company, other than:

(A) Warrant Shares acquired by the Investors or 2021 Shares acquired by the Investors;

(B) Initial Open Market Shares acquired by the Investors;

(C) Additional Open Market Shares acquired by the Investors;

(D) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, other subdivision, reorganization, reclassification or similar capital transaction involving Equity Securities of the Company;

(E) acquisitions by an Investor in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or distributions (regular or otherwise) paid on any Equity Securities of the Company Beneficially Owned by such Investor (any Equity Securities of the Company acquired pursuant to any such reinvestment, the “Dividend Reinvestment Shares”);and

(F) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(i), Section 2.1(b)(ii) or Section 2.3;

in the case of each of sub-clauses (B), (C), (E) and (F) above, solely to the extent that such acquisition would not, based on the most recently (as of the time of such acquisition) publicly available outstanding share count of Company Common Stock disclosed by the Company in an Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K (and, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account, but without duplication, the definition of “Beneficial Ownership”), cause the collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock of the Investors, SP and the SP Investors, as a group, to exceed the Ultimate Standstill Level;

(ii) deposit any Voting Securities in a voting trust or similar Contract or agreement or subject any Voting Securities to any voting agreement, pooling arrangement or similar arrangement, or grant any proxy with respect to any Voting Securities (in each case, other than (A) pursuant to Section 1.3(b) and Section 1.3(c), (B) otherwise to the Company or a Person specified by the Company in a proxy card (paper or electronic) provided to stockholders of the Company by or on behalf of the Company or (C) solely between or among, or to, as applicable, the Walgreens Investors, the Alliance Boots Investors and/or any of their respective Controlled Affiliates);

 

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(iii) enter, agree to enter, propose or offer to enter into or facilitate any merger, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring, change in control transaction or other similar extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (unless (1) such transaction is affirmatively publicly recommended or otherwise approved by the Board and there has otherwise been no breach of this Section 2.2 in connection with or relating to such transaction or (2) such action is permitted by Section 2.1(b)(iii) or Section 2.1(b)(iv));

(iv) make, or in any way participate or engage in, any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Commission) to vote, or advise or knowingly influence any Person (other than any other Investor or any of its Controlled Affiliates) with respect to the voting of, any Voting Securities;

(v) call, or seek to call, a meeting of the stockholders of the Company or initiate any stockholder proposal for action by stockholders of the Company;

(vi) form, join or in any way participate in a Group (other than with its Permitted Transferee that is bound by the restrictions of this Section 2.2(a) or a Group that consists solely of the Investors and/or any of their respective Controlled Affiliates), with respect to any Voting Securities;

(vii) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to Control or influence the management or the policies of the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any such act to the extent in its capacity as a commercial counterparty, customer, supplier, industry participant or the like);

(viii) advise or knowingly assist or encourage or enter into any discussions, negotiations, agreements or arrangements with any other Persons in connection with the foregoing; or

(ix) make any proposal or statement of inquiry or disclose any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with any of the foregoing;

it being understood and agreed that neither this Section 2.2 nor Section 1.4(c) shall in any way limit (A) the activities of any Walgreens Director taken in good faith in his or her capacity as a director of the Company or (B) the full participation of any Walgreens Director in any Board (or Board committee, as applicable) discussions, deliberations, negotiations or determinations, or other actions or matters with respect to which any other members of the Board participate, regarding any Acquisition Proposal or any Acquisition Transaction; provided, that, with respect to this clause (B), in the case of any Walgreens Director that is a director, officer, employee or Affiliate of WBA or any of its Affiliates (1) such Acquisition Proposal or the Acquisition Proposal, if any, in respect of such Acquisition Transaction, respectively, is not made or submitted by WBA or any of its Affiliates and (2) WBA shall have committed to the Company in writing not to make (directly or through its Affiliates) a Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal with respect to such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Transaction. In addition, each of the Investors shall not, directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of their Controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, to, (x) contest the validity of this Section 2.2 or, subject to, and without limiting in any

 

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respect, Section 2.2(b), seek a waiver, amendment or release of any provisions of this Section 2.2 (including this sentence) (whether by legal action or otherwise) or (y) take any action that would reasonably be expected to require the Company to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of a business combination, merger or other type of transaction or matter described in this Section 2.2.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents, including Section 2.2(a) hereof and Section 3.2 of the Framework Agreement, no Investor shall be prohibited or restricted from making and submitting, (i) to the Company and/or the Board, at any time, any Acquisition Proposal that is intended by such Investor, as applicable, to be made and submitted on a non-publicly disclosed or announced basis (which such Acquisition Proposal may, for the avoidance of doubt, include requests for the Company and/or the Board to waive, amend or provide a release of any provision of this Section 2.2) and (ii) to the Company, the Board, and/or the Company’s stockholders, following any Acquisition Proposal received (or entered into) by the Company, the Board or the Company’s stockholders by any Person or Group other than any Alliance Boots Investor or any of its Affiliates, in the case of any Alliance Boots Investor, or any Walgreens Investor or any of its Affiliates, in the case of any Walgreens Investor, respectively, that is, was or becomes, publicly disclosed or announced (including as a result of being approved by the Board or otherwise the subject of any agreement, Contract or understanding with the Company) (the “Original Public Acquisition Proposal”), a Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal on a publicly disclosed and announced basis (which such Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal may, for the avoidance of doubt, include requests for the Company and/or the Board to waive, amend or provide a release of any provision of this Section 2.2), or from taking any other action, whether or not otherwise restricted by Section 2.2(a), in connection with evaluating, making, submitting, negotiating, effectuating or implementing any such Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal (or any amendment, supplement or modification thereto); provided, that, in the case of this sub-clause (ii), the right of such Investor to evaluate, make, submit, negotiate, effectuate or implement a Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal on a publicly disclosed and announced basis shall terminate with respect to the Original Public Acquisition Proposal if such Original Public Acquisition Proposal is publicly withdrawn (or terminated) (for the avoidance of doubt, an amendment, supplement or modification to, or replacement Acquisition Proposal in respect of, such Original Public Acquisition Proposal, shall not be deemed to be a withdrawal (or termination)) before such Investor initially publicly discloses or announces such Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal; provided, further, that the immediately preceding proviso shall not prohibit or restrict such Investor from continuing, amending, supplementing or modifying, publicly or otherwise, any such Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal that was initially publicly disclosed or announced prior to the public withdrawal (or termination) of the Original Public Acquisition Proposal, or limit in any respect the rights of such Investor with respect to any subsequent Original Public Acquisition Proposal (whether or not made by the same Person or Group, and whether or not related in any manner to any previously withdrawn (or terminated) Original Public Acquisition Proposal).

(c) “Standstill Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date hereof and ending upon the later of (x) two (2) years from the date of this Agreement and (y) the date that is eighty-nine (89) days (or one day less than such lesser period as may be applicable under the Company’s advance notice bylaws as in effect from time to time) after no Walgreens Director serves as a director on the Board (and WBA either no longer has any rights under Article I to designate any Walgreens Designee to serve on the Board or irrevocably waives any such rights).

 

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(d) As promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 48 hours) following receipt of any Acquisition Proposal or any request for nonpublic information or inquiry that could reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall advise WBA in writing of the receipt of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry, and provide to WBA a written summary of the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry (including the identity of the Person or Group making such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry) and a copy of all substantive (or otherwise material) documentation and correspondence relating thereto. Thereafter, the Company shall keep WBA apprised of any related substantive (or otherwise material) developments, discussions and negotiations (including providing WBA with a copy of all substantive (or otherwise material) documentation and correspondence relating thereto) on a reasonably current basis. The Company agrees that it shall promptly provide WBA any substantive (or otherwise material) non-public information concerning the Company that may be provided to any other Person or Group in connection with any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry which has not previously been provided to WBA and WBA agrees that it will keep any such information confidential in accordance with the terms of Section 1.6.

(e) If (i) the Company engages in any share repurchases or series of related share repurchases (whether through self-tender, open market transactions or otherwise) that have the effect of causing the collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock of the Investors, SP and the SP Investors, as a group, to exceed the Ultimate Standstill Level (a “Share Repurchase Ownership Event”) or (ii) following exercise of either of the Warrants (in whole or in part) the collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock of the Investors, SP and the SP Investors, as a group, exceeds the Ultimate Standstill Level (a “Warrant Exercise Ownership Event”), then, subject to Applicable Law, following receipt by WBA of a written notice from the Company delivered no later than on the tenth (10th) Business Day following such Share Repurchase Ownership Event or Warrant Exercise Ownership Event, as applicable, (x) notifying WBA of such Share Repurchase Ownership Event or Warrant Exercise Ownership Event, as applicable (and including, in the case of a Share Repurchase Ownership Event, current and reasonably detailed information with respect to such share repurchase(s) and, in all cases, the number of shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding in order to permit WBA to verify such Share Repurchase Ownership Event or Warrant Exercise Ownership Event, as applicable, and the calculations set forth in this Section 2.2(e)), (y) requesting that WBA engage in the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.2(e) and (z) irrevocably offering to WBA to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.2(e) (a “Sell Down Request”), WBA shall, on the Sell Down Date (as defined below), sell to the Company, at a purchase price per share (payable by the Company in cash) equal to the Thirty Day VWAP of Company Common Stock as of the closing of trading on such Business Day, such number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (to the extent actually owned by the Investors) as shall be necessary to cause the Investors’, SP’s and the SP Investors’ collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock not to exceed the Ultimate Standstill Level. The “Sell-Down Date” shall mean a date selected by WBA that is no later than the twelfth (12th) Business Day following WBA’s receipt of the Sell-Down Request; provided, however, that to the extent such sale would, in WBA’s reasonable judgment, based upon advice of outside counsel to WBA, require WBA,

 

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an Investor, SP, the SP Investors, any Walgreens Director or any of their respective Affiliates that has acquired Beneficial Ownership of any shares of Company Common Stock in the six (6) months preceding receipt of the applicable Sell Down Request (the “Acquisition”) to disgorge any profit from such sale pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Sell-Down Date shall be the earliest date determined by WBA in its reasonable judgment, based upon advice of outside counsel to WBA, on which such sale may be made without requiring any such disgorgement pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (and in any event no later than the twelfth (12th) Business Day after the seven (7) month anniversary of such Acquisition).

(f) During the Standstill Period, solely with respect to the Company, WBA (i) shall not amend, modify, waive or terminate or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of Sections 3.1(a)(i), 3.1(b) and 3.1(c) of the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement (the “Relevant Sections”) (including any amendment or modification of the definition of any defined term used in such Sections) and (ii) shall, including in the event of a breach thereof by SP or an SP Investor, take all actions reasonably within its control to seek to enforce the Relevant Sections to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law. WBA represents and warrants to the Company that (A) it has made available to the Company a complete and correct copy of the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement, including all amendments thereto, (B) the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement is in full force and effect, (C) WBA has not waived or failed to enforce any rights or benefits under the Relevant Sections with respect to the Company and (D) to the knowledge of WBA, neither SP nor the SP Investors is in breach or default under the Relevant Sections with respect to the Company. To the knowledge of WBA, there has occurred no event giving (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) to any person any right of termination, amendment or cancellation of the Relevant Sections with respect to the Company. Upon knowledge of any breach or default by SP or the SP Investors, or expiration or termination by its terms or otherwise, of the Relevant Sections with respect to the Company, WBA shall, as promptly as practicable (but in any event within 48 hours), notify the Company.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall prevent or restrict the ability of any Investor to acquire or Transfer among Investors subject to compliance with Section 2.2(b) Derivative Instruments for the purpose of engaging in “hedging” or other similar transactions in connection with acquiring (x) the Initial Open Market Shares, (y) during any period that Additional Open Market Shares could otherwise be purchased, the Additional Open Market Shares or (z) the 2021 Shares. In no event will the notional amount of shares underlying any such Derivative Instruments exceed, at any time (1) in the case of Derivative Instruments used for the purpose of engaging in “hedging” or other similar transactions in connection with acquiring the Initial Open Market Shares, the total number of Initial Open Market Shares which the IOMS Rights Holder could purchase at such time, (2) in the case of Derivative Instruments used for the purpose of engaging in “hedging” or other similar transactions in connection with acquiring the Additional Open Market Shares, the total number of Additional Open Market Shares which the Investors could purchase at such time or (3) in the case of Derivative Instruments used for the purpose of engaging in “hedging” or other similar transactions in connection with acquiring the 2021 Shares, 2,000,000 shares.

2.3 Preemptive Rights.

 

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(a) The Company hereby grants to WBA (the “Pre-Emptive Stockholder”) the right, subject to Applicable Law, to purchase (and/or to designate one or more Permitted Transferees of WBA to purchase (subject to Section 2.1(b) and so long as any such Permitted Transferee, to the extent it has not already done so, executes a customary joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, in which such Permitted Transferee, agrees to be an Investor for all purposes of this Agreement)) the Pre-Emptive Stockholder’s Pro Rata Portion of any Equity Securities (collectively, the “New Securities”) that the Company may from time to time propose to issue (other than in Permitted Transactions); provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) such Pro Rata Portion of any New Securities shall not increase the total number of New Securities issued or proposed to be issued, other than (x) in the case of New Securities issued as consideration for the consummation by the Company of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of any business, or any other business combination or (y) in any other issuance in the form of an Underwritten Offering or other registered public offering (including a block trade), in which case, if the Pre-Emptive Stockholder elects to purchase its Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities, the total number of New Securities issued in connection with such transaction shall be increased by such Pro Rata Portion (the “Proposed Issuance Increase”), and (ii) no Proposed Issuance (including (x) any issuance of New Securities to the Pre-Emptive Stockholder (and/or its designees) and (y) any Proposed Issuance Increase pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (i)) completed in compliance with this Section 2.3 shall be applied in a circular manner to this Section 2.3 so as to result in duplicative or iterative pre-emptive rights.

(b) The Company shall give written notice (an “Issuance Notice”) of any proposed issuance described in subsection (a) above (“Proposed Issuance”) to WBA no later than five (5) Business Days prior to such issuance (or if such notice period is not reasonably possible under the circumstances, such prior written notice as is reasonably possible). The Issuance Notice shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed issuance, including:

(i) the number and description of the New Securities proposed to be issued and the percentage of the Company’s outstanding Equity Securities such issuance would represent;

(ii) the proposed issuance date; and

(iii) the cash purchase price per New Security (and/or, if applicable, reasonably detailed information with respect to any non-cash consideration proposed to be received by the Company in respect of such proposed issuance, in order to permit the Pre-emptive Stockholder to evaluate the Market Price (in the case of securities) and/or Fair Market Value (as defined in Warrant 1) (in the case of any other property) of any such non-cash consideration); provided, however, that in the event the Proposed Issuance is in the form of an Underwritten Offering or other registered public offering (including a block trade), the Issuance Notice may in lieu of a specific number of New Securities or a specific price, include a range (established, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, based upon information provided by the underwriter for such Underwritten Offering) within which the number of New Securities (the “Issuance Size Range”) and cash purchase price per New Security is expected to fall (the “Purchase Price Range”).

 

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(c) The Pre-emptive Stockholder shall for a period of (i) if the Issuance Notice sets forth a fixed number of New Securities and a cash purchase price per New Security (and not an Issuance Size Range or a Purchase Price Range), five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period if the Issuance Notice was sent by the Company in accordance with the first sentence of subsection (b) above less than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date, but in no event less than one (1) Business Day) following the receipt of an Issuance Notice (the “Fixed Price Exercise Period”) have the right to elect to purchase (and/or to designate any Permitted Transferee of WBA to purchase) or (ii) if the Issuance Notice sets forth an Issuance Size Range or a Purchase Price Range pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(iii), five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period if the Issuance Notice was sent by the Company in accordance with the first sentence of subsection (b) above less than five (5) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date, but in no event less than one (1) Business Day) following the receipt of an Issuance Notice, shall have the right to deliver a non-binding indication of interest as to the number of New Securities that WBA or any Permitted Transferee would be interested in purchasing at one or more prices within the Purchase Price Range and, if WBA or its Permitted Transferee delivers such a non-binding indication of interest, within three (3) Business Days after the later of the issuance date and receipt by the WBA of a notice specifying the actual number of New Securities and price per New Security issued by the Company, shall have the right to elect to purchase (and/or to designate any Permitted Transferee of WBA to purchase) (which election may be for less than, more than or the same number of New Securities as WBA or its Permitted Transferee indicated in its corresponding non-binding indication of interest, as described in subsection (a) above) its Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities, at an all-cash purchase price per New Security (the “Per Security Offering Price”) equal to: (1) in the case of all-cash consideration proposed to be received by the Company in respect of the Proposed Issuance, the cash purchase price per New Security set forth in the Issuance Notice (or, in the event that the Issuance Notice sets forth a Purchase Price Range pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(iii) above, at the actual cash purchase price per New Security at which the New Securities are sold in the applicable public offering) or (2) in the case of consideration other than all-cash consideration proposed to be received by the Company in respect of the Proposed Issuance, the per New Security price derived from the aggregate Market Price of all consideration proposed to be received by the Company that is securities and the aggregate Fair Market Value of all consideration (including cash) proposed to be received by the Company other than securities, in each case as of the date of receipt of such Issuance Notice; provided, however, that, in the case of New Securities issued as consideration for the consummation by the Company of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of any business, or any other business combination, the per New Security price shall be derived from the valuation methodology used by the Board in determining the value of the New Securities for purposes of establishing the consideration to be paid pursuant to such merger, consolidation, acquisition or business combination. The Pre-emptive Stockholder may exercise its election by delivering a written notice to the Company during the Exercise Period. Such notice must indicate the specific amount of New Securities that the Pre-emptive Stockholder desires to purchase (and/or designate others to purchase, as described above) and may not be conditioned in any manner not also available to other potential purchasers of the Proposed Issuance. The Pre-emptive Stockholder, if so exercising its election (the “Exercising Stockholder”), shall be entitled and obligated to purchase, or to cause such other persons it may have designated in accordance with this Section 2.3 to purchase, that portion of the New Securities so offered to the Pre-emptive Stockholder specified in the Pre-emptive Stockholder’s notice on the terms and

 

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conditions set forth in the Issuance Notice. The failure of the Pre-emptive Stockholder to exercise its election during the Exercise Period shall be deemed a waiver by the Pre-emptive Stockholder of its rights under this Section 2.3 with respect to such Proposed Issuance. The closing of any purchase by the Pre-emptive Stockholder (and/or any of its designees) shall be consummated (i) concurrently with the consummation of the Proposed Issuance or (ii) if the Issuance Notice sets forth an Issuance Size Range or Purchase Price Range pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(iii), on the second Business Day following receipt of WBA’s election to purchase (and/or to designate any Permitted Transferee of WBA to purchase) in compliance with this paragraph (c); provided, however, that the closing of any purchase by the Pre-emptive Stockholder (and/or any of its designees) may be extended beyond the closing of the consummation of the Proposed Issuance to the extent necessary to obtain required Governmental Approvals, but for the avoidance of doubt the Company shall not be required to delay or extend the closing of the other portion of the Proposed Issuance to the extent not subject to such Governmental Approval requirement (and, subject to Section 3.1 of the Framework Agreement, the Company and the Investors shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain such Governmental Approvals) and/or to finally determine any required calculations of Market Price and/or Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of such definitions.

(d) Subject to Section 2.3(g), if the Pre-emptive Stockholder (directly or through its designees) fails to purchase its allotment of the New Securities within the time period described in Section 2.3(c), the Company shall be free to complete the Proposed Issuance to the extent and with respect to which the Pre-emptive Stockholder failed to exercise the option set forth in this Section 2.3 on terms no less favorable to the Company (including with respect to consideration) than those set forth in the Issuance Notice (except that the amount of New Securities to be issued or sold by the Company may be reduced and it being understood that in connection with any Underwritten Offering or other registered public offering (including a block trade) in which the Issuance Notice contains an Issuance Size Range or a Purchase Price Range, the Company shall be free to complete the Proposed Issuance at any number of New Securities within the Issuance Size Range and at any price to the public that falls within the Purchase Price Range); provided, that such Proposed Issuance is closed within sixty (60) Business Days after the expiration of the Exercise Period (subject to the extension of such sixty (60) Business Day period for a reasonable time not to exceed an additional sixty (60) Business Days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any Government Approvals). In the event the Company has not completed (in whole or in part) such Proposed Issuance within such time period, the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any such New Securities without first again offering such securities to the Pre-Emptive Stockholder in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.3.

(e) Upon the issuance of any New Securities in accordance with this Section 2.3, the Company shall deliver to the Exercising Stockholder (and/or any of its designees) certificates evidencing the New Securities, which New Securities shall be issued free and clear of any liens, other than liens or encumbrances created by the Transaction Documents, arising as a matter of Applicable Law or created by or at the direction of any of the Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, and the Company shall so represent and warrant to the purchasers thereof, and further represent and warrant to such purchasers that such New Securities shall be, upon issuance thereof to such purchasers and after payment of the Per Security Offering Price therefor, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Exercising Stockholder shall

 

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deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the aggregate Per Security Offering Price for the New Securities purchased by it (and/or such designees) by certified or bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds. In the event that a Proposed Issuance shall be terminated or abandoned by the Company without the issuance of any New Securities, then the Pre-emptive Stockholder’s rights pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall also terminate as to such Proposed Issuance.

(f) For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate New Securities issued to the Exercising Stockholder and its designees hereunder may equal but shall not exceed the aggregate Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities of all the Investors.

(g) In the event that the Company has been advised by its outside counsel that the issuance of New Securities in full to the Pre-emptive Stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.3 would require the approval of the Company’s stockholders under Applicable Law, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, (i) the excess amount of such New Securities to the extent otherwise triggering such stockholder approval requirement will be excluded from the total number of New Securities that the Pre-emptive Stockholder would otherwise have a right to purchase pursuant to this Section 2.3 (such excess amount of New Securities, the “Excluded New Securities”) and (ii) the Pre-emptive Stockholder shall instead be permitted (in its sole discretion) to acquire (and/or any Permitted Transferee of WBA to purchase, as described in subsection (a) above), in one or more open market transactions, up to a number of shares of Company Common Stock, that would, in the aggregate, result, after giving effect to such open market transactions (and ignoring other intervening events), in the Pre-emptive Stockholder’s (and/or such designee(s)’), as applicable, Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock being equal to what the Pre-emptive Stockholder’s (and/or such designee(s)’), as applicable, Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock would have been had New Securities been issued in full pursuant to this Section 2.3 to the Pre-emptive Stockholder (and/or such designee(s)) in the absence of such stockholder approval requirement (such shares of Company Common Stock purchasable pursuant to this Section 2.3(g)(ii), the “Replacement Pre-emptive Shares”).

2.4 Outside Activities.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 1.6 of this Agreement and Section 3.6 of the Framework Agreement, any Investor and any of its Affiliates may engage in or possess any interest in other investments, business ventures or Persons of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to, or that competes with, the investments or business of the Company, and may provide advice and other assistance to any such investment, business venture or Person.

(b) The Company shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such investments, business ventures or Persons or the income or profits derived therefrom.

(c) The pursuit of any such investment or venture, even if competitive with the business of the Company, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper and shall not constitute a conflict of interest or breach of fiduciary or other duty in respect of the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Investors. None of the Investors or any of its Affiliates shall be obligated to

 

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present any particular investment or business opportunity to the Company even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Company, could be pursued by the Company, and any Investor and any of its Affiliates shall have the right to pursue for its own account (individually or as a partner or a fiduciary) or to recommend to any other Person any such investment opportunity; provided, that a Walgreens Director who is offered an investment or business opportunity in his or her capacity as a member of the Board shall be obligated to communicate such opportunity to the Company, in which case such Walgreens Director, the Investors and their respective Affiliates (expressly including WBAD), respectively, shall not be permitted to pursue such opportunity unless (i) the Board determines not to do so or (ii) such Walgreens Director, the Investors or any of their respective Affiliates (expressly including WBAD) learn of such opportunity other than as a result of such Walgreens Director being offered such opportunity in his or her capacity as a member of the Board.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each Investor, on behalf of itself and not any other Investor, hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows as of the date hereof (or, if applicable, as of the date the joinder agreement pursuant to which such Investor shall have become a party to this Agreement):

(a) Such Investor Beneficially Owns and owns of record the number of shares of Company Common Stock as listed on Annex A (or, in the case of a joinder agreement, as listed on an annex to such joinder agreement) opposite such Investor’s name and such shares constitute all of the Equity Securities and Derivative Instruments of the Company Beneficially Owned or owned of record by such Investor.

(b) Such Investor has been duly formed, is validly existing and, where such concept is applicable, is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(c) The execution and delivery by such Investor of this Agreement and the performance by such Investor of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) the organizational documents of such Investor or (z) any contract or agreement to which such Investor is a party.

(d) The execution and delivery by such Investor of this Agreement and the performance by such Investor of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other analogous action on the part of such Investor. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Investor and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.

 

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(e) Such Investor: (i) is acquiring or has acquired the Warrants and the Shares, as applicable, for its own account, solely for investment and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local securities or “blue sky” laws, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Warrants or Shares, as applicable, in violation of any such laws, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Warrants and the Shares, as applicable, and of making an informed investment decision and (iii) is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Such Investor understands that the Company is relying on the statements contained herein to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and under foreign, federal, state and local securities laws and acknowledges that the Warrants, the Warrant Shares and the 2021 Shares are not registered under the Securities Act or any other Applicable Law and that such Warrants, Warrant Shares and 2021 Shares may not be Transferred except pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act (and in compliance with any other Applicable Law) or pursuant to an applicable exemption therefrom.

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors as follows:

(a) The Company is a corporation, duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) Except as set forth in the Framework Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) the organizational documents of the Company (following any actions taken pursuant to Section 1.1(b)) or (z) any contract or agreement to which the Company is a party.

(c) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.

 

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3.3 Representations and Warranties of WBA. WBA hereby represents and warrants to the Company that neither SP nor any SP Investor nor any Person Controlled by SP or any SP Investor (other than Investors whose Beneficial Ownership is the subject of Section 3.1(a)) Beneficially Owns any shares of Company Common Stock or any Derivative Instruments of the Company (other than indirectly through their Beneficial Ownership of WBA or Walgreens).1

ARTICLE IV

REGISTRATION

4.1 Demand Registrations.

(a) From and after the date hereof, subject to the terms and conditions hereof (x) solely during any period that the Company is then-ineligible under Applicable Law to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or, if the Company is so eligible but has failed to comply with its obligations under Section 4.3 or (y) following the expiration of the Company’s obligation to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective pursuant to Section 4.3(c), but only if there is no Shelf Registration Statement then in effect, any Demand Shareholders (“Requesting Shareholders”) shall be entitled to make an unlimited number of written requests of the Company (each, a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Requesting Shareholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a “Demand Registration” and such registration statement, a “Demand Registration Statement”). Thereupon, the Company will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration as promptly as practicable under the Securities Act of:

(i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Requesting Shareholders for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand;

(ii) all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register pursuant to Section 4.1(b), but subject to Section 4.1(g); and

(iii) all shares of Company Common Stock which the Company may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1, but subject to Section 4.1(g); all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be so registered.

(b) A Demand shall specify: (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then known, and (iii) the identity of the Requesting Shareholder(s). Within ten (10) days after receipt of a Demand, the Company shall give written notice of such Demand to all other holders of Registrable Securities. The Company shall include in the Demand Registration covered by such Demand all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after the Company’s notice required by this paragraph has been given, subject to Section 4.1(g). Each such written request shall comply with the requirements of a Demand as set forth in this Section 4.1(b).

 

1 

Note to Draft: To be confirmed.

 

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(c) A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected and shall not count as a Demand Registration (i) unless the Demand Registration Statement with respect thereto has become effective and has remained effective for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold or otherwise disposed of thereunder (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the holders of Registrable Securities refrain from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of the Company or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or (ii) if, after it has become effective, such Demand Registration becomes subject, prior to one hundred eighty (180) days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority, other than by reason of any act or omission by the applicable Selling Shareholders.

(d) Demand Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Requesting Shareholders.

(e) The Company shall not be obligated to (i) subject to Section 4.1(c), maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act filed pursuant to a Demand Registration for a period longer than one hundred eighty (180) days or (ii) effect any Demand Registration (A) within six (6) months of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in which all Demand Shareholders were offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2 (subject to Section 4.2(b)) and at least fifty percent (50%) of the number of Registrable Securities requested by such Demand Shareholders to be included in such Demand Registration were included, (B) within six (6) months of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement) or (C) if, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for the Company to proceed with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other required financial statements of the Company or any other Person; provided, that the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable.

(f) The Company shall be entitled to (1) postpone (upon written notice to the Demand Shareholders) the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for any Demand Registration, (2) cause any Demand Registration Statement to be withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated and (3) suspend the use of the prospectus forming the part of any registration statement, in each case in the event of a Blackout Period until the expiration of the applicable Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Demand Shareholders requesting registration a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an approximation of the anticipated delay. Upon notice by the Company to the Demand Shareholders of any such determination, each Demand Shareholder covenants that, subject to Applicable Law, it shall keep the fact of any

 

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such notice strictly confidential, and, in the case of a Blackout Period pursuant to clause (ii)(y) of the definition of Blackout Period, promptly halt any offer, sale, trading or other Transfer by it or any of its Affiliates of any Registrable Securities for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and promptly halt any use, publication, dissemination or distribution of the Demand Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein, and any amendment or supplement thereto by it and any of its Affiliates for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and, if so directed in writing by the Company, will deliver to the Company any copies then in the Demand Shareholder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.

(g) If, in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in such registration statement only such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration by the Demand Shareholders, which, in the opinion of the lead managing underwriter(s), can be sold without adversely affecting the success thereof, pro rata among such Demand Shareholders on the basis of the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Demand Shareholders; (ii) second, securities the Company proposes to sell; and (iii) third, all other securities of the Company duly requested to be included in such registration statement, pro rata on the basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such other allocation method determined by the Company.

(h) Any time that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Requesting Shareholder(s) shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(i) If any Demand Shareholder so elects, a Demand Registration may involve a Permitted Distribution in Kind, and the Company will reasonably facilitate such distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Demand Shareholder and in compliance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.

4.2 Piggyback Registrations.

(a) From and after the date hereof, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever the Company proposes to register any Company Common Stock (or any other securities that are of the same class or series as any Registrable Securities that are not shares of Company Common Stock) under the Securities Act (other than a registration by the Company (i) on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto, (ii) on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto, (iii) on a Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) pursuant to Section 4.1) (a “Piggyback Registration”),

 

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whether for its own account or for the account of others, the Company shall give all Demand Shareholders prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing by the Company with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto). Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall specify the number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution and the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by the Company of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable), in each case to the extent then known. Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by Demand Shareholders (a “Piggyback Seller”) with respect to which the Company has received written requests (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by such Piggyback Seller) for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after such Piggyback Notice is received by such Piggyback Seller.

(b) If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the securities sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by (i) the Company, (ii) other Persons who have sought to have shares of Company Common Stock registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand (other than pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or participation registration rights) such registration (such Persons being “Other Demanding Sellers”), (iii) the Piggyback Sellers and (iv) any other proposed sellers of shares of Company Common Stock (such Persons being “Other Proposed Sellers”), as the case may be, would adversely affect the success thereof, then the Company shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such securities as the Company is so advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect, as follows and in the following order of priority:

(i) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) to be sold by the Company as the Company, in its reasonable judgment, shall have determined, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock sought to be registered by Other Demanding Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Demanding Sellers and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers; or

(ii) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for the Company’s own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) sought to be registered by each Other Demanding Seller pro rata in proportion to the number of securities sought to be registered by all such Other Demanding Sellers, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Piggyback Sellers, (C) third, shares of Company Common Stock to be sold by the Company and (D) fourth, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers.

 

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(c) For clarity, in connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 4.2 for the Company’s account, the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Piggyback Seller in the Underwritten Offering unless such Piggyback Seller accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected by the Company.

(d) If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable) as set forth in this Section 4.2 and prior to the time the registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is declared effective, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Company Common Stock (or other securities, as applicable), the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Piggyback Sellers within five (5) Business Days thereof and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration; provided, that, if permitted pursuant to Section 4.1, the Demand Shareholders may continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 4.1.

4.3 Shelf Registration Statement.

(a) From and after the date hereof, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and further subject to the availability of a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (“Form S-3”) to the Company, any of the Demand Shareholders may by written notice delivered to the Company (the “Shelf Notice”) require the Company to file as soon as reasonably practicable, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing date, a Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale, from time to time, of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Demand Shareholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), the Company shall file the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any successor form thereto.

(b) Within ten (10) days after receipt of a Shelf Notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a), the Company will deliver written notice thereof to all other holders of Registrable Securities. Each other holder of Registrable Securities may elect to participate with respect to its Registrable Securities in the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the plan and method of distribution set forth, or to be set forth, in such Shelf Registration Statement, including a Permitted Distribution in Kind, by delivering to the Company a written request to so participate within ten (10) days after the Shelf Notice is received by any such holder of Registrable Securities.

 

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(c) Subject to Section 4.3(d), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) three (3) years after the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective; (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities; and (iii) the date on which the Investors’ collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock falls below five percent (5.0%); provided, that the Company’s obligations under this Section 4.3(c) shall cease after completion of the fifth (5th) Shelf Offering by the Investors (taking into account the time periods described in Section 4.1(c) as if such Shelf Offering were a Demand Registration).

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, by providing written notice to the holders of Registrable Securities who elected to participate in the Shelf Registration Statement, to require such holders of Registrable Securities to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period under clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Demand Shareholders requesting registration a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in clause (ii) of the definition of Blackout Period are met. Such certificate shall contain an approximation of the anticipated delay. Upon notice by the Company to the Demand Shareholders of any such determination, each Demand Shareholder covenants that it shall, subject to Applicable Law, keep the fact of any such notice strictly confidential, and, in the case of a Blackout Period pursuant to clause (ii)(y) of the definition of Blackout Period, promptly halt any offer, sale, trading or other Transfer by it or any of its Affiliates of any Registrable Securities for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and promptly halt any use, publication, dissemination or distribution of the Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein, and any amendment or supplement thereto by it and any of its Affiliates for the duration of the Blackout Period set forth in such notice (or until such Blackout Period shall be earlier terminated in writing by the Company) and, if so directed in writing by the Company, will deliver to the Company any copies then in the Demand Shareholder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.

(e) After the expiration of any Blackout Period and without any further request from a holder of Registrable Securities, the Company, to the extent necessary, shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if any Demand Shareholder delivers a notice to the Company (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all of part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Offering”), then the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf

 

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Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering (taking into account, solely in connection with a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering, the inclusion of Registrable Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 4.3). In connection with any Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering and where the plan of distribution set forth in the applicable Take-Down Notice includes a customary “road show” (including an “electronic road show”) or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters (a “Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering”):

(i) such proposing Demand Shareholder(s) shall also deliver the Take-Down Notice to all other Demand Shareholders included on the Shelf Registration Statement and permit each such holder to include its Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement in the Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering if such holder notifies the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) and the Company within five (5) days after delivery of the Take-Down Notice to such holder; and

(ii) if the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company and the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be sold in connection with such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering would adversely affect the success thereof, then there shall be included in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering only such securities as the proposing Demand Shareholder(s) is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect, and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated in the same manner as described in Section 4.1(g). Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Section 4.3, any Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering shall be subject to the same requirements, limitations and other provisions of this Article IV as would be applicable to a Demand Registration (i.e., as if such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering were a Demand Registration), including Section 4.1(e)(ii) and Section 4.1(g).

(g) If any Demand Shareholder so elects, a Shelf Offering may be in the form of a block sale to one or more financial institutions for resale pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (a “Block Trade”). If a Demand Shareholder wishes to engage in a Block Trade, the Demand Shareholder shall notify the Company five (5) Business Days prior to the day such Block Trade is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Demand Shareholder). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate any Block Trade (which may close as early as two (2) Business Days after the date it commences) consistent with its obligations under this Article 4.

(h) If any Demand Shareholder so elects, a Shelf Offering may involve a Permitted Distribution in Kind, and the Company will reasonably facilitate such distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Demand Shareholder and in compliance with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, as applicable.

4.4 Withdrawal Rights. Any holder of Registrable Securities having notified or directed the Company to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by giving

 

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written notice to such effect to the Company prior to the effective date of such registration statement. In the event of any such withdrawal, the Company shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for all purposes of this Agreement (subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement). No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn; provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable give each Demand Shareholder seeking to register Registrable Securities notice to such effect and, within ten (10) days following the mailing of such notice, such Demand Shareholder still seeking registration shall, by written notice to the Company, elect to register additional Registrable Securities to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn. During such ten (10) day period, the Company shall not file such registration statement if not theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore filed, the Company shall not seek, and shall use reasonable best efforts to prevent, the effectiveness thereof.

4.5 Holdback Agreements.

(a) Each Investor agrees to enter into customary agreements restricting the sale or distribution of Equity Securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent required in writing by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than fourteen (14) days prior to the expected “pricing” of such Underwritten Offering) and continuing for not more than ninety (90) days after the date of the “final” prospectus (or “final” prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made, plus an extension period, as may be proposed by the lead managing underwriter(s) to address FINRA regulations regarding the publishing of research, or such lesser period as is required by the lead managing underwriter(s).

(b) If any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, the Company will not effect any sale or distribution of Company Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Company Common Stock) (other than a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto) for its own account, within sixty (60) days (plus an extension period as may be proposed by the lead managing underwriter(s) for such Underwritten Offering to address FINRA regulations regarding the publication of research, or such shorter periods as the lead managing underwriter(s) may agree with the Company), after the effective date of such registration except as may otherwise be agreed between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.

4.6 Registration Procedures.

(a) If and whenever the Company is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or Section 4.3, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

 

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(i) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, that before filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, the Company will furnish to the Demand Shareholders which are including Registrable Securities in such registration (“Selling Shareholders”), their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of such counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the Commission, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and each prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors. The Company shall not file any such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto with respect to a Demand Registration to which the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities held by the Requesting Shareholder(s), their counsel or the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with Applicable Law;

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV, and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

(iii) if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering (including a Block Trade), promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 4.6(a)(iii) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with Applicable Law;

 

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(iv) furnish to the Selling Shareholders and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by such Selling Shareholders such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Shareholders and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Shareholders;

(v) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Selling Shareholders, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Shareholders and any underwriter of the securities being sold by such Selling Shareholders shall reasonably request, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable such Selling Shareholders and underwriters to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Shareholders, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to:

(A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (v) be obligated to be so qualified;

(B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction; or

(C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(vi) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities (if such Registrable Securities are shares of Company Common Stock) to be listed on each securities exchange on which shares of Company Common Stock are then listed;

(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(viii) enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement) in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings of Company Common Stock by the Company and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable

 

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Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an Underwritten Offering (A) make such representations and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the registration statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (B) if any underwriting agreement has been entered into, the same shall contain customary indemnification provisions and procedures with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 4.9, except as otherwise agreed by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold and (C) deliver such documents and certificates as reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to sub-clause (A) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;

(ix) in connection with an Underwritten Offering (including a Block Trade), use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain for the underwriter(s) (A) opinions of counsel for the Company, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such underwriters and (B) “comfort” letters and updates thereof (or, in the case of any such Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, an “agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings;

(x) make available for inspection by the Selling Shareholders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained in connection with such offering by such Selling Shareholders or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary, or as shall otherwise be reasonably requested, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney, agent or accountant in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this Section 4.6(a)(x) if (A) the Company believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) either (1) the Company has requested and been granted from the Commission confidential treatment of such

 

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information contained in any filing with the Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing; unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (1) or (2) such Selling Shareholder requesting such information enters into, and causes each of its Inspectors to enter into, a confidentiality agreement on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Company; provided, further, that each Selling Shareholder agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Governmental Authority, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action seeking to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

(xi) as promptly as practicable notify in writing the Selling Shareholders and the underwriters, if any, of the following events: (A) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other U.S. or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; (D) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; (E) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any mutual agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 4.6(a)(viii) cease to be true and correct in any material respect; and (F) upon the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Selling Shareholder, promptly prepare and furnish to such Selling Shareholder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(xii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest reasonable practicable date, except that, subject to the requirements of Section 4.6(a)(v), the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xii) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(xiii) cooperate with the Selling Shareholders and the lead managing underwriter(s) to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under Applicable Law) representing securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the lead managing underwriter(s) or such Selling Shareholders may request and keep available and make available to the Company’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates;

(xiv) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and

(xv) have appropriate officers of the Company prepare and make presentations at a reasonable number of “road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, and other information meetings reasonably organized by the underwriters, take other actions to obtain ratings for any Registrable Securities (if they are eligible to be rated) and otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the Selling Shareholders and the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the scheduling of any such “road shows” and other meetings shall not unduly interfere with the normal operations of the business of the Company.

(b) The Company may require each Selling Shareholder and each underwriter, if any, to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding each Selling Shareholder or underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.

(c) Each Selling Shareholder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) of Section 4.6(a)(xi), such Selling Shareholder shall forthwith discontinue such Selling Shareholder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Selling Shareholder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4.6(a)(x), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has

 

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received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 4.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

(d) With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company shall:

(i) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

(ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, at any time when the Company is subject to such reporting requirements; and

(iii) furnish to any holder of Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission as such holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available).

4.7 Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article IV, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and “blue sky” laws (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.6(a)(v)) and all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121, except in the event that Requesting Shareholders select the underwriters) (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by an Investor) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of the Company’s independent certified public accountants and counsel (including with respect to “comfort” letters and opinions), (e) expenses of the Company incurred in connection with any “road show”, other than any expense paid or payable by the underwriters and (f) reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all holders of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement, which counsel shall be selected by, in the case of a Demand Registration, the Requesting Shareholders, in the case of a Shelf Offering, the Demand Shareholder(s) requesting such offering, or in the case of any other registration, the

 

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holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, shall be borne solely by the Company whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective. In connection with the Company’s performance of its obligations under this Article IV, the Company will pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties and the expense of any annual audit) and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on the primary securities exchange or over-the-counter market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded. Each Selling Shareholder shall pay its portion of all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Selling Shareholder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration.

4.8 Miscellaneous. (a) Not less than ten (10) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall notify each holder of Registrable Securities who has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling such holder to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement of the information, documents and instruments from such holder that the Company or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter and underwriting agreement (the “Requested Information”). If the Company has not received, on or before the second Business Day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from such holder, the Company may file the registration statement without including Registrable Securities of such holder. The failure to so include in any registration statement the Registrable Securities of a holder of Registrable Securities (with regard to that registration statement) shall not result in any liability on the part of the Company to such holder.

(b) The Company shall not grant any demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights the terms of which are senior to or conflict with the rights granted to the Investors hereunder to any Person without the prior written consent of Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Company Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by all Investors.

4.9 Registration Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees, without limitation as to time, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Selling Shareholder and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Selling Shareholder or such other indemnified Person and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners of each such controlling Person, each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, the “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the

 

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statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(a)) will reimburse each such Selling Shareholder, each of its Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers and partners and each such Person who controls each such Selling Shareholder and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person, each such underwriter and each such Person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, except insofar as the same are caused by any information furnished in writing to the Company by any other party expressly for use therein.

(b) In connection with any registration statement in which a Selling Shareholder is participating, without limitation as to time, each such Selling Shareholder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and employees, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.9(b)) will reimburse the Company, its directors, officers and employees and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, in each case solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Shareholder for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Shareholder shall be liable under this Section 4.9(b) for amounts in excess of the net proceeds received by such holder in the offering giving rise to such liability.

(c) Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.

(d) In any case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying party with respect to such

 

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proceeding, the indemnifying party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and monitoring (unless (i) such indemnified party reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that there may be defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying party and, as a result, a conflict of interest exists or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, in either event the indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for the expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for the avoidance of doubt, for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)). For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party except as provided in the previous sentence. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (z) is settled solely for cash for which the indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(e) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall survive the Transfer of the Registrable Securities and the termination of this Agreement.

(f) If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Persons’ relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Shareholder shall be required to make a contribution in excess of the amount received by such Selling Shareholder from its sale of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering that gave rise to the contribution obligation.

 

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4.10 Free Writing Prospectuses. No Investors shall use any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article IV without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investors may use any free writing prospectus prepared and distributed by the Company.

ARTICLE V

DEFINITIONS

5.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement have the following meanings:

2021 Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal, offer, inquiry, indication of interest or expression of intent (whether binding or non-binding, and whether communicated to the Company, the Board or publicly announced to the Company’s stockholders or otherwise) by any Person or Group relating to an Acquisition Transaction.

Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) (a) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning thirty percent (30%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (b) any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning thirty percent (30%) or more in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or (c) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction (the “Pre-Transaction Stockholders”) Beneficially Owning less than seventy percent (70%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); provided, that this clause (c) shall not apply if (1) such transaction or series of related transactions is an acquisition by the Company effected, in whole or in part, through the issuance of Equity Securities of the Company, (2) such acquisition does not result in a Person Group Beneficially Owning, directly or indirectly, a greater percentage of the outstanding Equity Securities (measured by either voting power or economic interest) of the Company than the Investors, as a group, and (3) the Pre-Transaction Stockholders continue to

 

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Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, at least 60% of the outstanding Equity Securities (measured by voting power and economic interest); (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute thirty percent (30%) or more of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company; or (iii) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Activist” means, as of any date of determination, a Person (other than an Investor) that has, directly or indirectly through its Affiliates, whether individually or as a member of a Group, within the five-year period immediately preceding such date of determination, (i) made, engaged in or been a participant in any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Commission) to vote, or advise or knowingly influence any Person with respect to the voting of, any equity securities of any issuer, including in connection with a proposed change of Control or other extraordinary or fundamental transaction, or a proposal for the election or replacement of directors, not approved (at the time of the first such proposal) by the board of directors of such issuer, (ii) called, or publicly sought to call, a meeting of the shareholders of any issuer or initiated any shareholder proposal for action by shareholders of any issuer, in each case not approved (at the time of the first such action) by the board of directors of such issuer, (iii) otherwise publicly acted, alone or in concert with others, to seek to Control or influence the management or the policies of any issuer (provided, that this clause (iii) is not intended to include the activities of any member of the board of directors of an issuer, with respect to such issuer, taken in good faith solely in his or her capacity as a director of such issuer), (iv) commenced a “tender offer” (as such term is used in Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act) to acquire the equity securities of an issuer that was not approved (at the time of commencement) by the board of directors of such issuer in a Schedule 14D-9 filed under Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act, or (v) publicly disclosed any intention, plan, arrangement or other Contract to do any of the foregoing.

Additional Open Market Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Alliance Boots” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Alliance Boots Confidentiality Agreement” means the letter agreement, dated as of June 27, 2012, between AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited and the Company, as amended on January 23, 2013 and as further amended on March 18, 2013.

Alliance Boots Investors” means (i) the Initial Alliance Boots Investors, (ii) any Permitted Transferee of any Initial Alliance Boots Investor that is Transferred Shares by such Initial Alliance Boots Investor in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons included in clause (ii) of this definition that is Transferred Shares by such Person in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, (iv) any Permitted Transferee of Walgreens that is a Transferee of Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii), and (v) any Permitted Transferee of Alliance Boots that acquires New Securities or Replacement Pre-emptive Shares pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the FW JV shall be deemed to be a “Walgreens Investor” rather than a “Alliance Boots Investor.”

 

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Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any federal, national, state, local, cantonal, municipal, international, multinational or SRO statute, law, ordinance, secondary and subordinate legislation, directives, rule (including rules of common law), regulation, ordinance, treaty, Order, permit, authorization or other requirement applicable to such Person, its assets, properties, operations or business.

Beneficial Owner”, “Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance); provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, neither SP nor any SP Investor shall be deemed to have, or to have acquired, Beneficial Ownership of any Equity Securities of the Company that are held by any investment fund or other Person in which SP or such SP Investor holds any interest or participation, provided that (x) neither SP nor any SP Investor exercises any influence over the investment decisions of such investment fund or Person, (y) such Equity Securities are held for passive investment purposes only and (z) such Equity Securities do not constitute more than 2% of the outstanding securities of any class of securities issued by the Company.

Blackout Period” means (i) any regular quarterly period during which directors and executive officers of the Company are not permitted to trade under the insider trading policy of the Company then in effect and (ii) in the event that the Company determines in good faith that the registration would (x) reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or (y) would require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company in any material respect, a period of up to seventy-five (75) days; provided, that a Blackout Period described in this clause (ii) may not occur more than twice in any period of eighteen (18) consecutive months.

Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).

Business Day” means a day on which banks are generally open for normal business in New York, New York, which day is not a Saturday or a Sunday.

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Company Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

 

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Confidential Information” means all information (irrespective of the form of communication, and irrespective of whether obtained prior to or after the date hereof) obtained by or on behalf of an Investor or its Representatives from the Company, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives, through the Beneficial Ownership of Equity Securities or through the rights granted pursuant hereto, other than information which (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by such Investor, its Affiliates (expressly including WBAD) or their respective Representatives, (ii) was or becomes available to such Investor, its Affiliates (expressly including WBAD) or their respective Representatives on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives, or any other Investor or its Representatives, as the case may be, provided, that the source thereof is not known by such Investor or such of its Affiliates (expressly including WBAD) or their respective Representatives to be bound by an obligation of confidentiality, or (iii) is independently developed by such Investor, its Affiliates (expressly including WBAD) or their respective Representatives without the use of any such information that would otherwise be Confidential Information hereunder. Subject to clauses (i)-(iii) above, Confidential Information also includes (a) all non-public information previously provided by the Company, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives under the provisions of any confidentiality agreement between the Company, the Investors or their respective Affiliates or Representatives, including the Confidentiality Agreements, including all information, documents and reports referred to thereunder, (b) subject to any disclosures permitted by Section 3.2 of the Framework Agreement, all non-public understandings, agreements and other arrangements between and among the Company and the Investors, and (c) all other non-public information received from, or otherwise relating to, the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Confidentiality Agreements” means the Alliance Boots Confidentiality Agreement and the Walgreens Confidentiality Agreement.

Contract” means any contract, lease, license, indenture, loan, note, agreement or other legally binding commitment, arrangement or undertaking (whether written or oral and whether express or implied).

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

Controlled Affiliate” means any Affiliate of the specified Person that is, directly or indirectly, Controlled by the specified Person.

conversion” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Equity Securities.

convertible securities” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Equity Securities.

Demand” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

Demand Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

 

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Demand Shareholder” means any Walgreens Investor or any Alliance Boots Investor, in either case that holds Registrable Securities.

Derivative Instruments” means any and all derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) that increase in value as the value of any Equity Securities of the Company increases, including a long convertible security, a long call option and a short put option position, in each case, regardless of whether (x) such interest conveys any voting rights in such security, (y) such interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such security or (z) other transactions hedge the economic effect of such interest.

Dividend Reinvestment Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(i).

Equity Securities” means any and all (i) shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or other voting securities of a corporation, any and all equivalent or analogous ownership (or profit) or voting interests in a Person (other than a corporation), (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock or voting securities of (or other ownership or profit or voting interests in) such Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, whether voting or nonvoting, and, in each case, whether or not such shares, interests, participations, equivalents, securities, warrants, options, rights or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination (clauses (ii) and (iii), collectively “convertible securities” and any conversion, exchange or exercise of any convertible securities, a “conversion”).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Excluded New Security” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(g).

Exercise Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Exercising Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Fair Market Value” has the meaning set forth in Warrant 1.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Form S-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Framework Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(iv).

FW JV” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

GAAP” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

 

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Governance and Nominating Committee” means the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Company or any such successor committee.

Governmental Approval” means any authorization, consent, approval, waiver, exception, variance, order, exemption, publication, filing, declaration, concession, grant, franchise, agreement, permission, permit, or license of, from or with any Governmental Authority, the giving of notice to or registration with any Governmental Authority or any other action in respect of any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, state, local, cantonal, municipal, international or multinational government or political subdivision thereof, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, taxing or regulatory authority, instrumentality or judicial or administrative body, or arbitrator or SRO, having jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question.

Group” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

IFRS” means the standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, including (i) the International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, (ii) the International Accounting Standards originally issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee, in the form adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, (iii) the final interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee and (iv) the final interpretations issued by the Standing Interpretations Committee, consistently applied, as in effect at the date of such financial statements or information to which it refers.

Initial Alliance Boots Investors” means Alliance Boots and any Permitted Transferee of Alliance Boots that initially acquires any Warrant Shares, Initial Open Market Shares or Additional Open Market Shares; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the FW JV shall be deemed to be an “Initial Walgreens Investor” rather than an “Initial Alliance Boots Investor.”

Initial Open Market Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Initial Walgreens Investors” means Walgreens and any Permitted Transferee of Walgreens that initially acquires any Warrant Shares, Initial Open Market Shares or Additional Initial Open Market Shares.

Inspectors” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(x).

Investor Indemnification Agreements” means each and every certificate, memorandum or articles of incorporation or association, bylaws, limited liability company operating agreement, limited partnership agreement and any other organizational document of, and each and every insurance policy maintained by any Investor or its Affiliates, as applicable, providing for, among other things, indemnification of and advancement of expenses for a Walgreens Director for, among other things, the same matters that are subject to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement.

 

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Investor Indemnitors” means any Investor or its Affiliates in their capacity as indemnitors to a Walgreens Director under the applicable Investor Indemnification Agreements.

Investors” means the Walgreens Investors and the Alliance Boots Investors.

Issuance Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Issuance Size Range” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(iii).

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

Majority Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal, offer, inquiry or indication of interest (whether binding or non-binding, and whether communicated to the Company, the Board or publicly announced to the Company’s stockholders or otherwise) by any Person or Group relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning more than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning more than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction Beneficially Owning less than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); or (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute more than fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company.

Market Price” has the meaning set forth in Warrant 1.

Marketed Underwritten Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(f).

Maximum Board Size” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).

Minority Acquisition Proposal” means any proposal, offer, inquiry or indication of interest (whether binding or non-binding, and whether communicated to the Company, the Board or publicly announced to the Company’s stockholders or otherwise) by any Person or Group relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (i) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning between thirty percent (30%) and fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or

 

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Group Beneficially Owning between thirty percent (30%) and fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction Beneficially Owning less than seventy percent (70%) but more than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); or (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute between thirty percent (30%) and fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company.

New Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Order” means any judgment, decision, decree, order, settlement, injunction, writ, stipulation, determination or award issued by any Governmental Authority.

Original Public Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Other Demanding Sellers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

Other Proposed Sellers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

Per Security Offering Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).

Permitted Distribution in Kind” means, at any time that the common equity securities of WBA (or a successor thereto) are traded on NASDAQ, any other national stock exchange or the equivalent in any other country (including the London Stock Exchange), a pro rata distribution of all or any portion of the Shares or Voting Securities held by WBA or its Permitted Transferees to all stockholders of WBA (or such successor thereto); provided that no Person or Group, to the knowledge of WBA (or such successor thereto), would acquire in such distribution (without taking into account any other holdings of such Person or Group) Beneficial Ownership equal to or in excess of ten percent (10%) or more of the Total Voting Power or the Total Economic Interest.

Permitted Transactions” shall include (a) issuances by the Company as a Company Common Stock dividend payable in shares of Company Common Stock or other Equity Securities of the Company, or upon any subdivision or split-up of the outstanding Equity Interests, (b) issuances of shares of Company Common Stock (including upon exercise of options) to directors, advisors, employees or consultants of the Company pursuant to a stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock plan, other employee benefit plan or other similar compensatory agreement or arrangement approved by the Board of Directors, (c) conversions of convertible securities outstanding as of the date of the Framework Agreement and disclosed in Section 2.2(b) of the Framework Agreement in accordance with the terms of such convertible securities and (d) the exercise of the Warrants.

 

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Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to (x) any Walgreens Investor, WBA and any wholly owned Subsidiary of Walgreens or WBA, and the FW JV or (y) any Alliance Boots Investor, Alliance Boots and any wholly owned Subsidiary of Alliance Boots, and the FW JV, respectively; provided, that the FW JV may be a Permitted Transferee pursuant to clause (x) and clause (y) only if it is 100% Controlled by WBA, Walgreens and/or Alliance Boots; provided, further, that such Transferee would continue to qualify as a Permitted Transferee of the applicable Transferor if such Transfer were to take place as of any time of determination (and, in the event that such Transferee would no longer so qualify, such Transferee shall immediately Transfer back the Transferred securities to such Transferor and such Transfer shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall no longer, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties to no longer, record or recognize such Transfer on the share register of the Company).

Permitted Transfers” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Person” means an individual, company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, body corporate (wherever located) or other entity, organization or unincorporated association, including any Governmental Authority.

Piggyback Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

Piggyback Seller” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

Pre-emptive Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Pre-Issuance Ownership Percentage” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Pro Rata Portion.

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

Pro Rata Portion” means, with respect to the Pre-emptive Stockholder, on any issuance date for New Securities, the number of New Securities equal to the product of (i) the total number of New Securities to be issued by the Company on such date and (ii) the fraction determined by dividing (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned, in aggregate, by the Pre-emptive Stockholder and its Permitted Transferees immediately prior to such issuance (excluding, for this purpose, any then un-acquired Initial Open Market Shares) by (y) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance (such fraction, multiplied by 100, the Pre-emptive Stockholder’s “Pre-Issuance Ownership Percentage”); provided, however, that in the event that New Securities are issued as consideration for the consummation by the Company of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of any business, or any other business combination or the Issuance Notice specifies an Issuance Size Range or a Purchase Price Range, and, in either case, the Pre-emptive Stockholder exercises its preemptive right pursuant to Section 2.3, the Pro Rata Portion will be deemed to be the number of New Securities as are necessary for the Pre-emptive Stockholder to maintain its Pre-Issuance Ownership Percentage after giving effect to the issuance of such New Securities.

 

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Prohibited Transferee” means any Person set forth on Section S-5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

Proposed Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Proposed Issuance Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Purchase Price Range” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)(iii).

Qualifying Public Acquisition Proposal” means as it relates to any Original Public Acquisition Proposal under Section 2.2(b), any proposal, offer, inquiry or indication of interest (whether binding or non-binding, and whether communicated to the Company, the Board or publicly announced to the Company’s stockholders or otherwise) by any Investor relating to (x) if the applicable Original Public Acquisition Proposal is a Minority Acquisition Proposal, (A) (i) any acquisition (whether direct or indirect, including by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination or other similar transaction) or purchase from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning one hundred percent (100%) in interest of the total outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any tender offer, exchange offer or other secondary acquisition that would result in any Person or Group Beneficially Owning one hundred percent (100%) in interest of the total outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (measured by voting power or economic interest), or any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction Beneficially Owning less than fifty percent (50%) in interest of the total outstanding Equity Securities in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (measured by voting power or economic interest); or (ii) any sale or lease or exchange, transfer, license or disposition of a business, deposits or assets that constitute all or substantially all of the consolidated assets, business, revenues, net income, assets or deposits of the Company or (B) a Minority Acquisition Proposal submitted or made by an Investor in response to any such Original Public Acquisition Proposal as a result of which, after giving effect to such Minority Acquisition Proposal, the collective Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock of the Investors, as a group, would be less than or equal to forty-nine percent (49%) of the total outstanding Company Common Stock, and (y) if the applicable Original Public Acquisition Proposal is a Majority Acquisition Proposal, an alternative Acquisition Proposal.

Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(x).

Registrable Amount” means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $250 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission, or such lesser amount of Registrable Securities as would result in the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by the applicable Requesting Shareholder(s); provided, that such lesser amount shall have an aggregate value of at least $100 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission.

 

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Registrable Securities” means, with respect to the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, as of any date of determination, (a) (i) a number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of Initial Open Market Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, plus (ii) an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the sum of (A) the aggregate number of New Securities that are shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Pre-Emptive Stockholder (or its designees) pursuant to Section 2.3 and theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, and (B) the aggregate number of Replacement Pre-emptive Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, pursuant to Section 2.3(g), and plus (iii) an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of Dividend Reinvestment Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, (b) a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the sum of the number of shares calculated in the foregoing sub-clause (a) plus an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate Additional Open Market Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, (c) a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the sum of the number of shares calculated in the foregoing sub-clause (b) plus an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of Warrant 1 Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, (d) a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the sum of the number of shares calculated in the foregoing sub-clause (c) plus (i) an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of Warrants 2 Shares theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, and plus (ii) an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock then held by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, and not covered by the foregoing sub-clauses (a)-(c) or (d)(i) and (e) a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the sum of the number of shares calculated in the foregoing sub-clause (d) plus an additional number of shares of Company Common Stock held by the Walgreens Investors or Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, equal to the aggregate number of 2021 Shares. In addition, “Registrable Securities” shall also include any and all New Securities that are not shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Pre-Emptive Stockholder (or its designees) pursuant to Section 2.3 and theretofore acquired by the Walgreens Investors or the Alliance Boots Investors, respectively. In furtherance of establishing the appropriate number of Registrable Securities held by the Walgreens Investors and Alliance Boots Investors, respectively, in the event of any Transfer between Walgreens and/or any of its Permitted Transferees, on the one hand, and Alliance Boots and/or any of its Permitted Transferees, on the other hand, of any shares of Company Common Stock, Walgreens and Alliance Boots shall, in connection with any such Transfer, jointly designate such shares being Transferred (and therefore being acquired by the Transferee) as Initial Open Market Shares, New Securities issued to the Pre-Emptive Stockholder (or its designees) pursuant to Section 2.3, Replacement Pre-emptive Shares purchased pursuant to Section 2.3(g), Dividend Reinvestment Shares, Additional Open Market Shares, 2021 Shares, Warrant 1 Shares, Warrant 2 Shares or other shares of Company Common Stock, or any combination of the foregoing.

 

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As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities if (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (ii) such securities have been distributed pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, (iii) such securities have been otherwise transferred to any Person other than an Investor or its Permitted Transferees, if new certificates or other evidences of ownership for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer and not subject to any stop-transfer order or other restrictions on transfer have been delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition of such securities does not require registration or qualification of such securities under the Securities Act or any other securities laws then applicable or (iv) such securities shall cease to be outstanding.

Relevant Sections” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(f).

Replacement Pre-emptive Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(g).

Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(d).

Requested Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).

Requesting Shareholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Sell Down Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

Sell Down Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

Selling Shareholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a)(i).

Share Repurchase Ownership Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Shelf Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(f).

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a).

SP” means Stefano Pessina.

SPA” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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SP Investor” has the meaning set forth in the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement and also includes (i) any Permitted Transferee (as defined in the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement) of any SP Investor that is transferred Equity Securities of the Company by any SP Investor and (ii) any Permitted Transferee (as defined in the Walgreens Shareholders Agreement) of any of the persons included in clause (i) of this definition that is transferred Equity Securities of the Company by such person.

SP Standstill Period” means the period beginning on the date on which SP is appointed to the Board and ending on the date that is eighty-nine (89) days (or one day less than such lesser period as may be applicable under the Company’s advance notice bylaws as in effect from time to time) after SP ceases to serve as a director on the Board.

SRO” means (i) any “self-regulatory organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act, (ii) any other United States or foreign securities exchange, futures exchange, commodities exchange or contract market or (iii) any other securities exchange.

Standstill Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).

Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Take-Down Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(f).

Thirty Day VWAP” means, with respect to any security, as of any day, the volume weighted average price of such security for the thirty trading days ending on (and including) the trading day immediately prior to such day, as obtained from Bloomberg L.P. using the “Bloomberg definition” for calculation of “all day VWAP”.

Total Economic Interest” means, as of any date of determination, the total economic interests of all Voting Securities then outstanding. The percentage of the Total Economic Interest Beneficially Owned by any Person as of any date of determination is the percentage of the Total Economic Interest of the Company that is represented by the total economic interests of all Voting Securities then Beneficially Owned by such Person, including pursuant to any Derivative Instruments and any swaps or any other agreements, transactions or series of transactions, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transaction is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise.

Total Voting Power” means, as of any date of determination, the total number of votes that may be cast in the election of directors of the Company if all Voting Securities then outstanding were present and voted at a meeting held for such purpose. The percentage of the Total Voting Power Beneficially Owned by any Person as of any date of determination is the percentage of the Total Voting Power of the Company that is represented by the total number of votes that may be cast in the election of directors of the Company by Voting Securities then Beneficially Owned by such Person.

Transaction Documents” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Transaction Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, grant of a security interest, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock or (ii) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, to enter into any swap or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock or interest in capital stock, whether any such swap, agreement, transaction or series of transaction is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise. “Transferor” means a Person that Transfers or proposes to Transfer; and “Transferee” means a Person to whom a Transfer is made or is proposed to be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary act contemplated by clause (i) or clause (ii) of the first sentence of this definition, by (a) any shareholder of Alliance Boots to any other Person of, or with respect to, as applicable, any Equity Securities of Alliance Boots, or (b) any stockholder of WBA to any other Person of, or with respect to, as applicable, any Equity Securities of WBA, shall not be deemed to constitute a “Transfer” subject to the restrictions on Transfer contained or referenced herein.

Ultimate Standstill Level” means thirty-one percent (31%).

Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

Unpaid Indemnitee Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(f).

Voting Securities” means shares of Company Common Stock and any other securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company.

WBA” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

WBAD” means Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH.

Walgreens” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Walgreens Confidentiality Agreement” means the letter agreement, dated as of July 6, 2012, between Walgreens and the Company, as amended on March 18, 2013.

Walgreens Designee” means an individual designated in writing by WBA for election or appointment to the Board; provided, that the Walgreens Designee as of the date hereof shall be Ornella Barra and any subsequent Walgreens Designee may be an executive officer of WBA or any other individual.

Walgreens Director” means a Walgreens Designee who has been elected or appointed to the Board.

 

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Walgreens Enhanced Investor Rights Period” shall mean the period beginning upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event and ending upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Down Event.

Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event” shall be deemed to occur upon the Investors collectively owning (directly or through any of their respective Permitted Transferees) five percent (5%) or more of the shares of Company Common Stock then issued and outstanding.

Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event Notice” means a notice in writing from Walgreens to the Company (i) certifying that a Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event has occurred together with (ii) reasonable evidence that a Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event has occurred, including evidence of the Investors’ ownership of Company Common Stock.

Walgreens Investor Rights Period” shall mean the period beginning upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event and ending upon the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event.

Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Down Event” shall be deemed to occur if, as of the end of any Business Day following the Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event, the Investors collectively own (directly or through any of their respective Permitted Transferees) less than fourteen percent (14%) of the shares of Company Common Stock then issued and outstanding; provided, however, that the effect of any issuance of Equity Securities of the Company shall be disregarded for all purposes of the calculation set forth in this definition unless and until the Investors (or any of their respective Permitted Transferees) Transfers to a third party un-Affiliated with any Investor any shares of Company Common Stock subsequent to such issuance in question.

Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event” shall be deemed to occur upon the later to occur of (i) the exercise in full of Warrant 1 (as the number of Warrant 1 Shares may be reduced as a result of the acquisition of Additional Open Market Shares) and (ii) the acquisition in full by the Investors of the Initial Open Market Shares.

Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event Notice” means a notice in writing from Walgreens to the Company (i) certifying that a Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event has occurred together with (ii) reasonable evidence that a Walgreens Investor Rights Step-Up Event Notice has occurred, including evidence of the Investors’ ownership of Company Common Stock.

Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event” shall be deemed to occur if, as of the end of any Business Day following the occurrence of the Walgreens Investor Rights Initiation Event, the Investors collectively own (directly or through any of their respective Permitted Transferees) less than five percent (5%) of the shares of Company Common Stock then issued and outstanding; provided, however, that the effect of any issuance of Equity Securities of the Company shall be disregarded for all purposes of the calculation set forth in this definition unless and until the Investors (or any of their respective Permitted Transferees) Transfers to a third party un-Affiliated with any Investor any shares of Company Common Stock subsequent to such issuance in question.

 

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Walgreens Investors” means (i) WBA, (ii) the Initial Walgreens Investors, (iii) any Permitted Transferee of WBA or any Initial Walgreens Investor that is Transferred Shares by WBA or such Initial Walgreens Investor in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, (iv) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons included in clause (iii) of this definition that is Transferred Shares by such Person in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, (v) any Permitted Transferee of Alliance Boots that is a Transferee of Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii) and (vi) any Permitted Transferee of WBA that acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2.3.

Walgreens Shareholders Agreement” means the Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2012, among Walgreens, SP, KKR Sprint (Europe II) Limited, KKR Spring (2006) Limited, KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., as amended prior to the date hereof.

Walgreens Specified Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(e).

Warrant 1” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Warrant 1 Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Warrant 2” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Warrant 2 Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Framework Agreement.

Warrant Exercise Ownership Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

Warrant Shares” means the Warrant 1 Shares and the Warrant 2 Shares.

Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

5.2 Interpretation. Whenever used: the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” and the words “hereof” and “herein” and similar words shall be construed as references to this Agreement as a whole and not limited to the particular Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule in which the reference appears. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules mean the Articles, Sections and Annexes of, and Exhibits and Schedules attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. References to “$” or “dollars” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to any gender shall include all genders. Any reference to a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Person shall mean such Subsidiary is directly or indirectly wholly owned by such Person. The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. The Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein. The headings of the Articles and Sections are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. If, and as

 

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often as, there is any change in the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or other Equity Interests of the Company by reason of stock or security dividends, splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, split-ups, mergers, reclassifications, reorganizations, recapitalizations, combinations or exchanges of securities and the like, appropriate anti-dilution adjustments consistent with the anti-dilution provisions otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement. No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel. With respect to each of the Warrant Shares, Initial Open Market Shares and Additional Open Market Shares, such terms shall include, in each case, any shares of Company Common Stock or other securities of the Company received by the Investors as a result of any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, other subdivision, reorganization, reclassification or similar capital transaction. For purposes of all Transactions Documents (including the Warrants), whenever an assumption is made that the Warrants have been exercised (whether or not in full), unless otherwise expressly specified, such assumption will be based on a Cash Exercise (as defined in the Warrants) basis.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 Term. This Agreement will be effective as of the date hereof and shall automatically terminate upon the date that the Beneficial Ownership of the Investors, in the aggregate, of the Company Common Stock is less than five percent (5%), so long as, as of such date, all of the then-remaining Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by the Investors, in each case, may be sold in a single transaction without limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided, however, that, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto, this Agreement shall in no event terminate prior to the occurrence of a Walgreens Investor Rights Termination Event. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 6.1, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force and effect, except for the provisions set forth in Section 1.6(d) (which shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of five (5) years), Section 4.9, Section 5.2 and this Article VI, and except that no termination hereof shall have the effect of shortening the Standstill Period or the SP Standstill Period, to the extent that the Standstill Period or the SP Standstill Period, as applicable, would continue in effect in the absence of such termination.

6.2 Notices.

(a) Notices and other statements in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing in the English language and shall be delivered by hand, email, facsimile or overnight courier to the recipient’s facsimile number or address as set forth below or to such other facsimile number or address as a party hereto may notify to the other parties hereto from time to time and shall be given:

(i) if to the Company, to:

Name: AmerisourceBergen Corporation

 

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   Address:    1300 Morris Drive
      Chesterbrook, PA 19087
   Country:    United States
   Email:    [email protected]
   Fax:    610 727 3612
   Attn:    General Counsel
   with a copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
   Name:    Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
   Address:    Worldwide Plaza
      825 Eighth Avenue
      New York, New York 10019
   Country:    United States
   Fax:    (212) 474-3700
   Attention:    Damien R. Zoubek, Esq.
      O. Keith Hallam, III, Esq.

(ii) if to WBA or any Walgreens Investor or any Alliance Boots Investor, to:

 

   Name:    Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
   Address:    108 Wilmot Road
      Deerfield, Illinois 60015
   Country:    United States
   Email:    [•]
   Fax:    (847) 315-3652
   Attention:    General Counsel
   with a copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
   Name:    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
   Address:    One Liberty Plaza
      New York, New York 10006
   Country:    United States
   Email:    [email protected]; [email protected]
   Fax:    (212) 225-3999
   Attention:    Christopher E. Austin, Esq.
      Matthew P. Salerno, Esq.

(b) A notice shall be effective upon receipt and shall be deemed to have been received:

(i) at the time of delivery, if delivered by hand, or overnight courier; or

(ii) at the time of transmission in legible form if received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time on such date or at the beginning of the recipient’s next Business Day if received after 5:00 p.m. local time on such date or such date is not a Business Day, if delivered by fax or email.

 

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6.3 Investor Actions. Any determination, consent or approval of, or notice or request delivered by, or any similar action of, the Walgreens Investors, the Alliance Boots Investors or the Investors, as applicable, shall be made by, and shall be valid and binding upon, all Walgreens Investors, all Alliance Boots Investors or all Investors, respectively, if made by (a) WBA or (b) Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Total Voting Power then Beneficially Owned by all Investors.

6.4 Amendments and Waivers. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement amends and restates the Prior Agreement in its entirety. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by each of (a) the Company and (b)(i) WBA or (ii) Investors Beneficially Owning a majority of the Company Common Stock then Beneficially Owned by all Investors. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Applicable Law.

6.5 Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 6.5 shall be void.

6.6 Severability. It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, and such amendment will apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

6.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.

6.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement), together with the other Transaction Documents, the Transaction Rights Agreement, the Alliance Boots Confidentiality Agreement, the Walgreens Confidentiality Agreement and the SPA, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

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6.9 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New Castle County, or in the event (but only in the event) that such Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such dispute, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such United States District Court also does not have jurisdiction over such dispute, any Delaware State court sitting in New Castle County, in the event any dispute (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and (c) agrees that it will not bring any claim, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New Castle County, or in the event (but only in the event) that such Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such claim, action or proceeding the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such United States District Court also does not have jurisdiction over such claim, action or proceeding, any Delaware State court sitting in New Castle County. Each party agrees that service of process upon such party in any such claim, action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

6.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM, ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.10.

6.11 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that failure of any party to perform its agreements and covenants hereunder, including a party’s failure to take all actions as are necessary on such party’s part in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, will cause irreparable injury to the other parties, for which monetary damages, even if available, will not be an adequate remedy. It is agreed that the parties shall be entitled to equitable relief including injunctive relief and specific performance of the terms hereof, without the requirement of posting a bond or other security, and each party hereby consents to the issuance of injunctive relief by any court of competent jurisdiction to compel performance of a party’s obligations and to the granting by any court of the remedy of specific performance of such party’s obligations hereunder, this being in addition to any other remedies to which the parties are entitled at law or equity.

 

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6.12 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the parties hereto and each such party’s respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns; provided, that the Persons indemnified under Section 4.9 are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 4.9.

6.13 Obligation to Update Annex A. Each of the parties hereto agrees that in connection with any acquisitions or Transfers of Equity Securities of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, the parties hereto will, as promptly as practicable following the completion of such acquisition or Transfer, modify Annex A to reflect the effect of such acquisition or Transfer.

[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

 

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

 

AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION
By:               
Name:  
Title:  
WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
By:                   
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to AmerisourceBergen Shareholders Agreement]

Exhibit 99.1

AmerisourceBergen and Walgreens Boots Alliance Announce Strategic Transaction

January 6, 2021

AmerisourceBergen to Acquire Alliance Healthcare Businesses from Walgreens Boots Alliance for $6.5 Billion

Allows Walgreens Boots Alliance to Increase Its Focus on Further Growing Its Core Retail Pharmacy Businesses

In Addition to the Acquisition, Companies Extend and Expand U.S. Commercial Agreements through 2029 to Drive Incremental Growth

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. & DEERFIELD, Ill., Jan. 6, 2021 – AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC) and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced strategic agreements under which AmerisourceBergen will acquire the majority of Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Alliance Healthcare businesses for approximately $6.5 billion, comprised of $6.275 billion in cash and 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock.

AmerisourceBergen’s acquisition of Alliance Healthcare will provide even stronger support for pharmacies and pharmacists across the globe and integrated solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Walgreens Boots Alliance will be able to increase its focus on expanding its core retail pharmacy businesses, bringing even greater healthcare offerings to patients and customers and further accelerating its progress on its clear set of strategic priorities.

In addition to this transaction, the two companies have agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership by extending and expanding their commercial agreements. Their US distribution agreement will be extended by three years until 2029 and their partnership is being expanded to include a commitment to pursue additional opportunities in sourcing and distribution. Furthermore, Alliance Healthcare UK will remain the distribution partner of Boots until 2031. Together, these agreements are expected to create incremental growth, synergies and efficiencies.


“This strategic agreement with AmerisourceBergen, which we consider to be the world’s leading pharmaceutical wholesaler, is a very positive development for the two companies. This deal will enable significant value creation for both companies and will generate new synergies in addition to those already captured. It is a logical step following the success of our long-term strategic relationship with AmerisourceBergen which has been a strong and trusted partner since 2013,” said Stefano Pessina, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance. “The transaction will fuel higher future investments to grow and transform our core retail pharmacy and healthcare businesses, and is EPS accretive long-term for Walgreens Boots Alliance.”

“AmerisourceBergen’s vital role in the health system as a key pillar of pharmaceutical innovation and access has been on full display over the past year,” said Steven Collis, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of AmerisourceBergen. “AmerisourceBergen’s financial and strategic position enable this next evolution of enhancing our ability to provide healthcare capabilities across regions and deliver innovative solutions for our upstream and downstream partners. Today’s announcements will expand our reach and solutions in pharmaceutical distribution and add to AmerisourceBergen’s breadth and depth of global manufacturer services, supporting our ability to create differentiated value for all our stakeholders. I look forward to extending and expanding our successful partnership with Walgreens Boots Alliance and welcoming the industry-leading team at Alliance Healthcare to AmerisourceBergen. Together, we will fulfill AmerisourceBergen’s purpose of being united in our responsibility to create healthier futures.”

These announcements between the two global enterprises continue to build on the close partnership and strong foundation that began in 2013. Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest shareholder of AmerisourceBergen with a stake of nearly 30 percent, and Ornella Barra, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, is a Board Member of AmerisourceBergen.

Strategic and Financial Summary

The Alliance Healthcare transaction and expanded strategic agreement are expected to:

Extend AmerisourceBergen’s distribution presence with the addition of an established European leader and AmerisourceBergen’s global platform of higher-margin manufacturer services to support pharmaceutical innovation. As one of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in Europe, Alliance Healthcare will extend AmerisourceBergen’s core wholesale, distribution, and related solutions capabilities. The addition of Alliance Healthcare will enhance AmerisourceBergen’s existing global platform of manufacturer services and further its ability to support global access. Alliance Healthcare partners with healthcare companies and professionals to deliver a range of

 

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logistics and supply chain services and innovative solutions to help improve patient care. Global reach and specialty logistics capabilities are vital with rapidly accelerating pharmaceutical innovation, particularly for specialty medicines and with the advancement of cell and gene therapies.

Allow Walgreens Boots Alliance to increase its focus on growing and transforming its core retail pharmacy and healthcare businesses, facilitate higher growth investments and accelerate its strategic goals.

Extend and Expand of Strategic Partnership in the United States. In addition to the transaction announced today, Walgreens Boots Alliance and AmerisourceBergen have extended their U.S. strategic partnership through 2029. The extended agreement will create incremental growth and efficiencies in sourcing, logistics and distribution. These initiatives support Walgreens pharmacy operations and enhance AmerisourceBergen’s ability to create differentiated value for all its customers. Walgreens Boots Alliance and AmerisourceBergen expect the financial benefits of the expansion of their U.S. strategic partnership to ramp over the next three years to achieve annual run-rate synergies in the fourth year of at least $150 million, which will be shared equally between the two companies.

Enhance AmerisourceBergen’s scale and margin profile. Alliance Healthcare will strengthen AmerisourceBergen’s platform to deliver continued growth across pharmaceutical distribution and manufacturer services.

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, which has been approved by the AmerisourceBergen and Walgreens Boots Alliance Boards of Directors, AmerisourceBergen will pay WBA $6.275 billion in cash, subject to a customary working capital and net-debt adjustment, and deliver 2 million shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at closing of the transaction. AmerisourceBergen expects to fund the cash purchase price through a combination of cash on hand and new debt financing.

The transaction, which is expected to close by AmerisourceBergen’s fiscal year-end 2021, is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. Walgreens Boots Alliance’s operations in China, Italy and Germany are not part of this transaction.

Upon closing, the acquisition of Alliance Healthcare is expected to deliver high-teens percentage accretion to AmerisourceBergen’s adjusted diluted EPS in the first fiscal year. AmerisourceBergen expects synergies from the acquisition of Alliance Healthcare to ramp to an annual run-rate of $75 million in the fourth year. Adjusted free cash flow of the combined AmerisourceBergen and Alliance Healthcare businesses are expected to increase 125% of

 

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AmerisourceBergen’s stand-alone estimates. Please refer to the Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for additional information. AmerisourceBergen expects to maintain its strong investment grade credit rating, and the positive contribution to cash generation will support debt reduction in the years following transaction close. This acquisition is expected to have no impact on AmerisourceBergen’s dividend policy.

Effective from Walgreens Boots Alliance second quarter FY2021 earnings, the businesses sold will be classified as “businesses held for sale” with FY2020 revenues of approximately $19 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $540 million. Walgreens Boots Alliance expects FY2021 adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $575 million to $580 million for these Alliance Healthcare businesses. The transaction will be slightly dilutive in the current financial year for Walgreens Boots Alliance, but will be accretive longer-term.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Hogan Lovells International LLP and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP are serving as legal advisors to AmerisourceBergen. Fully committed financing for the transaction has been provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Centerview Partners is serving as financial advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Baker McKenzie LLP are serving as legal advisors to Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Conference Call Information

AmerisourceBergen will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET. Participating in the conference call will be:

- Steven H. Collis, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

- James F. Cleary, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

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The dial-in number for the live call will be (844) 808-6694. From outside the United States, dial +1 (412) 317-5282. The live call will also be webcast via the Company’s website at investor.amerisourcebergen.com. Users are encouraged to log on to the webcast approximately 10 minutes in advance of the scheduled start time of the call.

Replays of the call will be made available via telephone and webcast. A replay of the webcast will be posted on investor.amerisourcebergen.com approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will remain available for 30 days. The telephone replay will also be available approximately two hours after completion of the call and will remain available for seven days. To access the telephone reply from within the U.S., dial (877)-344-7529. From outside the U.S., dial +1 (412)-317-0088. The access code for the replay is 10151119.

About AmerisourceBergen

AmerisourceBergen provides pharmaceutical products, value-driving services and business solutions that improve access to care. Tens of thousands of healthcare providers, veterinary practices and livestock producers trust us as their partner in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Global manufacturers depend on us for services that drive commercial success for their products. Through our daily work—and powered by our 22,000 associates—we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #10 on the Fortune 500, with more than $185 billion in annual revenue. The company is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa. and has a presence in 50+ countries. Learn more at investor.amerisourcebergen.com.

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is a global leader in retail and wholesale pharmacy, touching millions of lives every day through dispensing and distributing medicines, its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products. The company has more than 100 years of trusted health care heritage and innovation in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesaling.

Including equity method investments, WBA has a presence in more than 25 countries, employs more than 450,000 people and has more than 21,000 stores.

 

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WBA’s purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives. The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. The company’s businesses have been recognized for their Corporate Social Responsibility. Walgreens was named to FORTUNE* magazine’s 2019 Companies that Change the World list and Boots UK was recognized as Responsible Business of the Year 2019-2020 by Business in the Community.

WBA is included in FORTUNE’s 2020 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. This is the 27th consecutive year that WBA or its predecessor company, Walgreen Co., has been named to the list.

More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

Supplemental Information Regarding AmerisourceBergen’s Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), AmerisourceBergen uses the non-GAAP financial measures described below. The non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. These supplemental measures may vary from, and may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures by other companies.

The non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate AmerisourceBergen’s operating performance, to perform financial planning, and to determine incentive compensation. Therefore, AmerisourceBergen believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to, and facilitates additional analysis by, investors. The presented non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that management does not believe reflect core operating performance because such items are outside the control of AmerisourceBergen, or are inherently unusual, non-operating, unpredictable, non-recurring, or non-cash.

AmerisourceBergen has provided non-GAAP fiscal year 2021 guidance that estimates the impact of the Alliance Healthcare acquisition on adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted free cash flow (each as defined below), which excludes significant items that are outside the control of AmerisourceBergen or inherently unusual, non-operating, unpredictable, non-recurring or non-cash in nature. AmerisourceBergen does not provide forward looking guidance on a GAAP basis for such metrics because certain financial information, the probable significance of which cannot be determined, is not available and cannot be reasonably estimated.

 

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AmerisourceBergen defines the following non-GAAP financial measures as follows:

Adjusted diluted EPS: For fiscal year 2021, adjusted diluted EPS excludes the per share impact of certain adjustments including gain from antitrust litigation settlements; LIFO expense (credit); acquisition-related intangibles amortization; and employee severance, litigation, and other; in each case net of the tax effect calculated using the applicable effective tax rate for those items. In addition, the per share impact of changes to tax rules and regulations are typically excluded from adjusted diluted EPS. AmerisourceBergen management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors because it eliminates the per share impact of the items that are outside the control of AmerisourceBergen or that are not considered to be indicative of ongoing operating performance due to their inherent unusual, non-operating, unpredictable, non-recurring, or non-cash nature.

Adjusted free cash flow: For fiscal year 2021, AmerisourceBergen has defined the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, excluding other significant unpredictable or non-recurring cash payments or receipts relating to legal settlements, minus capital expenditures. AmerisourceBergen management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors because it eliminates the impact of items that are unusual, unpredictable, and non-recurring in nature.

Supplemental Information Regarding Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following information provides reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules, presented in this press release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The company has provided the non-GAAP financial measures in the press release, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management has evaluated the company’s financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items or the effects of foreign currency translation, as applicable, and believes that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the company’s business from period to period and trends in the company’s historical operating results. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures

 

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should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in the press release. The company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact diluted net earnings per share, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Alliance Healthcare adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA for the portion of Alliance Healthcare being purchased by AmerisourceBergen is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes depreciation and amortization and other items primarily relating to Walgreens Boots Alliance’s ongoing transformational cost management program from operating income.

$ in millions    FY20

Operating income    $319

Depreciation & Amortization    141

EBITDA    460

Transformational cost management program    62

Others    18

Adjusted EBITDA    $540

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements”. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements about the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions, the expected timetable for completing the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions, the benefits and synergies of the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions, future opportunities for AmerisourceBergen and WBA and any other statements regarding AmerisourceBergen’s, Alliance Healthcare’s or WBA’s future operations, financial or operating results, capital allocation, dividend policy, debt ratio, anticipated business levels, future earnings, planned activities, anticipated growth, market opportunities, strategies, competitions, and other expectations and targets for future periods. Forward-looking statements may often be identified by the use of words such as “will”, “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “potential”, “intend”, “continue”, “target” and variations of these words or comparable words. Because forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the timing of the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions; the parties’ ability to consummate the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions; the conditions to the completion of the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions; the regulatory approvals required for the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions not being obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule or at all; inherent uncertainties involved in the estimates and judgments used in the preparation of financial statements and the providing of estimates of financial measures, in accordance with GAAP and related standards, or on an adjusted basis; the integration of Alliance Healthcare into AmerisourceBergen being more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; AmerisourceBergen’s or Alliance Healthcare’s failure to achieve expected or targeted future financial and operating performance and results; the possibility that the combined company may be unable to achieve expected benefits, synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions within the expected time frames or at all; customer loss and business disruption being greater than expected following the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions; the retention of key employees being more difficult following the proposed acquisition and related strategic transactions; the effect of any changes in customer and supplier relationships and customer purchasing patterns; the impacts of competition; changes in the economic and financial conditions of the business of AmerisourceBergen or Alliance Healthcare; and uncertainties and matters beyond the control of management and other factors described under “Risk Factors” in each of AmerisourceBergen’s and WBA’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. You can access AmerisourceBergen’s or WBA’s filings with the SEC through the SEC website at www.sec.gov or through AmerisourceBergen’s

 

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or WBA’s website, and AmerisourceBergen and WBA strongly encourage you to do so. Except as required by applicable law, AmerisourceBergen, Alliance Healthcare and WBA undertake no obligation to update any statements herein for revisions or changes after the date of this communication.

Contacts:    

AmerisourceBergen

Investors:

Bennett S. Murphy

+1 610-727-3693

[email protected]

Media:

Gabe Weissman

+1 610-727-3696

[email protected]

Walgreens Boots Alliance

Investors:

Gerald Gradwell and Jay Spitzer

+1 847-315-2922

Media:

Media Relations

USA / Aaron Radelet and Morry Smulevitz +1-847-315-0517

International +44-(0)20-7980-8585

 

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