8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): June 10, 2021

 

 

TaskUs, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40482   83-1586636

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1650 Independence Drive, Suite 100

New Braunfels, Texas 78132

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(888) 400-8275

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   TASK   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Initial Public Offering

In connection with the closing of the initial public offering (the “Offering”) by TaskUs, Inc. (the “Company”) of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), described in the prospectus (the “Prospectus”), dated June 10, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which is deemed to be part of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333- 255190) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), the following agreements were entered into:

 

  (1)

the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto (the “Stockholders Agreement”); and

 

  (2)

the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

The Stockholders Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described therein.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth under Item 5.03 below is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.02

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

TaskUs, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan

In connection with the Offering, the board of directors of the Company and its stockholders adopted and approved the TaskUs, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”), as contemplated by the Company’s


Registration Statement. The Omnibus Incentive Plan became effective on June 10, 2021. For further information regarding the Omnibus Incentive Plan, see “Executive and Director Compensation—Omnibus Incentive Plan” in the Prospectus. The Omnibus Incentive Plan is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference. The material terms of the Omnibus Incentive Plan are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the form of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and as described in the Prospectus.

IPO-Related Equity Grants

In connection with the Offering, the board of directors of the Company approved, pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the grant of (i) 1,102,354 time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), (ii) 1,653,530 performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”), and (iii) 551,177 stock options to Bryce Maddock, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement (collectively, the “Founder Awards”). The board of directors of the Company also approved, pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the grant of (i) 1,426,267 RSUs, (ii) 1,653,530 PSUs and (iii) 1,104,221 stock options to certain of the Company’s officers and employees, as contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement (collectively, the “IPO Awards”). In the case of each of the Founder Awards and the IPO Awards, the stock options, the RSUs and PSUs became effective on June 10, 2021. For further information regarding the Founder Awards and the IPO Awards, see “Executive and Director Compensation—IPO-Related Equity Grants” in the Prospectus. The material terms of the Founder Awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and as described in the Prospectus.

Amended and Restated 2019 TaskUs, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan

In connection with the Offering, the board of directors of the Company and its stockholders adopted the Amended and Restated 2019 TaskUs, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Stock Incentive Plan”), as contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement. The 2019 Stock Incentive Plan became effective on June 10, 2021. For further information regarding the 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, see “Executive and Director Compensation—2019 TaskUs, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan” in the Prospectus. The 2019 Stock Incentive Plan is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated herein by reference. The material terms of the 2019 Stock Incentive Plan are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the form of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and as described in the Prospectus.

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

On June 10, 2021, the Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”) became effective and the Company’s amended and restated bylaws were also further amended and restated (the “Bylaws”), each as contemplated by the Registration Statement. The Charter and the Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The material terms of the Charter and the Bylaws are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms previously filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to the Registration Statement.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On June 15, 2021, the Company completed the Offering, which consisted of (i) 5,553,154 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and sold by the Company and (ii) 9,626,846 shares of Class A Common Stock sold by the selling stockholders (including 1,980,000 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares), in each case for cash consideration of $23.000 per share ($21.735 per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions), to a syndicate of underwriters led by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as representatives. The Company intends to use the proceeds (net of underwriting discounts) from its issuance of 5,553,154 shares of Class A common stock (approximately $120.7 million) in the Offering, together with cash on hand, to satisfy payments of approximately $127.4 million in respect of vested phantom shares, including $23.5 million in respect of vested phantom shares held by certain of the Company’s executive officers, that became due upon the completion of the Offering, including $10.0 million in deferred dividend payments in respect of such vested phantom shares. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of its Class A Common Stock in the Offering by the selling stockholders.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.    Description
3.1    Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TaskUs, Inc., dated as of June 10, 2021
3.2    Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of TaskUs, Inc., dated as of June 10, 2021
10.1    Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto
10.2    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto
10.3    TaskUs, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.4    Amended and Restated 2019 TaskUs, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan


SIGNATURES

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

 

TASKUS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Bryce Maddock

  Name: Bryce Maddock
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 15, 2021

EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TASKUS, INC.

The present name of the corporation is TaskUs, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation was incorporated under the name “TU TopCo, Inc.” by the filing of its original certificate of incorporation (the “Original Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Secretary of State”) on August 2, 2018. The Original Certificate of Incorporation was amended and restated in its entirety by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2018 and further amended by the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State on April 26, 2019 and further amended by the Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State on December 14, 2020 (as amended the “Amended Certificate of Incorporation”). This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (this “Certificate of Incorporation”), which amends, restates and integrates the provisions of the Amended Certificate of Incorporation, was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation pursuant to Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Amended Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended, restated and integrated to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

Section 1.1.    Name. The name of the Corporation is TaskUs, Inc.

ARTICLE II

Section 2.1.    Address. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 200 Bellevue Parkway, Suite 210, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19809. The name of its registered agent at such address is Intertrust Corporate Services Delaware Ltd.

ARTICLE III

Section 3.1.    Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

Section 4.1.    Capitalization. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 3,000,000,000 shares, divided into three classes as


follows: (i) 250,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), (ii) 2,500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), and (iii) 250,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”). The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

Upon this Certificate of Incorporation becoming effective pursuant to the DGCL (the “Effective Time”), (i) the total number of shares common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the “Old Common Stock”) shall be increased to 250,000,000 and a 10-for-1 forward stock split (the “Stock Split”) of the Old Common Stock by which each one share of Old Common Stock, issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be reclassified and converted into 91,737,020 shares of Old Common Stock and (ii) each share of the Old Common Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately after the effectiveness of the Stock Split shall be reclassified as one issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Class B Common Stock, without any action required on the part of the Corporation or the holder of such Old Common Stock. The reclassification of the Old Common Stock into Class B Common Stock will be deemed to occur at the Effective Time, regardless of when the certificates, if any, previously representing such shares of are physically surrendered to the Corporation in exchange for certificates representing shares of Class B Common Stock. After the Effective Time, any certificates previously representing shares of Old Common Stock will, until such shares are surrendered to the Corporation in exchange for certificates representing shares of Class B Common Stock, represent the whole number and class of shares of Class B Common Stock into which such shares of Old Common Stock shall have been reclassified hereby.

Section 4.2.    Preferred Stock.

(A)    The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, at any time and from time to time, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval, the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers, if any), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series and to cause to be filed with the Secretary of State a certificate of designation with respect thereto. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.


(B)    Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

Section 4.3.    Common Stock.

(A)    General. Except as otherwise provided herein or required by law, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights, privileges, preferences and powers, rank equally (including as to dividends and distributions, and upon any liquidation, dissolution, distribution of assets or winding up of the Corporation), share ratably and be identical in all respects and as to all matters. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights, preferences and powers of the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any series of Preferred Stock as may be designated by the Board and outstanding from time to time.

(B)    Voting Rights.

(1)    Each holder of record of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally or holders of Class A Common Stock as a separate class are entitled to vote (whether voting separately as a class or together with the holders of one or more classes or series of the Corporation’s capital stock).

(2)    Each holder of record of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to ten votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally or holders of Class B Common Stock as a separate class are entitled to vote (whether voting separately as a class or together with the holders of one or more classes or series of the Corporation’s capital stock).

(3)    Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or required by applicable law, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of such other series of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.


(C)    Dividends and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and other distributions in cash, property or shares of capital stock of the Corporation, Shares of Class A Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares, as the case may be) and holders of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares, as the case may be), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such shares, as the case may be), as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may pay or make a disparate dividend or distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

(D)    Subdivisions, Combinations or Reclassifications. Shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may not be subdivided, combined or reclassified unless the shares of the other class is concurrently therewith subdivided, combined or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that shares of one such class may be subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

(E)    Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock as to distributions upon a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder.


(F)    Merger or Consolidation. In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, or any consideration into which such shares are converted, upon the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity, such distribution, payment or consideration that the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class; provided, however, that holders of shares of such classes may receive, or have the right to elect to receive, different or disproportionate distributions, payments or consideration in respect of the shares held hereby in connection with such consolidation or merger if the only difference in the payment, distribution or other consideration payable to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in respect of their shares of such classes is that any securities distributed to the holders of, or issuable upon the conversion of, shares of Class B Common Stock have ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holders of, or issuable upon the conversion of, shares of Class A Common Stock; provided, further, however, that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock may receive different or disproportionate distributions, payments or consideration in respect of their shares if such different or disproportionate distribution, payment or consideration is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

(G)    Conversion.

(1)    Optional Conversion of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Corporation by the holder of such share (an “Optional Class B Conversion Event”). Before any shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, the holder of such shares shall surrender such shares (and with respect to any shares of Class B Common Stock represented by certificates, the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed), at the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock, and shall provide written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of such conversion election and shall state therein the name or names (i) in which the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock are so converted are to be issued (if such shares of Class A Common Stock are certificated) or (ii) in which such shares of Class A Common Stock are to be registered in book-entry form (if such shares of Class A Common Stock are uncertificated). If the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock are to be converted are to be issued in a name or names other than the name of the holder of the shares of Class B Common Stock being converted, such notice shall be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the holder. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon such conversion (if such shares of Class A Common Stock are certificated) or shall register


such shares of Class A Common Stock in book-entry form (if such shares of Class A Common Stock are uncertificated). Such conversion shall be deemed to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of Class B Common Stock (including the any applicable certificates) to be converted following or contemporaneously with the provision of written notice of such conversion election as required by this Section 4.3(G)(1), the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to be outstanding as of such time, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to be the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, shares of Class B Common Stock represented by a lost, stolen or destroyed stock certificate may be converted pursuant to an Optional Class B Conversion Event if the holder thereof notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed and makes an affidavit of that fact acceptable to the Corporation and executes an agreement acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificate.

(2)    Automatic Conversion of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the occurrence of an event described below (a “Mandatory Class B Conversion Event”):

a.    Reduction in Voting Power.

i.    With respect to Blackstone, each share of Class B Common Stock held by Blackstone shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or Blackstone, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the first date on which the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by Blackstone ceases to represent at least 5% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock; and

ii.    With respect to each Founder (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below)), each share of Class B Common Stock held by such Founder shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or such Founder, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the first date on which the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by such Founder ceases to represent at least 5% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock.

b.    Transfers. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon the occurrence of a Transfer (as defined below), other than a Permitted Transfer (as defined below), of such share of Class B Common Stock.


c.    Final Conversion of Class B Common Stock. Each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock on the date that is seven years following the date that this subsection (2)(c) of Section G of Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation first became effective.

(H)    Reservation of Stock. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock.

(I)    Definitions. For purposes of this Article IV, references to:

(1)    “Permitted Transfer” shall mean any Transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock as permitted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement and made in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement.

(2)    “Transfer” of a share of Class B Common Stock shall mean any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, including, without limitation, a transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock to a broker or other nominee (regardless of whether there is a corresponding change in beneficial ownership), or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to, Voting Control over such share by proxy or otherwise; provided, however, that the following shall not be considered a “Transfer” within the meaning of this Section 4.3 of Article IV:

a.    the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders;

b.    entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) solely with stockholders who are holders of Class B Common Stock, which voting trust, agreement or arrangement does not involve any payment of cash, securities or other property to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner; for the avoidance of doubt, any voting trust, agreement or arrangement entered into prior to the IPO Date (as defined below) shall not constitute a Transfer;

c.    entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) pursuant to a written agreement to which the Corporation is a party;

d.    the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona


fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a Transfer unless such foreclosure or similar action otherwise qualifies as a Permitted Transfer;

e.    the fact that, as of the IPO Date or at any time after the IPO Date, the spouse of any holder of Class B Common Stock possesses or obtains an interest in such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock arising solely by reason of the application of the community property laws of any jurisdiction, so long as no other event or circumstance shall exist or have occurred that constitutes a Transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock; provided that any transfer of shares by any holder of shares of Class B Common Stock to such holder’s spouse, including a transfer in connection with a divorce proceeding, domestic relations order or similar legal requirement, shall constitute a “Transfer” of such shares of Class B Common Stock unless otherwise exempt from the definition of Transfer;

f.    entering into a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with a broker or other nominee; provided, however, that a sale of such shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to such plan shall constitute a “Transfer” at the time of such sale; and

g.    in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation, such as the sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition (other than liens and encumbrances created in the ordinary course of business, including liens or encumbrances to secure indebtedness for borrowed money that are approved by the Board, so long as no foreclosure occurs in respect of any such lien or encumbrance) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, that has been approved by the Board, the entering into a support, voting, tender or similar agreement or arrangement (in each case, with or without the grant of a proxy) that has also been approved by the Board.

(3)    “Voting Control” means, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such share by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

Section 5.1.    Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, the bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any provision of law that might otherwise permit a


lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when Blackstone (as defined below) beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any greater or additional vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

ARTICLE VI

Section 6.1.    Board of Directors.

(A)    Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) and this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors and subject to the applicable requirements of the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), the total number of directors constituting the whole Board shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”), Class II directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. At each annual meeting of stockholders commencing with the first annual meeting following the IPO Date, the directors of the class to be elected at each annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. If the total number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the total number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Subject to the applicable requirements of the Stockholders Agreement, the Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class.

(B)    Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the rights granted pursuant to the Amended and Restated


Shareholders Agreement, dated on or about June 10, 2021 (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), by and among (i) the Corporation, (ii) certain Affiliates (as defined below) of The Blackstone Group Inc. (such Affiliates and The Blackstone Group Inc., and their respective successors and assigns (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), collectively, “Blackstone”), and (iii) the other parties party thereto, any newly-created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the total number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office (other than directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, as the case may be), although less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders; provided, however, that, subject to the rights granted to holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, at any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any newly-created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders) (other than directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, by voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, as the case may be). Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

(C)    Any or all of the directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that at any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any such director or all such directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, further, however, that no Founder Designee or Blackstone Designee (each as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) designated pursuant to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement may be removed without cause unless the applicable Founder Group or the Sponsor (each as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) shall have consented thereto in writing in advance of the vote of stockholders to remove such Founder Designee or Blackstone Designee.

(D)    Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

(E)    During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, have the right to elect


additional directors pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) in respect of such series, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions; and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director shall thereupon cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be automatically reduced accordingly.

(F)    For purposes of this Article VI, “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person. “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

(G)    For purposes of this Article VI, “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section 6.1(G) of Article VI, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

ARTICLE VII

Section 7.1.    Limited Liability of Directors. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware (as they exist on the date hereof or as they may hereafter be amended), a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware (as they exist on the date hereof or as they may hereafter be amended), any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.


ARTICLE VIII

Section 8.1.    Stockholder Action by Written Consent. At any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may only be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed (i) by or on behalf of Blackstone and (ii) by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL. At any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.

Section 8.2.    Special Stockholder Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and any rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board or the Chairman of the Board; provided, however, that at any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 30% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be called by or at the direction of the Board or the Chairman of the Board at the request of Blackstone.

Section 8.3.    Annual Stockholder Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.

ARTICLE IX

Section 9.1.    Competition and Corporate Opportunities.

(A)    In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of Blackstone may serve as directors, officers or


agents of the Corporation, (ii) Blackstone and its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage or propose to engage, and (iii) members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage or propose to engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of Blackstone, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

(B)    None of (i) Blackstone or any of its Affiliates or (ii) any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 9.1(C) of this Article IX. Subject to said Section 9.1(C) of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation.

(C)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this Article IX, the Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section 9.1(B) of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.


(D)    In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a potential corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

(E)    For purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect Blackstone, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by Blackstone, controls Blackstone or is under common control with Blackstone and shall include any principal, member, director, manager, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (ii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

(F)    For the purposes of this Article IX, “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section (F) of Article IX, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(G)    To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.

ARTICLE X

Section 10.1.    DGCL Section 203 and Business Combinations.

(A)    The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

(1)    prior to such time, the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or


(2)    upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

(3)    at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

(C)    For purposes of this Article X, references to:

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

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

(3)    “Blackstone Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from Blackstone or any of its successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

(4)    “Blackstone Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Blackstone Direct Transferee or any other Blackstone Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.


(5)    “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

a.    any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section (B) of this Article X is not applicable to the surviving entity;

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

c.    any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c) through (e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

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


e.    any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i) through (iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

(6)    “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

(7)    “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an Affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the Affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) Blackstone, any Blackstone Direct Transferee, any Blackstone Indirect Transferee or any of their respective Affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided, further, that in the case of clause (b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

(8)    “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or associates:

a.    beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or


b.    has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s Affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or

c.    has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

(9)    “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

(10)    “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

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

ARTICLE XI

Section 11.1.    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby. and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.


ARTICLE XII

Section 12.1.    Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time), or (iv) action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States of America, including, in each case, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

ARTICLE XIII

Section 13.1.    Amendments. At any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any greater or additional vote required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the following provisions in this Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X, Article XII and this Article XIII.

*    *     *

This Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on June 10, 2021.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Jeffrey Chugg, its Vice President, Legal, this 10th day of June, 2021.

 

TASKUS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Chugg

  Name:   Jeffrey Chugg
  Title:   Vice President, Legal
EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

TASKUS, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

SECTION 1.01    Registered Office. The registered office and registered agent of TaskUs, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below). The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require as determined by any officer of the Corporation.

ARTICLE II

Meetings of Stockholders

SECTION 2.01    Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or outside the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that annual meetings of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.02    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of such meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that special meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that with respect to any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the request of Blackstone (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), the Board of Directors shall not postpone, reschedule or cancel such special meeting without the prior written consent of Blackstone.


SECTION 2.03    Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(A)    Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) (with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors only), (b) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of these Bylaws, (c) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof or (d) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who, subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.

(2)    For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on May 15, 2021); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.03 shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.


(3)    A stockholder’s notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall set forth: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee of the stockholder and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of a group that will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (vi) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, “proponent persons”); and (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) to which any proponent person is a party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership


of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(3) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03 of these Bylaws) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of such later date. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the day prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules.

(B)    Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business (including the election of specific individuals to fill vacancies or newly created directorships on the Board of Directors) shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. At any time that stockholders are not prohibited from filling vacancies or newly created directorships on the Board of Directors, nominations of persons for the election to the Board of Directors to fill any vacancy or unfilled newly created directorship may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which any proposal to fill any vacancy or unfilled newly created directorship is to be presented to the stockholders (1) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (3) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting on such matters, who (subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03) complies with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such


special meeting. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of submitting a proposal to stockholders for the election of one or more directors to fill any vacancy or newly created directorship on the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote on such matter may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which the Corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special at which directors are to be elected. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C)    General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 or the Stockholders Agreement shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairperson of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and on shareholder approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by the DGCL, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted,


notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, the meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

(2)    Whenever used in these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service, or is generally available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.

(4)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.03, for as long as the Stockholders Agreement remains in effect with respect to Blackstone, Blackstone (to the extent then subject to the Stockholders Agreement) shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2), (A)(3) or (B) of this Section 2.03 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 2.04    Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder


of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

SECTION 2.05    Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. Once a quorum is present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.

SECTION 2.06    Voting.    Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matters in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided under Section 212(c) of the DGCL or as otherwise provided under applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Unless required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, or determined by the chairperson of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

SECTION 2.07    Chairperson of Meetings. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, or, in his or her absence or disability, the Chief Executive Officer of


the Corporation, or in the absence of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, a person designated by the Board of Directors shall be the chairperson of the meeting and, as such, preside at all meetings of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.08    Secretary of Meetings. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint a person to act as Secretary at such meetings.

SECTION 2.09    Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION 2.10    Adjournment. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, the chairperson of the meeting or stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present. Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

SECTION 2.11     Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication,

provided, that

(i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;

(ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and


(iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

SECTION 2.12     Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

Section 2.13    Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever Section 2.03 of these Bylaws requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) other than any party to the Stockholders Agreement to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), unless the Corporation elects otherwise, such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents to the Corporation required by this Article II.


ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

SECTION 3.01    Powers. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

SECTION 3.02    Number and Term; Chairperson. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and the Stockholders Agreement, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and the term of each director so elected shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders. The Board of Directors shall elect from its ranks a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, who shall have the powers and perform such duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. If the Chairperson of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one (1) of their members to preside over such meeting.

SECTION 3.03    Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time or upon the occurrence of any event specified therein, and if no specification is so made, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.

SECTION 3.04    Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

SECTION 3.05    Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL and subject to the Stockholders Agreement, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.


SECTION 3.06    Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation if directed by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall be at such places and times as they or he or she shall establish. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors. At least twenty four (24) hours before each special meeting of the Board of Directors, either written notice, notice by electronic transmission or oral notice (either in person or by telephone) notice of the time, date and place of the meeting shall be given to each director. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

SECTION 3.07    Quorum, Voting and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.

SECTION 3.08    Committees; Committee Rules. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and ESG Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; provided that no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.


SECTION 3.09    Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed in the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

SECTION 3.10    Remote Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 3.11     Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

SECTION 3.12     Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

SECTION 4.01    Number. The officers of the Corporation shall include any officers required by the DGCL, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. In addition, the Board of Directors may elect a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers, a Secretary, and one or more Assistant Secretaries and any other additional officers as the Board of Directors deems necessary or advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.


SECTION 4.02    Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.03    Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, subject to the determination of the Board of Directors, shall have general executive charge, management, and control of the properties and operations of the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such properties and operations as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities. If the Board of Directors has not elected a Chairperson of the Board of Directors or in the absence or inability to act as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, but only if the Chief Executive Officer is a director of the Corporation.

SECTION 4.04    President. The President, if any shall be elected, shall, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, be responsible for the operations of the Corporation and shall have all the powers, rights, functions and responsibilities normally exercised by a president. The President shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the President by the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

SECTION 4.05    Vice Presidents. Each Vice President, if any are elected, of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so assigned, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject in all respects to the authority of the Board of Directors. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President, if any (or if there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order of their rank, or if of equal rank, then in the order designated by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their appointment), shall perform the duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The rank of Vice Presidents in descending order shall be Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President.

SECTION 4.06    Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefor. The Treasurer shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.


In addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.07    Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept properly; (b) cause all notices required by these Bylaws or otherwise to be given properly; (c) see that the minute books, stock books, and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (d) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required. The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.08    Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.09    Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.10    Contracts and Other Documents. The Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors or any other committee given specific authority in the premises by the Board of Directors during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

SECTION 4.11    Ownership of Stock of Another Corporation. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.


SECTION 4.12    Delegation of Duties. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board of Directors may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.

SECTION 4.13    Resignation and Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section 3.03 of these Bylaws.

SECTION 4.14    Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.

ARTICLE V

Stock

SECTION 5.01    Shares With Certificates. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation (it being understood that each of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be an authorized officer for such purpose), certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

SECTION 5.02    Uncertificated Shares. If the Board of Directors chooses to issue uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall, if required by the DGCL, give a notice to the registered owner thereof containing the information required to be set forth or stated on stock certificates by the applicable provisions of the DGCL. The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided that the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 5.03    Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof (to the extent evidenced by a physical stock certificate) to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Certificates representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new


certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon be issued. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with any procedures adopted by the Corporation or its agents and applicable law. A record shall be made of each transfer. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation do so. The Corporation shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation and uncertificated shares.

SECTION 5.04    Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. A new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in its discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as the Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith. A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the Corporation, the posting of a bond by such owner in an amount sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it in connection therewith.

SECTION 5.05    List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network; provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.


SECTION 5.06    Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

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

(B)    In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

(C)    Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

SECTION 5.07    Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or notification to the


Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

ARTICLE VI

Notice and Waiver of Notice

SECTION 6.01    Notice. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail in accordance with applicable law.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this Section 6.01 without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

(i)    if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(ii)    if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

(iii)    if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) such inability


becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

SECTION 6.02    Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE VII

Indemnification

SECTION 7.01    Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 of these Bylaws with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Legal and Secretary of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article IV of these


Bylaws, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, but not an officer thereof as described in the preceding sentence, has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article VII.

SECTION 7.02    Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.01 of these Bylaws, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in appearing at, participating in or defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII (which shall be governed by Section 7.03 of these Bylaws (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of these Bylaws or otherwise.

SECTION 7.03    Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.01 or 7.02 of these Bylaws is not paid in full by the Corporation within (i) sixty (60) days after a written claim for indemnification has been received by the Corporation or (ii) twenty (20) days after a claim for an advancement of expenses has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or to obtain advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit brought by the Corporation


to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

SECTION 7.04     Indemnification Not Exclusive.

(A)     The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article VII, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article VII, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

(B)     Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation and as a director, officer, employee or agent of one or more indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VII, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from any indemnitee-related entity. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by any indemnitee-related entity and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from any indemnitee-related entity shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any indemnitee-related entity shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, such indemnitee-related entity shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable any indemnitee-related entity effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 7.04(B), entitled to enforce this Section 7.04(B).


For purposes of this Section 7.04(B), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

(2) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both an indemnitee-related entity and the Corporation pursuant to Delaware law, any agreement or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or an indemnitee-related entity, as applicable.

SECTION 7.05     Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

SECTION 7.06     Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

SECTION 7.07     Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.


ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 8.01    Electronic Transmission, etc. For purposes of these Bylaws, (a) “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, (b) “electronic mail” means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information), and (c) “electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the “local part” of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the “domain part” of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.

SECTION 8.02    Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

SECTION 8.03    Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31, or such other day as the Board of Directors may designate.

SECTION 8.04    Section Headings. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

SECTION 8.05    Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

SECTION 8.06    Electronic Signatures, etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13 of these Bylaws, any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.


ARTICLE IX

Amendments

SECTION 9.01     Amendments. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when Blackstone beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 30% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), these Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, this Section 9.01) or to adopt any provision inconsistent herewith.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF JUNE 15, 2021

AMONG

TASKUS, INC.

AND

THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTIES

     1

1.1

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

     1

1.2

 

Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders

     2

ARTICLE II GOVERNANCE

     2

2.1

 

Board of Directors

     2

2.2

 

Matters Requiring Approval

     5

2.3

 

Trust Arrangements

     6

2.4

 

Founder Group Actions

     6

ARTICLE III TRANSFERS OF SECURITIES

     6

3.1

 

Restrictions on Transfer of Non-Blackstone Securities

     6

3.2

 

Securities Act Compliance

     6

3.3

 

Certain Transferees Bound by Agreement

     7

3.4

 

Transfers in Violation of Agreement

     7

ARTICLE IV ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     7

4.1

 

Pledges or Transfers

     7

4.2

 

Spin-Offs or Split-Offs

     7

ARTICLE V INFORMATION; VCOC

     8

5.1

 

Books and Records; Access

     8

5.2

 

Tax Related Information

     8

5.3

 

Certain Reports

     8

5.4

 

VCOC

     9

5.5

 

Information Sharing

     11

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     11

6.1

 

Amendment and Waiver

     11

6.2

 

Termination of Agreement

     11

6.3

 

Termination as to a Party

     12

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

     12

7.1

 

Certain Defined Terms

     12

7.2

 

Legends

     17

7.3

 

Non-Compete

     17

7.4

 

Confidentiality

     18

7.5

 

Severability

     19

7.6

 

Entire Agreement

     19

7.7

 

Successors and Assigns

     20

 

i


7.8

 

Counterparts

     20

7.9

 

Remedies

     20

7.10

 

Notices

     20

7.11

 

Governing Law

     21

7.12

 

Descriptive Headings

     21

7.13

 

Grant of Consent

     21

 

 

ii


AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 15, 2021 by and among TaskUs, Inc. (formerly known as TU TopCo, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), BCP FC Aggregator LP (“Sponsor” and, together with its Affiliates and transferees who acquire securities from time to time, the “Blackstone Holders”), parties to this Agreement who are identified as Non-Blackstone Holders on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Non-Blackstone Holder” and, collectively, the “Non-Blackstone Holders”), Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir (each, a “Founder” and, collectively, the “Founders”) and each other holder of Securities who hereafter executes a separate joinder agreement to be bound by the terms hereof (the Blackstone Holders, the Non-Blackstone Holders and each other Person that is or becomes a party to this Agreement as contemplated hereby are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Stockholders” and individually as a “Stockholder”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 7.1.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTIES

1.1    Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholders that as of the date of this Agreement:

(a)    it is a corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, it has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action;

(b)    this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms; and

(c)    the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, (i) violate any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, (ii) violate any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company, or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of the Company’s Organizational Documents or any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.


1.2    Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder (as to such Stockholder only) represents and warrants to the Company and the other Stockholders that, as of the time such Stockholder becomes a party to this Agreement:

(a)    this Agreement (or the separate joinder agreement executed by such Stockholder) has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms; and

(b)    the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement (or any joinder to this Agreement) and the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby (and thereby) will not, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, (i) violate any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which such Stockholder is subject, (ii) violate any order, judgment or decree applicable to such Stockholder, or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of any agreement or other instrument to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder is bound.

ARTICLE II

GOVERNANCE

2.1    Board of Directors.

(a)    Board Size. The size of the Board shall initially be six (6) directors and the Board as of the date of this Agreement is comprised of Amit Dixit, Susir Kumar, Mukesh Mehta, Jacqueline Reses, Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir; provided that the size of the Board may be increased or decreased by a majority vote of the Board, but subject to Section 2.1(b)(i)(B). The Company, the Stockholders and the Board shall take all necessary action to cause the Board to be composed as set forth in this Section 2.1.

(b)    Board Representation.

(i)    Each Stockholder agrees that it shall vote, or execute a written consent in lieu thereof with respect to all of the Securities beneficially owned or held of record by it or cause all of the Securities beneficially owned by it to be voted, or cause a written consent in lieu thereof to be executed, to elect a Board to be composed as follows:

(A)    Subject to Section 2.1(b)(ii), for so long as a Founder Group meets the Founder Group Minimum Ownership Condition, such Founder Group shall be entitled to designate one (1) director (each, a “Founder Designee”); provided that if (x) neither Founder Group meets the Founder Group Minimum Ownership Condition individually, but collectively, both Founder Groups Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, a number of Securities representing an Ownership Percentage of at least 5% and (y) neither Founder Group has made any Transfer other than Transfers to the Permitted Group of the Founder who is associated with such Founder Group then the Founder Groups (collectively) shall be entitled to designate one (1) director (a “Joint Founder Designee”), provided, further, that, if one Founder Group has made any Transfer other than Transfers to the Permitted Group of the Founder who is associated with such Founder Group but the other Founder Group has not, and the condition in clause (x) of the preceding proviso has been met, then the

 

2


condition in clause (y) of the preceding proviso will be deemed to have been met and the Founder whose Founder Group has not made any Transfer other than Transfers to the Permitted Group of such Founder shall be entitled to designate such Joint Founder Designee; and

(B)    The Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate, and the individuals nominated for election as directors by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board shall include, a number of individuals such that, upon the election of each such individual, and each other individual nominated by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, as a director of the Company and taking into account any director continuing to serve without the need for re-election, the number of Blackstone Designees (as defined below) serving as directors of the Company will be equal to: (i) if the Sponsor and its affiliates collectively Beneficially Own 50% or more of the Common Stock as of the record date for such meeting, the lowest whole number that is greater than 50% of the Total Number of Directors; (ii) if the Sponsor and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own at least 40% (but less than 50%) of the Common Stock as of the record date for such meeting, the lowest whole number that is greater than 40% of the Total Number of Directors; (iii) if the Sponsor and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own at least 30% (but less than 40%) of the Common Stock as of the record date for such meeting, the lowest whole number that is greater than 30% of the Total Number of Directors; (iv) if the Sponsor and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own at least 20% (but less than 30%) of the Common Stock as of the record date for such meeting, the lowest whole number that is greater than 20% of the Total Number of Directors; and (v) if the Sponsor and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own at least 5% (but less than 20%) of the Common Stock as of the record date for such meeting, the lowest whole number (such number always being equal to or greater than one) that is greater than 10% of the Total Number of Directors (in each case, each such person a “Blackstone Designee”).

(each director so designated by a Founder Group or Sponsor, a “Designee”); provided that if a Founder Group is entitled to only one Designee, such Designee shall be the applicable Founder of such Founder Group unless such Founder cannot serve on the Board due to death or disability; provided, further, that in the event a Founder Group is entitled to one Designee but the applicable Founder of such Founder Group cannot serve on the Board due to death or disability, such Designee shall be chosen by the other Founder, which individual must have relevant industry experience and such surviving Founder shall consult with the Blackstone Designees prior to choosing such Designee; provided, further, in the event both Founder Groups are entitled to each designate one Designee but both Founders are unable to serve on the Board due to death or disability, each such Designee shall be chosen by their respective Founder Groups, which individual must have industry experience and be reasonably acceptable to the Blackstone Designees (such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

3


(ii)    Subject to Section 2.1(b)(i)(A), if at any time a Founder Group fails to meet the Founder Group Minimum Ownership Condition, then such Founder Group’s right to designate, nominate and replace any member of the Board (other than a Joint Founder Designee, if applicable) shall terminate and reduce to zero (0) directors, and such Founder Group agrees to promptly thereafter cause its Designee director to tender his or her immediate resignation from the Board.

(iii)    In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any Designee director, only the Founder Group or Stockholder that designated such deceased, disabled, retired, resigning or removed Designee may designate another individual (the “Replacement Nominee”) to fill such vacancy and serve as a director on the Board and each Stockholder agrees that it shall vote, or execute a written consent in lieu thereof with respect to all of the Securities beneficially owned or held of record by it or cause all of the Securities beneficially owned by it to be voted, or cause a written consent in lieu thereof to be executed to elect such Replacement Nominee to the Board.

(iv)    Directors are subject to removal pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company; provided, however, for as long as this Agreement remains in effect, (x) the Blackstone Designees may only be removed with the consent of the Sponsor, (y) each Founder Designee may only be removed with the consent of the applicable Founder Group that designated such Founder Designee and (z) the Joint Founder Designee may only be removed with the consent of both Founder Groups, in each case delivered in accordance with Section 7.13 hereof.

(c)    Quorum; Majority Vote. Notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Board shall be given to all members of the Board at least forty-eight (48) hours before the date and time of the meeting; except that shorter reasonable notice may be given for matters outside the ordinary course of business requiring urgent attention from the Board as determined in good faith by the Board and to the extent such shorter notice is approved or ratified by the Board at such meeting. The members of the Board shall be entitled to participate in any such meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board and the presence of at least two (2) Blackstone Designees. Except as otherwise provided herein, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors of the Board present at a meeting for which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board.

(d)    Certificate of Incorporation and By-law Provisions. Each Stockholder shall vote all of its Securities that are entitled to vote or execute proxies or written consents, as the case may be, and take all other actions necessary, to ensure that the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company facilitate, and do not at any time conflict with, any provision of this Agreement.

(e)    D&O Insurance. The Company shall maintain, from financially sound and reputable insurers, Directors and Officers liability insurance, in an amount and on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Board, for the benefit of all directors on equivalent terms, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurance policy to be maintained until such time as the Board determines that such insurance should be discontinued.

 

4


(f)    Indemnification. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws shall provide (i) for elimination of the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by law and (ii) for indemnification of directors for acts on behalf of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law. In addition, the Company shall enter into and use its commercially reasonable efforts to at all times maintain indemnification agreements with the Founder Group Designees, which agreements shall be no less favorable to such Founder Group Designees as those entered into with the Blackstone Designees.

(g)    Successor Indemnification. If the Company or any of its successors or assignees consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, then to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assignees of the Company assume the obligations of the Company with respect to indemnification of members of the Board as in effect immediately before such transaction, whether such obligations are contained in the Company’s Bylaws, its Certificate of Incorporation, or elsewhere, as the case may be.

2.2    Matters Requiring Approval. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, for so long as the Sponsor and its Affiliates and the Founders and their Affiliates, respectively, collectively Beneficially Own at least 5% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and are entitled to designate at least one director of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1(b) (or such earlier date that the Sponsor or the Founders request their respective approval rights to be terminated), the Company shall not take, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to take, any of the following actions without the prior written consent of the Sponsor and at least one of the Founders:

(a)    Enter into any related party agreement or transaction between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates (including the payment of any management, investment banking or similar fees to Sponsor or any Affiliate of Sponsor) or one of the Founders and his Affiliates, on the other hand, other than (i) in connection with any Rescue Financing, which shall be subject to the approval of the Board; or (ii) transactions or agreements which are on arms’ length terms entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business with a portfolio company of Sponsor or a portfolio company of any Affiliate of Sponsor;

(b)    Other than Excepted Issuances, issue, grant, award or issue rights to subscribe for, exchange or convert into, any Securities or New Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(c)    Declare or pay any Distribution, other than (i) Distributions by the Company’s Subsidiaries that are paid pro rata to the Subsidiaries’ shareholders; and (ii) Distributions in respect of the Securities offered or paid pro-rata to the Stockholders or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Organizational Documents;

 

5


(d)    Enter into any bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company (other than in connection with a sale transaction that is structured as a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company);

(e)    Amend or modify the Organizational Documents in a manner that adversely affects the Blackstone Holders’ or Founder Groups’ rights disproportionately as compared to other holders of Common Stock (taking into account and considering the rights of the Blackstone Holders or Founder Groups prior to such amendment or modification); and

(f)    Make any agreement or arrangement to carry out any of the matters referenced above under this Section 2.2.

2.3    Trust Arrangements. At all times that a trust is a Stockholder of any Non-Blackstone Securities, there shall be a Company Trustee of such trust who shall either be (i) one of the Founders, (ii) the director designated by the Founder Groups pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i)(A) of this Agreement, (iii) an individual or corporate trustee with relevant industry experience chosen by one or both of the Founders in consultation with the Sponsor, or (iv) in the event both Founders are deceased or incapacitated, a member of the Immediate Family of the Founder who is the settlor of the trust for such period until an individual or corporate trustee with relevant industry experience is identified and appointed as trustee pursuant to the terms of the trust; provided that such time period shall not exceed 15 days following the first date on which both Founders are deceased or incapacitated.

2.4    Founder Group Actions. Any action taken by a Founder on behalf of his associated Founder Group shall be deemed taken by such Founder Group; provided that, in the event a Founder cannot take such action due to death or disability, such actions that may be taken by a Founder Group shall be deemed taken by such Founder Group if the holders of a majority of Securities held by such Founder Group consent to such action.

ARTICLE III

TRANSFERS OF SECURITIES

3.1    Restrictions on Transfer of Non-Blackstone Securities. Prior to the third anniversary of the initial Public Offering, (the “Lapse Date”), no holder of Non-Blackstone Securities may Transfer any Non-Blackstone Securities without the prior written consent of the Sponsor except in an Exempt Non-Blackstone Transfer; provided that the transfer restrictions in this Section 3.1 shall not apply to (i) the Non-Blackstone Securities sold in the initial Public Offering and (ii) the percentage of Non-Blackstone Securities of each holder equal to the percentage of Blackstone Securities sold by the Blackstone Holders in the initial Public Offering and in subsequent Public Offerings relative to the total number of Blackstone Securities held by the Blackstone Holders immediately prior to the initial Public Offering. For the avoidance of doubt, following the Lapse Date, the transfer restrictions in this Section 3.1 shall not apply.

3.2    Securities Act Compliance. No Securities may be transferred by a holder of Non-Blackstone Securities (other than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act) unless, if requested by the Company, such Stockholder first delivers to the Company an opinion of counsel, which opinion of counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such Transfer is not required to be registered under the Securities Act.

 

6


3.3    Certain Transferees Bound by Agreement. Subject to compliance with the other provisions of this Article III, any Stockholder may Transfer any Securities held by such Stockholder in accordance with applicable law; provided, however, that if the Transfer is not made pursuant to a Public Sale or a transaction the consummation of which will cause the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VI, then the transferor of such Security shall first deliver to the Company a written agreement of the proposed transferee to become a Stockholder and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement (unless such proposed transferee is already a Stockholder). All Non-Blackstone Securities will continue to be Non-Blackstone Securities in the hands of any transferee (other than the Company, any Blackstone Holder or any transferee in a Public Sale). All Blackstone Securities will continue to be Blackstone Securities in the hands of any transferee, except if the transferee is (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the Non-Blackstone Holders, (iii) a transferee in a transaction that constitutes a Change of Control, or (iv) a transferee in a Public Sale.

3.4    Transfers in Violation of Agreement. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Securities as the owner of such Securities for any purpose.

ARTICLE IV

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

4.1    Pledges or Transfers. Upon the request of any Blackstone Holder that wishes to (x) pledge, hypothecate or grant security interests in any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by it including to banks or financial institutions as collateral or security for loans, advances or extensions of credit or (y) transfer any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by it, including to third party investors, the Company agrees to cooperate with such Blackstone Holder in taking any action reasonably necessary to consummate any such pledge, hypothecation, grant or transfer, including without limitation, delivery of letter agreements to lenders in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such lenders (which may include agreements by the Company in respect of the exercise of remedies by such lenders), instructing the transfer agent to transfer any such shares of Common Stock subject to the pledge, hypothecation or grant into the facilities of The Depository Trust Company without restricted legends and cooperating in diligence or other matters as may reasonably be requested by any Blackstone Holder in connection with a proposed transfer.

4.2    Spin-Offs or Split-Offs. In the event that the Company effects the separation of any portion of its business into one or more entities (each, a “NewCo”), whether existing or newly formed, including without limitation by way of spin-off, split-off, carve-out, demerger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction, and any Stockholder will receive equity interests in any such NewCo as part of such separation, the Company shall cause any such NewCo to enter into a Stockholders agreement with the Stockholders that provides the Stockholder Entities with rights vis-á -vis such NewCo that are substantially identical to those set forth in this Agreement.

 

7


ARTICLE V

INFORMATION; VCOC

5.1    Books and Records; Access. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books, records and accounts, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (a) permit the Stockholder Entities and their respective designated representatives (or other designees), at reasonable times and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to review the books and records of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries with the officers of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (b) provide the Stockholder Entities all information of a type, at such times and in such manner as is consistent with the Company’s past practice or that is otherwise reasonably requested by such Stockholder Entities from time to time (all such information so furnished pursuant to this Section 5.1, the “Information”). Subject to Section 5.5, any Stockholder Entity (and any party receiving Information from a Stockholder Entity) who shall receive Information shall maintain the confidentiality of such Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, that the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged Information of the Company so long as the Company has used commercially reasonable efforts to enter into an arrangement pursuant to which it may provide such information to the Stockholder Entities without the loss of any such privilege.

5.2    Tax Related Information. The Company shall promptly make available to the Stockholder Entities all books, records and files of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to tax matters as may be reasonably requested by the Stockholder Entities and shall use reasonable efforts to comply with any requests by the Stockholder Entities for any tax-related information (including any applicable state withholdings) of any entity (i) which owns, directly or indirectly, all or a portion of the equity of the Company and (ii) in which any of the Stockholder Entities and the Company’s management own, directly or indirectly, all or a portion of the equity.

5.3    Certain Reports. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Stockholder Entities, at their request:

(a)    to the extent otherwise prepared by the Company, operating and capital expenditure budgets and periodic information packages relating to the operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(b)    to the extent otherwise prepared by the Company, such other reports and information as may be reasonably requested by the Stockholder Entities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged information of the Company so long as the Company has used commercially reasonable efforts to enter into an arrangement pursuant to which it may provide such information to the Stockholder Entities without the loss of any such privilege.

 

8


5.4    VCOC.

(a)    With respect to each Stockholder Entity that is intended to qualify its direct or indirect investment in the Company as a “venture capital investment” as defined in the Department of Labor regulations codified at 29 CFR Section 2510.3-101 (the “Plan Asset Regulation”) (each, a “VCOC Investor”), for so long as the VCOC Investor, directly or through one or more subsidiaries, continues to hold any Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such Common Stock may be converted or for which such Common Stock may be exchanged), without limitation or prejudice of any of the rights provided to the Stockholder Entities hereunder, the Company shall, with respect to each such VCOC Investor:

(i)    provide each VCOC Investor or its designated representative with:

(A)    upon reasonable notice and at mutually convenient times, the right to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and inspect and copy the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(B)    as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such period, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, and subject to the absence of footnotes and to year-end adjustments;

(C)    as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such year, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the year then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, together with an auditor’s report thereon of a firm of established national reputation;

(D)    to the extent the Company is required by law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company to prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, actually prepared by the Company as soon as available; and

(E)    upon written request by the VCOC Investor, copies of all materials provided to the Board, subject to appropriate protections with respect to confidentiality and preservation of attorney-client privilege; provided, that, in each case, if the Company makes the information described in clauses (B), (C) and (D) of this Section 5.4(a)(i) available through public filings on the EDGAR System or any successor or replacement system of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the requirement to deliver such information shall be deemed satisfied;

 

9


(ii)    make appropriate officers and/or directors of the Company available, and cause the officers and directors of its Subsidiaries to be made available, periodically and at such times as reasonably requested by each VCOC Investor, upon reasonable notice and at mutually convenient times, for consultation with such VCOC Investor or its designated representative with respect to matters relating to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(iii)    to the extent that the VCOC Investor requests to receive such information and rights, and to the extent consistent with applicable Law or listing standards (and with respect to events which require public disclosure, only following the Company’s public disclosure thereof through applicable securities law filings or otherwise), inform each VCOC Investor or its designated representative in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, and to provide (or cause to be provided) each VCOC Investor or its designated representative with the right to consult with the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such actions should the VCOC Investor elect to do so; provided, however, that this right to consult must be exercised within five days after the Company informs the VCOC Investor of the proposed corporate action; provided, further, that the Company shall be under no obligation to provide the VCOC Investor with any material non-public information with respect to such corporate action; and

(iv)    provide each VCOC Investor or its designated representative with such other rights of consultation which the VCOC Investor’s counsel may determine in writing to be reasonably necessary under applicable legal authorities promulgated after the date hereof to qualify its investment in the Company as a “venture capital investment” for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation; provided that the parties agree that any such rights of consultation shall be of a nature consistent with those granted above and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require the Company to grant to the VCOC Investor any additional rights with respect to the governance or management of the Company.

(b)    The Company agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of each VCOC Investor or its designated representative in connection with the matters on which it is consulted as described above in this Section 5.4, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Company.

(c)    In the event a VCOC Investor or any of its Affiliates Transfers all or any portion of their investment in the Company to an Affiliated entity that is intended to qualify its investment in the Company as a “venture capital investment” (as defined in the Plan Asset Regulation), such Transferee shall be afforded the same rights with respect to the Company afforded to the VCOC Investor hereunder and shall be treated, for such purposes, as a third party beneficiary hereunder.

(d)    In the event that the Company ceases to qualify as an “operating company” (as defined in the first sentence of 2510.3-101(c)(1) of the Plan Asset Regulation), or the investment

 

10


in the Company by a VCOC Investor does not qualify as a “venture capital investment” as defined in the Plan Asset Regulation, then the Company and each Stockholder Entity will cooperate in good faith and take all reasonable actions necessary, subject to applicable Law, to preserve the VCOC status of each VCOC Investor or the qualification of the investment as a “venture capital investment,” it being understood that such reasonable actions shall not require a VCOC Investor to purchase or sell any investments.

(e)    For so long as the VCOC Investor, directly or through one or more subsidiaries, continues to hold any Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such Common Stock may be converted or for which such Common Stock may be exchanged) and upon the written request of such VCOC Investor, without limitation or prejudice of any of the rights provided to the Stockholder Entities hereunder, the Company shall, with respect to each such VCOC Investor, furnish and deliver a letter covering the matters set forth in Sections 5.4(a), 5.4(b), 5.4(c) and 5.4(d) hereof in a form and substance satisfactory to such VCOC Investor.

(f)    In the event a VCOC Investor is an Affiliate of a Stockholder Entity, as described in Section 5.4(a) above, such affiliated entity shall be afforded the same rights with respect to the Company and afforded to the Stockholder Entity under this Section 5.4 and shall be treated, for such purposes, as a third party beneficiary hereunder.

5.5    Information Sharing. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that Designees may share any information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries received by them from or on behalf of the Company or its designated representatives with each Stockholder and its designated representatives (subject to such Stockholder’s obligation to maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information in accordance with Section 7.4).

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

6.1    Amendment and Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company, the Founders or the Stockholders unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the Company (upon approval by the Board); provided that no such modification, amendment or waiver may adversely affect the rights or obligations hereunder of the Founders or the Founder Groups unless approved in writing by each Founder (or such Founder’s Founder Group if such Founder is unable to provide approval due to death, illness or incapacity) adversely affected by such amendment, modification or waiver; provided, further, that no such modification, amendment or waiver may adversely affect the rights or obligations hereunder of the Blackstone Holders unless approved in writing by the Sponsor. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

6.2    Termination of Agreement. This Agreement (other than Section 2.1(g)) will terminate in respect of the Founders, the Company and all Stockholders (a) upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or (b) upon the consummation of a Change of Control.

 

11


6.3    Termination as to a Party. Any Person who ceases to hold any Securities shall cease to be a Stockholder and shall have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

7.1    Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth or as referenced below:

Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such particular Person or, in the case of a natural Person, any member of such Person’s Immediate Family.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Blackstone Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Blackstone Holders” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Blackstone Securities” means (a) Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents held by any Blackstone Holder and (b) any securities of the Company issued with respect to the securities referred to in clause (a) above by way of a payment-in-kind, stock dividend, or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, exchange, conversion, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or otherwise.

Beneficially Own” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York.

Change of Control” means (i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than Sponsor or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act) or (ii) any person or group, other than Sponsor or its Affiliates, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise and Sponsor ceases to control the Board.

Common Stock” means, collectively, the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, and the Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock Equivalents” means (without duplication with any Common Stock or other Common Stock Equivalents) rights, warrants, options, convertible securities, or exchangeable securities or indebtedness, or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or

 

12


exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of some future event.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Company Trustee” shall mean any trustee or other trust fiduciary with power to act unilaterally with respect to any Non-Blackstone Securities held in a trust that is a Stockholder.

Competing Business” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

Competitor” means any Person that is reasonably determined by the Board to be a competitor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect. For purposes hereof, without limiting the foregoing, any Person with substantial operations in the business of business process outsourcing, including the provision of outsourced customer service and content management, shall be presumed to be a Competitor unless the Board otherwise determines; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, Sponsor and its Affiliates shall not be deemed a Competitor solely due to its direct or indirect investment (through a portfolio company or otherwise) in a Person where such Person would be deemed a Competitor.

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

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

control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Distribution” means each dividend or distribution made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to its or their shareholders, whether in cash, property, or securities of the Company and whether by dividend, liquidating distributions, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition for value of any Security.

Excepted Issuances” means the issuance, granting or sale of any Securities or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such Securities, (i) in connection with any Public Offering, any conversion for an initial Public Offering or any initial Public Offering of a Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) pursuant to any present or future employee, officer or director benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount not greater than 15% of the outstanding Securities on a fully diluted basis, (iii) as consideration in any merger, consolidation, acquisition for stock, business combination or any similar extraordinary transaction, (iv) the issuance of Securities or other equity securities of the Company as a dividend or distribution to all holders of Securities, or (v) a reclassification of (or similar action with respect to) all Securities into a greater or lesser number of Securities.

 

13


Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Exempt Non-Blackstone Transfer” means a Transfer of Non-Blackstone Securities (a) upon the death of the holder pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution, (b) solely to or among such transferor Founder’s Permitted Group, (c) to Sponsor or any of its Affiliates or (f) upon the death of a Founder, from one member of a deceased Founder’s Founder Group to or among the other Founder and the Permitted Group of the other Founder.

Founder” or “Founders” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Founder Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Founder Group” means the Maddock Group or the Weir Group. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) with respect to Bryce Maddock, the Maddock Group and (b) with respect to Jaspar Weir, the Weir Group.

Founder Group Designee” means a Designee appointed by a Founder Group.

Founder Group Minimum Ownership Condition” means that a Founder Group Beneficially Owns, in the aggregate, a number of Securities representing an Ownership Percentage of at least 5%.

Immediate Family” means an individual’s parents, spouse, child (natural or adopted), or any other direct lineal descendant of a parent of such individual (or his or her spouse).

Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

Joint Founder Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Lapse Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Law” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree, governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

Maddock Group” means (i) the Stockholders listed on Schedule B attached hereto; and (ii) any transferee of any Securities held by the Stockholders in clause (i) of this definition who is in the Permitted Group of Bryce Maddock.

NewCo” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

New Securities” means, collectively, equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.

 

14


Non-Blackstone Holders” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Non-Blackstone Securities” means Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents held by any Non-Blackstone Holder and any such securities of the Company issued by way of a payment-in-kind, stock dividend, or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, exchange, conversion, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or otherwise.

Organizational Documents” means the Certification of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company.

Ownership Percentage” means, for each Stockholder, the percentage obtained by dividing the number of Securities held by such Stockholder by the total number of outstanding Securities of the Company on a fully diluted basis.

Permitted Group” means, with respect to any Founder, (i) any transferee of Securities held by a member of such Founder’s Founder Group made for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during lifetime or on death by testamentary instrument or intestacy; provided that such transferee is the parent or spouse , or with the written consent of the Sponsor, other close family members, (ii) any trust of which such Founder is a settlor and any beneficiary of such trust; provided that such beneficiary is limited to a member of such Founder’s Immediate Family, or with the written consent of the Sponsor, other close family member of such Founder, (iii) any partnership, limited liability company or similar vehicle that is a wholly owned and controlled Affiliate of any of the foregoing; provided that no “benefit plan investor” within the meaning of Section 3(42) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, may be a member of the Permitted Group and (iv) upon the death of a Founder, the other Founder Group solely to the extent necessary to satisfy the obligations under that certain Conditional Stock Transfer Agreement by and among the Founders, the members of the Founder Groups and the Company dated on or about the date hereof.

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Plan Asset Regulation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

Public Offering” means a sale of Common Stock to the public in an offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as then in effect, provided that a Public Offering shall not include an offering made in connection with a business acquisition or combination or an employee benefit plan.

Public Sale” means a sale of Securities pursuant to a Public Offering or a Rule 144 Sale.

Replacement Nominee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(iii).

Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, any director, officer, employee, principal, partner, manager, member, financial advisor, attorney, accountant, consultant, agent, advisor or other authorized representative of such Person.

 

15


Rescue Financing” means financing provided to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which financing is reasonably required to (i) remedy a breach or default (or potential breach or default) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any debt financing agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are party, (ii) provide liquidity to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to fund their then-current operations, under circumstances where the failure to provide such liquidity would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the Company, or (iii) comply with applicable capital requirements laws, rules or regulations.

Rule 144 Sale” means a sale of Securities to the public through a broker, dealer or market-maker pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation).

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities” means, collectively, the Blackstone Securities and the Non-Blackstone Securities.

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

Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity with respect to which another specified entity has the power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect directors (or comparable authorized persons of such entity) having a majority of the voting power of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of such entity.

Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in the preface.

Stockholder Entity” means any Stockholder and each of its Affiliates and their respective successors.

Total Number of Directors” means the total number of directors comprising the Board from time to time.

Transfer” means (in either the noun or the verb form, including with respect to the verb form, all conjugations thereof within their correlative meanings) with respect to any security, the gift, sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition (whether for or without consideration, whether directly or indirectly, and whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law) of such Security or any interest therein.

VCOC Investor” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

Weir Group” means (i) the Stockholders listed on Schedule C attached hereto; and (ii) any transferee of any Securities held by the Stockholders in clause (i) of this definition who is in the Permitted Group of Jaspar Weir.

 

16


7.2    Legends.

(a)    Stockholders Agreement. The Securities and each instrument, certificate or book-entry, if any, issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any such Securities (if such securities remain subject to this Agreement after such Transfer) shall bear a legend (as appropriately completed under the circumstances) in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such Securities):

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK-ENTRY] CONSTITUTE “NON-BLACKSTONE SECURITIES” UNDER A CERTAIN AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JUNE 15, 2021 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS AND, AS SUCH, ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN VOTING PROVISIONS, PURCHASE RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. A COPY OF SUCH STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

(b)    Restricted Securities. The Securities and each instrument, certificate or book-entry, if any, issued in exchange or upon the Transfer of any Securities shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such Securities):

“THE SECURITY REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK-ENTRY] HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD UNLESS IT HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE (AND, IN SUCH CASE, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).”

(c)    Removal of Legends. Whenever in the opinion of the Company and counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company (which opinion shall be delivered to the Company in writing) the restrictions described in any legend set forth above cease to be applicable to any Securities, the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense to the holder, a new instrument, certificate or book-entry not bearing a legend stating such restriction.

7.3    Non-Compete. At all times during which either Founder is on the Board or has a right to be a designee director and for a period of two years thereafter, except on behalf of the Company or except with the written consent of the Company, each Founder shall not, directly or indirectly, render services to, own, manage, operate, control, invest or acquire an interest in, whether as a proprietor, partner, stockholder, member, director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, joint venturer, debt or equity investor, lessor agent or other representative, any Person that is known by such Founder to engage in the line of business (and any lines of business the Company has active plans to engage) of the Company and its Subsidiaries (which, if neither

 

17


Founder is on the Board and neither Founder has a right to be a designee director at the time, shall be limited to the lines of business of the Company as of the date that such Founder is no longer on the Board) in each case anywhere in the world (collectively, the “Competing Business”) (including directly or indirectly as a division or group of a larger organization) or otherwise engage in or conduct (whether as an owner, operator, employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor, partner, representative or otherwise) a Competing Business; provided that the ownership of less than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of any corporation (other than any direct competitor of the Company in the business process outsourcing services space) shall not be deemed to be engaging in a Competing Business solely by reason of such ownership and provided, further, that this Section shall not preclude a Founder from rendering advice not for compensation to a Competing Business on a casual or occasional basis. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company hereby consents to each Founder’s (a) ownership of less than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of equity in the companies listed on Schedule A; and (b) role as board member or advisor to the following companies: Kustomer, Inc. and Wander Hotel Parent LLC. For purposes of this Section 7.3, the capital stock of a corporation owned by Founder shall not include the capital stock of a corporation owned of record by a mutual fund or similar investment vehicle, provided that Founder does not exercise a controlling interest or exercise control over investment decisions of such mutual fund or investment vehicle.

7.4    Confidentiality.

(a)    Each Non-Blackstone Holder agrees that it shall (and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their Representatives) (collectively, other than Affiliates that are Competitors, the “Confidentiality Affiliates”) (i) hold confidential and not disclose (other than by a Stockholder to its Confidentiality Affiliates having a reasonable need to know in connection with the permitted purposes hereunder or in such Stockholder’s capacity as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), without the prior approval of the Board, all confidential or proprietary written, recorded or oral information or data (including research, developmental, engineering, manufacturing, technical, marketing, sales, financial, operating, performance, cost, business and process information or data, know-how and computer programming and other software techniques) provided or developed by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, another Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates in connection herewith or with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, whether such confidentiality or proprietary status is indicated orally or in writing or in a context in which any of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or the disclosing Stockholder or any of their Confidentiality Affiliates reasonably communicated, or the receiving Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates should reasonably have understood, that the information should be treated as confidential, whether or not the specific words “confidential” or “proprietary” are used (“Confidential Information”) and (ii) use such Confidential Information only for the purposes of performing its obligations hereunder, performing activities in its capacity as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and carrying on the business of the Company and monitoring its investment in the Company; provided, however, that Stockholders may disclose any such Confidential Information in connection with a Transfer of Securities permitted under this Agreement, to prospective purchasers of Securities from a Stockholder, after such prospective purchaser has entered into a non-disclosure agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company, as well as to such prospective purchaser’s legal counsel, auditors, agents and representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

18


Stockholders may disclose any such Confidential Information on a confidential basis to investors of a Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates, subject to such investors having agreed to maintain the confidentiality of any such Confidential Information; provided, however, that each Stockholder shall not (and shall cause its Confidentiality Affiliates or investors of such Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates not to) disclose any Confidential Information to any Person that is a Competitor of the Company. Each Stockholder agrees that it shall be responsible and liable for any breach of this Section 7.4 by its Confidentiality Affiliates or investors of such Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates (as if such Confidentiality Affiliates or investors were parties to and bound by the provisions of this Section 7.4 by which such Stockholder is bound).

(b)    The obligations contained in Section 7.4(a) shall not apply, or shall cease to apply, to Confidential Information if or when, and to the extent that, such Confidential Information (i) was, or becomes through no breach of the receiving Stockholder’s or its Confidentiality Affiliates’ obligations hereunder, known to the public, (ii) becomes known to the receiving Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates from other sources under circumstances not involving any breach of any confidentiality obligation between such source and the disclosing Stockholder’s or discloser’s Confidentiality Affiliates or a third party, (iii) is independently developed by the receiving Stockholder or its Confidentiality Affiliates, or (iv) is required to be disclosed by law, governmental regulation or applicable legal process; provided that to the extent permitted by law, such Stockholder shall notify the Company promptly of such request or requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate relief; provided, further, that in the absence of a protective order or other appropriate relief, the Stockholder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion of the information required to be disclosed as the Company shall designate.

7.5    Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

7.6    Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other documents and agreements referred to herein or entered into concurrently herewith embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein; provided that such other agreements and documents shall not be deemed to be a part of, a modification of or an amendment to this Agreement. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter, including that certain Shareholder Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2018, among the Company, the Sponsor, the Non-Blackstone Holders party thereto and the Founders, which agreement is amended and restated by this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.

 

19


7.7    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and the Stockholders and any subsequent holders of Securities and the respective successors and assigns of each of them, so long as they hold Securities. Other than in a Change of Control or a Public Sale, any subsequent holders of Securities or New Securities shall become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a counterpart signature page to this Agreement. No action or consent by the Stockholders shall be required for such joinder to this Agreement by such subsequent holder of Securities or New Securities, so long as such holder of Securities or New Securities has agreed in writing to be bound by all of the obligations applicable to such holder of Securities or New Securities hereunder.

7.8    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

7.9    Remedies. The Company, the Founders and the Stockholders shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement (including costs of enforcement) and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that the Company or any Stockholder may in its or his sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive relief (without posting a bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

7.10    Notices. Any notice, designation, request, request for consent or consent provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, or mailed first class mail (postage prepaid) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company at the address set forth below and to any other recipient at the address indicated on the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder if (i) delivered personally, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 7.10, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section 7.10 or on the first business day after when such electronic mail is sent to the e-mail address specified in this Section 7.10, or (iii) sent by reputable overnight courier service, one day after deposit with such service.

 

20


If to the Company:

TaskUs, Inc.

1650 Independence Drive, Suite 100

New Braunfels, Texas 78132

Attention:    Jeffrey Chugg, Vice President, Legal

Email:          [redacted]

If to a Stockholder, to the address across such Stockholder’s name and set forth on Exhibit A.

If to a Founder or a Founder Group, solely with respect to such Founder or Founder Group:

Bryce Maddock

Attention:    Bryce Maddock

 [address redacted]

Email:          [redacted]

Jaspar Weir

Attention:    Jaspar Weir

 [address redacted]

Email:              [redacted]

A copy of each notice given to the Company shall be given to Sponsor (and no notice to the Company shall be effective until such copy is delivered to Sponsor) at the following addresses:

BCP FC Aggregator LP

c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention:    Amit Dixit

 Mukesh Mehta

Facsimile:    (212) 583-5710

Email:          [redacted]

 [redacted]

7.11    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

7.12    Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

7.13    Grant of Consent. Any vote, consent or approval of, or designation by, or other action of, the Founder Group or the Sponsor hereunder shall be effective if notice of such vote, consent, approval, designation or action is provided in accordance with Section 7.10 hereof by the Founder Group or the Sponsor as of the latest date any such notice is so provided to the Company.

 

21


[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

TASKUS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Chugg

  Name:   Jeffrey Chugg
  Title:   Vice President, Legal


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

BCP FC AGGREGATOR L.P.
By:   BCP VII/BCP ASIA HOLDINGS MANAGER
  (CAYMAN) L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Robert Brooks

  Name:   Robert Brooks
  Title:   Authorized Signatory


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

NON-BLACKSTONE HOLDERS:
BRYCE MADDOCK FAMILY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Bryce Maddock

  Name:   Bryce Maddock
  Title:   Trustee
THE MADDOCK 2015 IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:  

/s/ Bryce Maddock

  Name:   Bryce Maddock
  Title:   Trustee
JASPAR WEIR FAMILY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Jaspar Weir

  Name:   Jaspar Weir
  Title:   Trustee
THE WEIR 2015 IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:  

/s/ Jaspar Weir

  Name:   Jaspar Weir
  Title:   Business Trustee


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement on the day and year first above written.

 

FOUNDERS:

/s/ Bryce Maddock

Bryce Maddock

/r/ Jaspar Weir

Jaspar Weir


Schedule A

[redacted]


Schedule B

Maddock Group

 

1.

The Bryce Maddock Family Trust

 

2.

The Maddock 2015 Irrevocable Trust


Schedule C

Weir Group

 

1.

Jaspar Weir Family Trust

 

2.

The Weir 2015 Irrevocable Trust


Exhibit A

Notice information of Stockholders

 

Stockholders

  

Address

BCP FC Aggregator LP   

BCP FC Aggregator LP

c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention:     Amit Dixit

Mukesh Mehta

Facsimile:     (212) 583-5710

Email:      [redacted]

[redacted]

The Bryce Maddock Family Trust   

Bryce Maddock

Attention:     Bryce Maddock

[address redacted]

Email:      [redacted]

The Maddock 2015 Irrevocable Trust   

Bryce Maddock

Attention:     Bryce Maddock

[address redacted]

Email:      [redacted]

Jaspar Weir Family Trust   

Jaspar Weir

Attention:     Jaspar Weir

[address redacted]

Email:      [redacted]

The Weir 2015 Irrevocable Trust   

Jaspar Weir

Attention:     Jaspar Weir

[address redacted]

Email:      [redacted]

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

TASKUS, INC.

and

the other parties hereto

Dated as of June 15, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I Definitions

     1

SECTION 1.1.

 

Certain Definitions

     1

SECTION 1.2.

 

Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation

     5

Article II Registration Rights

     5

SECTION 2.1.

 

Demand and Piggyback Rights

     5

SECTION 2.2.

 

Notices, Cutbacks and Other Matters

     8

SECTION 2.3.

 

Facilitating Registrations and Offerings

     10

SECTION 2.4.

 

Rules 144 and 144A

     15

SECTION 2.5.

 

Underwritten Registrations

     15

SECTION 2.6.

 

No Inconsistent Agreements

     16

SECTION 2.7.

 

In-Kind Distribution

     16

Article III Indemnification

     16

SECTION 3.1.

 

Indemnification by the Company

     16

SECTION 3.2.

 

Indemnification by the Holders

     17

SECTION 3.3.

 

Conduct of Indemnifying Proceedings

     17

SECTION 3.4.

 

Contribution

     18

SECTION 3.5.

 

Non-Exclusivity

     19

Article IV Other

     19

SECTION 4.1.

 

Notices

     19

SECTION 4.2.

 

Assignment

     20

SECTION 4.3.

 

Amendments; Waiver

     20

SECTION 4.4.

 

Third Parties

     21

SECTION 4.5.

 

Governing Law

     21

SECTION 4.6.

 

CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

     21

SECTION 4.7.

 

MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     21

SECTION 4.8.

 

Specific Performance

     21

SECTION 4.9.

 

Entire Agreement

     22

SECTION 4.10.

 

Severability

     22

SECTION 4.11.

 

Counterparts

     22

SECTION 4.12.

 

Effectiveness

     22

SECTION 4.13.

 

Confidentiality

     22

SECTION 4.14.

 

No Recourse

     22

SECTION 4.15.

 

Independent Nature of the Rights and Obligations of Holders

     23

SECTION 4.16.

 

Termination as to a Holder

     23

 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is dated as of June 15, 2021 and is by and among TaskUs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Blackstone Investor (as defined below), the Founder Groups (as defined below), and the other Holders (as defined below) from time to time party hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is effecting an underwritten initial public offering (“IPO”) of shares of its Common Stock (as defined below); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant registration rights to the Blackstone Investor and the Founder Groups on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, 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

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1.    Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

Affiliate” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Blackstone Investor” means the entity listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Blackstone Investor” and any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.

Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

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

Common Stock” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such Class A common stock is reclassified or reconstituted, including by way of stock dividend or stock split.

Common Stock Equivalents” means (without duplication with any Common Stock or other Common Stock Equivalents) rights, warrants, options, convertible securities, or exchangeable securities or indebtedness, or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of some future event.


Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Control” (including its correlative meanings, “Controlled by,” “Controlling” and “under common Control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Founder Group” means the Maddock Group or the Weir Group.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

Holder” means (a) each of the Founder Groups, (b) the Blackstone Investor, and (c) any Transferee of a Holder to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2, and in each case, is a holder of Registrable Securities or Securities exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Registrable Securities.

Indemnified Party” and Indemnified Parties” have the meanings set forth in Section 3.1.

Indemnifying Party” and Indemnifying Parties” have the meanings set forth in Section 3.3.

IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Law” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree, governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Maddock Group” means the Persons listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Maddock Group” and any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.

NewCo” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g).

 

-2-


Non-Recourse Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

Non-Sponsor Holder” and “Non-Sponsor Holders” means Holders other than the Blackstone Investor.

Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a cooperative, an unincorporated organization, or other form of business organization, whether or not regarded as a legal entity under applicable Law, or any Governmental Authority or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Proceeding” has the meanings set forth in Section 3.3.

Public Offering” means a sale of Common Stock to the public in an offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as then in effect; provided that a Public Offering shall not include an offering made in connection with a business acquisition or combination or an employee benefit plan.

Public Sale” means a sale of Securities pursuant to a Public Offering or a Rule 144 Sale.

Registrable Securities” means (i) any Common Stock held by a Holder, (ii) any securities issued or issuable in respect of any of the securities referred to in clause (i). As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when they (A) have been Transferred in a Public Offering, (B) have been Transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) or (C) such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale, unless such Registrable Securities are held by a Holder that beneficially owns 5% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person will be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person then has the right to acquire such Registrable Securities upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such securities, without any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right, whether or not such acquisition has actually been affected.

Registration Expenses” means any and all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including:

(a)    all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation all SEC, stock exchange, and FINRA registration and filing fees and the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA, and of its counsel);

(b)    all fees and expenses of complying with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities);

(c)    all printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

-3-


(d)    all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or FINRA and all rating agency fees;

(e)    the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent certified public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or “comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance;

(f)    any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of Securities, including liability insurance if the Company so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any;

(g)    the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of not more than one law firm together with appropriate local counsel (as selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration) representing the Holders in connection with the registration;

(h)    other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities incurred in connection with the registration;

(i)    the costs and expenses of the Company relating to analyst and investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the registration and/or marketing of the Registrable Securities (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders); and

(j)    any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities.

Requesting Holder” has the meanings set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Rights Holders” has the meanings set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Rule 144 Sale” means a sale of Securities to the public through a broker, dealer or market-maker pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation).

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

Securities” means (a) Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents held by any Holder and (b) any securities of the Company issued with respect to the securities referred to in clause (a) above by way of a payment-in-kind, stock dividend, or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, exchange, conversion, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or otherwise.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

-4-


Transfer” (including its correlative meanings, “Transferor”, “Transferee” and “Transferred”) shall mean, with respect to any security, the gift, sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition (whether for or without consideration, whether directly or indirectly, and whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law) of such Security or any interest therein. When used as a noun, “Transfer” shall have such correlative meaning as the context may require.

Weir Group” means the Persons listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Weir Group” and any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.

WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

SECTION 1.2.    Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation.

(a)    The words “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified. References in this Agreement to a designated “Article” or “Section” refer to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specified and references to clauses without a cross-reference to a Section or subsection are references to clauses within the same Section or, if more specific, subsection. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” References to “day” means a calendar day unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.”

(b)    The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and do not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(c)    The meanings given to terms defined herein are equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 2.1.    Demand and Piggyback Rights.

(a)    Right to Demand a Non-Shelf Registered Offering. Subject to Section 2.1(f), upon the demand of the Blackstone Investor or one or both of the Founder Groups (each, a “Requesting Holder”) made at any time and from time to time, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Article II a non-shelf registered offering of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holder to be included in such offering. For any Public Offering, a demand by Requesting Holder for a non-shelf registered offering that will result in the imposition of a lockup on the Company and the Rights Holders may not be made unless the Securities requested to be sold by the demanding Requesting Holder in such offering have an aggregate market value (based on the most recent closing price of the Common Stock at the time of the demand) of at least $10 million. Any demanded non-shelf registered offering

 

-5-


may, subject to Section 2.2(e), at the Company’s option, include Securities to be sold by the Company for its own account and will also include Securities to be sold by Holders that exercise their related piggyback rights on a timely basis.

(b)    Right to Piggyback on a Non-Shelf Registered Offering. In connection with any registered offering of Securities covered by a non-shelf registration statement (whether pursuant to the exercise of demand rights or at the initiative of the Company), each of the Blackstone Investor and the Founder Groups (collectively, the “Rights Holders”) may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such offering Registrable Securities held by them. The Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement any such non-shelf registered offering. For the avoidance of doubt, only the Blackstone Investor and the Founder Groups may exercise the piggyback rights set forth in this Section 2.1.

(c)    Right to Demand and be Included in a Shelf Registration. Subject to Section 2.1(f), upon the demand of a Requesting Holder made at any time and from time to time when the Company is eligible to utilize Form S-3 or a successor form to sell Securities in a secondary offering on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a shelf registration of Registrable Securities held by such Requesting Holder. Any shelf registration statement filed by the Company covering Securities (whether pursuant to a demand by the Requesting Holder or at the initiative of the Company) will cover Registrable Securities held by each of the Rights Holders (regardless of whether they demanded the filing of such shelf or not) up to the highest common percentage of their original respective holdings as of the date of the closing of the IPO as may be agreed upon by the Requesting Holder. If at the time of such request the Company is a WKSI, such shelf registration statement would, at the request of such Requesting Holder, cover an unspecified number of Securities to be sold by the Rights Holders and, if the Company so elects, the Company.

(d)    Demand and Piggyback Rights for Shelf Takedowns. Subject to Section 2.1(f), upon the demand of one or more Rights Holders made at any time and from time to time, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a “takedown” of Registrable Securities off of an effective shelf registration statement; provided that only the Requesting Holder may demand an underwritten shelf takedown. In connection with any underwritten shelf takedown (whether pursuant to the exercise of such demand rights or at the initiative of the Company), the Rights Holders may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such takedown Registrable Securities held by them that are registered on such shelf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Requesting Holder may not demand a shelf takedown for an offering that will result in the imposition of a lockup on the Company and the Rights Holders unless the Registrable Securities requested to be sold by the Requesting Holder in such takedown have an aggregate market value (based on the most recent closing price of the Securities at the time of the demand) of at least $10 million.

(e)    Right to Reload a Shelf. Upon the written request of a Rights Holder, the Company will file and seek the effectiveness of a post-effective amendment to an existing shelf in order to register up to the number of Securities previously taken down off of such shelf by such Rights Holder and not yet “reloaded” onto such shelf. The Rights Holders and the Company will consult and coordinate with each other in order to accomplish such replenishments from time to time in a sensible manner.

 

-6-


(f)    Limitations on Demand and Piggyback Rights.

(i)    Any demand for the filing of a registration statement or for a registered offering or takedown will be subject to the constraints of any applicable lockup arrangements, and such demand must be deferred until such lockup arrangements no longer apply. If a demand has been made for a non-shelf registered offering or for an underwritten takedown, no further demands may be made so long as the related offering is still being pursued. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Holders will not have piggyback or other registration rights with respect to registered primary offerings by the Company (i) covered by a Form S-8 registration statement or a successor form applicable to employee benefit-related offers and sales, (ii) where the Securities are not being sold for cash or (iii) where the offering is a bona fide offering of securities other than Securities, even if such securities are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Securities.

(ii)    The Company may postpone the filing of a demanded registration statement or suspend the effectiveness of any shelf registration statement for a reasonable “blackout period” not in excess of 60 days if the Board (or any successor governing entity or body) of the Company determines that such registration or offering could materially interfere with a bona fide business or financing transaction of the Company or is reasonably likely to require premature disclosure of information, the premature disclosure of which could materially and adversely affect the Company. The blackout period will end upon the earlier to occur of, (A) in the case of a bona fide business or financing transaction, a date not later than 60 days from the date such deferral commenced, and (B) in the case of disclosure of non-public information, the earlier to occur of (x) the filing by the Company of its next succeeding Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, or (y) the date upon which such information is otherwise disclosed.

(g)    Additional Rights. In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the shares of Common Stock are converted into Securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to Holders by the issuer of such Securities. To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by Holders then holding a majority of Registrable Securities.

In addition, in the event that the Company effects the separation of any portion of its business into one or more entities (each, a “NewCo”), whether existing or newly formed, including without limitation by way of spin-off, split-off, carve-out, demerger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction, and any Holder will receive equity

 

-7-


interests in any such NewCo as part of such separation, the Company shall cause any such NewCo to enter into a registration rights agreement with each such Holder that provides each such Holder with registration rights vis-á-vis such NewCo that are substantially identical to those set forth in this Agreement.

SECTION 2.2.    Notices, Cutbacks and Other Matters.

(a)    Notifications Regarding Registration Statements. In order for the Requesting Holder to exercise its right to demand that a registration statement be filed, they must so notify the Company in writing indicating the number of Securities of Registrable Securities sought to be registered and the proposed plan of distribution. The Company will keep the Rights Holders contemporaneously apprised of all pertinent aspects of its pursuit of any Public Offering or other registration, whether pursuant to a demand by the Requesting Holder or otherwise, with respect to which a piggyback opportunity is available. Without limiting the Company’s obligation as described in the preceding sentence, having a reasonable opportunity requires that the Rights Holders be notified by the Company of an anticipated filing of a registration statement (whether pursuant to a demand made by a Requesting Holder or at the Company’s own initiative or at the initiative of other holders not party to this Agreement) no later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the date that is two Business Days prior to the date on which the registration statement is intended to be filed. Each Requesting Holder and the Company agrees to use its good faith efforts to provide advance notice as soon as reasonably practicable to the Rights Holders of such first Requesting Holder’s or the Company’s intention to file or cause the filing of a registration statement; provided, however, that none of the Requesting Holders or the Company shall be obligated hereby to provide any such advance notice, and, if provided, such advance notice shall not be binding in any respect. Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties hereto will maintain the confidentiality of these discussions.

(b)    Notifications Regarding Registration Piggyback Rights. In the event that the Company receives (i) any demand from a Requesting Holder for a non-shelf registered offering, or (ii) if the Company files a registration statement with respect to a non-shelf registered offering, the Company will promptly give to each of the Rights Holders a written notice thereof no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the 10th day following receipt by the Company of such demand or the filing of such registration statement, as applicable. Any Rights Holder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to a non-shelf registration statement must notify the Company and the other Rights Holders of the number of Registrable Securities it seeks to have included in such registration statement. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the fifth trading day prior to (i) if applicable, the date on which the preliminary prospectus intended to be used in connection with pre-effective marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized, and (ii) in any case, the date on which the pricing of the relevant offering is expected to occur. No such notice is required in connection with a shelf registration statement, as Securities held by all Rights Holders will be included up to the applicable percentage.

(c)    Notifications Regarding Demanded Underwritten Takedowns.

 

-8-


(i)    The Company will keep the Rights Holders contemporaneously apprised of all pertinent aspects of any underwritten shelf takedown in order that they may have a reasonable opportunity to exercise their related piggyback rights. Without limiting the Company’s obligation as described in the preceding sentence, having a reasonable opportunity requires that the Rights Holders be notified by the Company of an anticipated underwritten takedown (whether pursuant to a demand made by the Requesting Holder or made at the Company’s own initiative) no later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on (A) if applicable, the second trading day prior to the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with pre-pricing marketing efforts for such takedown is finalized, and (B) in all cases, the second trading day prior to the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs.

(ii)    Any Rights Holder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to an underwritten shelf takedown must notify the Company and the other Rights Holders of the number of Registrable Securities it seeks to have included in such takedown. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 pm, New York City time, on (A) if applicable, the trading day prior to the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized, and (B) in all cases, the trading day prior to the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs.

(iii)    Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties hereto will maintain appropriate confidentiality of their discussions regarding a prospective underwritten takedown.

(d)    Plan of Distribution, Underwriters and Counsel. If a majority of the Securities proposed to be sold in an underwritten offering through a non-shelf registration statement or through a shelf takedown is being sold by the Company for its own account, the Company will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters for such offering. Otherwise, the Requesting Holder will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters, and any provider of capital markets advisory services (which may include affiliates of a Requesting Holder), and will also be entitled to select counsel for the selling Rights Holders (which may be the same as counsel for the Company). In the case of a shelf registration statement, the plan of distribution will provide as much flexibility as is reasonably possible, including with respect to resales by transferee Rights Holders.

(e)    Cutbacks. If the managing underwriters advise the Company and the selling Rights Holders that, in their opinion, the number of Securities requested to be included in an underwritten offering exceeds the amount that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the distribution of the Securities being offered, such offering will include only the number of Securities that the underwriters advise can be sold in such offering. Except in the case of a demand offering, if the Company is selling Securities for its own account in such offering,

 

-9-


the Company will have first priority and to the extent of any remaining capacity, the selling Rights Holders will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the number of Securities initially requested by them to be included in such offering. In a demand offering, the Rights Holders shall have priority over any other Person participating in the offering (including the Company) and shall be subject to cutback pro rata based on the number of Securities initially requested by each Rights Holder to be included in such offering. Subject to the last sentence of Section 2.1(a), other selling equityholders will be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of the Requesting Holder (in the event of a demand offering) or the Company (in the event of an offering initiated by the Company).

(f)    Withdrawals. Even if Registrable Securities held by a Rights Holder have been part of a registered underwritten offering, such Rights Holder may, no later than the time at which the public offering price and underwriters’ discount are determined with the managing underwriter, decline to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities being offered for its account.

(g)    Lockups. In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, to the extent required by the managing underwriter for such underwritten offering, the Company and each Holder will agree (in the case of any Holder, with respect to Securities held by such Holder) to be bound by the underwriting agreement’s lockup restrictions that are agreed to (a) by the Company, if a majority of the Securities being sold in such offering are being sold for its account or (b) by the Requesting Holder, if a majority of the Securities being sold in such offering are being sold by Rights Holders.

(h)    Expenses. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration statement or registered offering covering Registrable Securities held by Rights Holders will be borne by the Company. However, underwriters’, brokers’ and dealers’ discounts and commissions applicable to Securities sold for the account of a Rights Holder will be borne by such Rights Holder.

SECTION 2.3.    Facilitating Registrations and Offerings.

(a)    General. If the Company becomes obligated under this Agreement to facilitate a registration and offering of Registrable Securities on behalf of Rights Holders, the Company will do so with the same degree of care and dispatch as would reasonably be expected in the case of a registration and offering by the Company of Securities for its own account. Without limiting this general obligation, the Company will fulfill its specific obligations as described in this Section 2.3.

(b)    Registration Statements. In connection with each registration statement that is demanded by a Requesting Holder or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, the Company will as expeditiously as possible:

(i)    (A) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement (or registration statements) covering the applicable Securities, (B) file amendments thereto as warranted, (C) seek the effectiveness thereof, and (D) file with the SEC prospectuses and prospectus supplements as may be required, all in

 

-10-


consultation with the Rights Holders and as reasonably necessary in order to permit the offer and sale of the such Registrable Securities in accordance with the applicable plan of distribution and use its reasonable best efforts to cause each such registration statement or registration statements to become effective;

(ii)    (A) within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any registration statement, any prospectus, any amendment to a registration statement, amendment or supplement to a prospectus or any free writing prospectus, provide copies of such documents to the selling Rights Holders and to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering, if applicable, and to their respective counsel; fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the Rights Holders or the underwriter or the underwriters may request; and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Rights Holders or any underwriter available for discussion of such documents;

 

  (B)

within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a registration statement or a prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Rights Holders and underwriters; fairly consider such reasonable changes in such document prior to or after the filing thereof as counsel for such Rights Holders or such underwriter shall request; and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by such counsel available for discussion of such document;

(iii)    use all reasonable efforts to cause each registration statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of such registration statement, amendment or supplement and during the distribution of the registered Securities (A) to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(iv)    notify each Rights Holder promptly, and, if requested by such Rights Holder, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when a registration statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective if such registration statement or post-effective amendment is not automatically effective upon filing, (B) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (C) if, between the effective date of a registration statement and the closing of any sale of securities covered thereby pursuant to any agreement to which the Company is a party, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in such agreement cease

 

-11-


to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, and (D) of the happening of any event during the period a registration statement is effective as a result of which such registration statement or the related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(v)    furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and counsel for the Rights Holders copies of any correspondence with the SEC or any state securities authority relating to the registration statement or prospectus;

(vi)    otherwise use all reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including making available to its security holders an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar provision then in force);

(vii)    use all reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement at the earliest possible time;

(viii)    (A) use its best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities exchange on which the Securities are then listed (if any), if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (B) if no Securities are then so listed, use its best efforts to, either (as the Company may elect) (x) cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange or (y) to secure authorization from a national securities exchange for such Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register as such with respect to such Securities with the FINRA; and

(ix)    provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Securities covered by a registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement.

(c)    Non-Shelf Registered Offerings and Shelf Takedowns. In connection with any non-shelf registered offering or shelf takedown that is demanded by a Requesting Holder or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, the Company will:

(i)    cooperate with the selling Rights Holders and the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Securities, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the

 

-12-


governing documents thereof) and registered in such names as the selling Rights Holders or the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Securities, if any, may reasonably request at least five days prior to any sale of such Securities;

(ii)    furnish to each Rights Holder and to each underwriter, if any, participating in the relevant offering, without charge, as many copies of the applicable prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Rights Holders or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the Public Sale or other disposition of the Securities; the Company hereby consents to the use of the prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, by each such Rights Holder and underwriter in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus or the preliminary prospectus;

(iii)    (A) use all reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Securities being offered and sold, no later than the time the applicable registration statement becomes effective, under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as each underwriter, if any, or any Rights Holder holding Securities covered by a registration statement, shall reasonably request; (B) use all reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective; and (C) do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such underwriter, if any, and Rights Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Rights Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to consent to be subject to general service of process (other than service of process in connection with such registration or qualification or any sale of Securities in connection therewith) in any such jurisdiction;

(iv)    cause all Securities being sold to be qualified for inclusion in or listed on the principal securities exchange on which the Securities are then so qualified or listed if so requested by the Rights Holders, or if so requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Securities, if any;

(v)    cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter in an underwritten offering;

(vi)    use all reasonable efforts to facilitate the distribution and sale of any Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation by making road show presentations, holding meetings with and making calls to potential investors and taking such other actions as shall be requested by the Rights Holders or the lead managing underwriter of an underwritten offering;

 

-13-


(vii)    enter into customary agreements (including, in the case of an underwritten offering, underwriting agreements in customary form, and including provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution in customary form and consistent with the provisions relating to indemnification and contribution contained herein) and take all other customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Securities and in connection therewith:

 

  (A)

make such representations and warranties to the selling Rights Holders and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings;

 

  (B)

obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the lead managing underwriter, if any) addressed to each selling Rights Holders and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Rights Holders and underwriters;

 

  (C)

obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the Company’s independent certified public accountants addressed to the selling Rights Holders, if permissible, and the underwriters, if any, which letters shall be customary in form and shall cover matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

 

  (D)

to the extent requested and customary for the relevant transaction, enter into a securities sales agreement with the Rights Holders providing for, among other things, the appointment of such representative as agent for the selling Rights Holders for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Securities, which agreement shall be customary in form, substance and scope and shall contain customary representations, warranties and covenants;

(viii)    prior to the date on which the pricing of the relevant offering is expected to occur, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities;

(ix)    deliver such documents and certificates as the sole underwriter or managing underwriter, if any, any Rights Holder, or their respective counsel, shall reasonably request to evidence the continued validity of

 

-14-


the representations and warranties made in accordance with Section 2.3(c)(vii)(A) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company; and

(x)    use all reasonable efforts to facilitate the settlement of the Securities to be sold pursuant to this Article II, including through the facilities of DTC; and

(xi)    in the case of an offering that includes a provider of capital markets advisory services, enter into and perform its obligations under customary agreements (including an advisory services agreement and an indemnification agreement in customary form).

The above shall be done at such times as customarily occur in similar registered offerings or shelf takedowns.

(d)    Due Diligence. In connection with each registration and offering of Securities to be sold by Rights Holders, the Company will, in accordance with customary practice, make available for inspection by representatives of the Rights Holders and underwriters and any counsel or accountant retained by such Rights Holders or underwriters all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate (or similar) documents and properties of the Company and cause appropriate officers, managers and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with their due diligence exercise.

(e)    Information from Rights Holders. Each Rights Holder that holds Securities covered by any registration statement will furnish to the Company such information regarding itself as is required to be included in the registration statement, the ownership of Securities by such Rights Holder and the proposed distribution by such Rights Holder of such Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

SECTION 2.4.    Rules 144 and 144A. At all times, the Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and will take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

SECTION 2.5.    Underwritten Registrations. No holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such holder (a) agrees to sell such holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

-15-


SECTION 2.6.    No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not and will not, enter into any agreement with respect to the Company’s Securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Article II or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company shall not enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any Securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of which are equivalent to or more favorable than the registration rights granted to the Rights Holders hereunder, or which would reduce the amount of Registrable Securities the Rights Holders can include in any registration statement filed or offering effected pursuant to Article II hereof unless the Company shall have received the prior written consent of the Rights Holders.

SECTION 2.7.    In-Kind Distribution. If any Rights Holder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Registrable Securities to its direct or indirect equityholders, the Company shall, subject to applicable lockup arrangements, work with such Rights Holder and the Company’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Rights Holder, as well as any resales by such transferees under a shelf registration statement covering such distributed shares.

ARTICLE III

INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 3.1.    Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, the officers, directors, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling person and any financial or investment adviser (each, an “Indemnified Party”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened), reasonable costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and reasonable expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation) (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus (including free-writing prospectuses) or form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplements thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except to the extent that the same arise out of or are based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party or the related holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein or (ii) any violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to action required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such registration; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of Registrable Securities or any other Person, if any, who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus if (A) such Person failed to send or deliver a copy of the prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale by such Person to the Person asserting the claim from which

 

-16-


such Losses arise, (B) the prospectus would have corrected such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or such omission or alleged omission, and (C) the Company has complied with its obligations under Section 3.3. Each indemnity and reimbursement of costs and expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party.

SECTION 3.2.    Indemnification by the Holders. In connection with any registration statement in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such holder, or an authorized officer of such holder, shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any registration statement or prospectus and agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling persons, from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus (including free-writing prospectuses), or form of prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue or alleged untrue statement is contained in, or such omission or alleged omission is required to be contained in, any information which (i) relates solely to such holder’s individual ownership of the Registrable Securities, (ii) is furnished in writing to the Company by such holder solely in its capacity as a holder of Registrable Securities, expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus and (iii) that such statement or omission was relied upon by the Company in preparation of such registration statement, prospectus or form of prospectus; provided, however, that such holder of Registrable Securities shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that the holder has furnished in writing to the Company within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing of any such registration statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto information expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading, information previously furnished to the Company, and the Company failed to include such information therein. In no event shall the liability of any selling holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of payment of all expenses) received by such holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party.

SECTION 3.3.    Conduct of Indemnifying Proceedings. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party or parties from which such indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Parties”) of the commencement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation or written threat thereof (a “Proceeding”) with respect to which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Parties shall not relieve the Indemnifying Parties from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the Indemnifying Parties have been prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying Parties shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such Proceeding, to assume, at the Indemnifying Parties’

 

-17-


expense, the defense of any such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party or Parties (if more than one such Indemnified Party is named in any Proceeding) shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (i) the Indemnifying Parties agree to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the Indemnifying Parties fail promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding or fail to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party or Parties; or (iii) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party or Parties and the Indemnifying Parties or an Affiliate of the Indemnifying Parties or such Indemnified Parties, and there may be one or more defenses available to such Indemnified Party or Parties that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Parties, in which case, if such Indemnified Party or Parties notifies the Indemnifying Parties in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties, the Indemnifying Parties shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties, it being understood, however, that, unless there exists a conflict among Indemnified Parties, the Indemnifying Parties shall not, in connection with any one such Proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Party or Parties. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the Indemnifying Parties, such Indemnifying Parties or Indemnified Party or Parties will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its or their consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld). The Indemnifying Parties shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which (i) provides for other than monetary damages without the consent of the Indemnified Party or Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or (ii) does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Parties of a release, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnified Party or Parties, from all liability in respect of such Proceeding for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

SECTION 3.4.    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article III is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or is insufficient to hold such Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses in respect of which this Article III would otherwise apply by its terms, then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall have a several and not joint obligation to contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, 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 such Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses

 

-18-


incurred by such party in connection with any proceeding, to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such expenses if the indemnification provided for in Section 3.1 or 3.2 was available to such party. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 were determined by pro-rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.4, an Indemnifying Party that is a selling holder of Registrable Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Indemnifying Party exceeds the amount of any damages that such Indemnifying Party has otherwise been required to pay by reasons of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

SECTION 3.5.    Non-Exclusivity. The obligations of the parties under this Article III will be in addition to any liability which any party may otherwise have to any other party.

ARTICLE IV

OTHER

SECTION 4.1.    Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party hereto to another party hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) when delivered personally, (b) five (5) Business Days after being sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent by Federal Express or other nationally recognized overnight courier, or (d) immediately if transmitted by facsimile or sent by electronic mail transmission if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; but if not, then on the next Business Day (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by prior written notice from such party):

if to the Company:

TaskUs, Inc.

1650 Independence Drive, Suite 100

New Braunfels, Texas 78132

Attention:       Jeffrey Chugg, Vice President, Legal

Email:             [redacted]

 

-19-


if to Blackstone Investor:

BCP FC Aggregator LP

c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention:      Amit Dixit

   Mukesh Mehta

Facsimile:      (212) 583-5710

Email:            [redacted]

             [redacted]

if to the Maddock Group:

[address redacted]

Attention:       Bryce Maddock

Email:             [redacted]

if to the Weir Group:

[address redacted]

Attention:       Jaspar Weir

Email:            [redacted]

or such other address indicated in the records of the Company.

SECTION 4.2.    Assignment. The Company shall not assign all or any part of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Blackstone Investor. Any Holder may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement in whole or in part in connection with a Transfer of its Registrable Securities; provided that (x) any such assignee or Transferee, to the extent not already a party hereto, shall sign a joinder to this Agreement and (y) if such assignee or Transferee is not an Affiliate of such Holder, then without the consent of the Company, no rights may be assigned by any Holder to any Person acquiring less than $25.0 million in Registrable Securities (determined in good faith by the Holder) or all of the Registrable Securities then held by the Holder. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. If the Common Stock shall be exchanged for or replaced by Securities of another Person, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Person to expressly assume all of the Company’s obligations hereunder, to the extent applicable.

SECTION 4.3.    Amendments; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by a written instrument executed by the Company and the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities subject to this Agreement; provided that no such amendment, supplement or other modification shall adversely affect the economic

 

-20-


interests of any Holder hereunder disproportionately to other Holders without the written consent of such Holder. No waiver by any party of any of the provisions hereof will be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and executed by the party so waiving. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, will be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any covenants or agreements contained herein. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

SECTION 4.4.    Third Parties. This Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any Person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto.

SECTION 4.5.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 4.6.    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF VIA OVERNIGHT COURIER, TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE FOURTEEN CALENDAR DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL IN ANY WAY BE DEEMED TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF EITHER PARTY HERETO TO SERVE ANY SUCH LEGAL PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR TO OBTAIN JURISDICTION OVER OR TO BRING ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE OTHER PARTY HERETO IN SUCH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND IN SUCH MANNER, AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY ANY APPLICABLE LAW.

SECTION 4.7.    MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

SECTION 4.8.    Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach of this Agreement by any of them, the non-breaching party would be irreparably harmed and could not be made whole by monetary

 

-21-


damages. Each party accordingly agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and that the parties, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.9.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no agreements, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all other prior agreements, including the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2018, among the Company and the other parties thereto, and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

SECTION 4.10.    Severability. If one or more of the provisions, paragraphs, words, clauses, phrases or sentences contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision, paragraph, word, clause, phrase or sentence in every other respect and of the remaining provisions, paragraphs, words, clauses, phrases or sentences hereof shall not be in any way impaired, it being intended that all rights, powers and privileges of the parties hereto shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

SECTION 4.11.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

SECTION 4.12.    Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective, as to any Holder, as of the date signed by the Company and countersigned by such Holder.

SECTION 4.13.    Confidentiality. Each Non-Sponsor Holder agrees that all material non-public information provided pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be kept confidential by the person to whom such information is provided, until such time as such information becomes public other than through violation of this provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party may disclose the information if required to do so by any law, rule, regulation, order, decree or subpoena of any governmental agency or authority or court.

SECTION 4.14.    No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or the subject matter hereof may only be made against the parties hereto and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member,

 

-22-


manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto or any past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any of the foregoing (each, a “Non-Recourse Party”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby. Without limiting the rights of any party against the other parties hereto, in no event shall any party or any of its Affiliates seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Non-Recourse Party.

SECTION 4.15.    Independent Nature of the Rights and Obligations of Holders. The rights and obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any Holder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. The decision of each Holder to enter into this Agreement has been made by such Holder independently of any Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Company acknowledges that the Holders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 4.16.    Termination as to a Holder. Any Person who ceases to hold any Registrable Securities shall cease to be a Holder and shall have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement (except with respect to any indemnification or contribution rights or obligations under Article III, which shall survive).

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

-23-


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

 

COMPANY:
TASKUS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Chugg

  Name:   Jeffrey Chugg
  Title:   Vice President, Legal

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


BLACKSTONE INVESTOR:
BCP FC AGGREGATOR L.P.
By:   BCP VII/BCP ASIA HOLDINGS MANAGER     (CAYMAN) L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Robert Brooks

  Name:   Robert Brooks
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


MADDOCK GROUP:
THE BRYCE MADDOCK FAMILY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Bryce Maddock

  Name:   Bryce Maddock
  Title:   Trustee
THE MADDOCK 2015 IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:  

/s/ Bryce Maddock

  Name:   Bryce Maddock
  Title:   Trustee
WEIR GROUP:
JASPAR WEIR FAMILY TRUST
By:  

/s/ Jaspar Weir

  Name:   Jaspar Weir
  Title:   Trustee
THE WEIR 2015 IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:  

/s/ Jaspar Weir

  Name:   Jaspar Weir
  Title:   Business Trustee

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

TASKUS, INC.

2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

1.    Purpose.     The purpose of the TaskUs, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and the other members of the Company Group may attract and retain key personnel, and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees, consultants, and advisors of the Company and the other members of the Company Group can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company Group and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

2.    Definitions.     The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan.

(a)    “Absolute Share Limit” has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(b) of the Plan.

(b)    “Adjustment Event” has the meaning given to such term in Section 11(a) of the Plan.

(c)    “Affiliate” means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract, or otherwise.

(d)    “Applicable Law” means each applicable law, rule, regulation and requirement, including, but not limited to, each applicable U.S. federal, state or local law, any rule or regulation of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company may be listed or quoted and each applicable law, rule or regulation of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan or Participants reside or provide services, as each such laws, rules and regulations shall be in effect from time to time.

(e)    “Award” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Other Equity-Based Award, and Other Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(f)    “Award Agreement” means the document or documents by which each Award (other than an Other Cash-Based Award) is evidenced, which may be in written or electronic form.

(g)    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(h)    “Cause” means, as to any Participant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (i) “Cause”, as defined in any employment, severance, consulting or other similar agreement between the Participant and the Service Recipient in effect at the time of such Termination, or (ii) in the absence of any such employment, severance, consulting or other similar


agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), the Participant’s (A) willful neglect in the performance of the Participant’s duties for the Service Recipient or willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform such duties; (B) engagement in conduct in connection with the Participant’s employment or service with the Service Recipient, which results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, material harm to the business or reputation of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group; (C) conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to (I) any felony or (II) any other crime that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, material harm to the business or reputation of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group; (D) material violation of the written policies of the Service Recipient, including, but not limited to, those relating to sexual harassment or the disclosure or misuse of confidential information, or those set forth in the manuals or statements of policy of the Service Recipient; (E) fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement, or misuse of funds or property belonging to the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group; or (F) act of personal dishonesty that involves personal profit in connection with the Participant’s employment or service to the Service Recipient; provided, in any case, that a Participant’s resignation after an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause will be treated as a Termination for Cause hereunder.

(i)    “Change in Control” means:

(i)     the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, combination, or other similar transaction) by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% (on a fully diluted basis) of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock; or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that for purposes of the Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate; (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate; or (III) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of Persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of Persons including the Participant);

(ii)     during any period of 12 months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, that any Person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such Person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; or

 

2


(iii)    the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company Group (taken as a whole) to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.

(j)    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations, or guidance.

(k)    “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any properly delegated subcommittee thereof or, if no such Compensation Committee or subcommittee thereof exists, the Board.

(l)    “Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (and any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

(m)    “Company” means TaskUs, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

(n)    “Company Group” means, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(o)    “Date of Grant” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

(p)    “Designated Foreign Subsidiaries” means all members of the Company Group that are organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America that may be designated by the Board or the Committee from time to time.

(q)    “Detrimental Activity” means any of the following: (i) unauthorized disclosure or use of any confidential or proprietary information of any member of the Company Group; (ii) any activity that would be grounds to terminate the Participant’s employment or service with the Service Recipient for Cause; (iii) a breach by the Participant of any restrictive covenant by which such Participant is bound, including, without limitation, any covenant not to compete or not to solicit, in any agreement with any member of the Company Group, or (iv) fraud or conduct contributing to any financial restatements or irregularities, in each case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(r)    “Disability” means, as to any Participant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (i) “Disability”, as defined in any employment, severance, consulting or other similar agreement between the Participant and the Service Recipient in effect at the time of such Termination; or (ii) in the absence of any such employment, severance, consulting or other similar agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Disability” contained therein), a condition entitling the Participant to receive benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Service Recipient or other member of the Company Group in which such Participant is eligible to participate, or, in the absence of such a plan, the complete and permanent inability of the

 

3


Participant by reason of illness or accident to perform the duties of the position at which the Participant was employed or served when such disability commenced. Any determination of whether Disability exists in the absence of a long-term disability plan shall be made by the Company (or its designee) in its sole and absolute discretion.

(s)    “Effective Date” means the date on which the Company enters into an agreement to consummate an initial public offering of the Common Stock pursuant to a registration filed with the Securities Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

(t)    “Eligible Person” means any: (i) individual employed by any member of the Company Group; provided, however, that no such employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement shall be an Eligible Person unless and to the extent that such eligibility is set forth in such collective bargaining agreement or in an agreement or instrument relating thereto; (ii) director or officer of any member of the Company Group; or (iii) consultant or advisor to any member of the Company Group, or any other Person, in each case, to whom an offer of securities is permitted to be registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, who, in the case of each of clauses (i) through (iii) above, has entered into an Award Agreement or who has received written notification from the Committee or its designee that they have been selected to participate in the Plan.

(u)    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations, or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations, or guidance.

(v)    “Exercise Price” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

(w)    “Fair Market Value” means, on a given date: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Common Stock reported on the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and traded on such date, or, if there are no such sales on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such sales were reported; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last-sale basis, the average between the closing bid price and ask price reported on such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last-sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock; provided, however, as to any Awards granted on or with a Date of Grant of the date of the pricing of the Company’s initial public offering, “Fair Market Value” shall be equal to the per share price at which the Common Stock is offered to the public in connection with such initial public offering.

(x)    “GAAP” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7(d) of the Plan.

(y)    “Immediate Family Members” has the meaning given to such term in Section 13(b)(ii)of the Plan.

(z)    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option which is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.

 

4


(aa)    “Indemnifiable Person” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4(e) of the Plan.

(bb)    “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of any member of the Company Group.

(cc)    “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option which is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

(dd)    “Option” means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

(ee)    “Option Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7(c)(i) of the Plan.

(ff)    “Other Cash-Based Award” means an Award that is granted under Section 10 of the Plan that is denominated and/or payable in cash.

(gg)    “Other Equity-Based Award” means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit that is granted under Section 10 of the Plan and is (i) payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or (ii) measured by reference to the value of Common Stock.

(hh)    “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to the Plan.

(ii)    “Performance Conditions” means specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more members of the Company Group, divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, administrative departments, or any combination of the foregoing), which may be determined in accordance with GAAP or on a non-GAAP basis on, without limitation, the following measures: (i) net earnings, net income (before or after taxes), or consolidated net income; (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or net revenue growth; (iv) gross revenue or gross revenue growth, gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, capital, employed capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow measures (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, or cash flow return on capital), which may be but are not required to be measured on a per share basis; (viii) actual or adjusted earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and/or amortization (including EBIT and EBITDA); (ix) gross or net operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (xii) expense targets or cost reduction goals, general and administrative expense savings; (xiii) operating efficiency; (xiv) objective measures of customer/client satisfaction; (xv) working capital targets; (xvi) measures of economic value added or other ‘value creation’ metrics; (xvii) enterprise value; (xviii) sales; (xix) stockholder return; (xx) customer/client retention; (xxi) competitive market metrics; (xxii) employee retention; (xxiii) objective measures of personal targets, goals, or completion of projects (including, but not limited to, succession and hiring projects, completion of specific acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, or other corporate

 

5


transactions or capital-raising transactions, expansions of specific business operations, and meeting divisional or project budgets); (xxiv) comparisons of continuing operations to other operations; (xxv) market share; (xxvi) cost of capital, debt leverage, year-end cash position or book value; (xxvii) strategic objectives; or (xxviii) any combination of the foregoing. Any one or more of the aforementioned performance criteria may be stated as a percentage of another performance criteria, or used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of one or more members of the Company Group as a whole or any divisions or operational and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, or administrative departments of the Company and/or one or more members of the Company Group or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above performance criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices.

(jj)    “Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 13(b)(ii) of the Plan.

(kk)    “Person” means any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

(ll)    “Plan” means this TaskUs, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

(mm)    “Qualifying Director” means a Person who is, with respect to actions intended to obtain an exemption from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

(nn)    “Restricted Period” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions, including vesting conditions.

(oo)    “Restricted Stock” means Common Stock, subject to certain specified restrictions (which may include, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

(pp)    “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash, other securities, or other property, subject to certain restrictions (which may include, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

(qq)    “SAR Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8(c)(i) of the Plan.

(rr)    “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations, or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations, or guidance.

 

6


(ss)    “Service Recipient” means, with respect to a Participant holding a given Award, the member of the Company Group by which the original recipient of such Award is, or following a Termination was most recently, principally employed or to which such original recipient provides, or following a Termination was most recently providing, services, as applicable.

(tt)    “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

(uu)    “Strike Price” has the meaning given to such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

(vv)    “Sub-Plans” means any sub-plan to the Plan that has been adopted by the Board or the Committee for the purpose of permitting or facilitating the offering of Awards to employees of certain Designated Foreign Subsidiaries or otherwise outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America, with each such Sub-Plan designed to comply with Applicable Law in such foreign jurisdictions. Although any Sub-Plan may be designated a separate and independent plan from the Plan in order to comply with Applicable Law, the Absolute Share Limit and the other limits specified in Section 5(b) of the Plan shall apply in the aggregate to the Plan and any Sub-Plan adopted hereunder.

(ww)    “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(i)    any corporation, association, or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of such entity’s voting securities (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(ii)    any partnership (or any comparable foreign entity) (A) the sole general partner (or functional equivalent thereof) or the managing general partner of which is such Person or Subsidiary of such Person or (B) the only general partners (or functional equivalents thereof) of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

(xx)    “Substitute Awards” has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(e) of the Plan.

(yy)    “Termination” means the termination of a Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, with the Service Recipient for any reason (including death or Disability).

3.    Effective Date; Duration.     The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.

 

7


4.    Administration.

(a)    General. The Committee shall administer the Plan. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan), it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time such member takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan that is intended to qualify for the exemptions provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, be a Qualifying Director. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as a Qualifying Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

(b)    Committee Authority. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and Applicable Law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in, or exercised for, cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards, or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in, and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) adopt Sub-Plans; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c)    Delegation. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any Person or Persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of any member of the Company Group the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of, or which is allocated to, the Committee herein, and which may be so delegated in accordance with Applicable Law, except for grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 4(c), it is intended that any action under the Plan intended to qualify for an exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act related to Persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act will be taken only by the Board or by a committee or subcommittee of two or more Qualifying Directors. However, the fact that any member of such committee or subcommittee shall fail to qualify as a Qualifying Director shall not invalidate any action that is otherwise valid under the Plan.

 

8


(d)    Finality of Decisions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time, and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including, without limitation, any member of the Company Group, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.

(e)    Indemnification. No member of the Board, the Committee, or any employee or agent of any member of the Company Group (each such Person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder (unless constituting fraud or a willful criminal act or omission). Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit, or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, and the Company shall advance to such Indemnifiable Person any such expenses promptly upon written request (which request shall include an undertaking by the Indemnifiable Person to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined, as provided below, that the Indemnifiable Person is not entitled to be indemnified); provided, that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit, or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts, omissions, or determinations of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by Applicable Law or by the organizational documents of any member of the Company Group. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of or otherwise supersede any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the organizational documents of any member of the Company Group, as a matter of Applicable Law, under an individual indemnification agreement or contract, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold such Indemnifiable Persons harmless.

(f)    Board Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. Any such actions by the Board shall be subject to Applicable Law. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

 

9


5.    Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to the Plan; Limitations.

(a)    Grants. The Committee may, from time to time, grant Awards to one or more Eligible Persons. All Awards granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, attainment of Performance Conditions.

(b)    Share Reserve and Limits. Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following limitations: (i) subject to Section 11 of the Plan, no more than 12,160,929 shares of Common Stock (the “Absolute Share Limit”) shall be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the Absolute Share Limit shall be automatically increased on the first day of each fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the Effective Date falls in an amount equal to the least of (x) 6,080,465 shares of Class A Common Stock, (y) 5% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (z) a lower number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board; (ii) subject to Section 11 of the Plan, no more than the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Absolute Share Limit may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; and (iii) during a single fiscal year, each Non-Employee Director, shall be granted a number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards, taken together with any cash fees paid to such Non-Employee Director during such fiscal year, equal to (A) a total value of $1,000,000 (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes) or (B) such lower amount as determined by the Board prior to the Date of Grant, either as part of the Company’s Non-Employee Director compensation program or as otherwise determined by the Board in the event of any change to such Non-Employee Director’s compensation program or for any particular period of service. To the extent the Board makes a determination pursuant to clause (iii)(B) above with respect to any year of service, such determination shall in no event be applicable to any subsequent year of service without a further determination by the Board in respect of any subsequent year of service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to the Absolute Share Limit, an additional number of shares of Class A Common Stock not to exceed 6,614,122 may be issued in respect of certain Awards made on the Effective Date (the “Founders Awards”). For the avoidance of doubt, shares of Class A Common Stock issued in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations in respect of the Founder’s Awards the shall not be counted against the Absolute Share Limit.

(c)    Share Counting. Other than with respect to Substitute Awards and the Founder’s Awards, to the extent that an Award expires or is canceled, forfeited, terminated, settled in cash, or otherwise is settled without issuance to the Participant of the full number of shares of Common Stock to which the Award related, the unissued shares of Common Stock will again be available for grant under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock withheld in payment of the Exercise Price, or taxes relating to an Award, and shares equal to the number of shares surrendered in payment of any Exercise Price, or taxes relating to an Award, shall be deemed to constitute shares not issued to the Participant and shall be deemed to again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that such shares shall not become available for issuance hereunder if either: (i) the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered following the termination of the Plan; or (ii) at the time the applicable shares are withheld or surrendered, it would constitute a material revision of the Plan subject to stockholder approval under any then-applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed.

 

10


(d)    Source of Shares. Shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, shares of Common Stock purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.

(e)    Substitute Awards. Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding Awards previously granted by an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Absolute Share Limit; provided, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding Options intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, available shares of Common Stock under a stockholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the acquisition or combination transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

6.    Eligibility.     Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Eligible Persons.

7.    Options.

(a)    General. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which agreement need not be the same for each Participant. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of a member of the Company Group, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code. No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code; provided, that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to, and comply with, such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

(b)    Exercise Price. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per share of Common Stock for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant); provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10%

 

11


of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group, the Exercise Price per share shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant.

(c)    Vesting and Expiration; Termination.

(i)    Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 5(a) of the Plan; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates or events, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate the vesting of any Options at any time and for any reason. Options shall expire upon a date determined by the Committee, not to exceed ten years from the Date of Grant (the “Option Period”); provided, that if the Option Period (other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the Option Period shall be automatically extended until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Option Period exceed five years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of any member of the Company Group.

(ii)    Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of: (A) a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire; (B) a Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, each outstanding unvested Option granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested Option shall remain exercisable for one year thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option Period); and (C) a Participant’s Termination for any other reason, each outstanding unvested Option granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested Option shall remain exercisable for 90 days thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option Period).

(d)    Method of Exercise and Form of Payment. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any Federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income, employment, and any other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Plan. Options which have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company (or telephonic instructions to the extent provided by the Committee) in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price shall be payable: (i) in cash, check, cash equivalent, and/or shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value at the time the Option is exercised (including, pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock in lieu of actual issuance of such shares to the Company); provided, that such shares of Common Stock are not subject to any pledge or other security

 

12


interest and have been held by the Participant for at least six months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)); or (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion, including, without limitation (A) in other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price; (B) if there is a public market for the shares of Common Stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Committee) a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price; or (C) a “net exercise” procedure effected by withholding the minimum number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable in respect of an Option that are needed to pay the Exercise Price and any Federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income, employment, and any other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Plan. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

(e)    Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option. Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a disqualifying disposition of any share of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option. A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such share of Common Stock before the later of (i) the date that is two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option, or (ii) the date that is one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession, as agent for the applicable Participant, of any share of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such share of Common Stock.

(f)    Compliance With Laws, etc. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner which the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it may be amended from time to time, or any other Applicable Law.

8.    Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a)    General. Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.

(b)    Strike Price. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, the strike price (“Strike Price”) per share of Common Stock for each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share (determined as of the Date of Grant). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a SAR granted in tandem with (or in substitution for) an Option previously granted shall have a Strike Price equal to the Exercise Price of the corresponding Option.

 

13


(c)     Vesting and Expiration; Termination.

(i)     A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option. A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 5(a) of the Plan; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such vesting dates or events, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any SAR at any time and for any reason. SARs shall expire upon a date determined by the Committee, not to exceed ten years from the Date of Grant (the “SAR Period”); provided, that if the SAR Period would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the SAR Period shall be automatically extended until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition.

(ii)     Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of: (A) a Participant’s Termination by the Service Recipient for Cause, all outstanding SARs granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire; (B) a Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, each outstanding unvested SAR granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested SAR shall remain exercisable for one year thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the SAR Period); and (C) a Participant’s Termination for any other reason, each outstanding unvested SAR granted to such Participant shall immediately terminate and expire, and each outstanding vested SAR shall remain exercisable for 90 days thereafter (but in no event beyond the expiration of the SAR Period).

(d)     Method of Exercise. SARs which have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded.

(e)     Payment. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any Federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income, employment, and any other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Plan. The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

9.     Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

(a)     General. Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be

 

14


evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)     Stock Certificates and Book-Entry Notation; Escrow or Similar Arrangement. Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate registered in the name of the Participant to be issued or shall cause share(s) of Common Stock to be registered in the name of the Participant and held in book-entry form subject to the Company’s directions and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than issued to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate stock power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant shall fail to execute and deliver (in a manner permitted under Section 13(a) of the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee) an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank stock power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9, Section 13(b) of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to shares of Restricted Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote such Restricted Stock. To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any stock certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company. A Participant shall have no rights or privileges as a stockholder as to Restricted Stock Units.

(c)     Vesting; Termination.

(i)     Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall vest, and any applicable Restricted Period shall lapse, in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the Committee including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 5(a) of the Plan; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such dates or events, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit or the lapsing of any applicable Restricted Period at any time and for any reason.

(ii)     Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, whether in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination for any reason prior to the time that such Participant’s Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, have vested, (A) all vesting with respect to such Participant’s Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall cease and (B) unvested shares of Restricted Stock and unvested Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

(d)     Issuance of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.

(i)     Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of

 

15


Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration the Company shall issue to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate (or, if applicable, a notice evidencing a book-entry notation) evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share).

(ii)     Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or otherwise, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall issue to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock (or other securities or other property, as applicable) for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (A) pay cash or part cash and part shares of Common Stock in lieu of issuing only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (B) defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock (or cash or part cash and part shares of Common Stock, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period if such extension would not cause adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. If a cash payment is made in lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units.

(e)     Legends on Restricted Stock. Each certificate, if any, or book entry representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan, if any, shall bear a legend or book-entry notation substantially in the form of the following, in addition to any other information the Company deems appropriate, until the lapse of all restrictions with respect to such shares of Common Stock:

TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY IS RESTRICTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE TASKUS, INC. 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN TASKUS, INC. AND THE PARTICIPANT. A COPY OF SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF TASKUS, INC.

10.     Other Equity-Based Awards and Other Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may grant Other Equity-Based Awards and Other Cash-Based Awards under the Plan to Eligible Persons, alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and dependent on such conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 5(a) of the Plan. Each Other Equity-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and each Other Cash-Based Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced in such form as the Committee may determine from time to time. Each Other Equity-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award, as applicable, so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement or other form evidencing such Award, including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 13(c) of the Plan.

 

16


11.     Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Awards granted hereunder (other than Other Cash-Based Awards):

(a)     General. In the event of (i) any dividend (other than regular cash dividends) or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event that affects the shares of Common Stock (including a Change in Control), or (ii) unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, including changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations, or other requirements, that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, could result in substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, Participants (any event in (i) or (ii), an “Adjustment Event”), the Committee shall, in respect of any such Adjustment Event, make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems equitable, to any or all of: (A) the Absolute Share Limit, or any other limit applicable under the Plan with respect to the number of Awards which may be granted hereunder; (B) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) which may be issued in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan or any Sub-Plan; and (C) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (I) the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate; (II) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award; or (III) any applicable performance measures; provided, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto)), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any adjustment under this Section 11 shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

(b)     Adjustment Events. Without limiting the foregoing, except as may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, in connection with any Adjustment Event, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for any one or more of the following:

(i)     substitution or assumption of Awards (or awards of an acquiring company), acceleration of the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of Awards, or a period of time (which shall not be required to be more than ten days) for Participants to exercise outstanding Awards prior to the occurrence of such event (and any such Award not so exercised shall terminate upon the occurrence of such event); and

(ii)     subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, cancellation of any one or more outstanding Awards and payment to the holders of such Awards that are vested as of such cancellation (including, without limitation, any Awards that would vest as a result of the occurrence of such event but for such cancellation or for which vesting is accelerated by the Committee in connection with such event) the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the

 

17


Committee (which value, if applicable, may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including, without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor), or, in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Other Equity-Based Awards that are not vested as of such cancellation, a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Other Equity-Based Awards prior to cancellation, or the underlying shares in respect thereof.

Payments to holders pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable Exercise Price or Strike Price).

(c)     Other Requirements. Prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 11, the Committee may require a Participant to (i) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to the Participant’s Awards; (ii) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Common Stock, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code; and (iii) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee.

(d)     Fractional Shares. Any adjustment provided under this Section 11 may provide for the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.

(e)     Binding Effect. Any adjustment, substitution, determination of value or other action taken by the Committee under this Section 11 shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

12.     Amendments and Termination.

(a)     Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if: (i) such approval is required under Applicable Law; (ii) it would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the Plan (except for increases pursuant to Section 5 or 11 of the Plan), or (iii) it would materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan; provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration,

 

18


suspension, discontinuance, or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder, or beneficiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment shall be made to the last proviso of Section 12(b) of the Plan without stockholder approval.

(b)     Amendment of Award Agreements. The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel, or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award Agreement, prospectively or retroactively (including after a Participant’s Termination); provided, that, other than pursuant to Section 11, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation, or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, further, that without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 11 of the Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR; (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR (with a lower Exercise Price or Strike Price, as the case may be) or other Award or cash payment that is greater than the intrinsic value (if any) of the canceled Option or SAR; and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action which is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.

13.     General.

(a)     Award Agreements. Each Award (other than an Other Cash-Based Award) under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant to whom such Award was granted and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including, without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, Disability, or Termination of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee. For purposes of the Plan, an Award Agreement may be in any such form (written or electronic) as determined by the Committee (including, without limitation, a Board or Committee resolution, an employment agreement, a notice, a certificate, or a letter) evidencing the Award. The Committee need not require an Award Agreement to be signed by the Participant or a duly authorized representative of the Company.

(b)     Nontransferability.

(i)     Each Award shall be exercisable only by such Participant to whom such Award was granted during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under Applicable Law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative. No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold, or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant (unless such transfer is specifically required pursuant to a domestic relations order or by Applicable Law) other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer, or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against any member of the Company Group; provided, that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer, or encumbrance.

 

19


(ii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award Agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to: (A) any Person who is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or any successor form of registration statement promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the “Immediate Family Members”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and the Participant’s Immediate Family Members; (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and the Participant’s Immediate Family Members; or (D) a beneficiary to whom donations are eligible to be treated as “charitable contributions” for federal income tax purposes (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B), (C), and (D) above is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan.

(iii)     The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with clause (ii) above shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in the Plan or in any applicable Award Agreement to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that: (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award Agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) neither the Committee nor the Company shall be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of a Participant’s Termination under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(c)     Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.

(i)     The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide a Participant as part of an Award with dividends, dividend equivalents, or similar payments in respect of Awards, payable in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property (in each case, without interest), on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or reinvestment in additional shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or other Awards.

 

20


(ii)     Without limiting the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any dividend otherwise payable in respect of any share of Restricted Stock that remains subject to vesting conditions at the time of payment of such dividend shall be retained by the Company, and remain subject to the same vesting conditions as the share of Restricted Stock to which the dividend relates and shall be delivered (without interest) to the Participant within 15 days following the date on which such restrictions on such Restricted Stock lapse (and the right to any such accumulated dividends shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate).

(iii)     To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, the holder of outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments (upon the payment by the Company of dividends on shares of Common Stock) either in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends (and interest may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be credited on the amount of cash dividend equivalents at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee), which accumulated dividend equivalents (and interest thereon, if applicable) shall be payable at the same time as the underlying Restricted Stock Units are settled following the date on which the Restricted Period lapses with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, and if such Restricted Stock Units are forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividend equivalent payments (or interest thereon, if applicable).

(d)     Tax Withholding.

(i)     A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, an amount in cash (by check or wire transfer) equal to the aggregate amount of any income, employment, and/or other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld in respect of an Award. Alternatively, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy this requirement by withholding such amount from any cash compensation or other cash amounts owing to a Participant.

(ii)     Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may (but is not obligated to), in its sole discretion, permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the minimum income, employment, and/or other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld with respect to an Award by: (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) that have been both held by the Participant and vested for at least six months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment under applicable accounting standards) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such minimum statutorily required withholding liability (or portion thereof); or (B) having the Company withhold from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting, or settlement of the Award, as applicable, a number of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to an amount, subject to clause (iii) below, not in excess of such minimum statutorily required withholding liability (or portion thereof).

 

21


(iii)     The Committee, subject to its having considered the applicable accounting impact of any such determination, has full discretion to allow Participants to satisfy, in whole or in part, any additional income, employment, and/or other applicable taxes payable by them with respect to an Award by electing to have the Company withhold from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, a Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting, or settlement of the Award, as applicable, shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value that is greater than the applicable minimum required statutory withholding liability (but such withholding may in no event be in excess of the maximum statutory withholding amount(s) in a Participant’s relevant tax jurisdictions).

(e)     Data Protection. By participating in the Plan or accepting any rights granted under it, each Participant consents to the collection and processing of personal data relating to the Participant so that the Company and its Affiliates can fulfill their obligations and exercise their rights under the Plan and generally administer and manage the Plan. This data will include, but may not be limited to, data about participation in the Plan and shares offered or received, purchased, or sold under the Plan from time to time and other appropriate financial and other data (such as the date on which the Awards were granted) about the Participant and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.

(f)     No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver. No employee of any member of the Company Group, or other Person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. The Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have waived any claim to continued exercise or vesting of an Award or to damages or severance entitlement related to non-continuation of the Award beyond the period provided under the Plan or any Award Agreement, except to the extent of any provision to the contrary in any written employment contract or other agreement between the Service Recipient and/or any member of the Company Group and the Participant, whether any such agreement is executed before, on, or after the Date of Grant.

(g)     International Participants. With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan and create or amend Sub-Plans or amend outstanding Awards with respect to such Participants in order to permit or facilitate participation in the Plan by such Participants, conform such terms with the requirements of Applicable Law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant or any member of the Company Group.

 

22


(h)     Designation and Change of Beneficiary. Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more Persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries, as applicable, who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon the Participant’s death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change the Participant’s beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be the Participant’s spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, the Participant’s estate.

(i)     Termination. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (a) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation, or leave of absence (including, without limitation, a call to active duty for military service through a Reserve or National Guard unit) nor a transfer from employment or service with one Service Recipient to employment or service with another Service Recipient (or vice-versa) shall be considered a Termination; and (b) if a Participant undergoes a Termination, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company Group in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be considered a Termination for purposes of the Plan. Further, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event that any Service Recipient ceases to be a member of the Company Group (by reason of sale, divestiture, spin-off, or other similar transaction), unless a Participant’s employment or service is transferred to another entity that would constitute a Service Recipient immediately following such transaction, such Participant shall be deemed to have suffered a Termination hereunder as of the date of the consummation of such transaction.

(j)     No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no Person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock which are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to such Person.

(k)     Government and Other Regulations.

(i)     The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in shares of Common Stock or other consideration shall be subject to all Applicable Law. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel (if the Company has requested such an opinion), satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all shares of Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued

 

23


under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement, and Applicable Law, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on certificates representing shares of Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued under the Plan to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or may cause such Common Stock or other securities of any member of the Company Group issued under the Plan in book-entry form to be held subject to the Company’s instructions or subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add, at any time, any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

(ii)     The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Stock from the Company, and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Stock to the public markets, illegal, impracticable, or inadvisable. If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code: (A) pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (I) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or issued, as applicable), over (II) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of issuance of shares of Common Stock (in the case of any other Award), with such amount being delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award (or portion thereof) or (B) in the case of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Other Equity-Based Awards, provide the Participant with a cash payment or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Other Equity-Based Awards, or the underlying shares in respect thereof.

(l)     No Section 83(b) Elections Without Consent of Company. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee (or its designee in accordance with Section 4(c) of the Plan) in writing prior to the making of such election. If a Participant, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted to make such election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten days after filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

 

24


(m)     Payments to Persons Other Than Participants. If the Committee shall find that any Person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for the Participant’s affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such Person or the Participant’s estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to the Participant’s spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such Person, or any other Person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such Person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

(n)     Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of equity-based awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

(o)     No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and a Participant or other Person, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company be obligated to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records, or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other service providers under general law.

(p)     Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of any member of the Company Group and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself or herself.

(q)     Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance, or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan or as required by Applicable Law.

(r)     Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws’ provisions thereof. EACH PARTICIPANT WHO ACCEPTS AN AWARD IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

 

25


(s)     Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person, or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(t)     Obligations Binding on Successors. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation, or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

(u)     Section 409A of the Code.

(i)     Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or in respect of such Participant in connection with the Plan (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Service Recipient nor any other member of the Company Group shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. With respect to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, references in the Plan to “termination of employment” (and substantially similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each of the payments that may be made in respect of any Award granted under the Plan is designated as a separate payment.

(ii)     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, no payments in respect of any Awards that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and which would otherwise be payable upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is six months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. Following any applicable six-month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code that is also a business day.

(iii)     Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement or otherwise, in the event that the timing of payments in respect of any Award (that would otherwise be considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code) are accelerated upon the occurrence of (A) a Change in Control, no such acceleration shall be

 

26


permitted unless the event giving rise to the Change in Control satisfies the definition of a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation pursuant to Section 409A of the Code or (B) a Disability, no such acceleration shall be permitted unless the Disability also satisfies the definition of “Disability” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

(v)     Clawback/Repayment. All Awards shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time; and (ii) Applicable Law. Further, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to the extent that the Participant receives any amount in excess of the amount that the Participant should otherwise have received under the terms of the Award for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

(w)     Detrimental Activity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a Participant has engaged in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for one or more of the following:

(i)     cancellation of any or all of such Participant’s outstanding Awards; or

(ii)     forfeiture by the Participant of any gain realized on the vesting or exercise of Awards, and repayment of any such gain promptly to the Company.

(x)     Right of Offset. The Company will have the right to offset against its obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock (or other property or cash) under the Plan or any Award Agreement any outstanding amounts (including, without limitation, travel and entertainment or advance account balances, loans, repayment obligations under any Awards, or amounts repayable to the Company pursuant to tax equalization, housing, automobile, or other employee programs) that the Participant then owes to any member of the Company Group and any amounts the Committee otherwise deems appropriate pursuant to any tax equalization policy or agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award is “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee will have no right to offset against its obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock (or other property or cash) under the Plan or any Award Agreement if such offset could subject the Participant to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code in respect of an outstanding Award.

(y)     Expenses; Titles and Headings. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company Group. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

 

27

EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2019 TASKUS, INC.

STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.

Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the Plan (as defined below) is to aid the Company (as defined below) and its Affiliates (as defined below) in recruiting and retaining key employees, directors, other service providers, or independent contractors and to motivate such employees, directors, other service providers, or independent contractors to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Awards (as defined below). The Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees, directors, other service providers, or independent contractors will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in the Company’s success.

 

2.

Definitions

The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section:

(a)    Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

(b)    Affiliate: With respect to any entity, any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such entity. As used herein, the term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.

(c)    Award: Individually or collectively, any Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Other Stock-Based Award (including a Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Units) granted pursuant to the Plan.

(d)    Award Agreement: shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(b) hereof.

(e)    Beneficial Owner: A “beneficial owner”, as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Act (or any successor rule thereto).

(f)    Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.

(g)    Cause: Unless otherwise defined in an applicable Award Agreement, “Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in any employment, consulting or severance agreement then in effect between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates or, if


no such agreement containing a definition of “Cause” is then in effect or if such term is not defined therein, “Cause” shall mean (A) the Participant’s continued failure substantially to perform the Participant’s duties (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness) for a period of 10 days following written notice by the Company to the Participant of such failure, (B) an act or acts on the Participant’s part constituting (x) a felony under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or any jurisdiction in which the Participant provides services to the Company or its Affiliates or any indictable offense or crime which could result in imprisonment or (y) a misdemeanor or other violation or offense involving moral turpitude, (C) the Participant’s dishonesty, willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in connection with the Participant’s duties or any act or omission which is injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (D) the Participant’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Participant and the Company or its Affiliates.

(h)    Change in Control: (i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as a whole, to any Person or Group other than the Sponsor or the Company or (ii) any Person or Group, other than the Sponsor, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, and the Sponsor ceases to control the Board.

(i)    Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

(j)    Committee: The Compensation Committee of the Board (or a subcommittee thereof), or such other committee of the Board (including, without limitation, the full Board) to which the Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, and if no such Committee has been created, the Board.

(k)    Company: TaskUs, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(l)    Detrimental Activity: The term “Detrimental Activity” means any of the following: (i) unauthorized disclosure of any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) any activity that results in the termination of the Participant’s Employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Cause or any resignation by the Participant at a time when grounds exist for a termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Cause; (iii) the breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement or other similar restrictive covenants in any agreement with the Company or its Affiliates; or (iv) fraud or other intentional misconduct, directly or indirectly, contributing to any financial restatements or irregularities, in each case, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(m)    Disability: Unless otherwise defined in an applicable Award Agreement, “Disability” shall have the same meaning ascribed to such term in any employment, consulting or severance agreement then in effect between the Participant and the Company or any of its

 

2


Affiliates, or, if no such agreement containing a definition of “Disability” is then in effect or if such term is not defined therein, “Disability” shall mean the inability of the Participant to perform Participant’s material duties, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a physical or mental injury, infirmity or incapacity for the greater of 90 days in any 365-day period or the period of time required to qualify for long-term disability benefits under any long-term disability plan or policy maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates under which the Participant is covered, if any. Any question as to the existence, extent, or potentiality of the Participant’s Disability upon which such Participant and the Company cannot agree shall be determined by a qualified, independent physician selected in good faith by the Company. The determination of any such physician shall be final and conclusive for all purposes.

(n)    Effective Date: The date the Board approves the Plan, or such later date as is designated by the Board.

(o)    Exercise Price: The purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant to Sections 6(a) and (b) of the Plan.

(p)    Employment: The term “Employment” as used herein and/or in an Award Agreement shall be deemed to refer to (i) a Participant’s employment if the Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (ii) a Participant’s services as a consultant or independent contractor, if the Participant is a consultant to or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries and (iii) a Participant’s services as a non-employee director, if the Participant is a non-employee member of the Board. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall exclusively determine the Employment status of a Participant.

(q)    Fair Market Value: The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean, on a given date, (i) if there should be a public market for the Shares on such date, the closing price of the Shares as reported on such date on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if no sale of Shares shall have been reported on any national securities exchange, then the immediately preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted shall be used, and (ii) if there should not be a public market for the Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Shares determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and with respect to Awards that are subject to Section 409A, in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

(r)    Group: A “group” as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or Section 14(d) of the Act (or any successor section thereto).

(s)    IPO: A sale of Shares or Class B shares of common stock of the Company, shares of any parent entity owning 100% of the Shares, or shares of any Subsidiary of the Company owning all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the public the first underwritten offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any successor thereto); provided, that an IPO shall not include an offering made in connection with a business acquisition or combination or an employee benefit plan.

 

3


(t)    Option: An option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

(u)    Other Stock-Based Awards: Awards granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

(v)    Participant: An employee, director, other service provider, or independent contractor of the Company or its Affiliates who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.

(w)    Person: A “person”, as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or Section 14(d) of the Act (or any successor section thereto).

(x)    Plan: The Amended and Restated 2019 TaskUs, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

(y)    Restricted Stock Award: A share of restricted stock granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

(z)    Restricted Stock Unit: Restricted stock units granted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

(aa)    Section 409A: Section 409A of the Code.

(bb)    Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

(cc)    Share or Shares: A share of the Class A common stock of the Company, par value of $0.01 per share (and any stock or other securities into which such share of common stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged).

(dd)    Sponsor: The Blackstone Group L.P. and its Affiliates.

(ee)    Stock Appreciation Right: A stock appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

(ff)    Subsidiary: With respect to an entity, a subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, of such entity.

 

3.

Shares Subject to the Plan

(a)    Subject to Section 9, the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan is 7,597,730 (the “Share Pool”). The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The issuance of Shares or the payment of cash upon the exercise of an Award or in consideration of the settlement, cancellation, or termination of an Award, or the withholding or “net-settling” of Shares in payment of the Exercise Price or strike price or applicable withholding or other applicable taxes relating to an Award, shall reduce the total

 

4


number of Shares available under the Plan, as applicable (with any Awards settled in cash reducing the total number of Shares by the number of Shares determined by dividing the cash amount to be paid thereunder by the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of payment). Shares which are subject to Awards or portions of Awards which are canceled, forfeited or terminated, otherwise expire by their terms without being exercised, or terminate or lapse without the payment of consideration may be granted again subject to Awards under the Plan.

(b)    Agreements Evidencing Awards. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (the “Award Agreement”) that shall contain such provisions and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, if there is any conflict between any provision of the Plan and an Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Committee may grant Awards in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or Awards granted under the Plan. By accepting an Award pursuant to the Plan, a Participant thereby agrees that the Award shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

4.

Administration

(a)    Generally. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof. Additionally, the Committee may delegate the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any employee or group of employees of the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that such delegation and grants are consistent with applicable law and guidelines established by the Board from time to time. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or its Affiliates or a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines. The number of Shares underlying such substitute awards shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

(b)    Powers. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable, without the consent of any Participant. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries or successors). The Committee shall have the full power and authority in its sole discretion to make any determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in particular, the Committee shall have the authority in its sole discretion to:

(i)    exercise all of the powers granted to it under the Plan;

(ii)    construe and interpret the Plan and any Award Agreement;

(iii)    amend the Plan to reflect changes in applicable law, subject to the limitations imposed by Sections 13 and 18 of the Plan;

 

5


(iv)    grant Awards and determine who shall receive Awards, when such Awards shall be granted and establish the terms and conditions of such Awards, consistent with the Plan, including to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each such Award so granted, to approve forms of Award Agreement for such Awards, setting forth provisions with regard to the effect of a termination of Employment on such Awards, and waive any such terms or conditions at any time;

(v)    instruct (or cause the Company to instruct) the registered office provider of the Company to make the appropriate entries in the register of members of the Company in respect of issuances of Shares pursuant to Awards or otherwise under the Plan;

(vi)    amend any outstanding Award Agreement in any respect, including, without limitation, to (A) accelerate the time or times at which the Award becomes vested, unrestricted or may be exercised (and, in connection with such acceleration, the Committee may provide that any Shares acquired pursuant to such Award shall be restricted shares, which are subject to vesting, transfer, forfeiture or repayment provisions similar to those in the Participant’s underlying Award Agreement), (B) accelerate the time or times at which Shares are delivered under the Award (and, without limitation on the Committee’s rights, in connection with such acceleration, the Committee may provide that any Shares delivered pursuant to such Award shall be restricted shares, which are subject to vesting, transfer, forfeiture or repayment provisions similar to those in the Participant’s underlying Award Agreement), (C) waive or amend any goals, restrictions or conditions set forth in such Award Agreement, or impose new goals, restrictions and conditions, or (D) reflect a change in the Participant’s circumstances (e.g., a change to part-time employment status or a change in position, duties or responsibilities), but, subject to Section 13 or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment shall materially adversely impair the rights of a Participant under an outstanding Award without such Participant’s consent; and

(vii)    to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including, without limitation, to determine, at any time, in accordance with Section 13, whether, to what extent and under what circumstances and method or methods:

(A)    Awards may be (1) settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property (in which event, the Committee may specify what other effects such settlement shall have on the Participant’s Award, including the effect on any repayment provisions under the Plan or Award Agreement), in all cases subject to Sections 6(c) and 7(b) of the Plan, (2) exercised or (3) canceled, forfeited or suspended;

(B)    Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee;

(C)    to the extent permitted under applicable law, loans (whether or not secured by Shares) may be extended by the Company with respect to any Awards; and

 

6


(D)    Awards may be settled by the Company or its Affiliates or any of its or their designees.

(c)    Taxes.

(i)    A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or one or more of its Affiliates, as applicable, an amount in cash (by check or wire transfer) equal to the aggregate amount of any income, employment and/or other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld in respect of an Award. Alternatively, the Company or any of its Affiliates may elect, in its sole discretion, to satisfy this requirement by withholding such amount from any cash compensation or other cash amounts owing to a Participant.

(ii)    Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may (but is not obligated to), in its sole discretion, permit or require a Participant to satisfy, all or any portion of the minimum income, employment and/or other applicable taxes that are statutorily required to be withheld with respect to an Award by: (A) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) that have been both held by the Participant and vested for at least 6 months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment under applicable accounting standards) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such minimum statutorily required withholding liability (or portion thereof); or (B) having the Company withhold from the Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of the Award, as applicable, a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to an amount, subject to clause (iii) below, not in excess of such minimum statutorily required withholding liability (or portion thereof).

(iii)     The Committee, subject to its having considered the applicable accounting impact of any such determination, has full discretion to allow Participants to satisfy, pursuant to an Award Agreement or otherwise, in whole or in part, any additional income, employment and/or other applicable taxes payable by them with respect to an Award by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, a Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of the Award, as applicable, Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value that is greater than the applicable minimum required statutory withholding liability.

(d)    Actions. Actions of the Committee, when acting through a committee may be taken by the vote of a majority of its members present at a meeting (which may be held telephonically). Any action may be taken by a written instrument signed by a majority of such committee’s members, and action so taken shall be fully as effective as if it had been taken by a vote at a meeting.

 

7


(e)    Final and Binding Decisions. The Committee shall make all determinations necessary or advisable in administering the Plan. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries and successors).

(f)    Actions of the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (including the delegation of authority to the Committee by the Board), the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards or administer the Plan. In any such case, the Board shall have all of the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

(g)    Exculpation and Indemnification. No member of the Board or the Committee (each such Person, a “Covered Person”) shall have any liability to any Person (including any Participant) for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder (unless constituting fraud or a willful criminal act or omission). Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person, and the Company shall advance to such Covered Person any such expenses promptly upon written request (which request shall include an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined as provided below that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified); provided, that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case, not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions or determinations of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as it may be further amended and/or restated from time to time). The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of or otherwise supersede any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as it may be further amended and/or restated from time to time), as a matter of law, individual indemnification agreement or contract or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Covered Persons or hold them harmless.

 

5.

Limitations

No Award may be granted under the Plan after April 16, 2029, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

8


6.

Terms and Conditions of Options

(a)    General. The Committee shall have the right and power to grant to any Participant, subject to the limitation of Section 5, an Option to purchase Shares at such price, on such terms and subject to such conditions that are consistent with the Plan and established by the Committee. Options granted under the Plan shall be non-qualified stock options for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related Award Agreements, and shall be subject to the terms and conditions hereof and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine.

(b)    Exercise Price. The Exercise Price per Share shall be determined by the Committee; provided, that, if required by the applicable law of the jurisdiction of a Participant, for the purposes of an Option granted under the Plan to such Participant, (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each such Participant who is a U.S. or Canadian taxpayer), in no event will (i) the Exercise Price be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date an Option is granted (other than in the case of Options granted in substitution of previously granted awards, as described in Section 4(a), or if the Award Agreement governing such Option provides that such Option must be exercised on a date, selected by the Company, within 30 days following the date on which such Option vests and becomes exercisable) and (ii) any Option be granted unless the Share on which it is granted constitutes “service recipient stock” (within the meaning of Section 409A) with respect to the applicable Participant.

(c)    Exercisability. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 4(c) hereof. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an Option be exercisable more than 10 years after the date it is granted (the “Option Period”); provided, that if following an IPO, the Option Period would expire at a time when trading in the Shares is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), the Option Period shall be automatically extended until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition.

(d)    Exercise of Options.

(i)    Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for which it is then exercisable.

(ii)    For purposes of Section 6 of the Plan, the exercise date of an Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clause (A) or (B) in the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company as designated by the Committee, pursuant to one or more of the following methods: (A) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by check or, if permitted by the Committee, a full-recourse promissory note) or (B) to the extent

 

9


specified in an Award Agreement or otherwise permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion, (i) in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Committee; provided, that such Shares have been held by the Participant for any period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles, (ii) if there is a public market for the Shares at such time, subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased, (iii) using a net settlement mechanism whereby the number of Shares delivered upon the exercise of the Option will be reduced by a number of Shares that has a Fair Market Value equal to the Exercise Price, or (iv) using any combination of the permitted exercise methods; provided, in each case, that the Participant tenders cash or its equivalent to pay any applicable withholding or other applicable taxes (unless otherwise permitted by the Committee).

(iii)    Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, no Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the Plan or specified in the applicable Award Agreement, including the requirement that the Participant tender cash or its equivalent to pay any applicable withholding or other applicable taxes.

(iv)    In addition, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for or make any entries in the Company’s register of members with respect to Shares purchased upon the exercise of any Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

(A)    The admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed, if applicable;

(B)    The completion of any registration or other qualification of such Options or Shares under any applicable law, or under the rulings or regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

(C)    The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any applicable governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(D)    The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Committee may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience; and

 

10


(E)    The receipt by the Company of full payment for such Shares subject to the Option, including payment of any applicable withholding or other applicable tax.

(e)    Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Exercise Price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and/or shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option, as appropriate.

(f)    Buyout Provisions. The Committee may at any time offer to buy out for payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish and communicate to the Participant at the time that such offer is made.

 

7.

Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

(a)    Grants. The Committee may grant (i) a Stock Appreciation Right independent of an Option or (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by such Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine), and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this Section 7 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an Award Agreement).

(b)    Strike Price. The strike price per Share under a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee; provided, that for the purposes of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan to a Participant who is a U.S. or Canadian taxpayer, in no event will (i) the strike price be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted (other than in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in substitution of previously granted awards, as described in Section 4(a), or if the Award Agreement governing such Stock Appreciation Right provides that such Stock Appreciation Right must be exercised on a date, selected by the Company, within 30 days following the date on which such Stock Appreciation Right vests and becomes exercisable) and (ii) any Stock Appreciation Right be granted unless the Share in respect of which it is granted constitutes “service recipient stock” (within the meaning of Section 409A) with respect to the applicable Participant.

(c)    Terms of Grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon exercise to a number of Shares equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over (B) the strike price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right or the portion thereof that is being exercised, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the

 

11


unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor a number of Shares equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over (B) the Exercise Price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld. Payment to the Participant shall be made in Shares or in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash (any such Shares valued at such Fair Market Value), all as shall be determined by the Committee.

(d)    Exercisability. Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. No fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Stock Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of Shares will be rounded downward to the next whole Share.

(e)    Limitations. The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the exercisability or transferability of Stock Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable more than 10 years after the date it is granted (the “SAR Period”); provided, that if following an IPO, the SAR Period would expire at a time when trading in the Shares is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), the SAR Period shall be automatically extended until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, no Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right. In addition, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares subject to any Stock Appreciation Right prior to the fulfillment of all the conditions of Sections 6(d)(iv)(A), (B), (C), (D), and (E).

 

8.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Awards of Shares, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, and Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will be made, the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

 

12


9.

Adjustments Upon Certain Events

In the event of (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property and excluding any dividend or distribution used to satisfy indebtedness of the Company and/or its Affiliates and Subsidiaries), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the Shares, or (b) unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law, such that in either case an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate, then the Committee shall make any such adjustments in such manner as it may deem equitable, including without limitation, any or all of the following:

(i)    adjusting any or all of (A) the Share Pool, or any other limit applicable under the Plan with respect to the number of Awards which may be granted hereunder, (B) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) which may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 3 of the Plan) and (C) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (2) the Exercise Price or strike price, as the case may be, with respect to any Award or (3) any applicable performance measures;

(ii)    providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards (or awards of an acquiring company), accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time (which shall not be required to be more than 10 days) for Participants to exercise outstanding Awards prior to the occurrence of such event (and any such Award not so exercised shall terminate upon the occurrence of such event); and

(iii)    cancelling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders holding vested Awards (including any Awards that would vest as a result of the occurrence of such event but for such cancellation) the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which if applicable may be based upon the price per Share received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right over the aggregate Exercise Price or strike price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or Stock

 

13


Appreciation Right having a per share Exercise Price or strike price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor);

provided, however, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto)), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring. Any such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes. Payments to holders pursuant to clause (iii) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable Exercise Price or strike price). In addition, prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 9, the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions as the other holders of Shares, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably determined by the Committee. Any adjustment provided under this Section 9 may provide for the elimination of any fractional share that might otherwise become subject to an Award.

 

10.

No Right to Employment or Awards

The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the Employment of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the Company’s or any Affiliate’s right to terminate the Employment of such Participant. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award.

 

11.

Successors and Assigns

The Plan and any applicable Award Agreement shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors.

 

12.

Nontransferability of Awards

Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or the Plan, no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) granted to any Person under the Plan may be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or hedged, in any manner (including through the use of any cash-settled instrument), whether voluntarily or involuntarily and whether by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Awards (and any rights thereunder) shall be exercisable during the life of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit, under such terms and conditions that it deems appropriate

 

14


in its sole discretion, a Participant to transfer any Award to any Person or entity that the Committee so determines. Any sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, other disposition or hedge in violation of the provisions of this Section 12 shall be null and void.

 

13.

Amendments or Termination

(a)    The Board may amend, suspend, alter or discontinue the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, but no amendment, suspension, alteration or discontinuation shall be made, (i) after an IPO, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, if such action would (except as is provided in Section 9 of the Plan), materially increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan or materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan or (ii) without the consent of either the affected Participant or the affected Participants holding a majority in the economic interests, if such action would materially diminish the economic rights of any Participant under the Awards theretofore granted to such Participants under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws (including, without limitation, to avoid adverse tax consequences to the Company or to Participants).

(b)    The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award Agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award Agreement, prospectively or retroactively (including after a Participant’s termination of Employment or service with the Company); provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of either (x) the affected Participant or (y) a majority in interest of such affected Participants; provided, further, that following an IPO, without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 9 of the Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the strike price of any Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right and replace it with a new Option or Stock Appreciation Right (with a lower Exercise Price or strike price, as the case may be) or other Award or cash payment that is greater than the value of the cancelled Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action which is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.

(c)    Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A prior to payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may (i) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (ii) take such other actions as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

15


14.

International Participants

With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

15.

Choice of Law

The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of law provisions thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Plan, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought exclusively in any court of competent jurisdiction in Delaware, and each of the Company and each Participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. Each of the Participants and the Company hereby irrevocably waives (i) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Plan brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in Delaware, (ii) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and (iii) any right to a jury trial.

 

16.

Other Laws; Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Act, as amended, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the United States federal and any other applicable securities laws. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the Shares to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement, the federal securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, rules, regulations and other requirements, and, without limiting the generality of Section 19(t) of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on certificates representing Shares Stock or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or may cause

 

16


such Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan in book-entry form to be held subject to the Company’s instructions or subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

 

17.

Effectiveness of the Plan

The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date and amends and restates in its entirety the TaskUs, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.

 

18.

Section 409A of the Code

(a)    Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of this Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of this Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Each Participant is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or in respect of such Participant in connection with this Plan or any other plan maintained by the Company (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any Affiliate or Subsidiary shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. With respect to any Award that is considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, references in the Plan to “termination of employment” (and substantially similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each of the payments that may be made in respect of any Award granted under the Plan is designated as separate payments.

(b)    Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, no payments in respect of any Awards that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and which would otherwise be payable upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is 6 months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the Participant’s date of death. Following any applicable 6 month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code that is also a business day.

(c)    Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, in the event that the timing of payments in respect of any Award (that would otherwise be considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code) would be accelerated upon the occurrence of (A) a Change in Control, no such acceleration shall be permitted unless the event giving rise to the Change in Control satisfies the definition of a change in the ownership or effective control of a corporation, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation pursuant to Section 409A of the Code and any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or (B) a Disability, no such acceleration shall be permitted unless the Disability also satisfies the definition of “Disability” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code and any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

17


19.

Miscellaneous.

(a)    Transfers and Leaves of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise: (i) a transfer of a Participant’s Employment without an intervening period of separation among the Company and any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company shall not be deemed a termination of Employment; and (ii) a Participant who is granted a leave of absence in writing or who is entitled to a statutory leave of absence shall be deemed to have remained in the employ of the Company (or such Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable) during such leave of absence.

(b)    Right of Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against its obligation to deliver Shares (or other property or cash) under the Plan or any Award Agreement any outstanding amounts (including, without limitation, travel and entertainment or advance account balances, loans, repayment obligations under any Awards or amounts repayable to the Company pursuant to tax equalization, housing, automobile or other employee programs) that the Participant then owes to the Company and any amounts the Committee otherwise deems appropriate pursuant to any tax equalization policy or agreement; provided, that the Participant is first offered the opportunity to pay cash for such outstanding amounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have no right to offset against its obligation to deliver Shares (or other property or cash) under the Plan, in respect of any Award, or in respect of any non-qualified deferred compensation amounts if such offset would subject the Participant to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A in respect of such offset Award or non-qualified deferred compensation amount.

(c)    Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.

(i)    The Committee in its sole discretion may provide a Participant as part of an Award with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or reinvestment in additional shares of Shares, Restricted Stock or other Awards; provided, that no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be payable in respect of outstanding (i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (unless expressly provided for in the Award Agreement governing such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) or (ii) unearned subject to performance vesting conditions (other than or in addition to the passage of time) (although dividends and dividend equivalents may be accumulated in respect of unearned Awards and paid within 15 days after such Awards are earned and become payable or distributable).

(ii)    Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in Shares having a Fair Market Value (on the date of distribution) equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such Share and, if such Share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends.

 

18


(iii)    Without limiting the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any dividend otherwise payable in respect of any share of Restricted Stock that remains subject to vesting conditions at the time of payment of such dividend shall be retained by the Company, remain subject to the same vesting conditions as the share of Restricted Stock to which the dividend relates and shall be delivered (without interest) to the Participant within 15 days following the date on which such restrictions on such Restricted Stock lapse (and the right to any such accumulated dividends shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate).

(iv)    To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, the holder of outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments (upon the payment by the Company of dividends on Shares) either in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends (and interest may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be credited on the amount of cash dividend equivalents at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee), which accumulated dividend equivalents (and interest thereon, if applicable) shall be payable at the same time as the underlying Restricted Stock Units are settled following the date on which the restrictions on such Restricted Stock Units lapse, and if such Restricted Stock Units are forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividend equivalent payments (or interest thereon, if applicable).

(d)    Waiver of Claims. Each Participant who receives an Award recognizes and agrees that before being selected by the Committee to receive an Award he or she has no right to any benefits under such Award. Accordingly, in consideration of the Participant’s receipt of any Award hereunder, he or she expressly waives any right to contest the amount of any Award, the terms of any Award Agreement, any determination, action or omission hereunder or under any Award Agreement by the Committee, the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates, or the Board, or any amendment to the Plan or any Award Agreement (other than an amendment to the Award Agreement for which his or her consent is expressly required by the express terms of the Award Agreement or the Plan).

(e)    Nature of Payments. Any and all grants of Awards and deliveries of cash, securities or other property under the Plan shall be in consideration of services performed or to be performed for the Company by the Participant. Awards under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be made in substitution in whole or in part for cash or other compensation otherwise payable to a Participant. Only whole Shares shall be delivered under the Plan. Awards shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, be aggregated in order to eliminate any fractional Shares. Fractional Shares may, in the discretion of the Committee, be forfeited or be settled in cash or otherwise as the Committee may determine. All grants and deliveries of Shares, cash, securities or other property under the Plan shall constitute a special discretionary incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be required to be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the Participant for the purpose of determining any contributions to or any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance, severance or other benefit plan of the Company or under any agreement with the Participant, unless the Company specifically provides otherwise.

 

19


(f)    Designation and Change of Beneficiary. Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more Persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his or her death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee. The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

(g)    Shares Covered by Plan. For purposes of Section 3, a Share will be considered to be “covered by” the Plan if (i) if it is available for issuance pursuant to the Plan but is not subject to an outstanding Award or (ii) it is subject to an outstanding Award. For purposes of Section 3, (A) an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has been granted under the Plan will be considered to be an “outstanding” Award until is it exercised or terminates, is forfeited or cancelled or otherwise expires by its terms, (B) a Share that has been granted as an Award under the Plan that is subject to vesting conditions will be considered an “outstanding” Award until the vesting conditions have been satisfied or the Award terminates, is forfeited or cancelled or otherwise expires unvested by its terms and (C) any Award other than an Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Share that is subject to vesting conditions will be considered to be an “outstanding” Award until it has been settled.

(h)    Data Protection. By participating in the Plan or accepting any rights granted under it, each Participant consents to the collection and processing of personal data relating to the Participant so that the Company and its Affiliates can fulfill their obligations and exercise their rights under the Plan and generally administer and manage the Plan. This data will include, but may not be limited to, data about participation in the Plan and Shares offered or received, purchased, or sold under the Plan from time to time and other appropriate financial and other data (such as the date on which the Awards were granted) about the Participant and the Participant’s participation in the Plan.

(i)    Non-Uniform Determinations. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan and Award Agreements need not be uniform and any such determinations may be made by it selectively among Participants who receive, or Persons in the Employment of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or its Affiliates who are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan (whether or not such Persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations under Award Agreements, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to (i) the Persons to receive Awards, (ii) the terms and provisions of Awards and (iii) whether a Participant’s Employment has been terminated for purposes of the Plan.

(j)    Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable

 

20


for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and/or any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself.

(k)    No Section 83(b) Elections Without Consent of Company. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If a Participant, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted to make such election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Company of such election within 10 days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

(l)    Payments to Persons Other Than Participants. If the Committee shall find that any Person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his or her affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such Person or his or her estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his or her spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such Person, or any other Person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such Person otherwise entitled to payment. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

(m)    Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

(n)    No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no Person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of Shares which are subject to Awards hereunder until such Shares have been issued or delivered to that Person.

(o)    No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other Person, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

 

21


(p)    No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement shall confer on any Person other than the Company and the Participant receiving any Award any rights or remedies thereunder.

(q)    Other Payments or Awards. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed in any way to limit or restrict the Company from making any award or payment to any Person under any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or hereafter in effect.

(r)    Gender; Plan Headings. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women. The headings in the Plan are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

(s)    Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(t)    Participant Representations. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition to the grant or exercise of, or acquisition of Shares under, any Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (A) to give written representations satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters, and to give written representations satisfactory to the Company that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (B) to give written representations satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring the Shares subject to the Option or Stock Appreciation Right for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Shares, and (C) to give such other written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel. The foregoing requirements, and any representations given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the Shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Shares under the applicable Option or Stock Appreciation Right has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (2) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Shares.

 

22


(u)    Clawback; Forfeiture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise that the Committee may cancel such Award if the Participant has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, also provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise that (i) if the Participant otherwise has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity (for these purposes, clause (i) of such definition shall be subject to materiality) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or during the Post-Termination Period (as such term is defined in a nonqualified stock option agreement between the Company and the Participant) and such activity is, or could reasonably be expected to be, injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, the Participant will forfeit any gain realized on the vesting or exercise of such Award, and must repay the gain to the Company and (ii) if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of the Award for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or by the Company’s independent auditors, then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, all Awards shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law.

*        *         *        *        *

This Plan was adopted by the board of directors of TaskUs, Inc. on April 16, 2019, amended on December 4, 2020, amended and restated in its entirety on June 10, 2021, and approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 10, 2021.

 

23