UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 1, 2020 (
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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 Exchange Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbols(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 under 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 |
On November 29, 2020, in connection with the previously announced Separation (as defined below), PROG Holdings, Inc. (formerly Aaron’s Holdings Company, Inc.) (the “Company”) entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”) with The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (“Aaron’s SpinCo”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to transfer its Aaron’s Business segment to Aaron’s SpinCo (the “Separation”) and distribute 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Aaron’s SpinCo to shareholders of the Company in a tax-free distribution (the “Distribution”). The Distribution was effectuated as of 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 30, 2020 (the “Effective Time”), to shareholders of the Company as of the close of business on November 27, 2020 (the “Record Date”). In connection with the Distribution, on November 30, 2020, the Company changed its name to “PROG Holdings, Inc.” Its common stock continues to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the new symbol “PRG.”
In connection with the Separation and Distribution, on November 29, 2020, the Company entered into various agreements with Aaron’s SpinCo contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement to provide a framework for the Company’s relationship with Aaron’s SpinCo after the Separation and Distribution, including the following agreements:
• | a Transition Services Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2020; |
• | a Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2020; |
• | an Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2020; and |
• | an Assignment Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2020. |
Separation and Distribution Agreement
Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities
The Separation and Distribution Agreement identifies certain transfers of assets and assumptions of liabilities that are necessary in advance of Aaron SpinCo’s separation from the Company so that Aaron’s SpinCo and the Company retain the assets of, and the liabilities associated with, their respective businesses, and provides for when and how these transfers and assumptions occur. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also provides for the settlement or extinguishment of certain liabilities and other obligations between Aaron’s SpinCo and the Company. In particular, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that, among other things, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:
• | certain assets (whether tangible or intangible) related to the Aaron’s Business segment (the “Aaron’s Assets”), will be retained by or transferred to Aaron’s SpinCo or one of its subsidiaries, including: |
• | equity interests in certain subsidiaries of the Company that hold assets relating to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | rights to technology, software and intellectual property primarily related to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | certain real property and associated rights thereto, including Aaron’s SpinCo’s company-operated stores and the Woodhaven manufacturing facilities; |
• | rights to certain types of information that is primarily related to the Aaron’s Assets, the Aaron’s Liabilities (as defined below) or the Aaron’s Business; |
• | contracts that primarily relate to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | rights and assets expressly allocated to Aaron’s SpinCo pursuant to the terms of the Separation and Distribution Agreement or certain other agreements entered into in connection with the Separation; |
• | registrations and permits primarily related to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | cash in an amount equal to the SpinCo Minimum Cash (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement); |
• | other assets (excluding cash) that are included on the pro forma combined balance sheet of Aaron’s SpinCo; and |
2
• | other assets (excluding cash), to the extent not included in the categories above, that are primarily related to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | certain liabilities related to the Aaron’s Business (the “Aaron’s Liabilities”), will be retained by or transferred to Aaron’s SpinCo or one of its subsidiaries, including: |
• | liabilities reflected as liabilities or obligations on the pro forma combined balance sheet of Aaron’s SpinCo; |
• | liabilities to the extent relating to the Aaron’s Business or an Aaron’s Asset; |
• | liabilities relating to contracts, technology, software, intellectual property and permits that primarily relate to the Aaron’s Business; |
• | liabilities relating to the financing transactions to be entered into by Aaron’s SpinCo in connection with the Separation; and |
• | liabilities related to any untrue statement or omission or alleged statement or omission of a material fact in the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed by Aaron’s SpinCo, as amended, in each case, relating to the Aaron’s Business or Aaron’s SpinCo; and |
• | all of the assets and liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) other than the Aaron’s Assets and Aaron’s Liabilities will be retained by or transferred to the Company (the “Company Assets” and “Company Liabilities,” respectively). |
Except as expressly set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any ancillary agreement, neither the Company nor Aaron’s SpinCo makes any representation or warranty as to the assets, business or liabilities transferred, licensed or assumed as part of the Separation, as to any approvals or notifications required in connection with the transfers, as to the value or freedom from any security interests of any of, or any other matter concerning, the assets transferred, as to the absence or presence of any defenses to or right of setoff against or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any proceeding or other asset, including any accounts receivable, of either the Company or Aaron’s SpinCo or as to the legal sufficiency of any conveyance and assumption instruments or any other ancillary agreement to convey title to any asset or thing of value to be transferred in connection with the Separation or any other representations or warranties. Except as expressly set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any ancillary agreement, all assets were transferred on an “as is,” “where is” basis, and the respective transferees will bear the economic and legal risks that any conveyance and assumption instrument or any other ancillary agreement will prove to be insufficient to vest in the transferee good and marketable title, free and clear of all security interests, that any necessary consents or governmental approvals are not obtained, or that any requirements of law, agreements, security interests, or judgments are not complied with.
Claims
In general, each party to the Separation and Distribution Agreement will assume liability for all claims, demands, proceedings and similar legal matters primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from its respective assets, business or its assumed or retained liabilities, and will indemnify the other party for any liability to the extent arising out of or resulting from such assumed or retained legal matters.
Releases
The Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that Aaron’s SpinCo and its subsidiaries will release and discharge the Company and its subsidiaries from all Aaron’s Liabilities, from all liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and Distribution, and from all liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, factors or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Separation and Distribution (whether or not such liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case, before, at or after the Separation and Distribution) to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Aaron’s Business, the Aaron’s Assets or the Aaron’s Liabilities. The Company and its subsidiaries will release and discharge Aaron’s SpinCo from all Company Liabilities, from all liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and Distribution, and from all liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, factors or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the
3
Separation and Distribution (whether or not such liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case, before, at or after the Separation and Distribution) to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Company’s Progressive and Vive business segments, the Company Assets or the Company Liabilities.
These releases will not extend to obligations or liabilities under any agreements between the parties that remain in effect following the Separation, which agreements include, but are not limited to, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters agreement, and the Employee Matters Agreement.
Indemnification
In the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Aaron’s SpinCo agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, each of its subsidiaries and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:
• | the Aaron’s Liabilities; |
• | the failure of Aaron’s SpinCo, any of its subsidiaries or any other person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any of the Aaron’s Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the Distribution; |
• | any breach by Aaron’s SpinCo or any of its subsidiaries of the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements, unless such ancillary agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification, or for no indemnification, therein (which will be controlling); and |
• | any breach by Aaron’s SpinCo of its representations and warranties in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements. |
In the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Aaron’s SpinCo, each of its subsidiaries and each of its respective directors, officers and employees from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:
• | the Company Liabilities; |
• | the failure of the Company, any Company subsidiaries or any other person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any of the Company Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the Distribution; |
• | any breach by the Company or any Company subsidiaries of the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements, unless such ancillary agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification, or for no indemnification, therein (which will be controlling); and |
• | any breach by the Company of its representations and warranties in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any of the ancillary agreements. |
The Separation and Distribution Agreement also establishes procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters. Indemnification with respect to taxes is governed solely by the Tax Matters Agreement.
Insurance
The Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for the allocation between the parties of rights and obligations under existing insurance policies with respect to occurrences prior to the Distribution and sets forth procedures for the administration of insured claims under such policies.
4
Further Assurances
In addition to the actions specifically provided for in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, both the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo agree to cause their respective subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts, prior to and after the Distribution, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the ancillary agreements and to permit the operations of the Company’s Progressive Leasing and Vive business segments and the Aaron’s Business; provided, however, that neither the Company nor Aaron’s SpinCo, nor their respective subsidiaries, will be obligated to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional liability to any third party other than ordinary and customary fees paid to a governmental authority.
Dispute Resolution
The Separation and Distribution Agreement contains provisions that govern, except as otherwise provided in any ancillary agreement, the resolution of disputes, controversies or claims that may arise between the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo related to the Separation or Distribution. These provisions contemplate that efforts will be made to resolve disputes, controversies and claims by elevation of the matter to executives of the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo. If such efforts are not successful, either the Company or Aaron’s SpinCo may submit the dispute, controversy or claim to binding arbitration, subject to the provisions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.
Expenses
Except as expressly set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or in any ancillary agreement, the Company is responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Separation incurred prior to the Distribution. Except as expressly set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or in any ancillary agreement, or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and Aaron’s, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Separation after the Distribution will be paid by the party incurring such cost and expense.
Other Matters
Other matters governed by the Separation and Distribution Agreement include access to financial and other information, the provision of litigation support, confidentiality, access to and provision of records and treatment of outstanding guarantees and similar credit support.
Termination
After the Distribution, the Separation and Distribution Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the parties to the Separation and Distribution Agreement.
Transition Services Agreement
Pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement, the Company will provide Aaron’s SpinCo, and Aaron’s SpinCo will provide to the Company, specified services for a limited time to help ensure an orderly transition following the Distribution. The services to be provided include certain information technology services, finance, tax and accounting services, fleet management support and human resource and employee benefits services. The party receiving each service is required to pay to the party providing the service a fee equal to the cost of service specified for each service, which is billed on a monthly basis. The agreed-upon charges for such services are generally intended to allow the party providing the service to recover all costs and expenses of providing such services.
The Transition Services Agreement will terminate on the expiration of the term of the last service provided under it. The receiving party may also terminate specified services by giving prior written notice to the provider of such services and paying specified wind-down charges.
5
Subject to certain exceptions, the liability of the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo under the Transition Services Agreement for the services they provide will be limited to the aggregate amount of charges paid and payable to such provider for all services by the recipient pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement. The Transition Services Agreement also provides that neither company shall be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other party (including lost profits or lost revenues).
Tax Matters Agreement
The Tax Matters Agreement governs the parties’ respective rights, responsibilities and obligations after the Distribution with respect to taxes (including taxes arising in the ordinary course of business and taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the Distribution and certain related transactions to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes), tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, tax elections, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and assistance and cooperation in respect of tax matters.
The Tax Matters Agreement also imposes certain restrictions on Aaron’s SpinCo and its subsidiaries (including, among others, restrictions on share issuances, business combinations, sales of assets and similar transactions) designed to preserve the tax-free status of the Distribution and certain related transactions. The Tax Matters Agreement provides special rules that allocate tax liabilities in the event the Distribution, together with certain related transactions, is not tax-free. In general, under the Tax Matters Agreement, each party is responsible for any taxes imposed on the Company or Aaron’s SpinCo that arise from the failure of the Distribution, together with certain related transactions, to qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) and certain other relevant provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent that the failure to so qualify is attributable to actions, events or transactions relating to such party’s respective stock, assets or business, or a breach of the relevant representations or covenants made by that party in the Tax Matters Agreement.
Employee Matters Agreement
The Employee Matters Agreement allocates certain assets, liabilities and responsibilities relating to employment matters, employee compensation and benefits plans and programs and other related matters. The Employee Matters Agreement will govern certain compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to the current and former employees and non-employee directors of each company.
The Employee Matters Agreement generally provides that, unless otherwise specified, the Company will be responsible for liabilities associated with employees who will be employed by the Company following the Separation and certain specified current and former employees (collectively, the “Company Employees”), and Aaron’s SpinCo will be responsible for liabilities associated with employees who will be employed by Aaron’s SpinCo following the Separation and certain specified current and former employees (collectively, the “Aaron’s SpinCo Employees”).
Aaron’s SpinCo Employees will be eligible to participate in the Aaron’s SpinCo benefit plans following the Separation in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Aaron’s SpinCo benefit plans as in effect from time to time. In general, Aaron’s SpinCo will credit each Aaron’s SpinCo Employee with his or her service with the Company prior to the Separation for all purposes under the Aaron’s SpinCo benefit plans to the same extent such service was recognized by the Company for similar purposes under the Company’s comparable benefits plans immediately before the Separation and so long as such crediting does not result in a duplication of benefits. The Employee Matters Agreement also includes provisions relating to cooperation between the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo on matters relating to employees and employee benefits and other administrative provisions.
Aaron’s SpinCo has established a qualified defined contribution retirement plan and will establish a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for eligible Aaron’s SpinCo Employees. In connection with the Separation, assets, liabilities and account balances (as applicable) of Aaron’s SpinCo Employees were transferred from the Company or the Company’s plans to Aaron’s SpinCo or Aaron’s SpinCo’s plans, as applicable, and the Company or the Company plans retain assets, liabilities and account balances (as applicable) of the Company Employees. In addition, the Employee Matters Agreement provides for the assignment by the Company to Aaron’s SpinCo and
6
assumption by Aaron’s SpinCo, of certain employment, severance, change-in-control, retention and similar agreements for Aaron’s SpinCo Employees. Effective as of the Separation, Aaron’s SpinCo Employees ceased to participate in the Company’s employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”), and the last purchase of common stock under the ESPP occurred prior to the Separation. Under the Employee Matters Agreement, Aaron’s SpinCo agreed to establish and maintain an employee stock purchase plan that may have terms similar to the ESPP.
Assignment Agreement
Also in connection with the Separation and Distribution, on November 29, 2020, Prog Leasing, LLC (“Progressive Leasing”), Aaron’s, LLC and the Company entered into an Assignment Agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, Progressive Leasing conveyed to Aaron’s, LLC an undivided and equal ownership interest in certain software related to Progressive Leasing’s digital decisioning platform (the “Shared Software”). Progressive Leasing also conveyed to Aaron’s, LLC all of Progressive Leasing’s interest in certain software models related to the Shared Software, and Aaron’s, LLC conveyed certain data to Progressive Leasing under the Assignment Agreement.
The foregoing descriptions of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Transition Services Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement and Assignment Agreement do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, reference to the full text of such agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.1 (Separation and Distribution Agreement), 10.1 (Transition Services Agreement), 10.2 (Tax Matters Agreement), 10.3 (Employee Matters Agreement) and 10.4 (Assignment Agreement), respectively, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
New Credit Agreement
In connection with the Separation and Distribution, on November 24, 2020, the Company, PROG Holding Company, LLC (formerly Aaron’s Progressive Holding Company), Progressive Finance Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), and certain of the Company’s other subsidiaries entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) with the financial institutions party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The Credit Agreement provides for borrowings under a revolving credit facility up to $350,000,000, including a $20,000,000 sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit and a $25,000,000 sublimit for swingline loans, all of which became available upon the completion of the Separation and Distribution.
The Company expects that the proceeds of the Credit Agreement will be used to provide for working capital and capital expenditures, to finance future permitted acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes.
Incremental Facilities
The Borrower will have the right from time to time to request to increase the size or add certain incremental revolving or term loan facilities (the “Incremental Facilities”). The aggregate principal amount of all such Incremental Facilities may not exceed $300 million.
Interest Rate
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of the Borrower, (i) LIBOR plus the applicable margin of 1.50% - 2.50% for revolving loans, based on total leverage, or (ii) the base rate plus the applicable margin, which will be 1.00% lower than the applicable margin for LIBOR loans.
Maturity
The loans and commitments under the Credit Agreement mature or terminate on November 24, 2025.
7
Guarantees
Obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement are jointly and severally guaranteed by the Company and certain of its existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries (but excluding (i) unrestricted subsidiaries and (ii) immaterial subsidiaries).
Springing Security
The Credit Agreement is unsecured as of the Effective Time. In the event that the total net leverage ratio exceeds 1.25 to 1.00 as of the end of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Borrower, the Company and the other guarantors will be required to provide a first priority perfected lien on substantially all of their respective assets and the proceeds thereof, excluding certain excluded assets.
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
The Credit Agreement contains customary financial covenants including (a) a maximum total net leverage ratio set at 2.50 to 1.00 and (b) a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio set at 3.00 to 1.00.
In addition, the Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, will restrict the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to:
• | incur additional indebtedness; |
• | pay dividends and other distributions; |
• | make investments, loans and advances; |
• | engage in transactions with its affiliates; |
• | sell assets or otherwise dispose of property or assets; |
• | alter the business conducted; |
• | merge and engage in other fundamental changes; |
• | prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; and |
• | incur liens. |
The Credit Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and provisions relating to events of default.
The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, reference to the full text of such agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.
Payoff of Existing Indebtedness
On November 27, 2020, Aaron’s, LLC and Aaron Investment Company paid off and terminated (i) those certain 4.75% Series A Senior Notes under that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 14, 2014 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2014, that certain Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 3 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 4 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2017, and that certain Amendment No. 5 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2020, the “Senior A Note Facility”), by and among Aaron’s, LLC, Aaron Investment Company, LLC and the Noteholders and (ii) those certain 4.75% Series B Senior Notes under that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 14, 2014 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 9, 2014, that certain Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2015, that certain Amendment No. 3 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2016, that certain Amendment No. 4 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2017, and that certain Amendment No. 5 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2020, the “Senior B Note Facility” and together with the Senior A Note Facility, the “Note Facilities”) by and among Aaron’s, LLC, Aaron Investment Company, LLC and the Noteholders. A description of the Note Facilities was initially disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 15, 2014. The Company paid certain make-whole premiums for early termination.
8
On November 30, 2020, Aaron’s, LLC paid off certain outstanding indebtedness and terminated (i) that certain Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated September 18, 2017 (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of October 23, 2018, that certain Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of January 21, 2020, that certain Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 19, 2020, and that certain Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of September 28, 2020, the “Prior Credit Agreement”) among Aaron’s, LLC, the guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Truist Bank, as Administrative agent, and (ii) that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Revolving Loan Facility Agreement, dated October 25, 2017 (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of October 23, 2018, that certain Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of October 11, 2019, that certain Third Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of January 21, 2020, that certain Fourth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of February 19, 2020, and that certain Fifth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of September 28, 2020, the “Prior LFA”) among Aaron’s, LLC, the participants and Truist Bank, as Servicer. A description of the Prior Credit Agreement was disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 21, 2017. A description of the Prior LFA was disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 31, 2017.
Item 1.02. | Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement |
The information included in Item 1.01 hereto under the heading “Payoff of Existing Indebtedness” is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.
Item 2.01. | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Asset |
As discussed in Item 1.01 hereto, on November 30, 2020, the Company completed the Separation and Distribution of Aaron’s SpinCo from the Company. Aaron’s SpinCo is now an independent public company trading under the symbol “AAN” on the New York Stock Exchange. The Distribution was made as of the Effective Time to the Company’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date, and such shareholders received one share of Aaron’s SpinCo’s common stock for every two shares of common stock of the Company held as of close of business on the Record Date.
Item 2.03. | Creation of Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant |
The information included in Item 1.01 hereto under the heading “New Credit Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Board of Directors
As previously announced, as of the Effective Time, each of Kelly H. Barrett, Walter G. Ehmer, Hubert L. Harris and John W. Robinson III resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), in order to serve as directors of Aaron’s SpinCo, and Steven A. Michaels was appointed to the Board pursuant to the Board’s authority under Article III, Section 4 of the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”). Effective immediately following the Effective Time, the Board set the number of directors of the Company at six (6).
9
In addition, the composition of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Company as of the Effective Time is as follows:
Audit Committee |
Compensation Committee |
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | ||
Cynthia N. Day (Chair) Kathy T. Betty Douglas C. Curling |
Douglas C. Curling (Chair) Kathy T. Betty Cynthia N. Day Ray M. Robinson |
Kathy T. Betty (Chair) Douglas C. Curling Ray M. Robinson |
Ray M. Robinson will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.
Biographical information for Mr. Michaels is included under the section entitled “Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, as filed with the Commission on April 27, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference. Biographical information for the Company’s other directors can be found in the joint proxy statement/prospectus filed by the Company on May 8, 2020 under the heading “Governance”.
Executive Officers
Effective as of the Effective Time, the officers of the Company include the following:
Officer |
Position | |
Steven A. Michaels |
Chief Executive Officer | |
Blake Wakefield |
President and Chief Revenue Officer, Progressive Leasing | |
Brian Garner |
Chief Financial Officer | |
Marvin Fentress |
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |
Curtis L. Doman |
Chief Innovation Officer | |
Matt Sewell |
Principal Accounting Officer |
The information regarding Mr. Michaels required under Items 401 (b), (d) and (e) of Regulation S-K is included under the section entitled “Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, as filed with the Commission on April 27, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference. The information regarding Mr. Doman required under Items 401 (b), (d) and (e) of Regulation S-K is included under the section entitled “Directors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, as filed with the Commission on April 27, 2020, and is incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with his position, Mr. Michaels base salary will be $900,000 with a target annual incentive award of $1,200,000. Mr. Michaels will also receive a target long-term incentive award of $4,400,000.
Blake Wakefield, age 48, has served as President and Chief Revenue Officer of the Company’s Progressive Leasing business segment since January 2015. Mr. Wakefield previously served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Company’s Progressive Leasing business segment from February 2013 to January 2015. In connection with his new position, Mr. Wakefield’s base salary will be $600,000 with a target annual incentive award of $900,000. Mr. Wakefield will also receive a target long-term incentive award of $1,750,000.
Brian Garner, age 41, has served as Senior Vice President of Finance of the Company’s Progressive Leasing business segment since 2018. Mr. Garner previously served as Controller of the Company’s Progressive Leasing business segment since 2012. In connection with his new position, Mr. Garner’s base salary will be $475,000 with a target annual incentive award of $475,000. Mr. Garner will also receive a target long-term incentive award of $900,000.
Matt Sewell, age 45, has served as Director of Financial Reporting of the Company since 2016. Mr. Sewell previously served as Director of Financial Reporting of Novelis Inc. since 2014. In connection with his new position, Mr. Sewell’s base salary will be $235,000 with a target annual incentive award of $70,500. Mr. Sewell will also receive a target long-term incentive award of $70,500.
10
Robinson Transition Agreement
In connection with the completion of the Separation and Distribution, on November 30, 2020, the Company and Aaron’s SpinCo entered into a Transition Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) with John W. Robinson III, pursuant to which Mr. Robinson retired as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer as of the Effective Time. In addition, and as previously disclosed, Mr. Robinson transitioned to Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aaron’s SpinCo as of the Effective Time. In connection with Mr. Robinson’s transition, Mr. Robinson’s employment agreement with the Company was terminated.
As approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee and as previously disclosed, the Transition Agreement provides that all stock options, restricted stock awards, and performance share units granted by the Company to Mr. Robinson in 2018, 2019 and 2020 will be 100% vested as promptly as practicable following the completion of the Separation and Distribution. Other than with respect to vesting, Mr. Robinson’s equity awards are being treated in the same manner as all other equity awards under the Employee Matters Agreement.
The description of the Transition Agreement set forth under this Item 5.02 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
As discussed in Item 1.01 hereto, on November 30, 2020, the Company changed its name from Aaron’s Holdings Company, Inc. to PROG Holdings, Inc. in connection with the Separation and Distribution. The name change was effected by filing Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles of Amendment”) pursuant to section 14-2-1006 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code. The Company also amended its Bylaws, effective as of the same date, to reflect the name change.
A copy of the Articles of Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Bylaws, as amended to reflect the name change to PROG Holdings, Inc., is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company’s common stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRG” with the CUSIP No. 74319R 101 on December 1, 2020.
Item 8.01. | Other Events |
On December 1, 2020 the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Separation and Distribution. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
11
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
12
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.
PROG HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Brian Garner | |
Brian Garner | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: December 1, 2020
Exhibit 2.1
Execution Version
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
By and Between
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC.
and
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.
Dated as of November 29, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
Section 1.01. |
Definitions |
2 | ||||
ARTICLE II THE SEPARATION |
20 | |||||
Section 2.01. |
Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities |
20 | ||||
Section 2.02. |
Nonassignable Contracts and Permits |
23 | ||||
Section 2.03. |
Certain Matters Governed Exclusively by Ancillary Agreements |
23 | ||||
Section 2.04. |
Termination of Agreements |
24 | ||||
Section 2.05. |
Shared Contracts |
25 | ||||
Section 2.06. |
Bank Accounts; Checks |
25 | ||||
Section 2.07. |
Novation of Liabilities; Release of Guarantees |
26 | ||||
Section 2.08. |
Provision of Corporate Records |
27 | ||||
Section 2.09. |
Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties; Waiver of Bulk-Sale and Bulk-Transfer Laws. |
27 | ||||
Section 2.10. |
Financing Arrangements; SpinCo Minimum Cash. |
28 | ||||
Section 2.11. |
Transition Committee |
29 | ||||
ARTICLE III ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION |
29 | |||||
Section 3.01. |
Actions Prior to the Distribution |
29 | ||||
Section 3.02. |
Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Distribution |
31 | ||||
Section 3.03. |
Sole and Absolute Discretion |
32 | ||||
ARTICLE IV THE DISTRIBUTION |
33 | |||||
Section 4.01. |
The Distribution |
33 | ||||
Section 4.02. |
Fractional Shares |
33 | ||||
Section 4.03. |
Sole and Absolute Discretion of Parent |
34 | ||||
ARTICLE V MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION; COOPERATION; INSURANCE |
34 | |||||
Section 5.01. |
Release of Pre-Distribution Claims |
34 | ||||
Section 5.02. |
Indemnification by SpinCo |
36 | ||||
Section 5.03. |
Indemnification by Parent |
37 | ||||
Section 5.04. |
Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Third-Party Proceeds |
38 | ||||
Section 5.05. |
Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims |
38 | ||||
Section 5.06. |
Direct Claims; Additional Matters |
40 | ||||
Section 5.07. |
Management of Certain Actions and Shared Actions |
42 | ||||
Section 5.08. |
Right of Contribution |
43 | ||||
Section 5.09. |
Covenant Not to Sue |
43 | ||||
Section 5.10. |
Remedies Cumulative |
44 |
i
Section 5.11. |
Survival of Indemnities |
44 | ||||
Section 5.12. |
Limitation on Liability |
44 | ||||
Section 5.13. |
Insurance Matters |
44 | ||||
Section 5.14. |
Guarantees, Letters of Credit and Other Obligations |
45 | ||||
ARTICLE VI ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY |
46 | |||||
Section 6.01. |
Agreement for Exchange of Information; Archives |
46 | ||||
Section 6.02. |
Ownership of Information |
48 | ||||
Section 6.03. |
Compensation for Providing Information |
48 | ||||
Section 6.04. |
Record Retention |
48 | ||||
Section 6.05. |
Financial Information Certifications |
49 | ||||
Section 6.06. |
Limitations of Liability |
50 | ||||
Section 6.07. |
Litigation Matters; Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation |
50 | ||||
Section 6.08. |
Privileged Matters |
51 | ||||
Section 6.09. |
Confidential Information |
53 | ||||
ARTICLE VII CERTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS |
54 | |||||
Section 7.01. |
Legal Names and Other Parties Trademarks |
54 | ||||
Section 7.02. |
Domain Names |
55 | ||||
Section 7.03. |
Licenses to Information and Other Intellectual Property |
55 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS |
57 | |||||
Section 8.01. |
Further Assurances |
57 | ||||
Section 8.02. |
Late Payments |
58 | ||||
Section 8.03. |
Inducement |
58 | ||||
Section 8.04. |
Post-Effective Time Conduct |
59 | ||||
Section 8.05. |
Receipt of Misdirected Assets; Consumer Inquiries |
59 | ||||
ARTICLE IX DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
59 | |||||
Section 9.01. |
Disputes |
59 | ||||
Section 9.02. |
Negotiation and Mediation |
60 | ||||
Section 9.03. |
Arbitration |
60 | ||||
Section 9.04. |
Continuity of Service and Performance |
63 | ||||
ARTICLE X TERMINATION |
63 | |||||
Section 10.01. |
Termination |
63 | ||||
Section 10.02. |
Effect of Termination |
63 | ||||
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS |
63 | |||||
Section 11.01. |
Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Conflicts; Corporate Power |
63 | ||||
Section 11.02. |
Governing Law |
64 | ||||
Section 11.03. |
Assignability |
64 |
ii
Section 11.04. |
Third-Party Beneficiaries |
65 | ||||
Section 11.05. |
Notices |
65 | ||||
Section 11.06. |
Severability |
65 | ||||
Section 11.07. |
Publicity |
66 | ||||
Section 11.08. |
Expenses |
66 | ||||
Section 11.09. |
Headings |
66 | ||||
Section 11.10. |
Survival of Agreements |
66 | ||||
Section 11.11. |
Waivers of Default |
66 | ||||
Section 11.12. |
Consent to Jurisdiction |
67 | ||||
Section 11.13. |
Specific Performance |
67 | ||||
Section 11.14. |
Amendments |
67 | ||||
Section 11.15. |
Interpretation |
67 | ||||
Section 11.16. |
Group Members |
68 | ||||
Section 11.17. |
Force Majeure |
68 | ||||
Section 11.18. |
Mutual Drafting |
68 | ||||
Section 11.19. |
No Reliance on Other Party |
68 | ||||
Section 11.20. |
Limited Liability |
68 | ||||
Section 11.21. |
No Set-Off |
69 |
iii
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT is entered into on November 29, 2020, by and between AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Parent), and THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (SpinCo). Parent and SpinCo are sometimes referred to herein, individually, as a Party and, together, as the Parties. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in ARTICLE I.
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, Parent, acting through itself and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, currently conducts the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and the Aarons Business;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Parent and its shareholders to separate SpinCo from the rest of Parent and to establish SpinCo as a separate, publicly traded company, such that, following the Distribution: (i) Parent will own and conduct, directly and indirectly, the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, and (ii) SpinCo will own and conduct, directly and indirectly, the Aarons Business; and in furtherance of the foregoing, to effect the Spin-Off as more fully described in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Parent currently intends that, at the Effective Time, Parent shall distribute to the Record Holders, on a pro rata basis, all of the outstanding shares of SpinCo Common Stock, as more fully described in this Agreement (the Distribution);
WHEREAS, SpinCo has been incorporated solely for these purposes and has not engaged in activities except for activities undertaken in preparation for the Distribution;
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) the transfer by Parent of the SpinCo Assets and the SpinCo Liabilities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all of the equity interests of Aarons) to SpinCo, as more fully described in this Agreement (the Contribution) in actual or constructive exchange for the issuance by SpinCo to Parent of all of the shares of SpinCo Common Stock and (ii) the Distribution, taken together, are intended to qualify as a transaction that is generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and this Agreement together with the Ancillary Agreements, is intended to be, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g);
WHEREAS, Parent and SpinCo have prepared, and SpinCo has filed with the Commission, the Form 10, which includes the Information Statement, and which sets forth disclosure concerning SpinCo, the Separation and the Distribution; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Spin-Off and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Spin-Off and the relationship of Parent, SpinCo and their respective Group Members following the Spin-Off.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. Reference is made to Section 11.15 regarding the interpretation of certain words and phrases used in this Agreement. In addition, for the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
AAA has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
AAA Rules has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
Aarons means Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company and successor to Aarons, Inc.
Aarons Business means (a) the business, operations and activities of the Aarons Business segment of Parent conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their respective Group Members, including as described in the Information Statement, and (b) any terminated, divested or discontinued businesses, operations and activities that, at the time of termination, divestiture or discontinuation, primarily related to the business, operations or activities described in clause (a) as then conducted, including those set forth on Schedule I.
Action means any claim, demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, discovery request, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any Governmental Authority or any Federal, state, local, foreign or international arbitration or mediation tribunal.
Affiliate (including, with a correlative meaning, affiliated) means, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, controlled by and under common control with), when used with respect to any specified 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 securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise. The Parties agree that, for the purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, no Parent Group Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any SpinCo Group Member and no SpinCo Group Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Parent Group Member.
Agent means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., or such other trust company or bank duly appointed by Parent to act as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the SpinCo Common Stock in connection with the Distribution.
Agreement means this Separation and Distribution Agreement, including the Schedules hereto.
Ancillary Agreements means the TSA, TMA, EMA, TAA, the Transfer Documents, the Internal Reorganization Documents and any other instruments, assignments, documents and agreements executed in connection with the implementation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Parties or their Affiliates (but as to which no Third Party is a party).
Arbitration Act means the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1, et seq.
2
Assets means, with respect to any Person, all assets, properties, claims and rights (including goodwill) of such Person, wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other third Persons or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or accrued or contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any Person, including the following:
(a) all accounting and other books, records and files, whether in paper, microfilm, microfiche, computer tape or disc, magnetic tape, electronic or any other form;
(b) all apparatus, computers and other electronic data processing equipment, fixtures, machinery, furniture, office and other equipment, including hardware systems, circuits and other computer and telecommunication assets and equipment, automobiles, trucks, aircraft, rolling stock, vessels, motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, special and general tools, test devices, prototypes and models and other tangible personal property;
(c) all inventories of materials, parts, raw materials, components, supplies, work-in-process and finished goods and products;
(d) all interests in real property of whatever nature, including buildings, land, structures, improvements and fixtures thereon, and all easements and rights-of-way appurtenant thereto, and all leasehold interests, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security Interest in real property, lessor, sublessor, lessee, sublessee or otherwise;
(e) (i) all interests in any capital stock or other equity, partnership, membership, joint venture or similar interests of any Subsidiary or any other Person; (ii) all bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by any Subsidiary or any other Person; (iii) all loans, advances or other extensions of credit or capital contributions to any Subsidiary or any other Person; (iv) all other investments in securities of any Person; and (v) all rights as a partner, joint venturer or participant;
(f) all license agreements, leases of personal property, open purchase orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services, unfilled orders for the manufacture and sale of products and other contracts, agreements or commitments and all rights arising thereunder;
(g) all deposits, letters of credit, performance bonds and other surety bonds;
(h) all written (including in electronic form) technical information, data, specifications, research and development information, engineering drawings, operating and maintenance manuals and materials and analyses prepared by consultants and other Third Parties;
(i) all United States, state, multinational and foreign intellectual property, including Patents, Trademarks, Other Intellectual Property, licenses from Third Parties granting the right to use any of the foregoing and all tangible embodiments of the foregoing in whatever form or medium;
(j) all computer applications, programs, software and other code (in object and source code form), including operating software, network software, firmware, middleware, design software, design tools, systems documentation, instructions, ASP, HTML, DHTML, SHTML and XML files, cgi and other scripts, APIs, web widgets, algorithms, models, methodologies, files, documentation related to any of the foregoing and all tangible embodiments of the foregoing in whatever form or medium now known or yet to be created;
3
(k) all Internet URLs, domain names, social media handles and Internet user names and all UPC numbers or equivalent company name pre-fix numbers;
(l) all websites, databases, content, text, graphics, images, audio, video, data and other copyrightable works or other works of authorship including all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations thereof;
(m) all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product literature and other advertising and promotional materials, artwork, design, development and manufacturing files, vendor and customer drawings, formulations and specifications, server and traffic logs, quality records and reports and other books, records, studies, surveys, reports, plans, business records and documents;
(n) all prepaid expenses, trade accounts and other accounts and notes receivable (whether current or non-current);
(o) all claims or rights against any Person arising from the ownership of any other Asset, all rights in connection with any bids or offers, all claims, causes in action, lawsuits, judgments or similar rights, all rights under express or implied warranties, all rights of recovery and all rights of setoff of any kind and demands of any nature, in each case whether accrued or contingent, whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether arising by way of counterclaim or otherwise;
(p) all Insurance Proceeds and rights under insurance policies and all rights in the nature of insurance, indemnification or contribution;
(q) all licenses, permits, consents, approvals and authorizations that have been issued by any Governmental Authority and all pending applications therefor, and in each case all rights thereunder;
(r) Cash, bank accounts, lock boxes and other deposit arrangements;
(s) interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements; and
(t) all goodwill as a going concern and other intangible properties.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close.
Business Entity means any corporation, general or limited partnership, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization, limited liability entity or other entity.
Cash means cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits and marketable securities, as well as petty cash in registers, in each case, whether denominated in United States dollars or otherwise.
Code has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Privileges has the meaning set forth in Section 6.08.
Confidential Information has the meaning set forth in Section 6.09(a).
4
Consents means any consents, waivers or approvals from, or notification requirements to, any Third Party.
Contribution has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Custodial Party has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).
Direct Claim has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
Disclosure Schedules means the disclosure schedules attached hereto.
Disputes has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.
Distribution has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Distribution Date means the date, determined in accordance with Section 4.03, on which the Distribution occurs.
Distribution Ratio means the number of shares of SpinCo Common Stock to be distributed in respect of each share of Parent Common Stock in the Distribution, which ratio shall be determined by the board of directors of Parent prior to the Record Date.
Domain Names means the domain name registrations owned by a Parent Group Member or a SpinCo Group Member, including those listed on Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.02(b) of the Disclosure Schedules.
Effective Time has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).
EMA means the Employee Matters Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement by and between Parent and SpinCo.
Environmental Law shall mean any Law relating to pollution, protection or restoration of or prevention of harm to the environment or natural resources, including the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or discharge of Hazardous Materials or the protection of or prevention of harm to human health and safety.
Environmental Liabilities means all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Hazardous Materials, Environmental Law or contract or agreement relating to environmental, health or safety matters (including all removal, remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages, costs of compliance, including with any product take back requirements, or with any settlement, judgment or other determination of Liability and indemnity, contribution or similar obligations) and all costs and expenses, interest, fines, penalties or other monetary sanctions in connection therewith.
Escalation Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
5
Existing Parent Financing Arrangements means (a) the Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2017, among Aarons, Inc. the guarantors named therein, the lenders party thereto and Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank), as administrative agent, as amended, (b) the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of October 25, 2017, among Aarons, Inc. the guarantors named therein, the participants party thereto and Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank), as servicer, as amended, (c) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2014, by Aarons, Inc. and Aaron Investment Company as Issuers of Series A Senior Notes due April 14, 2021, as amended, and (d) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2014, by Aarons, Inc. and Aaron Investment Company as Issuers of Series B Senior Notes due April 14, 2021, as amended.
First Post-Distribution SEC Report has the meaning set forth in Section 11.07.
Force Majeure means, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which by its nature could not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it could reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, unusually severe weather conditions, floods, riots, fires, explosions, sabotage, civil commotion or civil unrest, interference by civil or military authorities, cyberattacks, epidemics, pandemics, acts of war (declared or undeclared) or armed hostilities, other regional, national or international calamities or acts of terrorism, strikes, labor stoppages, or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; or failures of energy sources or distribution or transportation facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Partys response thereto shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure.
Form 10 means the registration statement on Form 10 filed by SpinCo with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act to effect the registration of SpinCo Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
Georgia Courts has the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.
Governmental Approvals means any notices, reports or other filings to be given to or made with, or any Consents, licenses, authorizations, registrations or permits to be obtained from, any Governmental Authority, including, for the avoidance of doubt, state regulators.
Governmental Authority means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial or local court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority, including the NYSE and any similar self-regulatory body under applicable securities Laws.
Group means either the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group, as the context requires.
Group Action means any past, present or future Action involving Parent, a Parent Group Member, a Parent Indemnitee (but only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of a Parent Indemnitee), SpinCo, a SpinCo Group Member, or a SpinCo Indemnitee (but only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of a SpinCo Indemnitee), in each case other than any such matter solely between Parent, any Parent Group Member or Parent Indemnitee (only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of a Parent Indemnitee), on the one hand, and SpinCo, any SpinCo Group Member, or SpinCo Indemnitee (only if in a capacity entitling such Person to the rights of a SpinCo Indemnitee), on the other hand, arising with respect to a controversy, dispute or claim under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
6
Group Member means any Business Entity that is a part of either the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group, as the context requires. Group Members mean Business Entities of either or both of the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group, as the context requires.
Hazardous Materials means any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant, emission, discharge, release or contaminant that could result in Liability under, or that is prohibited, limited or otherwise regulated by or pursuant to, any Environmental Law, including petroleum, petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, electronic, medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, radioactive substances, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances, and anything defined as a hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substance, solid waste, hazardous waste, hazardous material or toxic substance under a relevant Environmental Law.
Indemnifying Party has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
Indemnitee has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
Indemnity Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
Information means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, marketing plans, customer names, Privileged Information, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data; provided that Information does not include Patents, Trademarks, or Other Intellectual Property.
Information Statement means the information statement, included with the Form 10 and to be sent to the holders of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Distribution, as such Information Statement may be amended from time to time.
Insurance Proceeds means, with respect to any insured party, those monies:
(a) received by an insured (or its successor-in-interest) from an insurance carrier;
(b) paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured (or its successor-in-interest); or
(c) received (including by way of set-off) from any Third Party in the nature of insurance, contribution or indemnification in respect of any Liability;
in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments), net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and net of any Taxes resulting from the receipt thereof.
Intended Tax Treatment has the meaning set forth in the TMA.
Intercompany Accounts has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Intercompany Agreements has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
Internal Reorganization means the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization, including the Contribution.
7
Internal Reorganization Documents means the documents and agreements pursuant to which the Internal Reorganization shall be implemented.
Law means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any Tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, Consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority, whether now or hereinafter in effect and, in each case, as amended.
Liabilities means any and all debts, liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, response actions, losses, damages (whether compensatory, punitive, consequential, incidental, treble or other), expenses, fines, penalties and sanctions, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, joint, several or individual, asserted or unasserted, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, including those arising under or in connection with any Law or other pronouncements of Governmental Authorities having the effect of Law, Action, threatened Action, order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or any award of any arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, guarantee, commitment or undertaking, whether sought to be imposed by a Governmental Authority, private party, or Party, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, or otherwise, and including any costs, expenses, interest, attorneys fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, expert and consulting fees and costs related thereto or to the investigation or defense thereof.
Licensed Parent Information means information and data in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, that, immediately after the Effective Time, is owned by a Parent Group Member, that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, was used or held for use in the Aarons Business as established by reasonably sufficient evidence; provided that Licensed Parent Information does not include Patents, Trademarks, personally identifiable information (except as otherwise mutually agreed to by the relevant Parent Group Member and SpinCo), or customer, vendor and supplier lists that are protectible under trade secret laws, in each instance, that are owned by a Parent Group Member immediately after the Effective Time or any information or data that the Parent Group Member owner thereof would be prohibited from licensing to SpinCo under applicable Law, and provided further that in the event any Licensed Parent Information would also be Licensed Parent Other IP (under the definition of that term), such Licensed Parent Information shall be deemed to be Licensed Parent Other IP (and not Licensed Parent Information).
Licensed Parent Other IP means: (a) published and unpublished works of authorship and copyrights therein, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith; (b) software, data, databases and compilations of information; and (c) inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, shop rights, formulas, processes, developments, technology, designs, trade secrets and know-how that, immediately after the Effective Time, are owned by a Parent Group Member and, immediately prior to the Effective Time, were used or held for use in the Aarons Business as established by reasonably sufficient evidence; provided that Licensed Parent Other IP does not include Patents, Trademarks, personally identifiable information (except as otherwise mutually agreed to by the relevant Parent Group Member owner and SpinCo), or customer, vendor and supplier lists that are protectible under trade secret laws, in each instance, that are owned by a Parent Group Member immediately after the Effective Time or any other personal information or data that the Parent Group Member owner thereof would be prohibited from licensing to SpinCo under applicable Law.
Licensed SpinCo Information means information and data in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms that, immediately after the Effective Time, is owned by a SpinCo Group Member, that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, was used or held for use in the Progressive
8
Leasing and Vive Business as established by reasonably sufficient evidence; provided that Licensed SpinCo Information does not include Patents, Trademarks, personally identifiable information (except as otherwise mutually agreed to by the relevant SpinCo Group Member owner and Parent), or customer, vendor and supplier lists that are protectible under trade secret laws, in each instance, that are owned by a SpinCo Group Member immediately after the Effective Time or any information or data that the SpinCo Group Member owner thereof would be prohibited from licensing to Parent under applicable Law, and provided further that in the event any Licensed SpinCo Information would also be Licensed SpinCo Other IP (under the definition of that term), such Licensed SpinCo Information shall be deemed to be Licensed SpinCo Other IP (and not Licensed SpinCo Information).
Licensed SpinCo Other IP means: (a) published and unpublished works of authorship and copyrights therein, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith; (b) software, data, databases and compilations of information; and (c) inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, shop rights, formulas, processes, developments, technology, designs, trade secrets and know-how (that, immediately after the Effective Time, is owned by a SpinCo Group Member that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, was used or held for use in the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business as established by reasonably sufficient evidence; provided that Licensed SpinCo Other IP does not include Patents, Trademarks, personally identifiable information (except as otherwise mutually agreed to by the relevant SpinCo Group Member owner and Parent), or customer, vendor and supplier lists that are protectible under trade secret laws, in each instance, that are owned by a SpinCo Group Member immediately after the Effective Time or any other information or data that the SpinCo Group Member owner thereof would be prohibited from licensing to Parent under applicable Law.
New SpinCo Financing Arrangements means the SpinCo Credit Facility and such additional or alternative financing arrangements and agreements with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money as shall have been agreed by Parent and entered into by SpinCo prior to or at the Effective Time.
New Parent Financing Arrangements means the Parent Credit Facility and such additional or alternative financing arrangements and agreements with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money entered into by Parent prior to or at the Effective Time.
Non-Custodial Party has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b)(i).
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Other Intellectual Property means all rights, title or interest in, under or in respect of: (a) published and unpublished works of authorship and copyrights therein, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith; (b) software, data, databases and compilations of information; (c) inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, shop rights, formulas, processes, developments, technology, designs, trade secrets and know-how; (d) websites (including the layout, design and contents of the web pages and underlying codes); (e) sale, marketing, advertising and promotional materials; (f) social media user names, identifiers and profiles, and rights in telephone numbers; (g) rights of publicity and privacy, rights to personal information and moral rights; (h) all copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing (in whatever form or medium) that are in a Partys or its Group Members possession or control; (i) all rights pertaining to any of the foregoing arising under international treaties and convention rights; (j) the right and power to assert, defend and recover title to any of the foregoing; (k) all rights to assert, defend and recover for any past, present and future infringement, misuse, misappropriation, impairment, unauthorized use or other violation of any of the foregoing; and (l) all administrative rights and common law rights arising from the foregoing; provided that Other Intellectual Property does not include Patents or Trademarks.
9
Other Party Marks has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(a).
Parent has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Parent Accounts has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(a).
Parent Action means those Group Actions (a) primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Parent Assets, the Parent Liabilities or the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, including any shareholder derivative or securities class action primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Parent Assets, the Parent Liabilities or the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business which is (i) brought by any current or former equity security holder of the publicly traded equity securities of Parent or Aarons and (ii) arises exclusively from any acts, omissions, disclosures, or lack of disclosure occurring prior to the Effective Time, irrespective of the facts alleged, or (b) set forth on Section 1.01(a) of the Disclosure Schedules.
Parent Assets means any and all Assets of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time, other than the SpinCo Assets, including:
(a) all issued and outstanding equity interests of each Parent Group Member that are owned by either Party or any members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Parent Common Stock;
(b) all shares of capital stock or other equity interests held by any SpinCo Group Member in certain Business Entities that have been or shall be contributed to, or otherwise transferred, conveyed, or assigned to, the Parent Group as listed on Section 1.01(b) of the Disclosure Schedules;
(c) the Assets of either Party or its Group Members as of the Effective Time listed or described on Section 1.01(c) of the Disclosure Schedules (which for the avoidance of doubt is not a comprehensive listing of all Parent Assets and is not intended to limit the other clauses of this definition of Parent Assets);
(d) all Cash of either Party or its Group Members as of the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Minimum Cash and any SpinCo Third-Party Deposited Cash);
(e) any and all other Assets that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by or transferred to or owned by Parent or any other Parent Group Member;
(f) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time related to the Parent Portion of any Shared Contract;
(g) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time under the Parent Contracts;
(h) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to any Parent Intellectual Property;
(i) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to any Domain Names listed on Section 7.02(b) of the Disclosure Schedules;
10
(j) all other rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of their Group Members as of the Effective Time with respect to Information that is primarily related to the Parent Assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Parent Intellectual Property), the Parent Liabilities, the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business or the Parent Group Members, in each case as compared to the SpinCo Assets, SpinCo Liabilities, Aarons Business or SpinCo Group Members;
(k) a non-exclusive license to the Licensed SpinCo Information upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in Section 7.03(b) below;
(l) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to the real property listed on Section 1.01(d) of the Disclosure Schedules;
(m) the Assets of either Party or its Group Members as of the Effective Time relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Parent Action;
(n) all approvals, registrations, permits or authorizations of either Party or any its Group Members issued by any Governmental Authority as of the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Permits).
The Parties agree that all assets transferred pursuant to Section 2.02 shall be Parent Assets for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements regardless of when such assets are assumed by Parent or a Parent Group Member or designee.
Parent Common Stock means the common stock, $0.50 par value per share, of Parent.
Parent Contracts means all contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which either Party or any of its Group Members is a party or by which it or its Assets is bound, whether or not in writing, in each case immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Contracts).
Parent Derivative Works has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(b)(iii).
Parent Disclosure Sections means all information set forth in or omitted from the Form 10 or Information Statement and any other documents filed with the Commission to the extent relating to (a) the Parent Group, (b) the Parent Liabilities, (c) the Parent Assets or (d) the substantive disclosure set forth in the Form 10 and Information Statement relating to Parents board of directors consideration of the Spin-Off, including the section entitled Reasons for the Separation.
Parent Group means (a) Parent, (b) each Business Entity identified on Section 1.01(e) of the Disclosure Schedules and (c) each other Business Entity that is or becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent at or after the Effective Time, including in each case any such Business Entity that is formed or acquired after the date hereof or any Business Entity that is merged or consolidated with and into Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent, in each case, other than any SpinCo Group Member.
Parent Group Member means any Group Member of the Parent Group.
Parent Indemnitees has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02.
11
Parent Intellectual Property means (a) the Patents and Trademarks set forth on Section 1.01(f) of the Disclosure Schedules and any other Patents or Trademarks owned by either Party or any of its Group Members that, as of the Effective Time, are primarily used or held for use in the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, as compared to the Aarons Business; (b) the Other Intellectual Property owned by either Party or any of its Group Members that, as of the Effective Time, is primarily used or held for use in the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, as compared to the Aarons Business; (c) the rights to any Patents, Trademarks, and Other Intellectual Property that are exclusively allocated to Parent or a Parent Group Member pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement; and (d) a non-exclusive license, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.03(b) below, to the Licensed SpinCo Other IP.
Parent Liabilities means, without duplication, the following Liabilities of either Party or any of its Group Members (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Shared Action Liabilities:
(a) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), of any member of the Parent Group and, prior to the Effective Time, any member of the SpinCo Group, in each case that are not SpinCo Liabilities or Shared Action Liabilities;
(b) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Parent Portion of any Shared Contracts;
(c) the Liabilities listed or described on Section 1.01(g) of the Disclosure Schedules;
(d) all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed or retained by, or allocated to, any Parent Group Member, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any Parent Group Member under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(e) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements or the New Parent Financing Arrangements other than costs and expenses paid prior the Effective Time by SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member;
(f) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Parent Action;
(g) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to the Parent Disclosure Sections; and
(h) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by Third Parties (including Parents or SpinCos respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Parent Assets or the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business; provided, that this clause (h) shall not apply to any Shared Action Liabilities.
The Parties agree that all Liabilities transferred pursuant to Section 2.02 shall be Parent Liabilities for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements regardless of when such Liabilities are assumed by Parent or a Parent Group Member or designee.
12
Parent Credit Facility means a secured or unsecured credit facility to be entered into prior to the Distribution and in connection with the Separation, by and among a subsidiary of Parent, as borrower, an administrative agent, certain arrangers and each of the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, providing for a revolving credit facility in such amount as shall have been agreed by Parent.
Parent Licensed Purposes has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(b)(i).
Parent Portion has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
Parent Transfer Documents has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
Party has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Patents means (a) all national, regional and international patents and patent applications, including provisional patent applications; (b) all patent applications filed either from the patents, patent applications or provisional applications in clause (a) or from an application claiming priority from any of these, including divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, converted provisionals, and continued prosecution applications; (c) all patents that have issued or in the future issue from the foregoing patent applications specified in clauses (a) and (b), including utility models, petty patents, design patents, registered industrial designs, and certificates of invention; (d) all patent term extensions or restorations by existing or future extension or restoration mechanisms, including any supplementary protection certificates and the like, as well as any revalidations, reissues, re-examinations, oppositions and the like of the foregoing patents or patent applications specified in clauses (a), (b) and (c); (e) all similar rights, including so-called pipeline protection, or any importation, revalidation, confirmation or introduction patent or registration patent or patents of addition to each of such foregoing patent applications and patents; (f) the right and power to assert, defend and recover title to any of the foregoing; and (g) all rights to assert, defend and recover for any past, present and future infringement, misuse, misappropriation, impairment, unauthorized use or other violation of any of the foregoing.
Person means any (a) individual; (b) Business Entity; or (c) Governmental Authority.
Plan of Reorganization means the reorganization plan and structure set forth on Schedule II.
Prime Rate means the rate that Bloomberg displays as Prime Rate by Country United States at http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/rates-bonds/key-rates/ or on a Bloomberg terminal at PRIMBB Index.
Privileged Information means any information, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including any communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), as to which a Party or its respective Group Members would be entitled to assert or have asserted a privilege or immunity, including the attorney-client privilege and attorney work product protection.
Progressive Leasing and Vive Business means all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their respective Group Members, other than the Aarons Business.
Providing Party has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
13
Record Date means the close of business on the date to be determined by the Parent board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, as the record date for determining the shareholders of Parent entitled to receive shares of SpinCo Common Stock in the Distribution, as determined in accordance with Section 4.03.
Record Holders has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
Records Facility has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b)(i).
Release shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata).
Representative has the meaning set forth in Section 6.09(a).
Requesting Party has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
Retained Information has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(a).
Security Interest means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.
Separation means (a) the Internal Reorganization, (b) any actions to be taken pursuant to ARTICLE II and (c) any other transfers of Assets and assumptions of Liabilities, in each case, between a Group Member of one Group and a Group Member of the other Group, provided for in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement.
Shared Action means any of the following:
(a) any Third-Party Claim (i) that first arises after the Effective Time (A) and in respect of which the loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to any Third-Party Claim existed or occurred prior to the Effective Time, or (B) and relates to, arises out of or results from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time, including any shareholder derivative or securities class action (x) brought by any current or former equity security holder of the publicly traded equity securities of Parent or Aarons and (y) arising exclusively from any acts, omissions, disclosures, or lack of disclosure occurring prior to the Effective Time, irrespective of the facts alleged, and (ii) that is not a Parent Action or a SpinCo Action; and
(b) any Third-Party Claim relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Action by any Third Party, including any shareholder derivative action, asserted against any member of either Group directly based on any act or omission, or alleged act or omission, taken to effect the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, other than any Third-Party Claims which constitute Liabilities under clause (h) of the definition of SpinCo Liabilities and clause (g) of the definition of Parent Liabilities and
(c) any Actions set forth in Schedule III.
Shared Action Liability means any Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Shared Action.
14
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Shared Actions Liabilities shall not include any Liabilities governed by the TMA or the EMA.
Shared Contract means any contract or agreement of any member of either Group (a) that is set forth on Section 1.01(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, or (b)(i) that relates in any material respect to both the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and the Aarons Business, and (ii) either (A) that the Parties specifically intended to amend or divide, modify, partially assign or replicate (in whole or in part) the respective rights and obligations under and in respect of such contract or agreement prior to the Effective Time, but were not able to do so prior to the Effective Time, or (B) the existence of which either Party discovers prior to the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Distribution and had the Parties given specific consideration to such contract or agreement they would have amended or divided, modified, partially assigned or replicated (in whole or in part) the respective rights and obligations under and in respect of such contract or agreement.
Shared Privileges has the meaning set forth in Section 6.08(d).
SpinCo has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
SpinCo Accounts has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(a).
SpinCo Action means those Group Actions (a) primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Assets, the SpinCo Liabilities or the Aarons Business, including any shareholder derivative or securities class action primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Assets, the Spinco Liabilities or the Aarons Business which is (i) brought by any current or former equity security holder of the publicly traded equity securities of Parent or Aarons and (ii) arises exclusively from any acts, omissions, disclosures, or lack of disclosure occurring prior to the Effective Time, irrespective of the facts alleged or (b) set forth on Section 1.01(i) of the Disclosure Schedules.
SpinCo Assets means, without duplication, only the following Assets:
(a) all issued and outstanding equity interests of each SpinCo Group Member that are owned by either Party or any members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than the SpinCo Common Stock;
(b) except with respect to any Assets constituting Cash, all Assets of either Party or its Group Members as of the Effective Time reflected as assets of SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member on the SpinCo Balance Sheet, and all Assets acquired after the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet that, had they been acquired on or before such date and owned as of such date, would have been included or reflected on the SpinCo Balance Sheet if prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, subject to any dispositions of such Assets subsequent to the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet; it being understood that (i) the SpinCo Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Assets that are included in the definition of SpinCo Assets pursuant to this clause (c); and (ii) the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of SpinCo Assets pursuant to this clause (c);
(c) (i) the SpinCo Minimum Cash and (ii) any Cash that is restricted as to withdrawal or usage by a Third Party pursuant to a SpinCo Contract, including lease deposits with landlords (SpinCo Third-Party Deposited Cash);
15
(d) the Assets listed or described on Section 1.01(j) of the Disclosure Schedules (which for the avoidance of doubt is not a comprehensive listing of all SpinCo Assets and is not intended to limit the other clauses of this definition of SpinCo Assets);
(e) any and all other Assets of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by or assigned or allocated to SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member;
(f) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time related to the SpinCo Portion of any Shared Contract;
(g) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time under the SpinCo Contracts;
(h) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to any SpinCo Intellectual Property;
(i) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to any Domain Names listed on Section 7.02(a) of the Disclosure Schedules;
(j) all other rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of their Group Members as of the Effective Time with respect to Information that is primarily related to the SpinCo Assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the SpinCo Intellectual Property), the SpinCo Liabilities, the Aarons Business or the SpinCo Group Members, in each case as compared to the Parent Assets, Parent Liabilities, Progressive Leasing and Vive Business or Parent Group Members;
(k) a non-exclusive license to the Licensed Parent Information upon the terms and subject to the conditions set out in Section 7.03(c) below;
(l) any and all rights, title or interests in, and claims thereto, of either Party or any of its Group Members as of the Effective Time to the real property described or listed on Section 1.01(k) of the Disclosure Schedules (the SpinCo Real Property);
(m) the Assets of either Party or its Group Members as of the Effective Time relating to, arising out of or resulting from any SpinCo Action;
(n) all approvals, registrations, permits or authorizations issued by any Governmental Authority as of the Effective Time that relate primarily to the Aarons Business or the SpinCo Assets, as compared to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business or the Parent Assets (the SpinCo Permits); and
(o) except with respect to any Assets constituting Cash, all other Assets owned or held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that are determined by Parent, in good faith prior to the Distribution, to be primarily related to or primarily used in the Aarons Business.
The Parties agree that all assets transferred pursuant to Section 2.02 shall be SpinCo Assets for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements regardless of when such assets are assumed by SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member or designee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the SpinCo Assets shall not in any event include any Asset referred to in clauses (a) through (m) of the definition of Parent Assets.
16
SpinCo Balance Sheet means the pro forma combined balance sheet of the Aarons Business, including the notes thereto, as of September 30, 2020, included in the Information Statement.
SpinCo Common Stock means the common stock, $0.50 par value per share, of SpinCo.
SpinCo Contract means the following contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which either Party or any of its Group Members is a party or by which it or its Assets is bound, whether or not in writing, in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time:
(a) (i) any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding listed on Section 1.01(l) of the Disclosure Schedules and (ii) any other contract, agreement, commitment or understanding that relates primarily to the Aarons Business as compared to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business (other than Parent Assets arising under any Shared Contracts);
(b) any guarantee, indemnity, representation or warranty of any SpinCo Group Member or Parent Group Member in respect of any other SpinCo Contract, any SpinCo Liability or the Aarons Business;
(c) any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding that relates primarily to any SpinCo Intellectual Property or pursuant to which either Party or any of its Group Members is licensed or sublicensed an interest in any Patents, Trademarks, or Other Intellectual Property primarily used or held for use in the Aarons Business;
(d) any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance, incentive bonus or other similar agreements with any employee, contractor or consultant of SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member, including those change of control agreements set forth on Section 1.01(m) of the Disclosure Schedules; and
(e) any other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding or portion thereof that is otherwise expressly provided pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be assigned to SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member;
provided, however, that: (i) such contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are expressly provided to be retained by Parent or a Parent Group Member pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be SpinCo Contracts; (ii) such contracts, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that relate to debt instruments, insurance arrangements, or employee benefit plans or programs shall be SpinCo Contracts only to the extent expressly provided for under the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and (iii) the rights and obligations of Parent and the Parent Group Members under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall not be SpinCo Contracts.
SpinCo Credit Facility means a secured or unsecured credit facility to be entered into prior to the Distribution and in connection with the Separation, by and among a subsidiary of SpinCo, as borrower, an administrative agent, certain arrangers and each of the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, providing for a revolving credit facility in such amount as shall have been agreed by Parent.
SpinCo Derivative Works has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(c)(iii).
17
SpinCo Group means (a) SpinCo, (b) each Business Entity identified on Section 1.01(n) of the Disclosure Schedules, (c) each Business Entity that is or becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of SpinCo as of the Effective Time (after giving effect to the Internal Reorganization) and (d) each Business Entity that becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of SpinCo after the Effective Time, including in each case any such Business Entity that is formed or acquired after the date hereof or any Business Entity that is merged or consolidated with and into SpinCo or any Subsidiary of SpinCo.
SpinCo Group Member means any Group Member of the SpinCo Group, including for the avoidance of doubt, Aarons.
SpinCo Indemnitees has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03.
SpinCo Intellectual Property means: (a) the Patents and Trademarks set forth on Section 1.01(o) of the Disclosure Schedules, and any other Patents and Trademarks owned by either Party or any of its Group Members that, as of the Effective Time, are primarily used or held for use in the Aarons Business, as compared to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business; (b) the Other Intellectual Property owned by either Party or any of its Group Members that, as of the Effective Time, is primarily used or held for use in the Aarons Business, as compared to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business; (c) the rights to any Trademarks, and Other Intellectual Property that are exclusively allocated to SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement; and (d) a non-exclusive license, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 7.03(c) below, to the Licensed Parent Other IP.
SpinCo Liabilities means, without duplication, the following Liabilities of either Party or any of its Group Members (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Shared Action Liabilities):
(a) all Liabilities reflected as liabilities or obligations on the SpinCo Balance Sheet, and all Liabilities arising or assumed after the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet that, had they arisen or been assumed on or before such date and been existing obligations as of such date, would have been included or reflected on the SpinCo Balance Sheet if prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, subject to any discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet; it being understood that (i) the SpinCo Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Liabilities that are included in the definition of SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to this clause (a); and (ii) the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to this clause (a);
(b) all Liabilities, including any Environmental Liabilities, relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case, to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from the Aarons Business or a SpinCo Asset; provided, that this clause (b) shall not apply to any Shared Action Liabilities;
(c) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Contracts, any SpinCo real property or facility, the SpinCo Intellectual Property, the SpinCo Permits, the SpinCo Real Property or the SpinCo Portion of any Shared Contract;
(d) the Liabilities listed or described on Section 1.01(p) of the Disclosure Schedules;
(e) all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed or retained by, or allocated to, any SpinCo Group Member, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any SpinCo Group Member under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
18
(f) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the New SpinCo Financing Arrangements other than costs and expenses paid prior to the Effective Time by Parent or a Parent Group Member;
(g) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any SpinCo Action;
(h) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Form 10 and Information Statement and any other documents filed with the Commission in connection with the Spin-Off, other than with respect to the Parent Disclosure Sections; and
(i) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by Third Parties (including Parents or SpinCos respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any Parent Group Member or SpinCo Group Member to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Assets, the Aarons Business or the other businesses, operations, activities or Liabilities referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above; provided, that this clause (i) shall not apply to any Shared Action Liabilities.
The Parties agree that all Liabilities transferred pursuant to Section 2.02 shall be SpinCo Liabilities for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements regardless of when such Liabilities are assumed by SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member or designee.
SpinCo Licensed Purposes has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(c)(i).
SpinCo Minimum Cash means, as of immediately before the Effective Time on the Distribution Date, an amount of Cash equal to approximately the SpinCo Minimum Cash Amount.
SpinCo Minimum Cash Amount means the amount set forth on Schedule IV.
SpinCo Permits has the meaning set forth in the definition of SpinCo Assets.
SpinCo Portion has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
SpinCo Real Property has the meaning set forth in the definition of SpinCo Assets.
SpinCo Third-Party Deposited Cash has the meaning set forth in the definition of SpinCo Assets.
SpinCo Transfer Documents has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
Spin-Off means the Separation and the Distribution.
Stored Records has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b)(i).
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any Business Entity of which such Person: (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 50% of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Business Entity; (ii) the total combined equity interests; or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership; or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.
19
TAA means the Technology Assignment Agreement to be entered into by and between Parent (and/or a Parent Group Member) and SpinCo (and/or a SpinCo Group Member) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Tangible Information means Information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.
Tax or Taxes has the meaning set forth in the TMA.
Tax Law has the meaning set forth in the TMA.
Tax Return has the meaning set forth in the TMA.
Third Party means a Person that is not a Parent Group Member or a SpinCo Group Member.
Third-Party Claim means any assertion by a Third Party of any claim, or the commencement by any Third Party of any Action, against any Parent Group Member or SpinCo Group Member.
Third-Party Proceeds has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
TMA means the Tax Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Parent and SpinCo in connection with the Separation, the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
TSA means the Transition Services Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement between Parent and SpinCo.
Trademarks means (a) all trademarks, trade names, brand names, domain names, service marks, trade dress, logos and all other source indicators, including all goodwill associated therewith, (b) the right and power to assert, defend and recover title to any of the foregoing; (c) all rights to assert, defend and recover for any past, present and future infringement, dilution, misuse, misappropriation, impairment, unauthorized use or other violation of any of the foregoing, and (d) all applications, registrations, renewals and common law rights in connection therewith.
Transfer Documents has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
Transition Committee has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION
Section 2.01. Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities.
(a) The Parties acknowledge that the Separation is intended to result in the SpinCo Group owning the SpinCo Assets and assuming the SpinCo Liabilities, and the Parent Group owning the Parent Assets and assuming the Parent Liabilities, as set forth below in this ARTICLE II and in the applicable Ancillary Agreements. Prior to the Distribution and subject to Section 2.01(e), Section 2.02 and Section 2.04, in accordance with the Internal Reorganization Documents, to the extent not previously effected prior to the date hereof pursuant to the Internal Reorganization and to the extent that the Internal Reorganization Documents do not otherwise provide:
20
(i) Parent shall, and shall cause any Business Entity that shall be a Parent Group Member as of or after the Effective Time to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to SpinCo or a Business Entity designated by SpinCo that shall be a SpinCo Group Member as of or after the Effective Time, and SpinCo or such SpinCo designee shall accept from Parent and the applicable Parent Group Members, all of Parents and such Parent Group Members respective direct or indirect rights, title and interest in and to all of the SpinCo Assets held by Parent or a Parent Group Member, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in the SpinCo Group Members (other than SpinCo), which shall result in SpinCo owning directly or indirectly all of the SpinCo Group Members (it being understood that if a SpinCo Asset shall be held by a SpinCo Group Member, unless otherwise contemplated by the Internal Reorganization Documents, such SpinCo Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered for all purposes hereunder as a result of the transfer of all or substantially all of the equity interests in such SpinCo Group Member to SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member).
(ii) SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member(s) shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the SpinCo Liabilities held by Parent or any Parent Group Member, and SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member(s) shall be responsible for all of the SpinCo Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms (it being understood that if a SpinCo Liability shall be a Liability of a SpinCo Group Member, unless otherwise provided by the Internal Reorganization Documents, such SpinCo Liability may be assumed for all purposes hereunder as a result of the transfer of all or substantially all of the equity interests in such SpinCo Group Member by SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member), without regard for the manner in which or circumstances under which such SpinCo Liabilities arose or against whom they are asserted. SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member(s) shall be responsible for all SpinCo Liabilities, regardless of when or where such SpinCo Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to, at or after the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such SpinCo Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such SpinCo Liabilities arising out of claims made by Parents or SpinCos respective Group Members or Affiliates or by Representatives of Parent or SpinCo or their respective Group Members or Affiliates against either Party or any of its Group Members or Affiliates) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether relating to, arising out of or resulting from or alleged to relate to, arise out of or result from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by either Party or any of its Group Members or Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives.
(iii) Parent and SpinCo shall cause SpinCo and any Business Entity that shall be a SpinCo Group Member as of or after the Effective Time to contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Parent or a Business Entity designated by Parent that shall be a Parent Group Member as of or after the Effective Time, and Parent or such Parent designee shall accept from SpinCo and the applicable SpinCo Group Members, all of SpinCos and such SpinCo Group Members respective direct or indirect rights, title and interest in and to all Parent Assets held by a SpinCo Group Member, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in the Parent Group Members (other than Parent), which shall result in Parent owning directly or indirectly (other than through SpinCo or any SpinCo Group Member) all of the Parent Group Members (it being understood that if a Parent Asset shall be held by a Parent Group Member, unless otherwise provided by the Internal Reorganization Documents, such Parent Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered for all purposes hereunder as a result of the transfer of all or substantially all of the equity interests in such Parent Group Member to Parent or another Parent Group Member).
21
(iv) Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member(s) shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill, all of the Parent Liabilities held by any SpinCo Group Member, and Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member(s) shall be responsible for all of the Parent Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms (it being understood that if a Parent Liability shall be a Liability of a Parent Group Member, unless otherwise provided by the Internal Reorganization Documents, such Parent Liability may be assumed for all purposes hereunder as a result of the transfer of all or substantially all of the equity interests in such Parent Group Member by Parent or another Parent Group Member), without regard for the manner in which or circumstances under which such Parent Liabilities arose or against whom they are asserted. Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member(s) shall be responsible for all Parent Liabilities, regardless of when or where such Parent Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to, at or after the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such Parent Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such Parent Liabilities arising out of claims made by Parents or SpinCos respective Group Members or Affiliates or by Representatives of Parent or SpinCo or their respective Group Members or Affiliates against either Party or any of its Group Members or Affiliates) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether relating to, arising out of or resulting from or alleged to relate to, arise out of or result from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by either Party or any of its Group Members or Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives.
(b) In furtherance of the assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery of the SpinCo Assets and the assumption of the SpinCo Liabilities in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(i) and Section 2.01(a)(ii): (i) Parent shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the other Parent Group Members to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment (including assignments of Patents, Trademarks or domain names) as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of Parents and the other Parent Group Members (other than SpinCo and the other SpinCo Group Members) right, title and interest in and to the SpinCo Assets to SpinCo and the SpinCo Group Members, and (ii) SpinCo shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the other SpinCo Group Members to execute and deliver, such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the SpinCo Liabilities by SpinCo and the SpinCo Group Members. All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.01(b) shall be referred to collectively herein as the Parent Transfer Documents.
(c) In furtherance of the assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery of Parent Assets and the assumption of Parent Liabilities in accordance with Section 2.01(a)(iii) and Section 2.01(a)(iv): (i) SpinCo shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the other SpinCo Group Members to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment (including assignments of Patents, Trademarks or domain names) as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of SpinCos and the other SpinCo Group Members right, title and interest in and to the Parent Assets to Parent and the Parent Group Members, and (ii) Parent shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the other Parent Group Members to execute and deliver, such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Parent Liabilities by Parent and the Parent Group Members. All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.01(c) shall be referred to collectively herein as the SpinCo Transfer Documents and, together with the Parent Transfer Documents, the Transfer Documents.
(d) Except to the extent otherwise provided by Section 2.02, in the event that it is discovered after the Effective Time that there was an omission of (i) the transfer or conveyance by SpinCo (or a SpinCo Group Member) or the acceptance or assumption by Parent (or a Parent Group Member) of any Parent Asset or Parent Liability, as the case may be, or (ii) the transfer or conveyance by Parent (or a Parent Group Member) or the acceptance or assumption by SpinCo (or a SpinCo Group Member) of any SpinCo Asset or SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly effect such transfer, conveyance, acceptance or assumption of such Asset or Liability. Any transfer, conveyance, acceptance or assumption made pursuant to this Section 2.01(d) shall be treated by the Parties for all purposes as if it had occurred immediately prior to the Effective Time, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.
22
(e) Except to the extent otherwise provided by Section 2.02, in the event that it is discovered after the Effective Time that there was (i) a transfer or conveyance by SpinCo (or a SpinCo Group Member) or the acceptance or assumption by Parent (or a Parent Group Member) of any SpinCo Asset or SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, or (ii) a transfer or conveyance by Parent (or a Parent Group Member) or the acceptance or assumption by SpinCo (or a SpinCo Group Member) of any Parent Asset or Parent Liability, as the case may be, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly transfer or convey such Asset back to the transferring or conveying Party or to rescind any acceptance or assumption of such Liability, as the case may be. Any transfer or conveyance made or acceptance or assumption rescinded pursuant to this Section 2.01(e) shall be treated by the Parties for all purposes as if such Asset or Liability had never been originally transferred, conveyed, accepted or assumed, as the case may be, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.
Section 2.02. Nonassignable Contracts and Permits.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any Asset or Liability if an assignment or attempted assignment of the same without the consent of another Person would constitute a breach thereof or in any way impair the rights of a Party thereunder or give to any Third Party any rights with respect thereto. If any such consent is not obtained or if an attempted assignment would be ineffective or would impair such partys rights under any such Asset or Liability so that the party entitled to the benefits and responsibilities of such purported transfer (the Intended Transferee) would not receive all such rights and responsibilities, then (i) the party purporting to make such transfer (the Intended Transferor) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or cause to be provided to the Intended Transferee, to the extent permitted by Law, the benefits of any such Asset or Liability and the Intended Transferor shall promptly pay or cause to be paid to the Intended Transferee when received all moneys received by the Intended Transferor with respect to any such Asset and (ii) in consideration thereof the Intended Transferee shall pay, perform and discharge on behalf of the Intended Transferor all of the Intended Transferors Liabilities thereunder in a timely manner and in accordance with the terms thereof which it may do without breach and, at the Intended Transferors request, the Intended Transferee shall promptly reimburse or prepay (at the Intended Transferors election) the Intended Transferor for all amounts paid or due by the Intended Transferor on behalf of the Intended Transferee with respect to such non-assignable Asset or Liability. In addition, the Intended Transferor and the Intended Transferee shall each take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the other Party in order to place the other Party, insofar as reasonably possible, in the same position as if such Asset had been transferred as provided hereby and so all the benefits and burdens relating thereto, including possession, use, risk of loss, Liability, potential for gain and dominion, control and command, shall inure to the Intended Transferee.
(b) If and when such consents and approvals are obtained, the transfer of the applicable Asset shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 2.03. Certain Matters Governed Exclusively by Ancillary Agreements. Each of Parent and SpinCo agrees on behalf of itself and its Group Members that, except as explicitly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (a) the TMA shall exclusively govern all matters relating to Taxes between such parties (including the control of Tax related proceedings), (b) the EMA shall exclusively govern the allocation of Assets and Liabilities related to the employee and employee benefits-related matters described therein, including the existing equity plans with respect to employees and former employees of Group Members of both the Parent Group and the SpinCo Group (it being
23
understood that any such Assets and Liabilities, as allocated pursuant to the EMA, shall constitute SpinCo Assets, SpinCo Liabilities, Parent Assets or Parent Liabilities, as applicable, hereunder and shall be subject to ARTICLE V hereof), (c) the TSA shall exclusively govern all matters relating to the provision of certain services identified therein to be provided by each Party to the other on a transitional basis following the Distribution, and (d) the TAA shall exclusively govern all matters relating to ownership of certain proprietary software identified therein. In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and the referenced agreements in relation to any matters addressed by the referenced agreements, the referenced agreements shall control.
Section 2.04. Termination of Agreements.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.04(b) or as otherwise provided in the Internal Reorganization Documents, in furtherance of the releases and other provisions of Section 6.01, effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, SpinCo and each other SpinCo Group Member, on the one hand, and Parent and each other Parent Group Member, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments and understandings, oral or written, entered into prior to the Effective Time, between or among Parent and/or any other Parent Group Member, on the one hand, and SpinCo and/or any other SpinCo Group Member, on the other hand, as to which there are no Third Parties (Intercompany Agreements), including all intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable between or among Parent and/or any other Parent Group Member, on the one hand, and SpinCo and/or any other SpinCo Group Member, on the other hand (Intercompany Accounts); provided that the provisions of this Section 2.04(a) shall not terminate any rights or obligations (i) between or among Parent and any of the Parent Group Members; or (ii) between or among SpinCo and any of the SpinCo Group Members. No such terminated Intercompany Agreement (including any provision thereof that purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Effective Time. Each Party shall, at the reasonable request of the other Party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing. The Parties, on behalf of their respective Group Members, hereby waive any advance notice provision or other termination requirements with respect to any Intercompany Agreement.
(b) The provisions of Section 2.04(a) shall not apply to any of the following Intercompany Agreements (or to any of the provisions thereof): (i) the Intercompany Agreements and Intercompany Accounts listed or described on Section 2.04(b) of the Disclosure Schedules; (ii) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other Intercompany Agreement expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by either Party or any other Group Member of its Group or to be continued from and after the Effective Time); (iii) any Intercompany Agreements or Intercompany Accounts to which any Third Party is a party; (iv) any Shared Contracts; and (v) any other Intercompany Agreements that this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement expressly contemplates will survive the Effective Time. To the extent that the rights and obligations of Parent or another Parent Group Member under any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings not terminated under this Section 2.04(b) constitute SpinCo Assets or SpinCo Liabilities, they shall be assigned or assumed by SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member or designee pursuant to this Agreement. To the extent that the rights and obligations of SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member under any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings not terminated under this Section 2.04(b) constitute Parent Assets or Parent Liabilities, they shall be assigned or assumed by Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member or designee pursuant to this Agreement.
24
Section 2.05. Shared Contracts.
(a) The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Group Members to, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to work together (and, if necessary and desirable, to work with the Third Party to such Shared Contract) in an effort to divide, partially assign, modify and/or replicate (in whole or in part) the respective rights and obligations under and in respect of any Shared Contract, such that (i) a SpinCo Group Member is the beneficiary of the rights and is responsible for the obligations related to that portion of such Shared Contract relating to the Aarons Business (the SpinCo Portion), which rights shall be a SpinCo Asset and which obligations shall be a SpinCo Liability and (ii) a Parent Group Member is the beneficiary of the rights and is responsible for the obligations related to such Shared Contract not relating to the Aarons Business (the Parent Portion), which rights shall be a Parent Asset and which obligations shall be a Parent Liability. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the division, partial assignment, modification or replication of a Shared Contract unless and until any necessary Consents are obtained or made, as applicable. If the Parties, or their respective Group Members, as applicable, are not able to enter into an arrangement to formally divide, partially assign, modify and/or replicate such Shared Contract prior to the Effective Time as contemplated by the previous sentence, then the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Group Members to, cooperate in any reasonable and permissible arrangement to provide that, following the Effective Time and until the earlier of one year after the Distribution Date and such time as the formal division, partial assignment, modification and/or replication of such Shared Contract as contemplated by the previous sentence is effected, (A) the Assets associated with the SpinCo Portion of such Shared Contract shall be enjoyed by SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member; (B) the Liabilities associated with the SpinCo Portion of such Shared Contract shall be borne by SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member; (C) the Assets associated with the Parent Portion of such Shared Contract shall be enjoyed by Parent or another Parent Group Member; and (D) the Liabilities associated with the Parent Portion of such Shared Contract shall be borne by Parent or another Parent Group Member.
(b) Each of Parent and SpinCo shall, and shall cause its Group Members to, (i) treat for all relevant Tax purposes the portion of each Shared Contract inuring to its respective businesses as Assets owned by, and/or Liabilities of, as applicable, such Party, or its Group Members, as applicable, not later than the Effective Time, and (ii) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by applicable Law).
(c) Nothing in this Section 2.05 shall require any member of any Group to make any non-de minimis payment (except to the extent advanced, assumed or agreed in advance to be reimbursed by any member of the other Group), incur any non-de minimis obligation or grant any non-de minimis concession for the benefit of any member of any other Group in order to effect any transaction contemplated by this Section 2.05.
Section 2.06. Bank Accounts; Checks.
(a) Parent and SpinCo each agrees to take, or cause their respective Group Members to take, prior to the Effective Time, all actions necessary to amend all SpinCo Contracts governing each bank and brokerage account owned by any SpinCo Group Member (collectively, the SpinCo Accounts), so that such SpinCo Accounts, if currently linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter linked) to any bank or brokerage account owned by Parent or another Parent Group Member (collectively, the Parent Accounts) are de-linked from the Parent Accounts effective at or prior to the Effective Time.
(b) With respect to any outstanding checks issued by Parent, SpinCo, or any of their respective Group Members prior to the Effective Time, such outstanding checks shall be honored following the Effective Time by the Person owning the account on which the check is drawn.
25
(c) As between Parent and SpinCo (and their respective Group Members) all payments and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by either Party (or any of its respective Group Members) in respect or satisfaction of a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or any of its respective Group Members), shall be held by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto and, as promptly as commercially practicable or as otherwise agreed between the Parties, upon receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause its applicable Group Member to pay over, to the other Party the amount of such payment or reimbursement.
Section 2.07. Novation of Liabilities; Release of Guarantees.
(a) Novation of SpinCo Liabilities.
(i) Each of Parent and SpinCo, at the request of the other Party, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all SpinCo Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of Parent and each other Parent Group Member that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, SpinCo and the designated SpinCo Group Members shall be solely responsible for such SpinCo Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, neither Parent nor SpinCo (nor any of their respective Group Members) shall be obligated to contribute any capital, pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees to a Governmental Authority from whom such Consents, substitutions, approvals, amendments, terminations or releases are requested.
(ii) If Parent or SpinCo is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release, Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member shall continue to be bound by such arrangement and, unless not permitted by the terms thereof or by Law, SpinCo shall, as agent or subcontractor for Parent or such Parent Group Member, as the case may be, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of Parent or such Parent Group Member, as the case may be, that constitute SpinCo Liabilities thereunder from and after the Effective Time. Parent shall cause each Parent Group Member without further consideration, to pay and remit, or cause to be paid or remitted, to SpinCo, promptly all money, rights and other consideration received by it or another Parent Group Member in respect of SpinCos performance as agent or subcontractor for Parent or such Parent Group Member, as the case may be, with respect to such Liabilities of Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member (unless any such consideration is a Parent Asset). If and when any such Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release shall be obtained or the obligations under such arrangements shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Parent or the applicable Parent Group Member shall promptly assign or novate, or cause to be assigned or novated, all its obligations and other Liabilities thereunder or any obligations of Parent or a Parent Group Member to SpinCo or its designated SpinCo Group Member without payment of further consideration and SpinCo or such SpinCo Group Member shall, without the payment of any further consideration, assume such obligations.
(b) Novation of Parent Liabilities.
(i) Each of Parent and SpinCo, at the request of the other Party, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all Parent Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of SpinCo and each other SpinCo Group Member that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, Parent and the designated Parent Group Member shall be solely responsible for such Parent Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, neither Parent nor SpinCo (nor any of their respective Group Members) shall be obligated to contribute any capital, pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees to a Governmental Authority from whom such Consents, substitutions, approvals, amendments, terminations or releases are requested.
26
(ii) If Parent or SpinCo is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release, SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member shall continue to be bound by such arrangement and, unless not permitted by the terms thereof or by Law, Parent shall, as agent or subcontractor for SpinCo or such SpinCo Group Member, as the case may be, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of SpinCo or such SpinCo Group Member, as the case may be, that constitute Parent Liabilities, thereunder from and after the Effective Time. SpinCo shall cause each SpinCo Group Member without further consideration, to pay and remit, or cause to be paid or remitted, to Parent, promptly all money, rights and other consideration received by it or a SpinCo Group Member in respect of Parents performance as agent or subcontractor for SpinCo or such SpinCo Group Member, as the case may be, with respect to such Liabilities of SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member (unless any such consideration is a SpinCo Asset). If and when any such Consent, substitution, approval, amendment, termination or release shall be obtained or the obligations under such arrangements shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group Member shall promptly assign or novate, or cause to be assigned or novated, all its obligations and other Liabilities thereunder or any obligations of SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member to Parent or its designated Parent Group Member without payment of further consideration and Parent or such Parent Group Member shall, without the payment of any further consideration, assume such obligations.
Section 2.08. Provision of Corporate Records.
(a) Without limitation of the Parties rights and obligations pursuant to ARTICLE VI, prior to or as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to SpinCo all corporate books and records of the SpinCo Group Members in its or its Group Members possession or control that are SpinCo Assets.
(b) Without limitation of the Parties rights and obligations pursuant to ARTICLE VI, prior to or as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, SpinCo shall deliver to Parent all corporate books and records of the Parent Group Members in its or its Group Members possession or control that are Parent Assets
Section 2.09. Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties; Waiver of Bulk-Sale and Bulk-Transfer Laws.
(a) EACH OF PARENT (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH PARENT GROUP MEMBER) AND SPINCO (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH SPINCO GROUP MEMBER) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, IS: (X) REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR THERETO IN ANY WAY AS TO (I) THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED, LICENSED OR ASSUMED AS PROVIDED HEREBY OR THEREBY; (II) ANY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH; (III) THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY; (IV) THE ABSENCE OR PRESENCE OF ANY DEFENSES TO OR RIGHT OF SETOFF AGAINST OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROCEEDING OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF EITHER PARTY; OR (V) THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENTS OR ANY OTHER
27
ANCILLARY AGREEMENT TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING OF SUCH CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENTS OR SUCH OTHER ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS; OR (Y) MAKING ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR GRANTING ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, OR EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF CONDITION, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE, TITLE, VALUE, FREEDOM FROM ENCUMBRANCE OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ANY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN OR ON, OR DISPOSED OR DISCHARGED FROM, SUCH ASSETS, OR ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE VALIDITY OF ANY PATENTS OR THE NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED OR LICENSED ON AN AS IS, WHERE IS BASIS AND WITH ALL FAULTS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM OF DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES OR LICENSEES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (A) ANY CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION INSTRUMENT OR ANY OTHER ANCILLARY AGREEMENT MAY PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL SECURITY INTERESTS; AND (B) ANY NECESSARY CONSENTS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS, AGREEMENTS, SECURITY INTERESTS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH. EACH OF PARENT (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH PARENT GROUP MEMBER) AND SPINCO (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH SPINCO GROUP MEMBER) HEREBY NEGATES ANY RIGHTS OF THE OTHER PARTY AND ITS GROUP MEMBERS UNDER STATUTES TO CLAIM DIMINUTION OF CONSIDERATION AND ANY CLAIMS BY SUCH OTHER PARTY FOR DAMAGES BECAUSE OF REDHIBITORY VICES OR DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, IT BEING THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES HERETO THAT ALL BUSINESSES, ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND BUSINESS ENTITIES TRANSFERRED HEREUNDER ARE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE APPLICABLE RECEIVING PARTY HEREUNDER IN THEIR PRESENT CONDITION.
(b) SpinCo hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every other SpinCo Group Member with the requirements and provisions of any bulk-sale or bulk transfer Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the SpinCo Assets to SpinCo or another SpinCo Group Member.
(c) Parent hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every other Parent Group Member with the requirements and provisions of any bulk-sale or bulk transfer Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any and all of the Parent Assets to Parent or a Parent Group Member.
Section 2.10. Financing Arrangements; SpinCo Minimum Cash.
(a) Prior to or effective as of the Effective Time, (a) SpinCo shall enter into the New SpinCo Financing Arrangements, (b) Parent shall repay, or cause to be repaid, in full all amounts owed by Parent or its Subsidiaries under the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements, and (c) Parent shall enter into the New Parent Financing Arrangements. Parent and SpinCo agree to take all necessary actions to assure the full release and discharge of (i) Parent and the other Parent Group Members from any obligations of Parent or any other Parent Group Member applicable to them pursuant to the New SpinCo Financing
28
Arrangements as of no later than the Effective Time, and (ii) SpinCo and the other SpinCo Group Members from any obligations of SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member applicable to them pursuant to the New Parent Financing Arrangements or the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements, in each case as of no later than the Effective Time.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, and in connection with the entrance into the New Parent Financing Arrangements, Parent shall have the right to use all available Cash of the Parent Group and the SpinCo Group for purposes of repaying in full the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements, provided, however, that as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, SpinCo and the SpinCo Group Members shall have, in the aggregate, a Cash balance equal to the SpinCo Minimum Cash. Prior to the Effective Time, SpinCo and Parent shall, or shall cause their respective Group Members to, transfer (including by one (1) or more transfers or capital contributions), to the other Party (or their respective Group Members), as the case may be, Cash such that SpinCo and the SpinCo Group Members shall have, in the aggregate, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time a Cash balance equal to, but not in excess of, the SpinCo Minimum Cash. Any remaining Cash held by the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any SpinCo Third-Party Deposit Cash), after taking into account the transfers contemplated by this Section 2.10(b) and establishing the SpinCo Minimum Cash with SpinCo, shall be deemed to be a Parent Asset as of the Effective Time.
Section 2.11. Transition Committee. Prior to or after the Effective Time, the Parties may establish a transition committee (the Transition Committee) consisting of an equal number of members from Parent and SpinCo. To the extent determined by the Parties, the Transition Committee shall be responsible for monitoring and managing all matters related to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements. The Transition Committee shall have the authority to (a) establish one or more subcommittees from time to time as it deems appropriate or as may be described in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements, with each such subcommittee comprised of one or more members of the Transition Committee or one or more employees of either Party or any member of its respective Group, and each such subcommittee having such scope of responsibility as may be determined by the Transition Committee from time to time; (b) delegate to any such committee any of the powers of the Transition Committee; and (c) combine, modify the scope of responsibility of, and disband any such subcommittees and (d) modify or reverse any such delegations. The Transition Committee shall establish general procedures for managing the responsibilities delegated to it under this Section 2.11, and may modify such procedures from time to time. All decisions by the Transition Committee or any subcommittee thereof shall be effective only if mutually agreed by both Parties. The Parties shall utilize the procedures set forth in ARTICLE IX to resolve any matters as to which the Transition Committee is not able to reach a decision.
ARTICLE III
ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION
Section 3.01. Actions Prior to the Distribution. Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the to the terms and conditions set forth herein, including those specified in Section 3.02, and subject to Section 4.03, Parent and SpinCo shall take, or cause to be taken, the actions specified in this Section 3.01.
(a) Parent shall, prior to the Distribution, mail notice of Internet availability of the Information Statement or the Information Statement to the Record Holders.
(b) SpinCo shall prepare, file with the Commission and use its reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective any registration statements or amendments thereto required to effect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.
29
(c) Parent and SpinCo shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky Laws of the states or other political subdivisions of the United States or of other foreign jurisdictions in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.
(d) SpinCo shall prepare and file, and shall use reasonable best efforts to have approved prior to the Distribution, an application for the listing of the SpinCo Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.
(e) The individuals listed in the Information Statement as members of the SpinCo board of directors who will join the board at or prior to the Effective Time shall have been duly elected or appointed as such, effective prior to or as of the Effective Time, and such individuals shall be the members of the SpinCo board of directors as of the Effective Time, and the individuals listed as officers of SpinCo in the Information Statement shall have been duly elected or appointed to hold such positions set forth in the Information Statement, effective prior to or as of the Effective Time; provided, however, that to the extent required by any Law or requirement of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange, as applicable, one or more independent directors shall be appointed by the existing board of directors of SpinCo and begin their respective term(s) prior to the date on which when-issued trading of the SpinCo Common Stock begins on such national securities exchange and shall serve on SpinCos audit committee, and nominating and executive compensation committee.
(f) (i) Parent shall deliver or cause to be delivered to SpinCo resignations from SpinCo positions, effective as of the Effective Time, of each individual who will be an employee of any Parent Group Member after the Effective Time and who is an officer or director of any SpinCo Group Member immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) SpinCo shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent resignations from Parent positions, effective as of the Effective Time, of each individual who will be an employee of any SpinCo Group Member after the Effective Time and who is an officer or director of any Parent Group Member immediately prior to the Effective Time, except, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), as set forth on Section 3.01(f) of the Disclosure Schedules.
(g) Parent and SpinCo shall take all actions as may be necessary or appropriate so that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of SpinCo, each in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Form 10, shall be in effect.
(h) Parent shall enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Agent or otherwise provide instructions to the Agent regarding the Distribution.
(i) Parent shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than ten (10) days advance notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act, and the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE.
(j) (i) Parent and SpinCo shall take all actions necessary such that, on or prior to the Distribution, Parent will change its name to PROG Holdings, Inc. and (ii) Parent shall prepare and file, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have approved, a supplemental listing application with the NYSE to facilitate its name change.
(k) Parent and SpinCo shall take all actions as may be necessary or appropriate to approve the stock-based employee benefit plans of SpinCo (and the grants of adjusted awards over Parent stock by Parent and of awards over SpinCo stock by SpinCo) in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE.
30
(l) Parent and SpinCo shall reasonably cooperate with King & Spalding LLP, as tax counsel to Parent, to deliver customary representation letters in connection with the tax opinion described in Section 3.02(i).
(m) (i) SpinCo shall have entered into the New SpinCo Financing Arrangements, (ii) Parent shall have repaid, or caused to be repaid, in full all amounts owed by Parent or its Subsidiaries under the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements, and (iii) Parent shall have entered into the New Parent Financing Arrangements.
(n) Parent and SpinCo shall, subject to Section 4.03, take all reasonable steps necessary and appropriate to cause the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 to be satisfied and to effect the Distribution on the Distribution Date.
(o) From the date of the Balance Sheet Date to prior to the Distribution, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the SpinCo Group Members to, make or have made capital and other expenditures, and operate its cash management, accounts payable and receivables collection systems in the ordinary course of business, in each case, consistent with prior practice except as required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
Section 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Distribution. In addition to Parents rights under Section 4.03, the Distribution shall not occur unless each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived by Parent, in whole or in part, in its sole and absolute discretion):
(a) Board Approval. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the declaration of the Distribution, shall have been duly approved and authorized by the Board of Directors of Parent in accordance with applicable Law and the organizational documents of Parent, and such approval shall not have been withdrawn.
(b) Completion of Internal Reorganization and Separation; Liabilities Under Financing Arrangements. Subject to Section 2.02, the Internal Reorganization shall have been completed. The Separation, and all applicable pre-Effective Time steps set forth in ARTICLE II, shall have been completed and Parent shall be satisfied, in its sole discretion, that, as of the Effective Time, (i) neither Parent nor any Parent Group Member shall have any further Liability under any of the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements or the New SpinCo Financing Arrangements and (ii) neither SpinCo nor any SpinCo Group Member shall have any further Liability under any of the Existing Parent Financing Arrangements or the New Parent Financing Arrangements.
(c) Execution of Ancillary Agreements. The Parties shall have executed and delivered or, where applicable, shall have caused their respective Group Members to execute and deliver, the Ancillary Agreements that are contemplated by this Agreement to be executed and delivered on or prior to the Effective Time.
(d) Effectiveness of Form 10; Mailing or Notice of Internet Availability of Information Statement. The Form 10 shall have been declared effective by the Commission, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form 10 shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and notice of Internet availability of the Information Statement or the Information Statement shall have been mailed to the Record Holders.
31
(e) Listing on NYSE. The SpinCo Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of Distribution.
(f) No Injunction or Prohibition. No order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Distribution or any of the other transactions related thereto, including the Separation, contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be in effect, and no other event shall have occurred or failed to occur that prevents the consummation of the Distribution or any of the other transactions related thereto, including the Separation, contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. The Distribution shall not violate or result in a breach of applicable Law or any material contract of any Party.
(g) Satisfaction of Actions Prior to Distribution. The actions set forth in Section 3.01 shall have been completed.
(h) Governmental Approvals. Parent and SpinCo shall have received all Governmental Approvals and all Consents necessary to effect the Distribution and the other transactions related thereto, including the Separation, contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and to permit the operation of the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and the Aarons Business after the Distribution Date, and such Governmental Approvals and Consents shall be in full force and effect.
(i) Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received an opinion of King & Spalding LLP satisfactory to the Parent Board of Directors to the effect that the Spin-Off will qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
(j) Solvency Opinion. A nationally recognized valuation or accounting firm or investment bank acceptable to Parent in its sole discretion shall have delivered one or more opinions to the Parent Board of Directors at the time or times requested by the Parent Board of Directors confirming the solvency and financial viability of Parent before the consummation of the Distribution and each of Parent and SpinCo after the consummation of the Distribution, such opinions shall have been in form and substance acceptable to Parent in its sole discretion and such opinions shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded.
(k) No Circumstances Making Distribution Inadvisable. No other events or developments shall exist or shall have occurred that, in the judgment of the Parent Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the Separation, the Distribution or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 3.03. Sole and Absolute Discretion. The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and not for the benefit of any other Person and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of Parent or Parents board of directors to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit the right of Parent to terminate this Agreement as set forth in ARTICLE X or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in such Article. Any determination made by the Parent Board of Directors prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties. If Parent waives any material condition, it shall promptly issue a press release disclosing such fact and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission describing such waiver.
32
ARTICLE IV
THE DISTRIBUTION
Section 4.01. The Distribution.
(a) SpinCo shall cooperate with Parent to accomplish the Distribution and shall, at the direction of Parent, use its reasonable best efforts to promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effect the Distribution. Parent shall select any investment bank or manager in connection with the Distribution, as well as any financial printer, distribution agent and financial, legal, accounting and other advisors for Parent. Parent or SpinCo, as the case may be, will provide, or cause its applicable Group Member(s) to provide, to the Agent all share certificates and any information required in order to complete the Distribution.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement:
(i) after completion of the Internal Reorganization and on or prior to the Distribution Date, for the benefit of and distribution to the holders of record of issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date (Record Holders), Parent will deliver to the Agent all of the issued and outstanding shares of SpinCo Common Stock then owned by Parent and book-entry authorizations for such shares;
(ii) Parent shall instruct the Agent to distribute, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, to each Record Holder (or such Record Holders bank or brokerage firm on such Record Holders behalf) electronically, by direct registration in book-entry form: (A) the number of whole shares of SpinCo Common Stock to which such Record Holder is entitled based on the Distribution Ratio; and (B) Cash, if applicable, in lieu of fractional shares obtained in the manner provided in Section 4.02;
(iii) The Distribution shall be effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the Distribution Date (the Effective Time).
(iv) On or as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Agent will mail to each Record Holder an account statement indicating the number of shares of SpinCo Common Stock that have been registered in book-entry form in the name of such Record Holder.
(v) SpinCo agrees to provide all book-entry transfer authorizations for shares of SpinCo Common Stock that Parent or the Agent shall require (after giving effect to Section 4.02) in order to effect the Distribution.
(c) Each share of SpinCo Common Stock distributed in the Distribution shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
Section 4.02. Fractional Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no fractional shares of SpinCo Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the Distribution, and any such fractional share interests to which a Record Holder would otherwise be entitled shall not entitle such Record Holder to vote or to any other rights as a shareholder of SpinCo. In lieu of any such fractional shares, each Record Holder who, but for the provisions of this Section 4.02, would be entitled to receive a fractional share interest of SpinCo Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution, shall be paid Cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided. The Agent and Parent shall, as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, (i)
33
determine the number of whole shares and fractional shares of SpinCo Common Stock allocable to each Record Holder or beneficial owner of Parent Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, (ii) aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares and sell the whole shares obtained thereby in open market transactions at then prevailing trading prices on behalf of such Record Holders or beneficial owners who would otherwise be entitled to fractional share interests and (iii) distribute to each such Record Holder, or for the benefit of such beneficial owner, such Record Holders or beneficial owners ratable share of the net proceeds of such sale, based upon the average gross selling price per share of SpinCo Common Stock after making appropriate deductions for any amount required to be withheld under applicable Tax Law and less any brokers charges, commissions or transfer Taxes. The Agent, in its sole discretion, will determine the timing and method of selling such fractional shares, the selling price of such fractional shares and the broker-dealer through which such fractional shares will be sold; provided, however, that the designated broker-dealer is not an Affiliate of Parent or SpinCo. Neither Parent nor SpinCo will pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares.
(b) Any SpinCo Common Stock or Cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to SpinCo Common Stock that remain unclaimed by any Record Holder or beneficial owner 180 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to SpinCo, SpinCo shall hold such SpinCo Common Stock for the account of such Record Holder or beneficial owner and the Parties agree that all obligations to provide such SpinCo Common Stock and Cash, if any, in lieu of fractional share interests shall be obligations of SpinCo, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property Laws, and Parent shall have no Liability with respect thereto.
Section 4.03. Sole and Absolute Discretion of Parent. Parent shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine the Record Date, the Distribution Date and all terms of the Distribution and the Separation, including the form, structure and terms of any transactions and/or offerings to effect the Distribution and the Separation and the timing of and conditions to the consummation thereof. In addition and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth below, Parent may at any time and from time to time until the Distribution decide to abandon the Distribution or the Separation, or modify or change the terms of the Distribution or the Separation, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution or the Separation. Nothing shall in any way limit Parents right to terminate this Agreement or the Distribution as set forth in ARTICLE X or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in ARTICLE X.
ARTICLE V
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION; COOPERATION; INSURANCE
Section 5.01. Release of Pre-Distribution Claims.
(a) Except as provided in Section 5.01(c) and Section 5.01(d), effective as of the Effective Time, SpinCo does hereby, for itself and each other SpinCo Group Member, their respective successors and assigns and Affiliates, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any SpinCo Group Member (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) remise, release and forever discharge (i) Parent and the other Parent Group Members, their respective successors and assigns and Affiliates, (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any Parent Group Member (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and (iii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any SpinCo Group Member (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, officers, agents or employees of
34
SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member, in each case from (A) all SpinCo Liabilities; (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Aarons Business, the SpinCo Assets or the SpinCo Liabilities.
(b) Except as provided in Section 5.01(c) and Section 5.01(e), effective as of the Effective Time, Parent does hereby, for itself and each other Parent Group Member, their respective successors and assigns and Affiliates, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any Parent Group Member (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) remise, release and forever discharge (i) SpinCo and the other SpinCo Group Members, their respective successors and assigns and Affiliates, (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any SpinCo Group Member (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns in each case from (A) all Parent Liabilities; (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, the Parent Assets or the Parent Liabilities.
(c) Nothing contained in Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any Intercompany Agreement that is specified in Section 2.04(b) as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, in each case in accordance with its terms. Nothing contained in Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) shall release any Person from:
(i) any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any Parent Group Member(s) or SpinCo Group Member(s) that is specified in Section 2.04(b) as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, or any other Liability specified in such Section 2.04(b) as not to terminate as of the Effective Time;
(ii) any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;
(iii) any Liability provided in or resulting from any other agreement or understanding that is entered into after the Effective Time between one Party (and/or a member of such Partys Group), on the one hand, and the other Party (and/or a member of such Partys Group), on the other hand;
(iv) any Liability for the sale, lease or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a member of the other Group prior to the Effective Time;
(v) any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise for claims brought against the Parties by Third Parties, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this ARTICLE V, and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the relevant Ancillary Agreement; or
35
(vi) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to this Section 5.01.
In addition, nothing contained in Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) shall release any Group Member from honoring its obligations existing immediately prior to the Effective Time to indemnify, or advance expenses to, any Person who was a director, officer or employee of such Group Member at or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such Person was entitled in such capacity to such indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to obligations existing immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, that if a director, officer or employee receives indemnification payments from Parent (or any Parent Group Member) or SpinCo (or any SpinCo Group Member), as the case may be, with respect to a particular Liability for which such Person is entitled to indemnification, such Person shall not be entitled to receive indemnification payments from the other Party (or any member of such Partys Group) with respect to the same Liability to the extent of the indemnification payments previously so received by such Person, as the case may be; and provided, further, that to the extent applicable, Section 5.02 or Section 5.03 shall determine whether any Party shall be required to indemnify the other in respect of such Liability.
(d) Without limiting the rights of either Party under Section 5.04, Section 5.05 or Section 5.06, SpinCo shall not make, and shall not permit any other SpinCo Group Member to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against Parent or any other Parent Group Member, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 5.01(a), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 5.01(a).
(e) Without limiting the rights of either Party under Section 5.04, Section 5.05 or Section 5.06, Parent shall not make, and shall not permit any other Parent Group Member to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification against SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 5.01(b), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 5.01(b).
(f) It is the intent of each of the Parties hereto by virtue of the provisions of this Section 5.01 to provide for a full and complete release and discharge of all Liabilities existing or arising from all acts and events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur and all conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Effective Time between the Parent Group, on the one hand, and the SpinCo Group, on the other hand (including any contractual agreements or arrangements existing or alleged to exist between the Parties or any of their respective Group Members on or before the Effective Time), except as expressly set forth in Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b). At any time, at the request of the other Party, each Party shall cause each Group Member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions of this Section 5.01.
Section 5.02. Indemnification by SpinCo. Following the Effective Time and subject to Section 5.04, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the other SpinCo Group Members to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent, each other Parent Group Member and each of their respective Affiliates, and each of their respective former and current directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the Parent Indemnitees), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Parent Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):
(a) any SpinCo Liability;
36
(b) any failure of SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SpinCo Liability in accordance with its terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;
(c) any breach by SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement unless such Ancillary Agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification, or for no indemnification, therein (which shall be controlling); and
(d) any breach by SpinCo of any of the representations and warranties made by SpinCo on behalf of itself and the SpinCo Group Members in Section 11.01(e).
in each case, regardless of when or where the loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Liability took place, or whether any such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening is known or unknown, or reported or unreported and regardless of whether such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Liability existed prior to, on or after the Effective Time or relates to, arises out of or results from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to, on or after the Effective Time.
Section 5.03. Indemnification by Parent. Following the Effective Time and subject to Section 5.04, Parent shall, and shall cause the other Parent Group Members to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless SpinCo, each other SpinCo Group Member and each of their respective former and current directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the SpinCo Indemnitees), from and against any and all Liabilities of the SpinCo Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):
(a) any Parent Liability;
(b) any failure of Parent or any other Parent Group Member or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Parent Liability in accordance with its terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time;
(c) any breach by Parent or any other Parent Group Member of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement unless such Ancillary Agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification, or for no indemnification, therein (which shall be controlling); and
(d) any breach by Parent of any of the representations and warranties made by Parent on behalf of itself and the Parent Group Members in Section 11.01(e).
in each case, regardless of when or where the loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Liability took place, or whether any such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening is known or unknown, or reported or unreported and regardless of whether such loss, claim, accident, occurrence, event or happening giving rise to the Liability existed prior to, on or after the Effective Time or relates to, arises out of or results from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to, on or after the Effective Time.
37
Section 5.04. Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Third-Party Proceeds.
(a) The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement will be reduced by (i) Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of, or are paid to the applicable Indemnitee in respect of, such Liability or (ii) other amounts recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Third Party that actually reduce the amount of, or are paid to the applicable Indemnitee in respect of, such Liability (Third-Party Proceeds). Accordingly, the amount that either Party (an Indemnifying Party) is required to pay to any Person entitled to indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement (an Indemnitee) will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or Third-Party Proceeds theretofore actually recovered by or on behalf of the Indemnitee from a Third Party in respect of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee receives a payment required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability (an Indemnity Payment) and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or Third-Party Proceeds in respect of such Liability, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if such Insurance Proceeds or Third-Party Proceeds had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.
(b) The Parties hereby agree that an insurer or any other Third Party that would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim or amount shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or have any subrogation rights with respect thereto by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, it being expressly understood and agreed that no insurer or any other Third Party shall be entitled to a wind-fall (i.e., a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification or release provisions), and shall not be deemed to be Third Party beneficiaries, by virtue of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Parent and SpinCo shall, and shall cause each Parent Group Member and SpinCo Group Member, respectively, to, use commercially reasonable efforts to seek to collect or recover, or allow the Indemnifying Party to collect or recover, any Insurance Proceeds and any Third-Party Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification may be available pursuant to this ARTICLE V; provided, however, that any such actions by an Indemnitee will not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement, including the Indemnifying Partys obligation promptly to pay directly or reimburse the Indemnitee for costs and expenses actually incurred by the Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Action to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds or Third Party Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds or Third Party Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 5.05. Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims.
(a) If an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn of a Third-Party Claim with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party written notice thereof as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than fifteen (15) days after becoming aware of such Third-Party Claim (or sooner if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires). Any such notice shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail, or, in the alternative, include copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnitee or other Person to give notice as provided in this Section 5.05(a) shall not relieve the related Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this ARTICLE V, except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice in accordance with this Section 5.05(a).
38
(b) With respect to any Third-Party Claim that is not a Shared Action Liability:
(i) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Indemnitee within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 5.05(a) (or sooner, if the nature of such Third-Party Claim so requires), to assume and conduct the defense of (and seek to settle or compromise) such Third-Party Claim at its own expense and with its own counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee) provided that the Indemnifying Party shall agree promptly to reimburse to the extent required under this ARTICLE V the Indemnitee for the full amount of any Liability resulting from such Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Indemnifying Party assumes such defense and, in the course of defending such Third-Party Claim, (A) the Indemnifying Party discovers that the facts presented at the time the Indemnifying Party acknowledged its indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim were not true in all material respects and (B) such untruth provides a reasonable basis for asserting that the Indemnifying Party does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim, then (x) the Indemnifying Party shall not be bound by such acknowledgment, (y) the Indemnifying Party shall promptly thereafter provide the Indemnitee written notice of its assertion that it does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim and (z) the Indemnitee shall have the right to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim.
(ii) Until such time as the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of such Third-Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to control the defense of such Third-Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party (A) elects not to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim in accordance with this Agreement, (B) fails to notify the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third-Party Claim, of its election to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of the notice referred to in Section 5.05(a) (or sooner if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) or (C) after assuming the defense of a Third-Party Claim, fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently such Third-Party Claim within ten (10) days after receiving written notice from the Indemnitee to the effect that the Indemnifying Party has so failed, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to continue to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the Indemnitees right to indemnification for a Third-Party Claim shall not be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such Third-Party Claim.
(iii) An Indemnitee that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third-Party Claim, or an Indemnifying Party that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third-Party Claim, nevertheless shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) of its own choosing to monitor and participate in (but not control) the defense of any Third-Party Claim for which it is a potential Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that such expense shall be the responsibility of the Indemnifying Party (A) if the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnitee are both named parties to the proceedings and the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible for expenses in respect of more than one local counsel for the Indemnitee in any single jurisdiction) or (B) the Indemnitee assumes the defense of the Third-Party Claim pursuant to Section 5.05(b)(ii)(C) after the Indemnifying Party has failed, in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnitee, to diligently defend the Third-Party Claim after having elected to assume its defense. Each Party shall cooperate with the Party entitled to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim hereunder in such defense and make available to the controlling Party, at the non-controlling Partys expense, all witnesses, information and materials in such Partys possession or under such Partys control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the controlling Party.
39
(iv) No Indemnifying Party shall settle, compromise or consent to entry of any judgment with respect to any Third-Party Claim without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnitee or Indemnitees, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; provided, however, that, subject to the immediately following provision, such Indemnitee(s) shall not withhold consent if the settlement, compromise or judgment (A) contains no finding or admission of any violation of Law or any violation of the rights of any Person, (B) is solely for monetary damages which the Indemnifying Party has agreed to pay in full and (C) includes a full, unconditional and irrevocable release of the Indemnitee; and provided, further, that in no event shall an Indemnitee be required to consent to any entry of judgment or settlement if the effect thereof is (x) to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, other order or other nonmonetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly, against any Indemnitee or (y) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnitee, as reflected in a written objection delivered by such Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party within the period of twenty one (21) days following receipt of the request for consent described above, to have a material adverse financial impact or a material adverse effect upon the ongoing operations of such Indemnitee or, if applicable, its Group Members.
(v) Except to the extent an Indemnitee has assumed the defense of a Third-Party Claim pursuant to clause (C) of the second sentence of Section 5.05(b)(ii), no Indemnitee shall settle, compromise or consent to entry of any judgment with respect to any Third-Party Claim without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(vi) The Parties hereby agree that if a Party presents the other Party with a notice containing a proposal to settle or compromise, or consent to the entry of a judgment with respect to, a Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder and the Party receiving such proposal does not respond in any manner to the Party presenting such proposal within thirty (30) days (or within any such shorter time period that may be required by applicable Law or court order) of receipt of such proposal, then the Party receiving such proposal shall be deemed to have consented to the terms of such proposal, including for the purposes of Section 5.05(b)(iv) and Section 5.05(b)(v).
Section 5.06. Direct Claims; Additional Matters.
(a) Any claim for indemnification under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement which does not result from a Third-Party Claim (a Direct Claim) must be asserted by a written notice given by the Indemnitee to the applicable Indemnifying Party; provided, that the failure by an Indemnitee to so assert any such Direct Claim shall not prejudice the ability of the Indemnitee to do so at a later time except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Party is actually and materially prejudiced thereby. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period of thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30) day period, such Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have refused to accept responsibility to provide indemnification with respect to such claim. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30) day period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to such Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, without prejudice to its continuing rights to pursue indemnification or contribution hereunder.
(b) In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.
40
(c) In the event of an Action relating to a Liability that has been allocated to an Indemnifying Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement in which the Indemnifying Party is not a named defendant, if the Indemnifying Party shall so request, the Parties shall endeavor to substitute the Indemnifying Party for the named defendant or add the Indemnifying Party as an additional named defendant, to the extent practicable. If such substitution or addition cannot be achieved for any reason or is not requested, the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying Party to manage the Action as set forth in, and subject to, Section 5.05 and this Section 5.06, the Indemnifying Party shall fully indemnify the named defendant against all costs of defending the Action (including court costs, sanctions imposed by a court, attorneys fees, experts, fees and all other external expenses), the costs of any judgment or settlement and the cost of any interest or penalties relating to any judgment or settlement.
(d) If (i) a Party incurs any Liability arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) an adequate legal or equitable remedy is not available for any reason against the other Party to satisfy the Liability incurred by the incurring Party; and (iii) a legal or equitable remedy may be available to the other Party against a Third Party for such Liability, then the other Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the incurring Party, at the incurring Partys expense, to permit the incurring Party to obtain the benefits of such legal or equitable remedy against the Third Party.
(e) Indemnity Payments or contribution payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this ARTICLE V shall be paid reasonably promptly (but in any event within sixty (60) days of the final determination of the amount that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this ARTICLE V) by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee as such Liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnitee, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such Indemnity Payments or contribution payments, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this ARTICLE V shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee; and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Liabilities for which it might be entitled to indemnification or contribution hereunder. THE PARTIES UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE RELEASE FROM LIABILITIES AND INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS MAY INCLUDE RELEASE FROM LIABILITIES AND INDEMNIFICATION FOR LOSSES RELATING TO, RESULTING FROM, OR ARISING OUT OF, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AND IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AN INDEMNITEES OWN NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER LEGAL FAULT.
(f) In the event that an Indemnity Payment pursuant to this ARTICLE V shall be denominated in a currency other than United States dollars, the amount of such payment shall be translated into United States dollars using the most recent foreign exchange rate of the applicable currency set forth in the exchange rate section of The Wall Street Journal as of the date that notice of the claim with respect to such Liability shall be given to the Indemnifying Party.
(g) The provisions of Section 5.02 through Section 5.12 hereof shall not apply with respect to Taxes or Tax matters (including the control of Tax related proceedings), which shall be governed by the TMA.
41
Section 5.07. Management of Certain Actions and Shared Actions. This Section 5.07 shall govern the management and direction of pending and future Actions in which members of the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group are named as parties, but shall not alter the allocation of Liabilities set forth in ARTICLE II unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Section 5.07.
(a) From and after the Distribution, the SpinCo Group shall direct the defense or prosecution of any (i) Actions set forth on Schedule V and (ii) Actions (other than Actions set forth on Schedule V) that constitute only SpinCo Liabilities or involve only SpinCo Assets. If an Action that constitutes only a SpinCo Liability or involves only SpinCo Assets is commenced after the Distribution naming a member of the Parent Group as a party thereto, then SpinCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such member of the Parent Group to be removed as a party to such Action and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with SpinCos effort.
(b) From and after the Distribution, the Parent Group shall direct the defense or prosecution of any of any (i) Actions set forth on Schedule VI and (ii) Actions (other than Actions set forth on Schedule VI) that constitute only Parent Liabilities or involve only Parent Assets. If an Action that constitutes only a Parent Liability or involves only Parent Assets is commenced after the Distribution naming a member of the SpinCo Group as a party thereto, then Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such member of the SpinCo Group to be removed as a party to such Action and SpinCo shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with Parents effort.
(c) From and after the Distribution, the Parties shall separately but cooperatively manage (whether as co-defendants or co-plaintiffs) any Shared Actions. The Parties shall reasonably cooperate and consult with each other, and to the extent permissible and necessary or advisable, maintain a joint defense in a manner that would preserve for both Parties and their respective Affiliates any attorney-client privilege, joint defense or other privilege with respect to any Shared Action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, and except as set forth in Schedule III, the Parties may jointly retain counsel (in which case the cost of counsel shall be shared equally by the Parties) or retain separate counsel (in which case each Party will bear the cost of its separate counsel) with respect to any Shared Action; provided that the Parties shall bear their own discovery costs and shall share equally joint litigation costs. In any Shared Action, each of Parent and SpinCo may pursue separate defenses, claims, counterclaims or settlements to those claims relating to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business or the Aarons Business, respectively; provided that each Party shall in good faith make reasonable best efforts to avoid adverse effects on the other Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if a judgment is obtained with respect to a Shared Action, the Parties shall endeavor in good faith to allocate the Liabilities in respect of such judgment between them based on the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and the Aarons Business, and otherwise shall share equally such Liabilities and (ii) if a recovery is obtained with respect to a Shared Action, the Parties shall endeavor in good faith to allocate the Assets in respect of such recovery between them based on their respective injuries, and otherwise shall share equally such Assets. A Party that is not named as a defendant in a Shared Action may elect to become a Party to such Shared Action, and the Party named in such Shared Action shall reasonably cooperate to have such first Party named in such Shared Action.
(d) No Party managing an Action pursuant to Section 5.07 shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement of or compromise any such Action without the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that such non-managing Party shall be required to consent to such entry of judgment or to such settlement that the managing Party may recommend if the judgment or settlement (i) contains no finding or admission of any violation of Law or any violation of the rights of any Person, (ii) involves only monetary relief which the managing Party has agreed to pay and (iii) includes a full and unconditional release of the non-managing Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a non-managing Party be required to consent to an entry of judgment or settlement if the effect thereof (x) is to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, other order or other nonmonetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly, against the non-managing
42
Partys Group or (y) in the reasonable judgment of such non-managing Party, as reflected in a written objection delivered by such non-managing Party to the managing Party within the period of twenty one (21) days following receipt of the request for consent described above, to have a material adverse financial impact or a material adverse effect upon the ongoing operations of such non-managing Party or, if applicable, its Group Members.
Section 5.08. Right of Contribution.
(a) If any right of indemnification contained in Section 5.02 or Section 5.03 is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason (other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in which case this Section 5.08 shall not apply), or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnitee in respect of any Liability for which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by the Indemnitees as a result of such Liability (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and its Group Members, on the one hand, and the Indemnitees entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
(b) Solely for purposes of determining relative fault pursuant to this Section 5.08: (i) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Assets and Liabilities subject to Section 2.02 where such Assets and Liabilities are SpinCo Assets or SpinCo Liabilities and Parent or a Parent Group Member is the Intended Transferor with respect to such Assets or Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of Parent or a Parent Group Member) shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo and the other SpinCo Group Members, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Parent or any other Parent Group Member; (ii) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Assets and Liabilities subject to Section 2.02 where such Assets and Liabilities are Parent Assets or Parent Liabilities and SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member is the Intended Transferor (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member) shall be deemed to be the fault of Parent and the other Parent Group Members, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo or any other SpinCo Group Member; (iii) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of Parent and the Parent Group Members, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo and the other SpinCo Group Members; and (iv) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of the Aarons Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo and the SpinCo Group Member, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Parent or any other Parent Group Member. The Parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.
(c) The provisions of Section 5.04 through Section 5.12 and Section 8.02 through Section 8.05 shall govern any contribution claims.
Section 5.09. Covenant Not to Sue. Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, its Group Members, or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, neutral mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that: (a) the assumption or retention of any SpinCo Liabilities by SpinCo and other SpinCo Group Members on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the assumption or retention of any Parent Liabilities by Parent and the Parent Group Members on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason, or (c) the provisions of this ARTICLE V are void or unenforceable for any reason.
43
Section 5.10. Remedies Cumulative. The remedies provided in this ARTICLE V shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of ARTICLE VIII, shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party; provided that the procedures set forth in this ARTICLE V shall be the exclusive procedures governing any indemnity action brought under this Agreement.
Section 5.11. Survival of Indemnities. The rights and obligations of each of Parent and SpinCo and their respective Indemnitees under this Agreement, including this ARTICLE V shall survive (a) the sale or other transfer by any Party or its Affiliates of any Assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities or (b) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of its Assets, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving any Parent Group Member or SpinCo Group Member.
Section 5.12. Limitation on Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL PARENT, SPINCO OR ANY OTHER GROUP MEMBER HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER OR TO ANY OTHER GROUP MEMBER, OR TO ANY OTHER SPINCO INDEMNITEE OR PARENT INDEMNITEE, AS APPLICABLE, UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER AND WHETHER OR NOT INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH DAMAGES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 5.12 SHALL NOT LIMIT AN INDEMNIFYING PARTYS INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER WITH RESPECT TO ANY LIABILITY ANY INDEMNITEE MAY HAVE TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS.
Section 5.13. Insurance Matters.
(a) The Parties intend by this Agreement that, to the extent permitted under the terms of any applicable occurrence-based insurance policy, each of Parent and SpinCo, their respective Group Members, and each of their respective directors, officers and employees will have and will be fully entitled to continue to exercise all rights that any of them may have as of the Effective Time as an insured, additional insured, or loss payee under any occurrence-based policy or any agreements related to such occurrence-based policies in effect before the Effective Time, with respect to events occurring before the Effective Time. The party to whom each occurrence-based insurance program is assigned at the Effective Time is specified on Section 5.13 of the Disclosure Schedules, and the counterparty will continue to have rights to pursue coverage under such policy(s) pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.13.
(b) The Parties intend by this Agreement that, to the extent permitted under the terms and conditions of any applicable claims made or discovery insurance policy, each of Parent and SpinCo, their respective Group Members, and each of their respective directors, officers and employees will continue to exercise all rights that any of them may have as of the Effective Time as an insured, additional insured, or loss payee under any claims made or discovery insurance policy, or any agreements related to such claims made or discovery policies in effect before the Effective Time, with respect to events occurring before the Effective Time. The respective entity inheriting each claims made or discovery insurance program is specified on Section 5.13 of the Disclosure Schedules, and the counterparty will have rights to coverage under such policy(s) pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.13.
(c) After the Effective Time, Parent (and each other Parent Group Member) and SpinCo (and each other SpinCo Group Member) shall not, without the consent of Parent or SpinCo, respectively (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), provide any insurance carrier with a
44
release or amend, modify or waive any rights under any insurance policy if such release, amendment, modification or waiver thereunder would materially adversely affect any rights of any Group Member of the other Party with respect to insurance coverage otherwise afforded to such other Party for pre-Distribution claims; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not (i) preclude any Group Member from presenting any claim or from exhausting any policy limit, (ii) require any Group Member to pay any premium or other amount or to incur any Liability or (iii) require any Group Member to renew, extend or continue any policy in force.
(d) The provisions of this Agreement are not intended to relieve any insurer of any Liability under any policy.
(e) No member of the Parent Group or any Parent Indemnitee will have any Liabilities whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies in effect at any time before the Effective Time, including as a result of (i) the level or scope of any insurance, (ii) the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, (iii) the terms and conditions of any policy, or (iv) the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim.
(f) Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 5.13(c), in no event will Parent, any other Parent Group Member or any Parent Indemnitee have any Liability or obligation whatsoever to any SpinCo Group Member if any insurance policy is terminated by an insurer, is unavailable due to liquidation of an insurer, or inadequate to cover any Liability of any SpinCo Group Member for any reason whatsoever, or is not renewed or extended beyond the current expiration date of any such insurance policy.
(g) This Agreement shall not be considered an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any Parent Group Member in respect of any insurance policy or any other contract or policy of insurance.
(h) Nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to restrict any SpinCo Group Member from acquiring at its own expense any other insurance policy in respect of any Liabilities or covering any period.
(i) To the extent that any insurance policy provides for the reinstatement of policy limits, and both Parent and SpinCo desire to reinstate such limits, the cost of reinstatement will be shared by Parent and SpinCo as the Parties may agree. If either Party, in its sole discretion, determines that such reinstatement would not be beneficial, that Party shall not contribute to the cost of reinstatement and will not make any claim thereunder nor otherwise seek to benefit from the reinstated policy limits.
(j) Upon the reasonable request of the other Party, each of SpinCo and Parent will share such information as is reasonably necessary in order to permit the other Party to manage and conduct its insurance matters in an orderly fashion and provide the other Party with any assistance that is reasonably necessary or beneficial in connection with such Partys insurance matters.
Section 5.14. Guarantees, Letters of Credit and Other Obligations.
(a) On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, Parent shall (with the reasonable cooperation of the applicable Parent Group Members) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any SpinCo Group Members removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Parent Liability. On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, SpinCo shall (with the reasonable cooperation of the SpinCo Group Members) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any Parent Group Members removed as guarantor of or obligor for any SpinCo Liabilities.
45
(b) On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, (i) to the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation of any SpinCo Group Member with respect to Parent Liabilities, Parent shall execute a substitute document in the form of any such existing guarantee or letter of credit, as applicable, or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, letter of credit or other obligation, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which Parent would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which would be reasonably expected to be breached and (ii) to the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation of any Parent Group Member with respect to SpinCo Liabilities, SpinCo shall execute a substitute document in the form of any such existing guarantee or letter of credit, as applicable, or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, letter of credit or other obligation, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which SpinCo would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which would be reasonably expected to be breached.
(c) If the Parties are unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required removal as set forth in Section 5.14(a) and Section 5.14(b), (i) with respect to Parent Liabilities, (A) Parent shall, and shall cause the other Parent Group Members to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the SpinCo Indemnitees from and against any Liability arising from or relating to such guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation, as applicable, and shall, as agent or subcontractor for the SpinCo Group guarantor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder, and (B) Parent shall not, and shall cause the other Parent Group Members not to, agree to renew or extend the term of, increase any obligations under, or transfer to a third Person, any loan, guarantee, letter of credit, lease, contract or other obligation for which a SpinCo Group Member is or may be liable unless all obligations of the SpinCo Group Members with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to SpinCo in its sole and absolute discretion and (ii) with respect to SpinCo Liabilities, (A) SpinCo shall, and shall cause the other SpinCo Group Members to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the Parent Indemnitees for any Liability arising from or relating to such guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation, as applicable, and shall, as agent or subcontractor for the applicable Parent Group guarantor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder, and (B) SpinCo shall not, and shall cause the other SpinCo Group Members not to, agree to renew or extend the term of, increase any obligations under, or transfer to a third Person, any loan, guarantee, letter of credit, lease, contract or other obligation for which a Parent Group Member is or may be liable unless all obligations of the Parent Group Members with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to Parent in its sole and absolute discretion.
ARTICLE VI
ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY
Section 6.01. Agreement for Exchange of Information; Archives.
(a) Except in the case of an adversarial Action or threatened adversarial Action by either Parent or SpinCo or a Person or Persons in its Group against the other Party or a Person or Persons in its Group, and subject to Section 6.01(b), each of Parent and SpinCo, on behalf of its respective Group (in such capacity, the Providing Party), shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the other Party (the Requesting Party), at any time after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, any Information (or a copy thereof) in the possession or under the control of the Providing Party or its Group Members to the extent that (i) such Information relates to the Aarons Business, or any SpinCo Asset (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any SpinCo Intellectual Property)
46
or SpinCo Liability, if SpinCo is the requesting Party, or to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, or any Parent Assets or Parent Liability, if Parent is the requesting Party; (ii) such Information is required by the requesting Party to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (iii) such Information is required by the requesting Party to comply with any obligation imposed by any Governmental Authority, including the Commission; provided, however, that, in the event that the Information requested by the requesting Party is not owned by the requesting Party and the Providing Party determines that any such provision of Information could be commercially detrimental, violate any Law or agreement, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.08, waive any attorney-client privilege or attorney work product protection or other applicable privilege or immunity, such Party shall not be required to provide access to or furnish such Information to the other Party; provided, however, that both Parent and SpinCo shall take all commercially reasonable measures to permit the compliance with this Section 6.01(a) in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence. Both Parent and SpinCo intend that any provision of access to or the furnishing of Information pursuant to this Section 6.01 that would otherwise be within the ambit of any legal privilege shall not operate as waiver of such privilege. The Providing Party shall only be obligated to provide such Information in the form, condition and format in which it then exists and in no event shall such Providing Party be required to perform any improvement, modification, conversion, updating or reformatting of any such Information, and nothing in this Section 6.01(a) shall expand the obligations of the Parties under Section 6.04.
(b) Without limiting, and subject to, the foregoing, until the first SpinCo fiscal year end occurring after the Effective Time (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each of SpinCo and Parent to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), each of SpinCo and Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Requesting Partys Information requests to enable (i) the Requesting Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases, financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Items 307 and 308, respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) the Requesting Partys auditors to timely complete their annual audit and quarterly reviews of financial statements, including, to the extent applicable, such auditors audit of its internal control over financial reporting and managements assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Commissions and Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards rules and auditing standards thereunder and any applicable Laws. As part of such efforts, to the extent requested by the Requesting Party and reasonably necessary for the purposes described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the foregoing sentence, the other Party shall authorize and direct its auditors to make available to the Requesting Partys auditors, within a reasonable time prior to the date of the Requesting Partys auditors opinion or review report, both (x) the personnel who performed or will perform the annual audits and quarterly reviews of such other Party and (y) work papers related to such annual audits and quarterly reviews, to enable the Requesting Partys auditors to perform any procedures they consider reasonably necessary to take responsibility for the work of the Requesting Partys auditors as it relates to the Requesting Partys auditors opinion or report.
(c) Parent and SpinCo each agree that it will only process personal data provided to it by the other Group in accordance with all applicable privacy and data protection Law obligations and will implement and maintain at all times appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect such personal data against unauthorized or unlawful processing and accidental loss, destruction, damage, alteration and disclosure. In addition, each Party agrees to provide reasonable assistance to the other Party in respect of any obligations under privacy and data protection legislation affecting the disclosure of such personal data to the other Party and will not knowingly process such personal data in such a way to cause the other Party to violate any of its obligations under any applicable privacy and data protection legislation.
47
(d) To the extent any books or records are subject to restrictions or limitations set forth in the EMA, such restrictions and limitations shall apply to such books or records, notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, the Parties obligations to provide Information and cooperation with respect to Taxes shall be governed by the TMA, and not by this Section 6.01.
Section 6.02. Ownership of Information. The provision of any Information pursuant to Section 6.01 shall not affect the ownership of Information (which shall be determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), or constitute the grant or conference of rights of license or otherwise in or to any such Information.
Section 6.03. Compensation for Providing Information. The Requesting Party agrees to reimburse the Providing Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such Information (including any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in any review of Information for purposes of protecting the Privileged Information of the Providing Party or in connection with the restoration of backup media for purposes of providing the requested Information). Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the Providing Partys standard methodology and procedures and if there is no such standard methodology and procedures, then on a commercially reasonable basis.
Section 6.04. Record Retention.
(a) Except as otherwise required by Law or agreed in writing, or as otherwise provided in any Ancillary Agreement, each Parent Group Member and each SpinCo Group Member shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to retain, for the retention periods set forth in Parents record retention policies and procedures as in effect as of the Effective Time, such other commercially reasonable policies and procedures as may be in adopted by the applicable Group after the Effective Time as provided herein, or such longer period as required by Law, this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, all Information in such Group Members possession substantially relating to the other Group or its businesses, its former businesses, its Assets or Liabilities, this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements (the Retained Information). Each Parent Group Member or SpinCo Group Member may amend its record retention policy after the Effective Time so long as (i) the amended policy complies with applicable Law, (ii) the amended policy treats the Retained Information in the same manner as such Group Members other Information and (iii) the amended policy does not allow for the destruction of any Retained Information prior to the earliest date after the Effective Time on which such member would have been able to destroy such Retained Information under the applicable Parent Group policy in effect as of the Effective Time. If any member of either Group amends its record retention policy in compliance with the preceding sentence in a manner that reduces the retention period for any Retained Information, it shall provide SpinCo, in the case of any such amendment by a Parent Group Member, or Parent, in the case of any such amendment by a SpinCo Group Member, written notice detailing the changes to the record retention policy, and the Party receiving such notice and its Group Members shall have the opportunity to obtain any Retained Information that would be eligible for destruction under the revised policy at least ninety (90) days prior to the destruction of such Retained Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the TMA will govern the retention of Tax related records and the exchange of Tax related information, and the EMA will govern the retention of employment and benefits related records.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing:
48
(i) The Parties agree and acknowledge that it is not practicable to separate all Tangible Information belonging to the Parties, and that following the Effective Time, each Party will have some of the Tangible Information of the other Party stored at internal or Third Party records storage locations (each, a Records Facility). Tangible Information held in a Records Facility maintained or arranged for by the Party other than the Party that owns such Tangible Information is referred to as Stored Records. The Party that maintains the Records Facility where Stored Records are held is referred to as the Custodial Party and the Party that owns the Stored Records held in the other Partys Records Facility is referred to as the Non-Custodial Party.
(ii) Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts: (A) to maintain the Stored Records as to which it is the Custodial Party in accordance with its regular records retention policies and procedures and the terms of this Section 6.04; and (B) to comply with the requirements of any litigation hold that relates to Stored Records as to which it is the Custodial Party that relate to (x) any Action that is pending as of the Effective Time; or (y) any Action that arises or becomes threatened or reasonably anticipated after the Effective Time as to which the Custodial Party has received a notice of the applicable litigation hold from the Non-Custodial Party.
Section 6.05. Financial Information Certifications.
(a) In order to enable the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) (as such terms are defined in the rules and regulations of the Commission) of Parent to make any certifications required of them under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, SpinCo shall, within a reasonable period of time following a request from Parent in anticipation of filing such reports, provide Parent with certifications in support of the certifications of Parents principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) required under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder with respect to Parents Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with respect to the fiscal quarter during which the Distribution Date occurs (unless such quarter is the fourth fiscal quarter), each subsequent fiscal quarter through the third fiscal quarter of the year in which the Distribution Date occurs and Parents Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with respect to the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs. Such certifications shall be provided in substantially the same form and manner as Parent officers and other key executives provided to the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) of Parent prior to the Effective Time (reflecting any changes in certifications necessitated by the Spin-Off or any other transactions related thereto) or as otherwise agreed upon between Parent and SpinCo.
(b) In order to enable the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) (as such terms are defined in the rules and regulations of the Commission) of SpinCo to make any certifications required of them under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, Parent shall, within a reasonable period of time following a request from SpinCo in anticipation of filing such reports, provide SpinCo with certifications in support of the certifications of SpinCos principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) required under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder with respect to SpinCos Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with respect to the fiscal quarter during which the Distribution Date occurs (unless such quarter is the fourth fiscal quarter), each subsequent fiscal quarter through the third fiscal quarter of the year in which the Distribution Date occurs and SpinCos Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with respect to the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs. Such certifications shall be provided in substantially the same form and manner as Parent officers and other key executives provided to the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) and principal accounting officer(s) of Parent prior to the Effective Time (reflecting any changes in certifications necessitated by the Spin-Off or any other transactions related thereto) or as otherwise agreed upon between Parent and SpinCo.
49
Section 6.06. Limitations of Liability.
(a) Each of Parent (on behalf of itself and each other member of the Parent Group) and SpinCo (on behalf of itself and each other member of the SpinCo Group) understands and agrees that neither Party is representing or warranting in any way as to the accuracy or sufficiency of any Information exchanged or disclosed under this Agreement.
(b) Neither Parent nor SpinCo shall have any Liability to the other Party in the event that any Information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement that is an estimate or forecast, or that is based on an estimate or forecast, is found to be inaccurate in the absence of willful misconduct by the providing Person. Neither Parent nor SpinCo shall have any Liability to the other Party if any Information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by SpinCo or Parent, as applicable, to comply with the provisions of Section 6.04.
Section 6.07. Litigation Matters; Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, SpinCo (or an applicable member of the SpinCo Group) shall assume and, except as provided in ARTICLE V, be responsible for managing, and shall have the authority to manage, the defense or prosecution, as applicable, and resolution (including settlement) of, any SpinCo Action. From and after the Effective Time, Parent (or an applicable member of the Parent Group) shall assume and, except as provided in ARTICLE V, be responsible for managing, and shall have the authority to manage, the defense or prosecution, as applicable, and resolution (including settlement) of, any Parent Action. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to contrary in this Section 6.07(a) or Section 6.07(d), from and after the Effective Time, any Shared Actions and any Actions set forth on Schedule V or Schedule VI shall be managed (including settlement) in accordance with and subject to Section 8.06.
(b) At all times after the Effective Time, but only with respect to a Third-Party Claim (and to avoid doubt, not in the case of an adversarial Action by one Party or its Group Members against the other Party or its Group Members), each of Parent and SpinCo shall, and shall cause the other members of its Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts to make available, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of its Group Members (whether as witnesses or otherwise) and any books, records or other documents within its control or that it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the extent that such Person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action or threatened or contemplated Action (including preparation for such Action) in which Parent or SpinCo, as applicable, may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder. The requesting Party shall bear all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection therewith.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Actions or threatened or contemplated Actions against each others Group in respect of which both Parties (or their respective Group Members) may have Liabilities or may possess relevant Information, other than an Action by one or more Group Members against one or more Group Members of the other Group.
50
(d) Upon the reasonable request of Parent or SpinCo, in connection with any Action as to which cooperation contemplated by this ARTICLE VI is requested or provided, Parent and SpinCo will enter into a mutually acceptable common interest agreement so as to maintain, to the extent appropriate and practicable, any applicable attorney-client privilege or work product immunity, or other privilege, immunity or protection of any member of either Group.
Section 6.08. Privileged Matters. The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been rendered for the collective benefit of each of the Parent Group and each of their respective members and the SpinCo Group and each of their respective members, and that each of the Group Members shall be deemed to be the client with respect to such services. To allocate the interests of each Party in the Privileged Information or any other Information (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Information about Patents, Trademarks, or Other Intellectual Property) in connection with legal or other professional services that have been provided prior to the Effective Time for the collective benefit of each of the Parties and their respective Group Members, whether or not such a privilege, immunity or protection exists or the existence of which is in dispute (collectively, Common Privileges), the Parties hereto agree as follows:
(a) Parent shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges, immunities and protections in connection with Privileged Information which relates to activity prior to the Effective Time regarding the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and, subject to Section 6.08(c), not to the Aarons Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession of or under the control of any Parent Group Member or any SpinCo Group Member. Parent also shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges, immunities and protections in connection with Privileged Information which relates to activity prior to the Effective Time regarding any pending or future Action that is, or which Parent reasonably anticipates may become, a Parent Liability and that is not also, or that Parent reasonably anticipates will not become, a SpinCo Liability or a Shared Action Liability, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession of or under the control of any Parent Group Member or any SpinCo Group Member.
(b) Subject to Section 6.08(c), SpinCo shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges, immunities and protections in connection with Privileged Information which relates to activity prior to the Effective Time regarding the Aarons Business and not to the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession of or under the control of any Parent Group Member or any SpinCo Group Member. SpinCo also shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges, immunities and protections in connection with Privileged Information which relates to activity prior to the Effective Time regarding any pending or future Action that is, or which SpinCo reasonably anticipates may become, a SpinCo Liability and that is not also, or that SpinCo reasonably anticipates will not become, a Parent Liability or a Shared Action Liability, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession of or under the control of any Parent Group Member or any SpinCo Group Member.
(c) If the Parties do not agree as to whether certain Information is Privileged Information, then such Information shall be treated as Privileged Information, and the Party that believes that such information is Privileged Information shall be entitled to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges, immunities and protections in connection with any such Information unless the Parties otherwise agree or until a court orders otherwise. The Parties shall use the procedures set forth in ARTICLE IX to resolve any disputes as to whether any information relates to any pending or future Action that is, or is reasonably anticipated to become, a SpinCo Liability or a Parent Liability.
51
(d) Subject to the restrictions in this Section 6.08, the Parties agree that they shall have equal right to assert all Common Privileges not allocated pursuant to the terms of Section 6.08(a), Section 6.08(b), or Section 6.08(c) (collectively, Shared Privileges), and all privileges, immunities and protections relating to any Actions or other matters that involve both Parties (or one or more of their respective Group Members) and in respect of which both Parties have Liabilities under this Agreement (including any Shared Action Liability), and that no such Shared Privilege may be waived by either Party (or any of its Group Members) without the consent of the other Party. Consent shall be in writing, or shall be deemed to be granted unless written objection is made within twenty (20) days after notice upon the other Party requesting such consent.
(e) If a dispute arises between any Parent Group Member, on the one hand, and any SpinCo Group Member, on the other hand, regarding whether a Shared Privilege should be waived to protect or advance the interests of either Party and/or their respective Group Members, each Party agrees that it shall (i) negotiate with the other Party in good faith; (ii) endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party; and (iii) not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by the other Party. In the event of any Action or other dispute between or among any of the Parties, or any of their respective Group Members, either such Party may use any Privileged Information in which the other Party or its Group Members has a Shared Privilege, without obtaining the consent of the other Party; provided, that such use shall be limited to the Action or other dispute between the relevant Parties and/or the applicable Group Members, respectively, and shall not operate as or be used by either Party as a basis for asserting a waiver of the Shared Privilege with respect to Third Parties; and provided, further, that the Parties shall, and shall cause their applicable Group Members to, use reasonable efforts to maintain any such Shared Privilege with respect to Third Parties.
(f) Upon receipt by either Party hereto or by any Group Member of its Group of any subpoena, discovery or other request which arguably calls for the production or disclosure of Privileged Information or other Information subject to a Shared Privilege or as to which the other Party or a member of such other Partys Group has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege, immunity or protection, or if either Party obtains knowledge that any of its Groups current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests which arguably call for the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of the request (which notice shall be in writing and delivered no later than seven (7) Business Days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the Privileged Information or other Information and to assert any rights it or any Group Member of its Group may have under this Section 6.08 or otherwise to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information. Each Party shall bear its own expenses in connection with any such request.
(g) Any furnishing of, or access to, Information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of Parent and SpinCo, as set forth in this ARTICLE VI to maintain the confidentiality of the Privileged Information and to assert and maintain all applicable privileges, immunities and protections. The access to Privileged Information or other Information being granted and the agreement to provide witnesses herein, the furnishing of notices and documents and other cooperative efforts provided hereby, and the transfer of Privileged Information between and among the Parties hereto and of their respective Group Members pursuant hereto shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege, immunity or protection that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise. The Parties further agree that (i) the exchange by one Party to the other Party of any Privileged Information that should not have been transferred pursuant to the terms of this ARTICLE VI shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any privilege, immunity or protection that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to such Privileged Information; and (ii) the Party receiving such Privileged Information shall promptly return such Privileged Information to the Party who has the right to assert the privilege, immunity or protection.
52
(h) In furtherance of, and without limitation to, the Parties agreement under this Section 6.08, Parent and SpinCo shall, and shall cause their applicable Group Members to, use reasonable efforts to maintain their respective separate and joint privileges, immunities and/or protections, including by executing joint defense and/or common interest agreements where necessary or useful for this purpose.
Section 6.09. Confidential Information.
(a) Subject to Section 6.09(e) and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, Parent, on behalf of itself and each of the Parent Group Members, and SpinCo, on behalf of itself and each of the SpinCo Group Members, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives (each, a Representative) to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to Parents confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all business, operations or other information, data or material (in each case whether in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible form) concerning or belonging to the other Party (or its Assets, Liabilities or business) or the other Partys Group Members (or their respective Assets, Liabilities or businesses) that is either in its possession (including such information in its possession prior to the Effective Time) or furnished by the other Party or the other Partys Group Members or their respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (except, in each case, to the extent that such information, data or material has been: (i) in the public domain or generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Party or any of its Group Members or any of their respective Representatives in violation of this Agreement; (ii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such Party or any of its Group Members, which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information, data or material; or (iii) independently developed or generated without reference to or use of such information, data or material of the other Party or any of its Group Members) (collectively, Confidential Information), and shall not use any such Confidential Information other than for such purposes as may be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder. If any Confidential Information of one Party or any of its Group Members is disclosed to another Party or any of its Group Members in connection with providing services to such first Party or any of its Group Members under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, then such disclosed Confidential Information shall be used only as required to perform such services.
(b) Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any Confidential Information to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such information in their capacities as such (and who will be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such information), and except in compliance with Section 6.09(e).
(c) Without limiting the provision of Section 6.01(c), each Party acknowledges that it and its respective Group Members may presently have and, following the Effective Time, may gain access to or possession of confidential or proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties (i) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements entered into between such Third Parties, on the one hand, and the other Party or the other Partys Group Members, on the other hand, prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) that, as between the Parties, was originally collected by the other Party or the other Partys Group Members and that may be subject to and protected by privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws. As may be provided in more detail in an applicable Ancillary Agreement, each Party agrees that it shall hold, protect and use, and shall cause its Group Members and its and their respective Representatives to hold, protect and use, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary
53
information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties in accordance with privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws and the terms of any agreements that were either entered into before the Effective Time or affirmative commitments or representations that were made before the Effective Time by, between or among the other Party or the other Partys Group Members, on the one hand, and such Third Parties, on the other hand.
(d) Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in this Section 6.09, with respect to financial and other information related to the SpinCo Group Members for the periods during which such SpinCo Group Members were Subsidiaries of Parent, Parent shall be permitted to disclose such information in its earnings releases, investor calls, rating agency presentations and other similar disclosures to the extent such information has customarily been included by Parent in such disclosures and in its reports, statements or other documents filed or furnished with the Commission in accordance with applicable Law, rules or regulations.
(e) In the event that either Party or any of its Group Members is requested or required (by oral question, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to applicable Law to disclose or provide any Confidential Information of the other Party or its Group Members, such Party shall, unless prohibited by such request or requirement of the applicable Governmental Authority or under applicable Law, provide the other Party with written notice of such request or demand as promptly as practicable under the circumstances so that such other Party shall have an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order, and shall reasonably cooperate with such other Party in connection therewith, at such other Partys own cost and expense. In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its failure to disclose or provide such Confidential Information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide Confidential Information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority and shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that confidential treatment is accorded such Confidential Information.
ARTICLE VII
CERTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS
Section 7.01. Legal Names and Other Parties Trademarks.
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement or in this ARTICLE VII, promptly after the Effective Time, each Party shall cease (and shall cause all of its respective Group Members to cease): (i) making any use of any names or Trademarks that include (A) any of the Trademarks of the other Party or such other Partys Affiliates and (B) any names or Trademarks confusingly similar thereto or dilutive thereof, with respect to each Party, of the other Party or any of such other Partys Affiliates ((A) and (B) collectively, in respect of each Party in reference to the other Party or such other Partys Affiliates, the Other Party Marks), and (ii) holding themselves out as having any affiliation with the other Party or such other Partys Affiliates; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any Party or any Group Member thereof from (1) in the case of any SpinCo Group Member, making factual and accurate reference in a non-prominent manner that it was formerly affiliated with Parent or in the case of any Parent Group Member, making factual and accurate reference in a non-prominent manner that it was formerly affiliated with SpinCo, (2) making use of any Other Party Mark in a manner that would constitute fair use under applicable Law if any unaffiliated Third Party made such use or would otherwise be legally permissible for any unaffiliated Third Party without the consent of the Party owning such Other Party Mark, (3) in connection with publicly displaying materials
54
in existence as of the Effective Time that are owned by a Party or any Group Member thereof immediately after the Effective Time, but that bear any Other Party Marks, for archival purposes or historical purposes (such as in a museum or museum-like display), and (4) making references in internal historical, corporate and tax records.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements of Section 7.01(a), no Group Member shall be required to change any name including the words Aarons in any Third Party contract or license, or in property records with respect to real or personal property; provided, however, that on a prospective basis from and after the Effective Time each Group Member shall change the name in any new or amended Third Party contract or license or property record.
Section 7.02. Domain Names.
(a) At the expense of SpinCo, each of Parent and SpinCo will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the Domain Names in Section 7.02(a) of the Disclosure Schedules are: (i) listed with SpinCo or, on behalf of SpinCo, appropriate local counsel or other designated agent of SpinCo as the owner/registrant; (ii) managed by SpinCo in a SpinCo-controlled registrar account; and (iii) placed on SpinCo domain name servers, in each case within twelve (12) months following the Effective Time.
(b) At the expense of Parent, each of SpinCo and Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the Domain Names in Section 7.02(b) of the Disclosure Schedules are: (i) listed with Parent or, on behalf of Parent, appropriate local counsel or other designated agent of Parent as the owner/registrant; (ii) managed by Parent in a Parent-controlled registrar account; and (iii) placed on Parent domain name servers, in each case within twelve (12) months following the Effective Time.
Section 7.03. Licenses to Information and Other Intellectual Property.
(a) Statement of Intent. It is the intent of the Parties, in granting licenses to portions of their respective Information and Other Intellectual Property, to allow: (i) Parent to continue to use Information and Other Intellectual Property that was used by Parent in the conduct of the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business as conducted as of the Effective Time but is owned by SpinCo immediately after the Effective Time, and to continue to conduct the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business as conducted prior to the Effective Time and (ii) SpinCo to use Information and Other Intellectual Property that was used by Parent in the conduct of the Aarons Business as conducted as of the Effective Time and is owned by Parent immediately after the Effective Time, and to conduct the Aarons Business as conducted by Parent prior to the Effective Time. Each Party agrees, for itself and its respective Group Members, that it will exercise the rights licensed to it under this Section 7.03 in a manner that complies with all applicable Laws.
(b) Licensed SpinCo Information and Licensed SpinCo Other IP.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 7.03(b) and any other applicable provisions of this Agreement, SpinCo grants to Parent (for itself and the beneficial use of the Parent Group Members), and Parent accepts from SpinCo, a non-exclusive, non-transferable (except as expressly provided herein), revocable (only to the extent set forth in Section 7.03(b)(ii)), royalty-free, fully paid-up, worldwide license (without the right to sublicense except as expressly provided below) to use, make, have made, sell, offer for sell, have sold, import, reproduce, copy, distribute, perform, display, modify, duplicate, and create derivative works and improvements of the Licensed SpinCo Information and Licensed SpinCo Other IP, only on and in connection with the conduct of the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business as conducted as of the Effective Time (the Parent Licensed Purposes). If any Licensed SpinCo Information or Licensed SpinCo Other IP is, or to the extent that it includes, SpinCos
55
Confidential Information, Parent shall comply with the provisions of this Agreement applicable to its use and disclosure of SpinCos Confidential Information. Parent may sublicense the rights licensed to Parent under this Section 7.03(b) to Parents contractors only for purposes of providing services to Parent and only for the Parent Licensed Purposes; provided, however, that prior to sublicensing any rights in any Information or Other Intellectual Property that is, or to the extent that it includes, SpinCos Confidential Information, Parent shall first require the contractor to execute a binding written agreement pursuant to which such contractor agrees to be bound by provisions directed to the use and disclosure of such Confidential Information that are consistent with Parents obligations with respect to such Confidential Information as provided in this Agreement.
(ii) Parents license to the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP shall terminate thirty (30) days after its receipt of SpinCos written notice of Parents breach of any material term of this Agreement applicable to the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP, unless Parent cures such breach and notifies SpinCo in writing of such cure during such thirty (30) day period. In the event of such termination, Parent shall (A) cease any and all use of the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP, and Parent shall have no further right to use the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP anywhere, in any way, or for any purpose, whatsoever, and (B) return, or at SpinCos direction, destroy all copies of Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP. Unless and until SpinCo terminates Parents license to the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP in accordance with this Section 7.03(b)(ii), such license shall be perpetual.
(iii) As between the parties, Parent shall own all derivative works of the Licensed SpinCo Information or Licensed SpinCo Other IP, including all intellectual property rights thereto, created by or on behalf of Parent or any Parent Group Member (Parent Derivative Works); provided, however, that to the extent Parents or a Parent Group Members use of the Parent Derivative Works would infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate SpinCos copyright or Other Intellectual Property rights in and to the Licensed SpinCo Information or Licensed SpinCo Other IP, (A) Parent (on behalf of itself and the Parent Group Members) may use such Parent Derivative Works only in connection with the Parent Licensed Purposes and only as set forth in this Agreement, and (B) Parents right (on behalf of itself and the Parent Group Members) to use and employ such Parent Derivative Works shall terminate upon any termination of the license granted pursuant to this Section 7.03(b).
(c) Licensed Parent Information and Licensed Parent Other IP.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 7.03(c) and any other applicable provisions of this Agreement, Parent hereby grants to SpinCo (for itself and the beneficial use of the SpinCo Group Members), and SpinCo accepts from Parent, a non-exclusive, non-transferable (except as expressly provided herein), revocable (only to the extent set forth in Section 7.03(c)(ii)), royalty-free, fully paid-up, worldwide license (without the right to sublicense except as expressly provided herein) to use, make, have made, sell, offer for sell, have sold, import, reproduce, copy, distribute, perform, display, modify, duplicate, and create derivative works and improvements of the Licensed Parent Information and Licensed Parent Other IP, only on and in connection with the conduct of the Aarons Business as conducted as of the Effective Time (the SpinCo Licensed Purposes) and only in accordance with this Agreement. If any Licensed Parent Information or Licensed Parent Other IP is, or to the extent that it includes Parents Confidential Information, SpinCo shall comply with the provisions of this Agreement applicable to its use and disclosure of Parents Confidential Information. SpinCo may sublicense the rights licensed to SpinCo under this Section 7.03(c) to SpinCos contractors only for purposes of providing services to SpinCo and only for the SpinCo Licensed Purposes; provided, however, that prior to sublicensing any rights in any Information or Other Intellectual Property that is or includes Parents Confidential Information, SpinCo shall first require the contractor to execute a binding written agreement pursuant to which such contractor agrees to be bound by provisions directed to the use and disclosure of such Confidential Information that are consistent with SpinCos obligations with respect to such Confidential Information as provided in this Agreement.
56
(ii) SpinCos license to the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP shall terminate thirty (30) days after its receipt of Parents written notice of SpinCos breach of any material term of this Agreement applicable to the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP, unless SpinCo cures such breach and notifies Parent in writing of such cure during such thirty (30) day period. In the event of such termination, SpinCo shall (A) cease any and all use of the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP, and SpinCo shall have no further right to use the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP anywhere, in any way, or for any purpose, whatsoever, and (B) return, or at Parents direction, destroy all copies of Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP. Unless and until Parent terminates SpinCos license to the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP in accordance with this Section 7.03(c)(ii), such license shall be perpetual.
(iii) As between the parties, SpinCo shall own all derivative works of the Licensed Parent Information or Licensed Parent Other IP, including all intellectual property rights thereto, created by or on behalf of SpinCo or any SpinCo Group Member (SpinCo Derivative Works); provided, however, that to the extent SpinCos or a SpinCo Group Members use of the SpinCo Derivative Works would infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate Parents copyright or Other Intellectual Property rights in and to the Licensed Parent Information or Licensed Parent Other IP, (A) SpinCo (on behalf of itself and the SpinCo Group Members) may use such Spinco Derivative Works only in connection with the SpinCo Licensed Purposes and only as set forth in this Agreement, and (B) SpinCos right (on behalf of itself and the SpinCo Group Members) to use and employ such SpinCo Derivative Works shall terminate upon any termination of the license granted pursuant to this Section 7.03(c).
(d) Use by Subsidiaries.
(i) Any Subsidiary of Parent shall have the same right to use and exploit the Licensed SpinCo Information and the Licensed SpinCo Other IP as Parent. Any Subsidiary of SpinCo shall have the same right to exploit the Licensed Parent Information and the Licensed Parent Other IP as SpinCo. Each Subsidiary that exercises such right shall be bound by, and shall comply with all of the terms and conditions of, this Agreement as though it were Parent or SpinCo, as applicable, hereunder, but Parent or SpinCo, as applicable, shall at all times remain responsible for all use or other exploitation of the Licensed SpinCo Information, Licensed SpinCo Other IP, Licensed Parent Information, or Licensed Parent Other IP, as applicable, under this Agreement by such Subsidiary.
(ii) If at any time a prior Subsidiary of Parent no longer meets the definition of a Subsidiary of Parent or should cease to exist, such prior Subsidiary shall cease to have the right to use or exploit such Licensed SpinCo Information and Licensed SpinCo Other IP. If at any time a prior Subsidiary of SpinCo no longer meets the definition of a Subsidiary of SpinCo or should cease to exist, such prior Subsidiary shall cease to have the right to exploit such Licensed Parent Information and Licensed Parent Other IP.
ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 8.01. Further Assurances.
57
(a) Subject to Section 3.03 and ARTICLE IX, in addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of its respective Group Members to, use commercially reasonable efforts, prior to and after the Effective Time, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to permit the operations of the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business and the Aarons Business after the Effective Time; provided, however, that neither Parent nor SpinCo (nor any of their respective Group Members) shall be obligated under this Section 8.01 to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party other than ordinary and customary fees paid to a Governmental Authority.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to and after the Effective Time, each Party shall, and shall cause its Group Members to, cooperate with the other Party, without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, (i) to execute and deliver, or use commercially reasonable efforts to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including any instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer as such Party may reasonably be requested to execute and deliver by the other Party, (ii) to make, or cause to be made, all filings with, and to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all Consents of any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument, to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Governmental Approvals or other Consents required to effect the Spin-Off, (iii) to make, or cause to be made, all filings with a Governmental Authority necessary to ensure the assignment, transfer or other modification of Governmental Approvals as may be required pursuant to any Environmental Law and (iv) to take, or cause to be taken, all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from time to time, in each case consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the Parent Assets and the SpinCo Assets and assignments and assumptions of Parent Liabilities and the SpinCo Liabilities as provided by this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) With respect to a particular Asset that (i) if primarily used or held for use in the Aarons Business would be a SpinCo Asset and, if not so primarily used or held for use, would be a Parent Asset or (ii) if primarily used or held for use in the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business would be a Parent Asset and, if not so primarily used or held for use, would be a SpinCo Asset, each Party shall, and shall cause its Group Members to, reasonably cooperate with the other Party, without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, in an investigation or analysis to determine whether such Asset is a SpinCo Asset or a Parent Asset and, if such determination is made to the reasonable satisfaction of both Parties, confirm in writing the status of such Asset. Each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party and use its commercially reasonable efforts to set up procedures and notifications as are reasonably necessary or advisable to effectuate the determination process provided by this Section 8.01(c).
Section 8.02. Late Payments. Except as provided in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid by Group Member to another Group Member when due pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not paid within sixty (60) days of the date of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus 2%.
Section 8.03. Inducement. SpinCo acknowledges and agrees that Parents willingness to cause, effect and consummate the Separation and the Distribution has been conditioned upon and induced by SpinCos covenants and agreements in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including SpinCos assumption of the SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to the Separation and the provisions of this Agreement and SpinCos covenants and agreements contained in ARTICLE V.
58
Section 8.04. Post-Effective Time Conduct. The Parties acknowledge that, after the Effective Time, each Party shall be independent of the other Party, with responsibility for its own actions and inactions and its own Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the conduct of its business, operations and activities following the Effective Time, except as may otherwise be provided in any Ancillary Agreement, and each Party shall (except as otherwise provided in ARTICLE V, including Section 5.02 and Section 5.03) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such Liabilities from being inappropriately borne by the other Party.
Section 8.05. Receipt of Misdirected Assets; Consumer Inquiries.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in connection with Section 2.02, in the event that at any time and from time to time after the Effective Time, Parent or a Parent Group Member shall receive from a Third Party an Asset of the SpinCo Group (including any remittances from account debtors in respect of the SpinCo Group), Parent shall promptly transfer, or cause its Group Member to promptly transfer, such Asset to the appropriate SpinCo Group Member and such SpinCo Group Member shall accept such transfer.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in connection with Section 2.02, in the event that at any time and from time to time after the Effective Time, SpinCo or a SpinCo Group Member shall receive from a Third Party an Asset of the Parent Group (including any remittances from account debtors in respect of the Parent Group), SpinCo shall promptly transfer, or cause its Group Member to promptly transfer, such Asset to the appropriate Parent Group Member and such Parent Group Member shall accept such transfer.
(c) In the event that at any time and from time to time after the Effective Time, Parent or any Parent Group Members shall receive any consumer or Governmental Authority inquiry or complaint relating to any product leased or sold in connection with the Aarons Business prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause its Group Member to, promptly forward such consumer or Governmental Authority inquiry or complaint to the appropriate SpinCo Group Member for handling.
(d) In the event that at any time and from time to time after the Effective Time, SpinCo or any SpinCo Group Members shall receive any consumer or Governmental Authority inquiry or complaint relating to any product leased or sold in connection with the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause its Group Member to, promptly forward such consumer or Governmental Authority inquiry or complaint to the appropriate Parent Group Member for handling.
(e) Each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party and use its commercially reasonable efforts to set up procedures and notifications as are reasonably necessary or advisable to effectuate the transfers and communications contemplated by this Section 8.05.
ARTICLE IX
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Section 9.01. Disputes. Except as otherwise specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, the procedures for discussion, negotiation and arbitration set forth in this ARTICLE IX shall apply to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) that may arise out of, relate to, arise under or in connection with, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby on or prior to the Effective Time), between or among any Parent Group Member and any SpinCo Group Member (collectively, Disputes). Each Party hereto agrees on behalf
59
of itself and its respective Group Members that the procedures set forth in this ARTICLE IX shall be the sole and exclusive remedy in connection with any Dispute, controversy or claim relating to any of the foregoing matters and irrevocably waives any right to commence any Action in or before any Governmental Authority, except as expressly provided in Section 11.13 and except to the extent provided under the Arbitration Act in the case of judicial review of arbitration results or awards. EACH PARTY ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS RESPECTIVE GROUP MEMBERS IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO ANY TRIAL IN A COURT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE SET FORTH IN THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS SECTION 9.01.
Section 9.02. Negotiation and Mediation.
(a) The Parties hereto agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve expeditiously any Dispute between them or any of their respective Group Members with respect to the matters covered hereby that may arise from time to time on a mutually acceptable negotiated basis. In furtherance of the foregoing, and if other means of resolving the Dispute are not effective, a Party hereto involved (or a Group Member of which is involved) in a Dispute, in order to pursue such Dispute further, shall deliver a notice (an Escalation Notice) requesting an in-person meeting involving representatives of the Parties hereto at a senior level of management of the Parties hereto (or if the Parties hereto agree, of the appropriate strategic business unit or division within each Party). A copy of any such Escalation Notice shall be given to the General Counsel, or like officer, of each Party involved in the Dispute (which copy shall state that it is an Escalation Notice pursuant to this Agreement). Any agenda, location or procedures for such discussions or negotiations between the Parties may be established by the Parties from time to time; provided, however, that the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to meet within twenty (20) Business Days of the Escalation Notice.
(b) If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) Business Days after the date of the Escalation Notice, any Party hereto will have the right to begin arbitration under Section 9.03.
(c) The Parties may, by mutual consent, select a mediator to aid the Parties in their discussions and negotiations. Any opinion expressed by any such mediator shall be strictly advisory and shall not be binding on the Parties, nor shall any opinion expressed by any such mediator be admissible in any arbitration proceedings. Costs of any mediation shall be borne equally by the Parties, except that each Party shall be responsible for its own expenses. Mediation is not a prerequisite to seeking arbitration under Section 9.03.
(d) The Parties agree that all discussions and negotiations between the Parties during the foregoing proceedings will be inadmissible as evidence and without prejudice to the legal position of a Party in any subsequent Action.
Section 9.03. Arbitration.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, any arbitration hereunder will be submitted to and administered by the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) in accordance with its Procedures for Large, Complex Commercial Disputes then prevailing (the AAA Rules). Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, any Dispute to be decided in arbitration hereunder shall be decided (i) before a sole arbitrator if the amount subject to such Dispute, together with all then-existing Disputes arising out of substantially the same facts, and inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals less than $10 million; or (ii) by an arbitral tribunal of three arbitrators if (A) the amount subject to such Dispute, together with all then-existing Disputes arising out of substantially the same facts, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, is equal to or greater than $10 million or (B) either Party elects in writing to have such
60
Dispute decided by three arbitrators; provided, however, that the Party that makes a request referred to in the foregoing clause (B) shall solely bear the increased costs and expenses associated with a panel of three arbitrators (i.e., the additional costs and expenses associated with the two additional arbitrators (as determined by the arbitrator)). In the event that arbitration shall be before an arbitral tribunal of three arbitrators in accordance with clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, any references to the arbitrator in this ARTICLE IX shall be deemed to refer to such arbitration panel or each such arbitrator or any such arbitrator, as the context indicates or requires.
(b) If the arbitration shall be before an arbitral tribunal of three independent arbitrators, the panel of three arbitrators shall be chosen as follows: (i) the AAA shall send to the Parties a list setting forth the names of fifteen (15) potential arbitrators and (ii) the Parties shall alternatively strike from the combined list until three names remain, which shall be the selected arbitrators. If the arbitration shall be before a sole arbitrator, then the sole arbitrator shall be appointed by agreement of the Parties within fifteen (15) Business Days from the date of receipt of written demand of either party. If the Parties cannot agree to a sole arbitrator, then upon written application by either party, the sole independent arbitrator shall be appointed as follows: (A) the AAA shall send to the Parties a list setting forth the names of ten (10) potential arbitrators and (B) the Parties shall alternatively strike from the combined list until one name remains, which shall be the selected arbitrators. Any arbitrator selected pursuant to this Section 9.03(b) shall be neutral and disinterested with respect to each of the Parties and the matter and shall be reasonably competent in the applicable subject matter of the Dispute, with any determinations as to whether an arbitrator satisfies such criteria to be made by the AAA.
(c) The arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 9.03(b) will set a time for the hearing of the matter, which will commence no later than 180 days after the selection of the arbitrator pursuant to Section 9.03(b). The arbitrator may extend such period at the arbitrators discretion pursuant to a reasoned request from either Party or on the arbitrators own initiative if it is necessary to do so. The arbitrator shall use the arbitrators best efforts to reach a final decision and render the same in writing to the Parties not later than sixty (60) days after Dispute being fully submitted to the arbitrator for decision, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing. Failure of the arbitrator to do so, however, shall not be a basis for challenging the decision.
(d) The decision of the arbitrator or a majority of the arbitration panel will be final and binding on the Parties, and judgment thereon may be had and will be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction over the Parties. Arbitration awards will bear interest from the date of the award at an annual rate of the Prime Rate plus 5%. To the extent that the provisions of this Agreement and the AAA Rules conflict, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
(e) The Parties may obtain and take discovery as permitted by the arbitrator, in the arbitrators discretion, including as to the type of discovery and parameters on the timing and/or completion of such discovery, and consistent with the AAA Rules.
(f) The arbitrator shall have full power and authority to determine issues of arbitrability but shall otherwise be limited to interpreting or construing the applicable provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and will have no authority or power to limit, expand, alter, amend, modify, revoke or suspend any condition or provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; it being understood, however, that the arbitrator will have full authority to implement the provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and to fashion appropriate remedies for breaches of this Agreement (including interim or permanent injunctive relief); provided, however, that the arbitrator shall not have (i) any authority in excess of the authority a court having jurisdiction over the Parties and the controversy or dispute would have absent these arbitration provisions or (ii) any right or power to award special, punitive or exemplary damages, except to the extent such damages are expressly permitted by the
61
terms of this Agreement (including Section 5.12 hereof) or any Ancillary Agreement (provided that this clause (ii) shall not limit the award of any such damages to the extent they are included in any Liabilities to Third Parties as to which the provisions of this ARTICLE IX are applicable). It is the intention of the Parties that in rendering a decision the arbitrator gives effect to the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and follows applicable Law (it being understood and agreed that judicial review is limited to the matters set forth in Section 9.03(i)).
(g) If a Party fails or refuses to appear at and participate in an arbitration hearing after due notice, the arbitrator may hear and determine the controversy upon evidence produced by the appearing Party. Any decision rendered under such circumstances shall be as valid and enforceable as if the Parties had appeared and participated fully at all stages.
(h) The expenses of the arbitration, including the arbitrators fees and expert witness fees, incurred by the Parties to the arbitration, may be awarded to the prevailing Party, in the discretion of the arbitrator, or may be apportioned between the Parties in any manner deemed appropriate by the arbitrator. Unless and until the arbitrator makes any such award or apportionment, the fees of the arbitrator and all other arbitration costs shall be borne equally by each Party involved in the matter and each Party shall be responsible for its own attorneys fees and other costs and expenses, including the costs of witnesses selected by such Party.
(i) Any arbitration award shall be an award with a holding in favor of or against a Party on each claim and shall include a statement of the reasoning on which the award rests. The award must also be in adequate form so that a judgment of a court may be entered thereupon. Judgment upon any arbitration award hereunder may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any award shall not be vacated or appealed except on the basis of (i) the award being procured by fraud or corruption, (ii) the arbitrator being partial or corrupt or (iii) the arbitrator exceeding the scope of the power granted to the arbitrator in this Agreement.
(j) Regardless of whether an Escalation Notice has been delivered, prior to the time at which the arbitrator is appointed pursuant to Section 9.03(b), either Party may seek one or more temporary restraining orders in a court of competent jurisdiction, subject to Section 11.12, if necessary in order to preserve and protect the status quo and/or to prevent irreparable harm. Neither the request for, nor the grant or denial of, any such temporary restraining order shall be deemed a waiver of the obligation to arbitrate as set forth herein, and the arbitrator may order the Parties to petition the court to dissolve, continue or modify any such order. Any such temporary restraining order shall remain in effect until the first to occur of the expiration of the order in accordance with its terms or the dissolution thereof.
(k) Except as required by Law, the Parties shall hold, and shall cause their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and other representatives to hold, the existence, content and result of mediation or arbitration in confidence in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE IX and except as may be required in order to enforce any award. Each of the Parties shall request that the arbitrator comply with such confidentiality requirement.
(l) If at any time the arbitrator shall fail to serve as such for any reason, the Parties shall select a new arbitrator who shall be disinterested as to the Parties and the matter in accordance with the procedure set forth herein for the selection of the initial arbitrator. The extent, if any, to which testimony previously given shall be repeated or as to which the replacement arbitrator elects to rely on the stenographic record (if there is one) of such testimony shall be determined by the arbitrator.
(m) Any arbitration proceedings hereunder shall take place in Atlanta, Georgia, unless another location is otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties.
62
(n) The interpretation of the provisions of this ARTICLE IX, only insofar as they relate to the agreement to arbitrate and any procedures pursuant thereto, shall be governed by the Arbitration Act and other applicable U.S. federal Law. In all other respects, the interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed as set forth in Section 11.02.
Section 9.04. Continuity of Service and Performance. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties will continue to provide service and honor all other commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this ARTICLE IX with respect to all matters not subject to such Dispute to the extent such Party is obligated to do so pursuant to the underlying agreement.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
Section 10.01. Termination. This Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole and absolute discretion of Parent without the approval of any Person, including SpinCo. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.
Section 10.02. Effect of Termination. In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall become null and void and no Party, nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees, shall have any Liability of any kind to any Person by reason of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01. Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Conflicts; Corporate Power.
(a) This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. Each Party acknowledges that it and the other Party may execute this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement by manual, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms a stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it shall not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind it to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it shall as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement or Ancillary Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date hereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.
(b) This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the exhibits, Schedules and annexes hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
63
(c) It is the intention of the Parties that the Transfer Documents shall be consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Transfer Documents and this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control over the inconsistent provisions of such Transfer Documents. The Parties agree that the Transfer Documents are not intended and shall not be construed in any way to enhance, modify or decrease any of the rights or obligations of Parent, any Parent Group Member, SpinCo or any SpinCo Group Member from those contained in this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, and subject to the preceding paragraph (c), in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Ancillary Agreement other than the Transfer Documents, the provisions of such Ancillary Agreement shall control over the inconsistent provisions of this Agreement as to matters specifically addressed in the Ancillary Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the TMA shall govern all matters (including any indemnities and payments among the parties and each other member of their respective Groups and the allocation of any rights and obligations pursuant to agreements entered into with Third Parties) relating to Taxes or otherwise specifically addressed in the TMA.
(e) Parent represents on behalf of itself and each other Parent Group Member, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and each other SpinCo Group Member, as follows:
(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform each of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and
(ii) this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been (or, in the case of any Ancillary Agreement, will be on or prior to the Effective Time) duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes, or will constitute, a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 11.02. Governing Law. This Agreement, and, unless expressly proved therein, each Ancillary Agreement, (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or thereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein or therein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Georgia irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Georgia, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.
Section 11.03. Assignability. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, none of this Agreement, any of the Ancillary Agreements or any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder or thereunder may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any party without the prior written consent of the other party to the agreement being so assigned or delegated, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. Except as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a partys rights and obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements if: (a) any party to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or any of its successors or permitted assigns) (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving Business Entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and/or Assets to any Person; and (b) in any such case, the resulting, surviving or assignee Person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the relevant party (or its successors or permitted assigns, as applicable) under this Agreement and all applicable Ancillary Agreements. No assignment permitted by this Section 11.03 shall release the assigning party from Liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement(s).
64
Section 11.04. Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except for the indemnification and contribution rights under this Agreement of any Parent Indemnitee or SpinCo Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such under ARTICLE V and for the releases under Section 5.01 of any Person provided therein, and for the rights of insureds pursuant to Section 5.13, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective Group Members, after giving effect to the Distribution, and their permitted successors and assigns, and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties and their respective Group Members, after giving effect to the Distribution, and their permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 11.05. Notices. All Notices shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by electronic mail transmission (return receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.05):
If to Parent, to:
PROG Holdings, Inc.
256 W. Data Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attn: Marvin Fentress
Email: marvin.fentress@progleasing.com
If to SpinCo to:
The Aarons Company, Inc.
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Attn: Rachel George
Email: rachel.george@aarons.com
Either Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.
Section 11.06. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable terms or provisions into this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) which,
65
insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the Parties. Any term or provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part, degree or within certain jurisdictions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable to the extent consistent with the intent of the parties as reflected by this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each party waives any term or provision of Law which renders any term or provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
Section 11.07. Publicity. From and after the Effective Time, each of Parent and SpinCo shall consult with the other prior to issuing, and shall, subject to the requirements of Section 6.09, provide the other Party the opportunity to review and comment upon, that portion of any press releases or other public statements in connection with the Spin-Off or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or by any Ancillary Agreement and prior to making any filings with any Governmental Authority or national securities exchange with respect thereto (including the Information Statement, the Parties respective Current Reports on Form 8-K to be filed on the Distribution Date, the Parties respective Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with respect to the fiscal quarter during which the Distribution Date occurs, or if such quarter is the fourth fiscal quarter, the Parties respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with respect to the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs, each such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, a First Post-Distribution SEC Report). Each Partys obligations pursuant to this Section 11.07 shall terminate on the date on which such Partys First Post-Distribution SEC Report is filed with the Commission.
Section 11.08. Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, (a) all Third Party fees, costs and expenses incurred by either the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group in connection with effecting the Spin-Off prior to or on the Distribution Date, whether payable prior to, on or following the Distribution Date, will be borne and paid by Parent (but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, Liabilities under clause (f) of the definition of SpinCo Liabilities) and (b) all Third Party fees, costs and expenses incurred by either the Parent Group or the SpinCo Group in connection with the Spin-Off following the Distribution Date, will be borne and paid by the Party incurring such fee, cost or expense; provided, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (I) that Parents obligations under the foregoing clause (a) shall not exceed the amount set forth on Schedule VII and (II) that any costs and expenses incurred in obtaining any Consent or novation from a Third Party in connection with the assignment to and assumption by a Party or any of its Group Members of any contracts, commitments or understandings in connection with the Separation shall be borne by the Party or Group Member to which such contract, commitment or understanding is being assigned.
Section 11.09. Headings. The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 11.10. Survival of Agreements. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement and the Liabilities for the breach of any obligations contained herein or therein shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.
Section 11.11. Waivers of Default. No failure or delay of any Party (or its applicable Group Members) in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party.
66
Section 11.12. Consent to Jurisdiction. Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE IX, each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of (a) the Georgia State-Wide Business Court, and (b) the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (the Georgia Courts), for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding to compel arbitration or for provisional relief in aid of arbitration in accordance with ARTICLE IX or for provisional relief to prevent irreparable harm, and to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Georgia Courts for the enforcement of any award issued thereunder. Each of the Parties further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States registered mail to such Partys respective address set forth in Section 11.05 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in the Georgia Courts with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 11.12. Each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to any Georgia Courts exercise of personal jurisdiction over the Parties and the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby in the Georgia Courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 11.13. Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. Accordingly, it is hereby agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to (a) an injunction or injunctions issued in any arbitration in accordance with ARTICLE IX to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, (b) provisional or temporary injunctive relief in accordance with Section 9.03(j) in any Georgia Court, and (c) enforcement of any such award of an arbitral tribunal or a Georgia Court in any court of the United States, or any other any court or tribunal sitting in any state of the United States or in any foreign country that has jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy or relief to which they may be entitled.
Section 11.14. Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of both Parties and their relevant Group Members, as the case may be.
Section 11.15. Interpretation. In this Agreement and in any Ancillary Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other gender as the context requires; (b) the terms hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) as a whole (including all of the Schedules hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement (or such Ancillary Agreement); (c) Article, Section or Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections and Schedules of or to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement), unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement (including this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement) shall be deemed to include the schedules, exhibits and annexes to such agreement; (e) any capitalized terms used in any Schedule to this Agreement (or to any Ancillary Agreement) but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) to which such Schedule is attached, as applicable; (f) any reference herein to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof; (g) the word including and words of similar import when used in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary
67
Agreement) means including, without limitation, unless otherwise specified; (h) unless otherwise specified, the word or shall not be exclusive; (i) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word days refers to calendar days; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, all references to the date hereof, the date of this Agreement, hereby and hereupon and words of similar import shall all be references to November 29, 2020.
Section 11.16. Group Members. Parent shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a Parent Group Member and SpinCo shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a SpinCo Group Member.
Section 11.17. Force Majeure. Neither Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any Ancillary Agreement for failure to fulfill any obligation so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event: (a) provide notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, that, prior to any Party invoking the benefit of this provision as a result of a Force Majeure with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to its failure or potential failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section 11.18. Mutual Drafting. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.
Section 11.19. No Reliance on Other Party. The Parties hereto represent to each other that this Agreement is entered into with full consideration of any and all rights which the Parties hereto may have. The Parties hereto have relied upon their own knowledge and judgment and have conducted such investigations they and their in-house counsel have deemed appropriate regarding this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and their rights in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. The Parties hereto are not relying upon any representations or statements made by any other Party, or any such other Partys employees, agents, representatives or attorneys, regarding this Agreement, except to the extent such representations are expressly set forth or incorporated in this Agreement. The Parties hereto are not relying upon a legal duty, if one exists, on the part of any other Party (or any such other Partys employees, agents, representatives or attorneys) to disclose any information in connection with the execution of this Agreement or its preparation, it being expressly understood that no Party hereto shall ever assert any failure to disclose information on the part of any other Party as a ground for challenging this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 11.20. Limited Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no individual who is a shareholder, director, employee, officer, agent or representative of Parent or SpinCo, or any of their respective Group Members, in such individuals capacity as such, shall have any Liability in respect of or relating to the covenants or obligations of Parent or SpinCo, as applicable, under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or in respect of any certificate delivered with respect hereto or thereto and, to the fullest extent legally permissible, each Parent and SpinCo, for itself and its respective Group Members and its and their respective shareholders, directors, employees and officers, waives and agrees not to seek to assert or enforce any such Liability that any such Person otherwise might have pursuant to applicable Law.
68
Section 11.21. No Set-Off. Except as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Agreement or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, none of the Parties nor any member of their respective Groups shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Parties or any member of their respective Groups arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
69
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Separation and Distribution Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Steven A. Michaels | |
Name: Steven A. Michaels | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer, Progressive Leasing | ||
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Douglas A. Lindsay | |
Name: Douglas A. Lindsay | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC.
Pursuant to Section 14-2-1006 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the Code), Aarons Holdings Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the Corporation), hereby submits the following Articles of Amendment:
1.
The name of the Corporation is Aarons Holdings Company, Inc.
2.
The Corporations Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are hereby amended so that Article I of the Articles of Incorporation shall hereafter read in its entirety as follows:
The name of the corporation is: PROG Holdings, Inc.
3.
This foregoing amendment was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on November 11, 2020 pursuant to Section 14-2-1002(8) of the Code.
4.
The foregoing amendment was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation without shareholder action and shareholder action was not required.
5.
Publication of Notice of Change of Corporate Name will be published pursuant to Section 14-2-1006.1 of the Code.
6.
These Articles of Amendment shall become effective as of 5:30 p.m. on November 30, 2020.
1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aarons Holdings Company, Inc. has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer, this 24th day of November, 2020.
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert W. Kamerschen | |
Name: |
Robert W. Kamerschen | |
Title: |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer & Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Articles of Amendment]
Exhibit 3.2
As Amended
Effective November 30, 2020
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
PROG HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office shall be in the State of Georgia, County of Gwinnett.
Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Georgia as the board of directors may from time to time determine and the business of the corporation may require or make desirable.
ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of shareholders of the corporation shall be held at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place in the United States as may be determined by the board of directors, at 10:00 a.m. on the last business day of the fifth month following the close of each fiscal year or at such other time and date following the close of the fiscal year as shall be determined by the board of directors, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
(a) Special meetings of shareholders of one or more classes or series of the corporations shares shall be called by the chief executive officer or the secretary (i) when so directed by the chairman or by a majority of the entire board of directors; or (ii) upon the demand of holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of all votes entitled to be cast on each issue to be considered at a proposed special meeting of shareholders. The business that may be transacted at any special meeting of shareholders shall be limited to that proposed in the notice of the special meeting given in accordance with Section 3 (including related or incidental matters that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the proposed business).
(b) Promptly after the date of receipt of written shareholder demands (the Demand Date) purporting to comply with the provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as amended from time to time (the Code), and these bylaws, the chief executive officer or the secretary of the corporation shall determine the validity of the demand. If the demand is valid, the chief executive officer or the secretary of the corporation shall call a special shareholders meeting by mailing notice within 20 days of the Demand Date.
(c) The time, date and place of any special shareholders meeting shall be determined by the board of directors and shall be set forth in the notice of meeting.
Section 3. Participation in Meetings by Remote Communication. The board of directors, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code and any other applicable law for the participation by shareholders and proxyholders in a meeting of shareholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of shareholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Shareholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of shareholders, stating the place, date and hour of the meeting (and the means of remote communications, if any, by which shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting), shall be given personally or by mail to each shareholder of record not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. Such notice may be given in any manner permitted by, and shall be deemed to be effectively given at the times as provided in, the Georgia Business Corporation Code. A shareholders attendance at a meeting waives objection to lack of notice or defective notice of such meeting, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to the holding of the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, and waives objection to consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented. A shareholder may waive notice of a meeting before or after the date and time stated in the notice, which waiver must be in writing, signed by the shareholder entitled to such notice and be delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.
Section 5. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of shareholders except as otherwise provided by statute, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws. If a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of shareholders, a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned
2
meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting (and the means of remote communications, if any, by which shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting) shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 6. Voting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, action on a matter brought before such meeting is approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the matter is one upon which by express provision of law, these bylaws or of the articles of incorporation, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of the question. Each shareholder shall at every meeting of shareholders be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of the capital stock having voting power registered in his or her name on the books of the corporation, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after 11 months from its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 7. Shareholder Proposals.
(a) No shareholder proposal or resolution (each a Shareholder Proposal), whether purporting to be binding or nonbinding on the corporation or its board of directors, shall be considered at any annual or special meeting of shareholders unless:
(i) | If such Shareholder Proposal relates solely to the nomination and election of directors, it satisfies the requirements of Article III, Section 3; or |
(ii) | With respect to any Shareholder Proposal to be considered at a special shareholders meeting called pursuant to Article II, Section 2, subsection (a)(i), the shareholder(s) proposing to make such Shareholder Proposal provided the information set forth in subsection (b) of this Section 7 to the board of directors within 14 days after the date of the notice calling such special shareholders meeting (or if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such information was delivered to the president not later than the close of the seventh day following the date on which the notice of the shareholders meeting was mailed); or |
(iii) | With respect to any Shareholder Proposal to be considered at a special shareholders meeting called pursuant to Article II, Section 2, subsection (a)(ii), the shareholder(s) proposing to make such Shareholder Proposal provided the information set forth in subsection (b) of this Section 7 to the board of directors concurrently with the filing of the initial demand by shareholders relating to such special shareholders meeting; or |
3
(iv) | With respect to any Shareholder Proposal to be considered at any regular meeting of shareholders, other than as described in clause (i) hereof, the shareholder(s) proposing to make such Shareholder Proposal provided the information set forth in subsection (b) of this Section 7 to the board of directors between 90 to 120 days prior to the regular meeting at which they wish the Shareholder Proposal to be considered. For the purposes of determining whether information was provided at the times or within the specified periods, the date of the applicable meeting shall be as set forth in the notice of meeting given by the corporation, and such times and periods will be determined without regard to any postponements, deferrals or adjournments of such meeting to a later date. |
(b) The following information must be provided to the board of directors, within or at the times specified in subsection (a) above, in order for the Shareholder Proposal to be considered at the applicable shareholders meeting:
(i) | The Shareholder Proposal, as it will be proposed, in full text and in writing; |
(ii) | The purpose(s) for which the Shareholder Proposal is desired and the specific meeting at which such proposal is proposed to be considered; |
(iii) | The name(s), address(es), and number of shares held of record by the shareholder(s) making such Shareholder Proposal (or owned beneficially and represented by a nominee certificate on file with the corporation); |
(iv) | The number of shares that have been solicited with regard to the Shareholder Proposal and the number of shares the holders of which have agreed (in writing or otherwise) to vote in any specific fashion on said Shareholder Proposal; and |
(v) | A written statement by said shareholder(s) that they intend to continue ownership of such voting shares through the date of the meeting at which said Shareholder Proposal is proposed to be considered. |
4
(c) Failure to fully comply with the provisions of this Section 7 shall bar discussion of and voting on the Shareholder Proposal at the applicable regular or special shareholders meeting. Any Shareholder Proposal that does not comply with the requirements of this Section 7 shall be disregarded by the chairman of the meeting, and any votes cast in support of the Shareholder Proposal, unless the Shareholder Proposal has been validly submitted by another shareholder, shall be disregarded by the chairman of such meeting.
(d) The provisions of this Section 7 shall be read in accordance with and so as not to conflict with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the corporations shares are traded. Nothing in these bylaws shall be deemed to require the consideration at any meeting of shareholders of any Shareholder Proposal that, pursuant to law, the corporation may refuse to permit consideration thereof.
Section 8. Consent of Shareholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if all of the shareholders consent thereto in writing, setting forth the action so taken. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of shareholders.
Section 9. List of Shareholders; Inspection of Records.
(a) The corporation shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of its shareholders, giving their names and addresses and the number, class and series, if any, of the shares held by each. The officer who has charge of the stock transfer books of the corporation shall prepare and make, before every meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number and class and series, if any, of shares held by each. The list shall be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting for the purposes thereof. The said list may be the corporations regular record of shareholders if it is arranged in alphabetical order or contains an alphabetical index.
(b) Shareholders are entitled to inspect the corporate records as and to the extent provided by the Code; provided, however, that only shareholders owning more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding shares of any class of the corporations stock shall be entitled to inspect (1) the minutes from any board, board committee or shareholders meeting (including any records of action taken thereby without a meeting); (2) the accounting records of the corporation; or (3) any record of the shareholders of the corporation.
5
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers. Except as otherwise provided by any legal agreement among shareholders, the property, affairs and business of the corporation shall be managed and directed by its board of directors, which may exercise all powers of the corporation and do all lawful acts and things which are not by law, by any legal agreement among shareholders, by the articles of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.
One member of the board of directors shall be selected by the board to serve as chairman. The chairman shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and the board and shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned by the board of directors and as otherwise may be set forth herein. Except where by law the signature of the chief executive officer is required, the chairman shall possess the same power as the chief executive officer to sign all certificates representing shares of the corporation and all bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation.
Section 2. Number, Election and Term. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be at least 3; the exact number to be fixed from time to time by resolution of the board of directors, but no decrease shall have the effect of shortening the term of an incumbent director. At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors will be elected for a term of office to expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders. Each director shall hold office until the expiration of his or her respective term of office and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death. The directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present; provided, however that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at such meeting for which (a) the president receives a notice that a shareholder has nominated a candidate for election to the board of directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for shareholder nominees for director set forth in Article III, Section 3; and (b) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such shareholder on or prior to the tenth (10th) day preceding the date that the corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the shareholders. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast for a directors election exceeds the number of votes cast against that directors election. The following shall not be a vote cast: (1) a share otherwise present at the meeting but for which there is an abstention and (2) a share otherwise present at the meeting as to which a shareholder gives no authority or discretion, including broker nonvotes.
6
In the event an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast (unless, pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, the director election standard is a plurality of the votes cast), the incumbent director shall promptly tender his or her resignation to the board of directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors will make a recommendation to the board of directors on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The board of directors, taking into account the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, will determine whether to accept or reject such resignation, or what other action should be taken, within 100 days from the date of the certification of election results. Directors shall be natural persons who have attained the age of 18 years, but need not be residents of the State of Georgia.
Section 3. Nominations.
(a) If any shareholder intends to nominate or cause to be nominated any candidate for election to the board of directors (other than any candidate to be sponsored by and proposed at the instance of the management), such shareholder shall notify the president by first class registered mail sent not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later on the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation). Such notification shall contain the following information with respect to each nominee, to the extent known to the shareholder giving such notification:
(i) | Name, address and principal present occupation; |
(ii) | To the knowledge of the shareholder who proposed to make such nomination, the total number of shares that may be voted for such proposed nominee; |
(iii) | The names and address of the shareholders who propose to make such nomination, and the number of shares of the corporation owned by each of such shareholders; and |
7
(iv) | The following additional information with respect to each nominee: age, past employment, education, beneficial ownership of shares in the corporation, past and present financial standing, criminal history (including any convictions, indictments or settlements thereof), involvement in any past or pending litigation or administrative proceedings (including threatened involvement), relationship to and agreements (whether or not in writing) with the shareholder(s) (and their relatives, subsidiaries and affiliates) intending to make such nomination, past and present relationships or dealings with the corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers or agents, plans or ideas for managing the affairs of the corporation (including, without limitation, any termination of employees, any sales of corporate assets, any proposed merger, business combination or recapitalization involving the corporation, and any proposed dissolution or liquidation of the corporation), such individuals written consent to being named in a proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as director if elected and all additional information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed, or otherwise required, pursuant to Sections 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated there under (the Exchange Act), in connection with any acquisition of shares by such nominee or in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such nominee for his or her election as a director, regardless of the applicability of such provisions of the Exchange Act |
(b) Any nominations not in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 may be disregarded by the chairman of the meeting, and upon instruction by the chairman, votes cast for each such nominee shall be disregarded. In the event, however, that a person should be nominated by more than one shareholder, and if one such nomination complies with the provisions of this Section 3, such nomination shall be honored, and all shares voted for such nominee shall be counted.
Section 4. Vacancies. All vacancies, including vacancies resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. If there are no directors in office, then vacancies shall be filled through election by the shareholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified; provided that any director filling a vacancy by reason of an increase in the number of directors, where such vacancy is filled by the directors, shall serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
8
Section 5. Meetings and Notice. The board of directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Georgia. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board. Special meetings of the board may be called by the chairman of the board or chief executive officer or by any two directors on one days oral, telegraphic or written notice duly given or served on each director personally, or three days notice deposited, first class postage prepaid, in the United States mail. Such notice shall state a reasonable time, date and place of meeting, but the purpose need not be stated therein. A director may waive any notice required by the Code, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws before or after the date and time of the matter to which the notice relates, by a written waiver signed by the director and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting and waiver of all objections to the place and time of the meeting, or the manner in which it has been called or convened except when the director states, at the beginning of the meeting, any such objection or objections to the transaction of business.
Section 6. Quorum. At all meetings of the board a majority of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, by the articles of incorporation, or by these bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 7. Conference Telephone Meeting. Unless the articles of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by such board, may participate in a meeting of such board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person.
Section 8. Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, setting forth the action so taken, and the writing or writings are delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the board.
9
Section 9. Committees. The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate from among its members one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more directors. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting of such committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation except that it shall have no authority with respect to (1) amending the articles of incorporation or these bylaws; (2) adopting a plan of merger or consolidation; (3) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation; (4) a voluntary dissolution of the corporation or a revocation thereof; and (5) any other action limited by law. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors. A majority of each committee may determine its action and may fix the time and place of its meetings, unless otherwise provided by the board of directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.
Section 10. Removal of Directors. At any shareholders meeting with respect to which notice of such purpose has been given, any director may be removed from office, with cause, by the vote of shareholders representing a majority of the issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote for the election of directors, and any vacancy created by such removal shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and a director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified unless sooner displaced.
Section 11. Compensation of Directors. Directors shall be entitled to such reasonable compensation for their services as directors or members of any committee of the board as shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the board, and shall also be entitled to reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending any meeting of the board or any such committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors, which shall include a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer and a secretary, and which may include one or more vice presidents (any one or more of whom may be given an additional designation of rank or function), assistant officers, and such other officers as the board of directors shall deem appropriate. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
10
Section 2. Compensation. The salaries of all officers shall be fixed by the board of directors or a committee or officer appointed by the board.
Section 3. Term of Office. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the board of directors, the principal officers shall be chosen annually by the board at the first meeting of the board following the annual meeting of shareholders of the corporation, or as soon thereafter as is conveniently possible. Subordinate officers may be elected from time to time. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor shall have been chosen and qualified, or until his or her death, resignation or removal.
Section 4. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the corporation will be served thereby.
Section 5. Vacancies. Any vacancy in an office resulting from any cause may be filled by the board of directors.
Section 6. Powers and Duties. The officers shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the board of directors. In addition, the following officers shall each have the powers and duties set forth below:
(a) Chief Executive Officer. The chief executive officer shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, in the absence of the chairman of the board, preside at all meetings of shareholders, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe. Except where by law the signature of the president is required, the chief executive officer shall possess the same power as the president to sign all certificates representing shares of the corporation and all bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation.
(b) President. The president shall, in the absence of the chairman of the board and the chief executive officer, preside at all meetings of shareholders. The president shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect. The president shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required by law to be otherwise signed and executed.
11
(c) Chief Financial Officer. The chief financial officer shall have charge of and be responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the corporation and shall deposit or cause to be deposited, in the name of the corporation, all moneys or other valuable effects in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall, from time to time, be selected by or under authority of the board of directors. The chief financial officer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements in books of the corporation.
(d) Vice President. In the absence of the president or in the event of the presidents inability or refusal to act, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice president in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) 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 vice presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
(e) Secretary. The secretary shall cause minutes of all meetings of the board of directors and shareholders to be recorded and kept and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of shareholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president, under whose supervision the secretary shall be. The secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and the secretary, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to the instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the secretarys signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by such officers signature.
(f) Assistant Officers. Any assistant officer of the corporation shall have such duties and authority as the officer such assistant officer assists and, in addition, such other duties and authority as the board of directors or chief executive officer shall from time to time assign.
(g) Other Officers. Any other officer of the corporation shall have such duties and authority as the board of directors or chief executive officer shall from time to time assign.
Section 7. Voting Securities of Corporation. Unless otherwise directed by the board of directors, the chief executive officer shall have full power and authority on behalf of the corporation to attend and to act and vote at any meetings of security holders of corporations in which the corporation may hold securities, and at such meetings shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities which the corporation might have possessed and exercised if it had been present. The board of directors by resolution from time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
12
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATE
Section 1. Certificates for Shares. Shares of the corporations stock may be issued by certificate or issued without certificate as Book Entry shares and entered on the books of the corporation and registered as they are issued. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of shares without certificates, the corporations transfer agent shall send the shareholder a written notification of the information required on certificates by applicable law, rule or regulation. Certificates, if issued, shall be in such form as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The corporation may issue a new certificate or certificates of stock or Book Entry shares in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or Book Entry shares, the board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, 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 it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 3. Transfers.
(a) Transfers of shares of the capital stock of the corporation shall be made only on the books of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his or her duly authorized attorney, or with a transfer clerk or transfer agent appointed as provided in Section 5 of this Article, and, if such shares are represented by a certificate or certificates, on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed, or for Book Entry shares, upon the presentation proper evidence of authority to transfer by the record holder, and the payment of all taxes thereon.
(b) The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and for all other purposes, and 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, except as otherwise provided by law.
13
(c) Shares of capital stock may be transferred by (i) delivery of the certificates therefor, accompanied either by an assignment in writing on the back of the certificates or by separate written power of attorney to sell, assign and transfer the same, signed by the record holder, thereof, or by his or her duly authorized attorney-in- fact, or (ii) in the case of Book Entry shares, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of such Book Entry shares, or from a duly authorized agent or attorney. No transfer shall affect the right of the corporation to pay any dividend upon the stock to the holder of record as the holder in fact thereof for all purposes, and no transfer shall be valid, except between the parties thereto, until such transfer shall have been made upon the books of the corporation as herein provided.
(d) The board may, from time to time, make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these bylaws, the articles of incorporation or applicable law, rule or regulation, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of the capital stock of the corporation.
Section 4. Record Date. In order that the corporation may determine the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or 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, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 70 days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to be taken. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the 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. If no record date is fixed for other purposes, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the board of directors shall fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 5. Transfer Agent and Registrar. The board of directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or one or more transfer clerks and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates of stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
14
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Distributions. Distributions upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meetings, pursuant to law. Distributions may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporations capital stock, subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation. Before payment of any distribution, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for distributions such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing distributions, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
Section 3. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words Corporate Seal and Georgia. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. In the event it is inconvenient to use such a seal at any time, the signature of the corporation followed by the word Seal enclosed in parentheses shall be deemed the seal of the corporation.
Section 4. Savings Clause. To the extent these bylaws conflict with any provision of any state or federal law as such laws may be amended from time to time, these bylaws shall be construed so as not to conflict with said law, and any discretionary actions made hereunder shall be made in accordance with applicable law.
15
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless any person (an Indemnified Person) who is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal (a Proceeding) (other than an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving in another Corporate Status (as defined below) against all expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys fees and disbursements, court costs and expert witness fees) (collectively, Expenses), and against all judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including any excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) (collectively, Liabilities) that may be imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from such Proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and, in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and in all other cases, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to not be opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Corporate Status describes (a) the status of a person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or an individual who, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the corporations request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, administrator or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, entity, or other enterprise, and (b) a persons service in connection with an employee benefit plan at the corporations request if such persons duties to the corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, such person to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.
Section 2. Indemnification of Directors and Officers for Derivative Actions. The corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless any Indemnified Person who is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving in another Corporate Status (a) to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all Expenses that may be imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from such Proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and, in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation and in all other cases, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to not be opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with
16
respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, and (b) to the fullest extent permitted by law (including through a determination by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to Section 14-2-854 of the Code) against all Expenses and Liabilities that may be imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from such Proceeding.
Section 3. Indemnification Upon Successful Defense on Merits, Etc. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VII, to the extent that an Indemnified Person is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a party to and is successful on the merits or otherwise in any Proceeding, the Indemnified Person shall be indemnified against Expenses imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with the Proceeding, regardless of whether the Indemnified Person has met the standards set forth in the Code or in this Article VII and without any further action or determination by the board of directors of the corporation or otherwise. If an Indemnified Person is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful on the merits or otherwise as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the corporation shall indemnify the Indemnified Person against all Expenses imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with each claim, issue or matter with respect to which the Indemnified Person was successful. For the purposes of this Section 3 and without limiting the foregoing, (a) the termination of any claim, issue or matter in any such Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter, and (b) a decision by any government, regulatory or self-regulatory authority, agency or body not to commence or pursue any investigation, civil or criminal enforcement matter or case or in any civil suit, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter. If an Indemnified Person is entitled under any provision of the Code or this Article VII to indemnification by the corporation for some or a portion of the Expenses or Liabilities imposed upon or incurred by him or her in connection with the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of a Proceeding covered by this Article VII, but is not entitled to indemnification for the total amount thereof, the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnified Person for the portion of such Expenses and Liabilities imposed upon or incurred by him or her to which the Indemnified Person is entitled.
Section 4. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses for Directors and Officers When Acting as a Witness, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who acts as a witness or other participant in any Proceeding, shall be indemnified by the corporation against all Expenses imposed upon or incurred by the Indemnified Person in connection therewith.
17
Section 5. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The board of directors shall have the power to cause the corporation to provide to any person who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation all or any part of the right to indemnification and other rights of the type provided under Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 12 of this Article VII (subject to the conditions, limitations, obligations and other provisions specified herein), upon a resolution to that effect identifying such employee or agent (by position or name) and specifying the particular rights provided, which may be different for each employee or agent identified. Each employee or agent of the corporation so identified shall be an Indemnified Person for purposes of the provisions of this Article VII.
Section 6. Effectuation of Rights. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 of this Article VII are intended to, and shall be deemed to, satisfy the requirements for authorization referred to in Section 14-2-859(a) of the Code or any successor provision and any other requirements of applicable law such that the corporation shall be obligated to the maximum extent possible to provide such indemnification and advancement of Expenses without any further requirements for authorization or action referred to in Sections 14-2-853(c) or 14-2-855(c) of the Code or any successor provision, or otherwise. The corporation shall act in good faith and expeditiously take all actions necessary or appropriate to make available the indemnification, advancement of Expenses and other rights provided for Indemnified Persons in this Article VII, and shall expeditiously take all actions necessary or appropriate to remove any impediments or obstacles to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses and other rights. To the extent any determination of entitlement to indemnification is required for purposes of the Code or this Article VII, at the request of the Indemnified Person, such determination shall be made by Special Legal Counsel (as defined below) proposed by the Indemnified Person and reasonably acceptable to the corporation. In the event of any dispute as to whether an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under the Code or this Article VII, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to an expeditious and final adjudication in the Georgia State-Wide Business Court (the Business Court), which the corporation agrees shall be the exclusive venue for any court action to determine whether the Indemnified Person is entitled to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. The corporation shall seek expedited resolution of the matter and agrees that the Business Court may summarily determine the corporations obligation to advance Expenses. The corporation irrevocably waives trial by jury with respect to the determination whether an Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses. If an Indemnified Person, pursuant to this Section 6, seeks a judicial adjudication of his or her rights under this Article VII, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to recover from the corporation, and shall be indemnified by the corporation against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him of her in such judicial adjudication, but only if he or she prevails therein.
If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication that the Indemnified Person is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by the Indemnified Person in connection with such judicial adjudication shall be appropriately prorated. As used in this Section 6, Special Legal Counsel means an attorney with
18
an active membership in good standing in the State Bar of Georgia who is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither he or she, nor his or her law firm, presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the corporation or the Indemnified Person in any other matter material to either such party; or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification, provided that the term Special Legal Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the corporation or the Indemnified Person in an action to determine the Indemnified Persons rights under the Code or this Article VII.
Section 7. Advances. Expenses imposed upon or incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any Proceeding of the kind described in Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as set forth herein. The corporation shall promptly pay the amount of such Expenses to the Indemnified Person, but in no event later than ten days following the Indemnified Persons delivery to the corporation of a written request for an advance pursuant to this Section 7, together with a reasonable accounting of such expenses; provided, however, that the Indemnified Person shall furnish the corporation a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct set forth in the Code or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under a provision of the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation, as authorized by paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 14-2- 202 of the Code or any successor provision, and a written undertaking and agreement, executed personally or on his or her behalf, to repay to the corporation any advances made pursuant to this Section 7 if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation for such amounts. The corporation shall make the advances contemplated by this Section 7 regardless of the Indemnified Persons financial ability to make repayment. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 7 shall be unsecured and interest-free.
Section 8. Non-Exclusivity. Subject to any applicable limitation imposed by the Code or the Articles of Incorporation, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under applicable law or any bylaw, resolution or agreement, including as may be approved by the corporations shareholders.
Section 9. Insurance. The corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, employee or agent of a Subsidiary or, at the request of the corporation, of any other organization or in any other Corporate Status, against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.
19
Section 10. Security. The corporation may designate certain of its assets as collateral, provide self-insurance or otherwise secure its obligations under this Article VII, or under any indemnification agreement or plan of indemnification adopted and entered into in accordance with the provisions of this Article VII, as the board of directors deems appropriate.
Section 11. Amendment. Any amendment to this Article VII that limits or otherwise adversely affects the right of indemnification, advancement of expenses, or other rights of any Indemnified Person hereunder shall, as to such Indemnified Person, apply only to claims, actions, suits or proceedings based on actions, events or omissions (collectively, Post Amendment Events) occurring after such amendment and after delivery of notice of such amendment to the Indemnified Person so affected. Any Indemnified Person shall, as to any claim, action, suit or proceeding based on actions, events or omissions occurring prior to the date of receipt of such notice, be entitled to the right of indemnification, advancement of expenses and other rights under this Article VII to the same extent as if such provisions had continued as part of the bylaws of the corporation without such amendment. This Section 11 cannot be altered, amended or repealed in a manner effective as to any Indemnified Person (except as to Post Amendment Events) without the prior written consent of such Indemnified Person.
Section 12. Agreements. In addition to the rights provided in this Article VII, the corporation shall have the power, upon authorization by the board of directors, to enter into an agreement or agreements providing to any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation indemnification rights substantially similar to, or greater than, those provided in this Article VII.
Section 13. Continuing Benefits. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the spouse, heirs, devisees, executors, administrators and other legal representatives of such a person.
Section 14. Successors. For purposes of this Article VII, the terms the corporation or this corporation shall include any corporation, joint venture, trust, partnership or unincorporated business association that is the successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of this corporation, as a result of merger, consolidation, sale, liquidation or otherwise, and any such successor shall be liable to the persons indemnified under this Article VII on the same terms and conditions and to the same extent as this corporation.
20
Section 15. Severability. Each of the sections of this Article VII, and each of the clauses set forth herein, shall be deemed separate and independent, and should any part of any such section or clause be declared invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall in no way render invalid or unenforceable any other part thereof or any other separate section or clause of this Article VII that is not declared invalid or unenforceable. If any section, clause or part of this Article VII is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the corporation in good faith shall expeditiously take all necessary or appropriate action to provide the Indemnified Persons with rights under this Article VII (including with respect to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and other rights) that effect the original intent of this Article VII as closely as possible.
Section 16. Additional Indemnification. In addition to the specific indemnification rights set forth herein, the corporation shall indemnify each of its directors and officers and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by action of the board of directors without shareholder approval under the Code or other laws of the State of Georgia as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
The board of directors shall have power to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws by majority vote of all of the directors, but any bylaws adopted by the board of directors may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws adopted, by the shareholders by majority vote of all of the shares having voting power.
21
Exhibit 10.1
Execution Version
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
By and Between
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC. (TO BE KNOWN AS PROG HOLDINGS, INC.)
and
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.
Dated as of November 29, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
Section 1.01. |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II SERVICES |
5 | |||||
Section 2.01. |
Services | 5 | ||||
Section 2.02. |
Additional Services | 5 | ||||
Section 2.03. |
Performance of Services | 6 | ||||
Section 2.04. |
Changes in the Performance of Services | 7 | ||||
Section 2.05. |
Transitional Nature of Services | 7 | ||||
Section 2.06. |
Subcontracting | 7 | ||||
Section 2.07. |
Contract Manager | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE III SERVICE CHARGES |
9 | |||||
Section 3.01. |
Charges for Services | 9 | ||||
Section 3.02. |
Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Costs and Expenses | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE IV BILLING; TAXES |
9 | |||||
Section 4.01. |
Billing and Payment | 9 | ||||
Section 4.02. |
Late Payments | 9 | ||||
Section 4.03. |
Taxes | 10 | ||||
Section 4.04. |
No Set-Off | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE V TERM AND TERMINATION |
10 | |||||
Section 5.01. |
Term | 10 | ||||
Section 5.02. |
Early Termination | 10 | ||||
Section 5.03. |
Reduction of Services | 11 | ||||
Section 5.04. |
Interdependencies | 11 | ||||
Section 5.05. |
Effect of Termination | 11 | ||||
Section 5.06. |
Information Transmission | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE VI ACCESS; SYSTEM SECURITY |
12 | |||||
Section 6.01. |
Access | 12 | ||||
Section 6.02. |
System Security | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE VII CONFIDENTIALITY; PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS |
13 | |||||
Section 7.01. |
Confidentiality | 13 | ||||
Section 7.02. |
Privacy and Data Protection Laws | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII LIMITED LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION |
13 | |||||
Section 8.01. |
Limitations on Liability | 13 |
i
Section 8.02. |
Obligation to Re-Perform; Liabilities | 14 | ||||
Section 8.03. |
Third-Party Claims | 14 | ||||
Section 8.04. |
Provider Indemnity | 14 | ||||
Section 8.05. |
Indemnification Procedures | 15 | ||||
Section 8.06. |
Liability for Payment Obligations | 15 | ||||
Section 8.07. |
Exclusions of Other Remedies | 15 | ||||
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS |
15 | |||||
Section 9.01. |
Further Assurances | 15 | ||||
Section 9.02. |
Title to Intellectual Property | 15 | ||||
Section 9.03. |
Independent Contractors | 15 | ||||
Section 9.04. |
Group Members | 16 | ||||
Section 9.05. |
Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power | 16 | ||||
Section 9.06. |
Governing Law | 17 | ||||
Section 9.07. |
Assignability | 17 | ||||
Section 9.08. |
Third-Party Beneficiaries | 17 | ||||
Section 9.09. |
Notices | 17 | ||||
Section 9.10. |
Severability | 18 | ||||
Section 9.11. |
Force Majeure | 18 | ||||
Section 9.12. |
Headings | 19 | ||||
Section 9.13. |
Survival of Covenants | 19 | ||||
Section 9.14. |
Waivers of Default | 19 | ||||
Section 9.15. |
Dispute Resolution | 19 | ||||
Section 9.16. |
Specific Performance | 20 | ||||
Section 9.17. |
Amendments | 20 | ||||
Section 9.18. |
Precedence of Schedules | 20 | ||||
Section 9.19. |
Interpretation | 20 | ||||
Section 9.20. |
Mutual Drafting | 21 |
ii
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
This TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into on November 29, 2020 and is effective as of the Effective Time, by and between Aarons Holdings Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (RemainCo), and The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (SpinCo). RemainCo and SpinCo are sometimes referred to herein, individually, as a Party, and, collectively, as the Parties. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Article I hereof.
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of RemainCo has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of RemainCo and its shareholders to effectuate the Separation and the Distribution as described in the Separation and Distribution Agreement between RemainCo and SpinCo dated as of November 29, 2020 (the Separation Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Separation Agreement provides, among other things, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, for the Separation and the Distribution and for the execution and delivery of certain other agreements, including this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate and provide for an orderly transition in connection with the Separation and the Distribution, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which each of the Parties shall provide Services to the other Party for a transitional period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings, and capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Separation Agreement:
Accessing Party has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(a).
Action means any claim, demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, discovery request, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any Governmental Authority or any federal, state, local, foreign or international arbitration or mediation tribunal.
Additional Services has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
Affiliate has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Ancillary Agreements has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Business Entity has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Charge and Charges have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.
Confidential Information means all Information that is either confidential or proprietary.
Contract Manager has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
Dispute has the meaning set forth in Section 9.15(a).
Distribution has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Distribution Date means the date on which the Distribution is consummated.
e-mail has the meaning set forth in Section 9.09.
Effective Time means 11:59 Eastern Standard Time on the Distribution Date.
Force Majeure means, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which by its nature could not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it could reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, unusually severe weather conditions, floods, riots, fires, explosions, sabotage, civil commotion or civil unrest, interference by civil or military authorities, cyberattacks, epidemics, pandemics, acts of war (declared or undeclared) or armed hostilities, other regional, national or international calamities or acts of terrorism, strikes, labor stoppages, or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; or failures of energy sources or distribution or transportation facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Partys response thereto shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure.
Governmental Authority means any supranational, international, national, federal, state, provincial or local court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority, including the New York Stock Exchange or any similar self-regulatory body under applicable securities Laws.
Group means either the RemainCo Group or the SpinCo Group.
Group Member means any Business Entity that is a part of either the RemainCo Group or the SpinCo Group, as the context requires.
2
Information means information in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, marketing plans, customer names, Privileged Information, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data; provided that Information does not include Patents, Trademarks, or Other Intellectual Property.
Initial Services has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
Interest Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.
Law has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Liabilities has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Party or Parties has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Payment Date has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01.
Person means any (a) individual; (b) Business Entity; or (c) Governmental Authority.
Provider means, with respect to any Service, the Party providing (or causing its other Group Members to provide) such Service under this Agreement.
Provider Indemnitees has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.
Recipient means, with respect to any Service, the Party receiving (either directly or through its other Group Members) such Service under this Agreement.
Recipient Indemnitees has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.
RemainCo has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
RemainCo Business means the Progressive Leasing and Vive Business as defined in the Separation Agreement.
RemainCo Group means the Parent Group as defined in the Separation Agreement.
RemainCo Group Member means Parent Group Member as defined in the Separation Agreement.
Representatives means, with respect to any Person, any of such Persons directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel, and other advisors or representatives.
Security Regulations has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(a).
Separation has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Separation Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
3
Service Period means, with respect to any Service, the period commencing on the later of (a) the Effective Time and (b) the date on which any Additional Service becomes a Service pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and ending on the earlier of (i) the date that a Party terminates the provision of such Service pursuant to Section 5.02, and (ii) the termination date specified with respect to such Service set forth on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto.
Services means the Initial Services and any Additional Services agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 2.02.
SpinCo has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
SpinCo Business means the Aarons Business as defined in the Separation Agreement.
SpinCo Group has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any Business Entity of which such Person: (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 50% of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Business Entity; (ii) the total combined equity interests; or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership; or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.
Systems has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(a).
Tax has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Taxing Authority means, with respect to any Tax, the governmental entity or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.
Termination Charges shall mean, with respect to the termination of any Service pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i), the sum of (a) any and all costs, fees and expenses (other than any severance or retention costs) payable by the Provider of such Service to a Third Party principally because of the early termination of such Service; provided, however, that the Provider shall use reasonable efforts to minimize any costs, fees or expenses payable to any Third Party in connection with such early termination of such Service and credit any such reductions against the Termination Charges payable by Recipient; and (b) any additional severance and retention costs, if any, because of the early termination of such Service that the Provider of such terminated Service incurs to employees who had been retained primarily to provide such terminated Service (it being agreed that the costs set forth in this clause (b) shall only be the amount, if any, in excess of the severance and retention costs that such Provider would have paid to such employees if the Service had been provided for the full period during which such Service would have been provided hereunder but for such early termination).
Third Party means any Person other than the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates.
4
Third-Party Claim means any assertion by a Third Party of any claim, or the commencement by any Third Party of any Action, against any Party or any of its respective Affiliates.
ARTICLE II
SERVICES
Section 2.01. Services.
(a) Commencing as of the Effective Time, SpinCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide (or cause another applicable member of the SpinCo Group to provide) to RemainCo (or another applicable member of the RemainCo Group) the services set forth on Schedule A.
(b) Commencing as of the Effective Time, RemainCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide (or cause another applicable member of the RemainCo Group to provide) to SpinCo (or another applicable member of the SpinCo Group) the services set forth on Schedule B (collectively with the services set forth on Schedule A, the Initial Services).
Section 2.02. Additional Services.
(a) After the Effective Time and at any time prior to the twelve-month anniversary of the Distribution Date, each of RemainCo and SpinCo may request the other Party to (i) provide additional (including as to volume, amount, level or frequency, as applicable) or different services which the other Party is not expressly obligated to provide under this Agreement if such services are of the type and scope provided between the RemainCo Group and the SpinCo Group, in each case during the twelve months preceding the Distribution Date, (ii) expand the scope of any Service or (iii) expand the duration for which any Service is provided (such additional or expanded services, the Additional Services). The Party receiving such request for Additional Services shall consider such request in good faith and shall notify the requesting Party as promptly as practicable as to whether it will or will not provide the Additional Services; provided, however, that neither Party shall be obligated to provide any Additional Service if it does not, in its commercially reasonable judgment, have adequate resources to provide such Additional Service or if the provision of such Additional Service would significantly disrupt the operation of such Partys or its Group Members businesses.
(b) If a Party agrees to provide Additional Services pursuant to Section 2.02(a), then the Parties shall in good faith attempt to negotiate the terms of a supplement to Schedule A and/or Schedule B, as applicable, which will describe in reasonable detail the service or service category, as applicable, project scope, term, price and payment terms to be charged for such Additional Services; it being understood, however, that the Service Provider shall not be required to provide any Additional Services if the Parties are unable to reach agreement on the terms thereof. If and to the extent agreed to in writing, the supplement to Schedule A and/or Schedule B, as applicable, shall be deemed part of this Agreement as of such date and the Additional Services shall be deemed Services provided hereunder, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
5
Section 2.03. Performance of Services.
(a) Subject to Section 2.06, Provider shall perform, or cause to be performed (through one (1) or more of its applicable Group Members, or through a Third-Party service provider in accordance herewith), all Services in a manner that is substantially similar in all material respects to the analogous services provided by or on behalf of Provider or any of its Subsidiaries to its applicable functional group or Subsidiary prior to the Effective Time and that in any event, conforms in all material respects with the terms of Schedule A and/or Schedule B. It is understood and agreed that the Service Provider is not a professional provider of the types of services included in the Services and that Provider personnel performing Services have other responsibilities and will not be dedicated full-time to performing Services hereunder.
(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall require Provider to perform or cause to be performed any Service to the extent that the manner of such performance would constitute a violation of any applicable Law or any existing contract, agreement or permit with a Third Party. If Provider is or becomes aware of any such potential violation, Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly advise Recipient of such potential violation, and Provider and Recipient will mutually seek an alternative that addresses such potential violation. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary Third Party consents required under any existing contract, agreement or permit with a Third Party to allow Provider to perform, or cause to be performed, all Services to be provided hereunder in accordance with the standards set forth in this Section 2.03. Recipient shall reimburse Provider for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (if any) incurred by Provider or any of its Group Members in connection with obtaining any such Third-Party consent that is required to allow Provider to perform or cause to be performed such Services. If, with respect to a Service, the Parties, despite the use of such commercially reasonable efforts, are unable to obtain a required Third-Party consent, or the performance of such Service by Provider would constitute a violation of any applicable Law, the Provider shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, use commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to provide alternative services that are substantially similar to the applicable Services for which consent was not obtained, or the performance of which would constitute a violation of any applicable Law; provided, that nothing in this Section 2.03(b) shall obligate any Provider (or any Subsidiary of a Provider) to violate any applicable Law or breach any of its contractual obligations to a Third Party in connection with the provision of such alternative Services.
(c) It is the intent of the Provider to plan and staff such that the Provider can properly perform the Services that Provider has agreed to perform under this Agreement, and the Provider does not anticipate the need for any rationing or limitation of Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Recipient acknowledges and agrees that the Provider shall have the right to establish reasonable priorities between the needs of the Provider, on the one hand, and the needs of the Recipient, on the other hand, as to the provision of any Service if the Provider determines that such priorities are necessary to avoid any adverse effect on the Provider. If any such priorities are established, the Provider shall advise the Recipient as soon as possible of any Service that will be materially delayed as a result of such prioritization, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the duration and impact of such delays.
6
(d) Neither Provider nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to perform or cause to be performed any of the Services for the benefit of any Third Party or any other Person other than Recipient and its Group Members.
(e) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 2.03 OR SECTION 8.04, EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ITS GROUP MEMBERS, THAT ALL SERVICES (AND ANY RELATED PRODUCTS) PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS-IS BASIS, THAT RECIPIENT ASSUMES ALL RISK AND LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ITS USE OF AND RELIANCE UPON THE SERVICES, AND THAT PROVIDER MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR GRANTS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES. PROVIDER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, OR EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE OR THE NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES.
(f) Each Party shall be responsible for its own compliance with any and all Laws applicable to its performance under this Agreement. No Party shall knowingly take any action in violation of any such applicable Law that results in Liability being imposed on the other Party.
Section 2.04. Changes in the Performance of Services. Subject to the performance standards for Services set forth in this Article II, Provider may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the Services if Provider is making similar changes in performing analogous services for itself and if Provider furnishes to Recipient reasonable prior written notice (in content and timing) of such changes; provided, that if such change shall adversely affect the timeliness or quality of, or increase the Charges for, the applicable Service, the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to agree on modifications to such Services as are commercially reasonable in consideration of the circumstances.
Section 2.05. Transitional Nature of Services. The Parties acknowledge the transitional nature of the Services and agree to cooperate in good faith and to use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid a disruption in the transition of the Services from Provider to Recipient (or its designee).
Section 2.06. Subcontracting. Provider may not hire or engage any Third Parties to perform any of the Services on its behalf except (a) for those Services specifically designated on Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable (collectively, the Subcontracting Services) or (b) as mutually agreed in writing by the Parties. If Provider hires or engages any Third Parties to perform any Subcontracting Service, then (a) Provider shall use the same degree of care (but at least reasonable care) in selecting each such Third Party as it would if such Third Party was being retained to provide similar services to Provider and (b) Provider shall in all cases remain responsible (as primary obligor) for all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the scope of such Subcontracting Services, the performance standard for such Subcontracting
7
Services set forth in this Article II and the content of the Subcontracting Services provided to Recipient. Provider shall be liable for any breach of its obligations under this Agreement by any Third-Party service provider engaged by Provider to provide any Subcontracting Service. Subject to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Article VII, Provider shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide, upon fifteen (15) Business days prior written notice, any Information within Providers or its Affiliates control that Recipient reasonably requests in connection with any Subcontracting Services being provided to Recipient by a Third Party, including any applicable invoices, agreements documenting the arrangements between such Third Party and Provider and other supporting documentation; provided, further, that Recipient may make no more than three request(s) per Third Party during any calendar quarter.
Section 2.07. Contract Manager.
(a) Each Party shall appoint an individual to act as its primary point of operational contact for the administration and operation of this Agreement (each, a Contract Manager) who shall have overall responsibility for coordinating all activities undertaken by such Party hereunder, for acting as a day-to-day contact with the other Party, and for making available to the other Party the data, facilities, resources and other support services required for the performance of the services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that for each Service, the Contract Manager shall be permitted to delegate the foregoing responsibilities for such Service to an individual identified on the Schedules, and such representative shall be deemed to be the Contract Manager with respect to such Service. The initial Contract Managers for the Parties are set forth on Schedule A and Schedule B. The Parties may change their respective Contract Managers from time to time upon notice to the other Party in accordance herewith.
(b) Prior to performing any Service, the Contract Managers will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other to agree on the scope of the Service if such scope is not otherwise designated in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable. In the event that either Provider, or its Contract Manager, anticipate or become aware that the work to be performed for any Service will either (i) exceed the estimates provided on Schedule A or Schedule B, if applicable, for such Service or (ii) result in a material deviation from the scope of such Service, including a material increase in hours and/or related Charges to perform the Service that would exceed estimates or budgets, then, prior to commencing further work on the Service, the Providers Contract Manager will provide notice to the Recipients Contract Manager (which notice need not be provided in compliance with Section 9.09) and such Contract Managers will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other to determine and discuss the matter and appropriate next steps. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Provider shall not be in breach of this Agreement for any delay in the performance of any Service as a result of Provider complying with its obligations under this Section 2.07(b).
8
ARTICLE III
SERVICE CHARGES
Section 3.01. Charges for Services. The compensation to be received by Provider for each Service provided under this Agreement will be the fees or charges set forth in or calculated in the manner set forth in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, relating to the particular Service, subject to any escalation, reduction or other modifications specifically provided for in such Schedule (each fee constituting a Charge and, collectively, Charges). During the term of this Agreement, the amount of a Charge for any Service may be modified to the extent of (a) any adjustments mutually agreed to by the Parties; (b) any Charges applicable to any Additional Services; and (c) any adjustment in the rates or charges imposed by any Third-Party provider that is providing Services; provided that Provider will notify Recipient in writing of any such change in rates at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of such rate change. In consideration for the provision of a Service, Recipient shall pay to Provider, in the manner set forth in Article IV, the Charge for such Service as set forth in or calculated in the manner set forth in Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable.
Section 3.02. Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Costs and Expenses. Recipient shall reimburse Provider for reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Provider or any member of its Group in connection with providing the Services (including reasonable travel-related expenses) to the extent that such costs and expenses are not reflected in the Charges for such Services; provided, however, that any such cost or expense in excess of two-thousand dollars ($2,000) that is not consistent with historical practice between the Parties for any individual Service (including business travel and related expenses) shall require advance written approval of Recipient; provided, further, that if Recipient does not provide such advance written approval and the incurrence of such cost or expense is reasonably necessary for Provider to provide such Service in accordance with the standards set forth in this Agreement, Provider shall not be required to perform such Service. Any authorized travel-related expenses incurred in performing the Services shall be charged to Recipient in accordance with Providers then-applicable business travel policies.
ARTICLE IV
BILLING; TAXES
Section 4.01. Billing and Payment. Within twenty-five (25) calendar days after the end of each month during the term of this Agreement, Provider will invoice Recipient for the applicable Charges (along with any expenses for which Provider is entitled to reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement, if known at that time) on a monthly basis, in arrears, for the prior month then ended. The invoice shall set forth in reasonable detail for the period covered by such invoice (a) the Services rendered, and (b) the Charges for such month for each type of Service provided, calculated in accordance with Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, and shall be accompanied by any applicable third party invoices and other documentation reasonably necessary for the Recipient to evaluate the invoiced amounts. Upon the Recipients request, Provider shall provide to Recipient reasonable additional detail and supporting documentation regarding invoiced amounts. All amounts due and payable hereunder shall be paid in U.S. dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated in writing from time to time by Provider within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such invoice (the Payment Date). In the event of any billing dispute, Recipient shall promptly pay any undisputed amount.
Section 4.02. Late Payments. Invoiced amounts not paid when due (including any undisputed amounts) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to five percent (5%) calculated from the applicable Payment Date (the Interest Payment).
9
Section 4.03. Taxes. Without limiting any provisions of this Agreement, Recipient shall bear any and all Taxes and other similar charges (and any related interest and penalties) imposed on, or payable with respect to, any fees or charges, including any Charges, payable by it pursuant to this Agreement, including all sales, use, value-added, and similar Taxes, but excluding any Taxes on Providers income. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the previous sentence or elsewhere in this Agreement, Recipient shall be entitled to withhold from any payments to Provider any such Taxes that Recipient is required by applicable Law to withhold and shall pay such Taxes to the applicable Taxing Authority.
Section 4.04. No Set-Off. Except as mutually agreed in writing by the Parties, no Party nor any member of its Group shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Party or any of member of its Group arising out of this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
TERM AND TERMINATION
Section 5.01. Term. This Agreement shall commence at the Effective Time and shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) the last date on which either Party is obligated to provide any Service to the other Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (b) the mutual written agreement of the Parties to terminate this Agreement in its entirety. Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to Section 5.02, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each Service as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the Service Period for such Service. Prior to the termination date for any Service, the Parties may, by mutual written consent extend the Service Period for such Service as mutually agreed by the Parties. To the extent that Providers ability to provide a Service is dependent on the continuation of a specified Service, Providers obligation to provide such dependent Service shall terminate automatically with the termination of such supporting Service.
Section 5.02. Early Termination.
(a) Without prejudice to Recipients rights with respect to Force Majeure, Recipient may from time to time terminate this Agreement with respect to the entirety of any Service (but not any portion thereof) (i) for any reason or no reason, upon the giving of at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to Provider; provided, however, that such termination shall be subject to the obligation to pay any applicable Termination Charges pursuant to Section 5.05, or (ii) if Provider has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Service, and such failure shall continue to be uncured by Provider for a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt by Provider of written notice of such failure from Recipient; provided, however, that Recipient shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement with respect to the applicable Service if, as of the end of such period, there remains a good faith Dispute between the Parties (undertaken in accordance with the terms of Section 9.15) as to whether Provider has cured the applicable breach.
10
(b) Provider may terminate this Agreement with respect to the entirety of any Service (but not any portion thereof) at any time upon prior written notice to Recipient, if Recipient has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Service, including making payment of Charges when due, and such failure shall continue to be uncured by Recipient for a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt by Recipient of a written notice of such failure from Provider; provided, however, that Provider shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement with respect to the applicable Service if, as of the end of such period, there remains a good faith Dispute between the Parties (undertaken in accordance with the terms of Section 9.15) as to whether Recipient has cured the applicable breach.
Section 5.03. Reduction of Services. Recipient may from time to time request a reduction in part of the scope of any Service. If requested to do so by Recipient, the Parties shall discuss in good faith appropriate adjustments to the relevant Charges. If, after such discussions, the Parties do not mutually agree on any requested reduction of the scope of any Service and the relevant Charges in connection therewith, then (a) there shall be no change to the Charges under this Agreement and (b) unless the Parties otherwise agree in writing, there shall be no change to the scope of any Services under this Agreement. If, after such discussions, the Parties mutually agree to any reduction of Service, Schedule A and/or Schedule B, as applicable, shall be appropriately supplemented to reflect such reduction in Service.
Section 5.04. Interdependencies. The Parties acknowledge that there may be interdependencies among the Services being provided under this Agreement that may not be identified on Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, and agree that, if the Service Providers ability to provide a particular Service in accordance with this Agreement is materially and adversely affected by the termination of another Service in accordance with Section 5.02, then the Parties shall negotiate in good faith (prior to such termination) to amend Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, relating to such affected continuing Service and (ii) if after such negotiation, the Parties are unable to agree on such amendment, Providers obligation to provide such affected continuing Service shall, instead, terminate automatically with the termination of another Service in accordance with Section 5.02.
Section 5.05. Effect of Termination. Upon the termination of any Service pursuant to this Agreement, Provider shall have no further obligation to provide the terminated Service, and Recipient shall have no obligation to pay any future Charges or other amounts relating to such Service provided, however, that Recipient shall remain obligated to Provider for (a) the Charges and any other amounts owed and payable in respect of Services provided prior to the effective date of termination for such Service and (b) solely in the case of when Recipient terminates any Service pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i), any applicable Termination Charges. In the event that any Service is terminated other than at the end of a month, and the Charge associated with such Service is determined on a monthly basis, Provider shall bill Recipient on a pro rata basis based on the number of days in the current calendar month that Recipient used such Service. In connection with the termination of any Service, the provisions of this Agreement not relating solely to such terminated Service shall survive any such termination, and in connection with a termination of this Agreement, Article I, this Article V, Article VII, and Article VIII and all Liability for all due and unpaid Charges and other amounts and Termination Charges shall continue to survive indefinitely.
11
Section 5.06. Information Transmission. Provider, on behalf of itself and its Group Members, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available, or cause to be provided or made available, to Recipient, in accordance with Section 6.01 of the Separation Agreement, any Information received or computed by Provider for the benefit of Recipient concerning the relevant Service during the Service Period; provided, however, that, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, (a) Provider and its Subsidiaries shall be reimbursed for their reasonable costs in accordance with Section 6.03 of the Separation Agreement for creating, gathering, copying, transporting and otherwise providing such Information and (b) Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain any such Information in accordance with Section 6.04 of the Separation Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
ACCESS; SYSTEM SECURITY
Section 6.01. Access.
(a) Recipient shall provide (or cause any applicable member of its Group to provide) to Provider (or any applicable member of its Group to provide) such reasonable access, during regular business hours, to the employees, representatives, facilities and books and records of Recipient (or such member of its Group) as Provider (or such member of its Group) shall reasonably request in order to enable Provider (or such member of its Group) to provide any applicable Services required under this Agreement. Provider shall (and shall cause any applicable member of its Group to) conform with and abide by the confidentiality and security provisions in Section 6.02 and Article VII, as applicable, in connection with such access.
(b) Each Party shall (and shall cause the members of its Group and its personnel and the personnel of its Affiliates and Sub-Contractors providing or receiving Services to), when on the property of the other Party or any of its Group Members, or when given access to any facilities, infrastructure or personnel of the other Party or any of its Group Members, follow applicable Laws and all of the other Partys policies and procedures concerning health, safety, conduct and security which are made known to the Party receiving such access from time to time.
Section 6.02. System Security.
(a) If any Party or any of its Group members is given access to the other Partys (or such other Partys Group Members) computer systems or software (collectively, the Systems) in connection with provision of any Services, the Party and/or its Group Members given access (the Accessing Party) shall comply with all of the other Partys system security policies, procedures and requirements that have been provided to the Accessing Party in advance and in writing (collectively, Security Regulations), and shall not tamper with, compromise or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by such other Party (or such other Partys Group Members). The Accessing Party shall access and use only those Systems of the other Party (or such other Partys Group Members) or only the component, module, area or portion of any such system, where applicable, to which it has been granted the right of access and use.
(b) Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that only those of its personnel (or the personnel of such Partys Group Members) who are specifically authorized to have access to the Systems of the other Party (or such other Partys Group Members) gain such access, and use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of information contained therein, including notifying its personnel of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and of the Security Regulations.
12
(c) If, at any time, the Accessing Party determines that any of its personnel has sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations, that any unauthorized Accessing Party personnel has accessed the Systems, or that any of its personnel has engaged in activities that may lead to the unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of data, information or software of the other Party (or such other Partys Group Members), the Accessing Party shall promptly terminate any such Persons access to the Systems and immediately notify the other Party. In addition, in such case such other Party shall have the right to deny personnel of the Accessing Party access to its Systems upon written notice to the Accessing Party. The Accessing Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party in investigating any apparent unauthorized access to such other Partys Systems.
ARTICLE VII
CONFIDENTIALITY; PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS
Section 7.01. Confidentiality. Each Party agrees that the specific terms and conditions of this Agreement and any information conveyed or otherwise received by or on behalf of a Party in conjunction herewith shall be Confidential Information subject to the confidentiality provisions (and exceptions thereto) set forth in Section 6.09 of the Separation Agreement.
Section 7.02. Privacy and Data Protection Laws. Each Party shall comply in all material respects with all applicable state, federal and foreign privacy and data protection Laws that are applicable to the provision of the Services under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.01. Limitations on Liability.
(a) THE LIABILITIES OF PROVIDER AND ITS GROUP MEMBERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES, COLLECTIVELY, UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT IN CONNECTION HEREWITH (INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT), OR FROM THE SALE, DELIVERY, PROVISION OR USE OF ANY SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER OR CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF CHARGES PAID AND PAYABLE TO SUCH PROVIDER FOR ALL SERVICES BY THE RECIPIENT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(b) IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, ANY MEMBER OF ITS GROUP OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY MEMBER OF ITS GROUP OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE, SPECULATIVE OR SIMILAR DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGES
13
OF THE OTHER PARTY (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR LOST REVENUES) IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, DELIVERY, PROVISION OR USE OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER OR CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ANY SUCH LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM), AND EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, ITS GROUP MEMBERS AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.
(c) The limitations in Section 8.01(a) and Section 8.01(b) shall not apply in respect of any Liability arising out of or in connection with (i) either Partys Liability for breaches of confidentiality under Article VII, (ii) the Parties respective obligations under Section 8.03 or 8.04 or (iii) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or fraud of or by the Party to be charged.
Section 8.02. Obligation to Re-Perform; Liabilities. In the event of any breach of this Agreement by Provider with respect to the provision of any Services (with respect to which Provider can reasonably be expected to re-perform in a commercially reasonable manner), Provider shall, at the request of Recipient, promptly correct in all material respects such error, defect or breach or re-perform in all material respects such Services at the sole cost and expense of Provider. The remedy set forth in this Section 8.02 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of Recipient for any such breach of this Agreement with respect to the provision of such Services; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit Recipient from exercising its right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02(a)(ii) or to seek specific performance in accordance with Section 9.16 or to seek and obtain indemnification under Section 8.04. Any request for re-performance in accordance with this Section 8.02 by Recipient must be in writing and specify in reasonable detail the particular error, defect or breach, and such request must be made no more than thirty (30) days from the later of (a) the date on which such breach occurred and (b) the date on which such breach was reasonably discovered by Recipient.
Section 8.03. Third-Party Claims. Recipient shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Provider, its Group Members and each of their respective Representatives, and each of the successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the Provider Indemnitees), from and against any and all claims of Third Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting from Recipients use or receipt of the Services provided by Provider hereunder, other than Third-Party Claims arising out of Providers breaches of its obligations under Article VII or the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of any Provider Indemnitee.
Section 8.04. Provider Indemnity. Provider shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Recipient, its Group Members and each of their respective Representatives, and each of the successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the Recipient Indemnitees), from and against any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the sale, delivery or provision of any Services provided by Provider hereunder, but only to the extent that such Liability relates to, arises out of or results from Providers breaches of its obligations under Articles VII, gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud.
14
Section 8.05. Indemnification Procedures. The procedures for indemnification set forth in Sections 5.05, 5.06 and 5.07 of the Separation Agreement shall govern claims for indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 8.06. Liability for Payment Obligations. Nothing in this Article VIII shall be deemed to eliminate or limit, in any respect, any Partys express obligation in this Agreement to pay Charges, Termination Charges or other specified reimbursements for Services rendered in accordance with this Agreement.
Section 8.07. Exclusions of Other Remedies. Without limiting the rights under Section 9.16, the provisions of Sections 8.02, 8.03 and 8.04 shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, be the sole and exclusive remedies of the Provider Indemnitees and the Recipient Indemnitees, as applicable, for any Liability, whether arising from statute, principle of common or civil law, principles of strict liability, tort, contract or otherwise under this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01. Further Assurances. Subject to the limitations or other provisions in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of its respective Group Members to, use commercially reasonable efforts, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that neither Party (nor any of their respective Group Members) shall be obligated under this Section 9.01 to pay any consideration, grant any concession or incur any additional Liability to any Third Party.
Section 9.02. Title to Intellectual Property. Except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, Recipient acknowledges that it shall acquire no right, title or interest (including any license rights or rights of use) in any intellectual property that is owned or licensed by Provider, by reason of the provision of the Services hereunder. Recipient shall not remove or alter any copyright, trademark, confidentiality or other proprietary notices that appear on any intellectual property owned or licensed by Provider, and Recipient shall reproduce any such notices on any and all copies thereof. Recipient shall not attempt to decompile, translate, reverse engineer or make excessive copies of any intellectual property owned or licensed by Provider, and Recipient shall promptly notify Provider of any such attempt, regardless of whether by Recipient or any Third Party, of which Recipient becomes aware.
Section 9.03. Independent Contractors. The Parties each acknowledge and agree that they are separate entities, each of which has entered into this Agreement for independent business reasons. The relationships of the Parties hereunder are those of independent contractors and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to create a joint venture, partnership or any other relationship between the Parties. Employees performing Services hereunder do so on behalf of, under the direction of, and as employees of, Provider, and Recipient shall have no right, power or authority to direct such employees, unless otherwise specified with respect to a particular Service on the Schedules hereto.
15
Section 9.04. Group Members. SpinCo shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a SpinCo Group Member and RemainCo shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a RemainCo Group Member.
Section 9.05. Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one (1) and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one (1) or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms a stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it shall not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind it to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it shall as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date hereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.
(b) This Agreement, the Separation Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and annexes hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
(c) Parent represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each other Parent Group Member, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each other SpinCo Group Member, as follows:
(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it and is enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof.
16
Section 9.06. Governing Law. This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Georgia, irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Georgia, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.
Section 9.07. Assignability. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Agreement or any of the rights, interests, or obligations hereunder or thereunder may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. No such consent shall be required for the assignment of a Partys rights and obligations under this Agreement if: (a) any Party (or any of its successors or permitted assigns) (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving Business Entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and/or Assets to any Person, and (b) in any such case, the resulting, surviving or assignee Person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the relevant party (or its successors or permitted assigns, as applicable) under this Agreement. No assignment permitted by this Section 9.07 shall release the assigning party from any Liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 9.08. Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Article VIII with respect to the Provider Indemnitees and the Recipient Indemnitees in their respective capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any other Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder; and (b) there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 9.09. Notices. Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, all notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and except as provided herein shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by certified mail, return receipt requested, by facsimile, or by electronic mail (e-mail), so long as confirmation of receipt of such e-mail is requested, to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.09):
If to RemainCo, to:
PROG Holdings, Inc.
256 W. Data Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attn: Marvin Fentress
Email: marvin.fentress@progleasing.com
17
If to SpinCo to:
The Aarons Company, Inc.
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Attn: Rachel George
Email: rachel.george@aarons.com
Either Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.
Section 9.10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable terms or provisions into this Agreement which, insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the Parties. Any term or provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part, degree or within certain jurisdictions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable to the extent consistent with the intent of the Parties as reflected by this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Party waives any term or provision of Law which renders any term or provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
Section 9.11. Force Majeure. No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation hereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. Without limiting the termination rights contained in this Agreement, in the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such Force Majeure, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, unless this Agreement has previously been terminated under Article V or this Section 9.11; provided, that, prior to any Party invoking the benefit of this provision as a result of a Force Majeure with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to its failure or potential failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement. Recipient shall be (i) relieved of the obligation to pay Charges for the affected Service(s) throughout the duration of such Force Majeure and (ii) entitled to permanently terminate such Service(s) if the delay or failure in providing such Services because of a Force Majeure shall continue to exist for more than thirty (30) consecutive days (it being understood that Recipient shall not be required to provide any advance notice of such termination to Provider).
18
Section 9.12. Headings. The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.13. Survival of Covenants. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties and other agreements contained in this Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Separation and Distribution and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.
Section 9.14. Waivers of Default. No failure or delay of any Party in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party.
Section 9.15. Dispute Resolution.
(a) In the event of any controversy, dispute or claim (a Dispute) arising out of or relating to any Partys rights or obligations under this Agreement (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise), calculation or allocation of the costs of any Service or otherwise arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including the interpretation or validity of this Agreement), such Dispute shall be resolved by submitting such Dispute first to the relevant Contract Manager of each Party, and the Contract Managers shall seek to resolve such Dispute through informal good faith negotiation. In the event that the Contract Managers fail to meet or, if they meet and fail to resolve a Dispute within twenty (20) Business Days, then either Party may pursue the remedy set forth in Section 9.15(b).
(b) If the procedures set forth in Section 9.15(a) have been followed with respect to a Dispute and such Dispute remains unresolved, such Dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process referred to in Article XI of the Separation Agreement.
(c) In any Dispute regarding the amount of a Charge or a Termination Charge, if such Dispute is finally resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution process set forth or referred to in Sections 9.15(a) and (b) and it is determined that the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, that Provider has invoiced Recipient, and that Recipient has paid to Provider, is greater or less than the amount that the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, should have been, then (i) if it is determined that Recipient has overpaid the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, Provider shall within ten (10) calendar days after such determination reimburse Recipient an amount of cash equal to such overpayment, plus the Interest Payment, accruing from the date of payment by Recipient to the time of reimbursement by Provider; and (ii) if it is determined that Recipient has underpaid the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, Recipient shall within ten (10) calendar days after such determination reimburse Provider an amount of cash equal to such underpayment, plus the Interest Payment, accruing from the date such payment originally should have been made by Recipient to the time of payment by Recipient.
19
Section 9.16. Specific Performance. Subject to Section 9.15, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) in respect of its rights or their rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach are inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived by each of the Parties. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Provider shall continue to provide Services and the Parties shall honor all other commitments under this Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.15 and this Section 9.16 with respect to all matters not subject to such Dispute; provided, however, that this obligation shall only exist during the term of this Agreement.
Section 9.17. Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom enforcement of such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is sought.
Section 9.18. Precedence of Schedules. Each Schedule attached to or referenced in this Agreement is hereby incorporated into and shall form a part of this Agreement; provided, however, that the terms contained in such Schedule shall only apply with respect to the Services provided under that Schedule. In the event of a conflict between the terms contained in an individual Schedule and the terms in the body of this Agreement, the terms in the Schedule shall take precedence with respect to the Services under such Schedule only. No terms contained in individual Schedules shall otherwise modify the terms of this Agreement.
Section 9.19. Interpretation. In this Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other gender as the context requires; (b) the terms hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (c) Article, Section or Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections and Schedules of or to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement (including this Agreement) shall be deemed to include the schedules, exhibits and annexes to such agreement; (e) any capitalized terms used in any Schedule to this Agreement but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement; (f) any reference herein to this Agreement, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof; (g) the word including and words of similar import when used in this Agreement means including, without limitation, unless otherwise specified; (h) unless otherwise specified, the word or shall not be exclusive; (i) unless
20
otherwise specified in a particular case, the word days refers to calendar days; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to the date hereof, the date of this Agreement, hereby and hereupon and words of similar import shall all be references to November 29, 2020.
Section 9.20. Mutual Drafting. This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable to this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Steven A. Michaels | |||
Name: |
Steven A. Michaels | |||
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer, Progressive Leasing | |||
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Douglas A. Lindsay | |||
Name: |
Douglas A. Lindsay | |||
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Transition Services Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
Execution Version
TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
By and Among
AARONS HOLDINGS COMPANY, INC.
and
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITION OF TERMS |
2 | |||||
ARTICLE II PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS |
10 | |||||
Section 2.1 |
Consolidated Returns | 10 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Separate Entity Tax Returns | 10 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Tax Reporting Practices | 11 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Right to Review Tax Returns | 12 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Carrybacks and Amended Tax Returns | 13 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Apportionment of Tax Attributes | 14 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Coordination | 15 | ||||
ARTICLE III ALLOCATION OF TAX LIABILITIES |
15 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
General Rule | 15 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Attribution of Taxes | 15 | ||||
ARTICLE IV TAX PAYMENTS |
16 | |||||
Section 4.1 |
Payment of Amounts Due | 16 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Treatment of Indemnification and Other Payments | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE V TAX REFUNDS |
18 | |||||
Section 5.1 |
Tax Refunds | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE VI DEDUCTION AND REPORTING OF EMPLOYEE AWARDS |
18 | |||||
Section 6.1 |
HoldCo and SpinCo Income Tax Deductions in Respect of Certain Equity Awards and Compensation | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE VII TAX-FREE STATUS |
18 | |||||
Section 7.1 |
Representations and Warranties | 18 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Restrictions on SpinCo | 19 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Opinions and Rulings | 20 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Procedures Regarding Opinions and Rulings | 20 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Protective 336(e) Election | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII REPORTING, COOPERATION AND RECORD RETENTION |
21 | |||||
Section 8.1 |
Assistance and Cooperation | 21 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Return Information | 22 | ||||
Section 8.3 |
Non-Performance | 22 | ||||
Section 8.4 |
Costs | 22 | ||||
Section 8.5 |
Retention of Tax Records | 22 | ||||
Section 8.6 |
Access to Tax Records | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE IX TAX PROCEEDINGS |
23 | |||||
Section 9.1 |
Notice | 23 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Control of Tax Proceedings | 23 |
i
ARTICLE X INTEREST PAYMENTS |
25 | |||||
Section 10.1 |
Interest Under This Agreement | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE XI DISAGREEMENTS |
26 | |||||
Section 11.1 |
Interaction with Article IX of the Separation Agreement | 26 | ||||
Section 11.2 |
Discussion | 26 | ||||
Section 11.3 |
Referral to Independent Arbiter | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE XII TERM AND COSTS |
27 | |||||
Section 12.1 |
Effective Date | 27 | ||||
Section 12.2 |
Survival | 27 | ||||
Section 12.3 |
Expenses | 27 | ||||
Section 12.4 |
Payments | 27 | ||||
Section 12.5 |
Interest | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE XIII GENERAL PROVISIONS |
28 | |||||
Section 13.1 |
Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Conflicts; Corporate Power | 28 | ||||
Section 13.2 |
Governing Law | 28 | ||||
Section 13.3 |
Assignability | 29 | ||||
Section 13.4 |
Third-Party Beneficiaries | 29 | ||||
Section 13.5 |
Notices | 29 | ||||
Section 13.6 |
Severability | 30 | ||||
Section 13.7 |
Headings | 30 | ||||
Section 13.8 |
Waivers of Default | 30 | ||||
Section 13.9 |
Consent to Jurisdiction | 30 | ||||
Section 13.10 |
Specific Performance | 31 | ||||
Section 13.11 |
Amendments | 31 | ||||
Section 13.12 |
Interpretation | 31 | ||||
Section 13.13 |
Group Members | 31 | ||||
Section 13.14 |
Force Majeure | 32 | ||||
Section 13.15 |
Mutual Drafting | 32 | ||||
Section 13.16 |
No Reliance on Other Party | 32 | ||||
Section 13.17 |
Limited Liability | 32 | ||||
Section 13.18 |
No Set-Off | 32 | ||||
Section 13.19 |
Waiver of Trial | 33 | ||||
Section 13.20 |
HoldCo or SpinCo Affiliates | 33 |
ii
TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
This TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of November 29, 2020, by and among Aarons Holdings Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (HoldCo), and The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdco (SpinCo and together with HoldCo, the Parties, and each a Party). Any capitalized term used herein without definition shall have the meaning given to it in the Separation Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Aarons, Inc., a Georgia corporation, HoldCo and SpinCo (as such agreement may be amended from time to time, the Separation Agreement).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of HoldCo has determined that it is in the best interests of HoldCo and its shareholders to separate the SpinCo Business from the Progressive Business and to divest the SpinCo Business in the manner contemplated by the Separation Agreement;
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with this Agreement, HoldCo and SpinCo are entering into the Separation Agreement;
WHEREAS, prior to the Distribution Time, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Separation Agreement, HoldCo will consummate the SpinCo Contribution, and following the SpinCo Contribution, HoldCo will distribute (the Distribution) all of the issued and outstanding shares of SpinCos common stock, $0.50 par value per share (SpinCo Common Stock), to holders of HoldCos common stock, $0.50 par value per share (HoldCo Common Stock);
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Separation Agreement, the Distribution shall be made without consideration, by way of a pro rata dividend;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that the SpinCo Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, qualify as a reorganization described in Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); and
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to (i) provide for the payment of Tax liabilities and entitlement to refunds thereof, allocate responsibility for, and cooperation in, the filing and defense of Tax Returns, and provide for certain other matters relating to Taxes and (ii) set forth certain covenants and indemnities relating to the preservation of the intended tax treatment of certain transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITION OF TERMS
For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings:
Action means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, investigation or other Proceeding, in each case, by any Person or Governmental Authority before any Governmental Authority.
Active Business means each of the Progressive Business and the SpinCo Business.
Affiliate has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Aarons Canada means Aarons Canada, ULC, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company.
AIC means Aaron Investment Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (which converted from a corporation to a limited liability company in connection with the Separation).
Ancillary Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close.
Capital Stock means all classes or series of capital stock of a Person, including (i) common stock, (ii) all options, warrants and other rights to acquire such capital stock and (iii) all instruments properly treated as stock in such Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Combined Group means any group that filed or was required to file (or will file or be required to file) a Tax Return on an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary, fiscal unity or other group basis under any applicable Tax Law.
Combined Income Tax Return means any Tax Return filed in respect of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Income Taxes for a Combined Group.
Distribution Date means the date on which the Distribution is consummated.
Distribution Tax-Related Losses means (a) all Distribution Taxes imposed pursuant to any settlement, Final Determination, judgment or otherwise and (b) all reasonable accounting, legal and other professional fees and court costs incurred in connection with such Distribution Taxes, in each case, resulting from the failure of the Spin-Off to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
2
Distribution Taxes means any and all Taxes required to be paid by or imposed on HoldCo or any of its Affiliates resulting from, or directly arising in connection with, the failure of the Spin-Off to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
Distribution Time means the time established by HoldCo as the effective time of the Distribution, Eastern Time, on the Distribution Date.
Due Date means (a) with respect to a Tax Return, the date (taking into account all valid extensions) on which such Tax Return is required to be filed under applicable Law and (b) with respect to a payment of Taxes, the date on which such payment is required to be made, which shall in any case be no later than the payment date required to avoid the incurrence of interest, penalties and additions to Tax.
Extraordinary Transaction means any action that is not in the ordinary course of business, but shall not include any action expressly required or permitted by the Separation Agreement or any other Transaction Document or that is undertaken pursuant to the Spin-Off.
Final Determination means the final resolution of liability for any Tax, which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable period, (a) by IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto), on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the taxpayer, or by a comparable form under the laws of a state, local, or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction, except that a Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form shall not constitute a Final Determination to the extent that it reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for refund or the right of the Tax Authority to assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such taxable period (as the case may be); (b) by a decision, judgment, decree, or other order by a court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and unappealable; (c) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the laws of a state, local, or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction; (d) by any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund may be recovered (including by way of offset) by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax; (e) by a final settlement resulting from a treaty-based competent authority determination; or (f) by any other final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or by mutual agreement of the Parties.
Force Majeure has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Group means the HoldCo Group or the SpinCo Group or both such Groups, as the context requires.
HoldCo Consolidated Return means any Combined Income Tax Return that includes any member of the HoldCo Group.
HoldCo Consolidated Taxes means any U.S. federal Income Taxes attributable to any HoldCo Consolidated Return.
Holdco Entity means any Subsidiary of HoldCo from and after the Distribution Time.
3
HoldCo Group means, individually or collectively, as the case may be, HoldCo and any HoldCo Entities.
HoldCo Tainting Act means (a) any action (or the failure to take any action) within its control by HoldCo or any member of the HoldCo Group (including entering into any agreement, understanding or arrangement or any negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions), (b) any event (or series of events) involving the Capital Stock of HoldCo, any assets of HoldCo or any assets of any member of the HoldCo Group, or (c) any breach by HoldCo or any member of the HoldCo Group of any representation, warranty or covenant made by such Person in this Agreement, in each case, that would affect the Intended Tax Treatment or otherwise cause the Spin-Off to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment, other than, in each case, any action required by the Separation Agreement or any other Transaction Document or undertaken pursuant to the Distribution.
HoldCo Taxes means, without duplication, and after accounting for any adjustment pursuant to a Final Determination, (a) any HoldCo Consolidated Taxes, (b) any Income Taxes of (i) SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group for (A) any Pre-Distribution Period and (B) to the extent attributable to assets or activities of the Progressive Business, as determined pursuant to Section 3.2, any Post-Distribution Period or (ii) HoldCo or a member of the HoldCo Group, but excluding in either case any Taxes included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of SpinCo Taxes, (c) any Other Taxes of (i) SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group attributable to assets or activities of the Progressive Business, as determined pursuant to Section 3.2, or (ii) HoldCo or a member of the HoldCo Group, but excluding in either case any Taxes included in clause (b)(i) of the definition of SpinCo Taxes, (d) any Taxes imposed on SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any equivalent provision of other Tax Law) as a result of SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group being or having been included as part of, or ceasing to be part of or owned by, a Combined Group with any Person that is not a member of the SpinCo Group on or prior to the Distribution Date, (e) subject to Section 3.1(c), any Taxes attributable to a HoldCo Tainting Act, (f) any Taxes of HoldCo or any Subsidiary of HoldCo or former Subsidiary of HoldCo, including members of the SpinCo Group (each, immediately prior to the Distribution Time) attributable to the Spin-Off (including the settlement of any intercompany transactions), and (g) any Transfer Taxes; provided, that HoldCo Taxes shall not include any Taxes included in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of the definition of SpinCo Taxes.
HoldCo Tax Opinion means the tax opinion of the Tax Advisor, described in Section 3.02(i) of the Separation Agreement, to the effect that the Spin-Off will qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
Income Tax Returns means all Tax Returns that relate to Income Taxes.
Income Taxes means all Taxes based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to (i) net income or profits (including any capital gains tax), (ii) multiple bases (including corporate franchise and business Taxes) if one or more bases upon which such Tax is determined is described in clause (i) above, and (iii) in each case, any such Tax that is a minimum Tax. The term Income Taxes shall also include any Taxes that are (i) imposed by a jurisdiction for the privilege of doing business in such jurisdiction and (ii) based on gross revenue, gross receipts or modified gross receipts (including the Ohio commercial activity tax, the Texas margin Tax and any similar Taxes imposed by any other jurisdiction, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any sales or use Taxes).
4
Intended Tax Treatment means that (i) the Spinco Contribution and Distribution, taken together, will qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code; (ii) no income, gain or loss will be recognized by HoldCo or SpinCo on the SpinCo Contribution and the Distribution, or otherwise in connection with the Spin-Off, under Section 355, 361 or 1032 of the Code, as applicable, other than intercompany items or excess loss accounts taken into account pursuant to Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 1502 of the Code; and (iii) no income, gain or loss will be recognized by any holder of HoldCo Common Stock upon the receipt of SpinCo Common Stock in the Distribution (except with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional share of SpinCo Common Stock, if any) under Section 355 of the Code.
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Law means any U.S. or non-U.S. federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, administrative pronouncement, treaty, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law).
Mixed Business Tax Return means any Separate Entity Tax Return that reflects or reports Taxes that relate to at least one asset or activity that is part of the Progressive Business, on the one hand, and at least one asset or activity that is part of the SpinCo Business, on the other hand.
Other Taxes means Taxes other than Income Taxes.
Person means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof, without regard to whether any entity is treated as disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Post-Distribution Period means any Tax Period beginning after the Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period beginning the day after the Distribution Date.
Pre-Distribution Period means any Tax Period ending on or before the Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Distribution Date.
Privilege means any privilege that may be asserted under applicable Law, including, any privilege arising under or relating to the attorney-client relationship (including the attorney-client and work product privileges), the accountant-client privilege and any privilege relating to internal evaluation processes.
Progressive Business has the meaning assigned to the term Progressive Leasing and Vive Business in the Separation Agreement.
5
Proposed Acquisition Transaction means a transaction or series of transactions (or any agreement, understanding or arrangement, within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7, or any other regulations promulgated thereunder, to enter into a transaction or series of transactions), whether such transaction is supported by management or shareholders of SpinCo, is a hostile acquisition, or otherwise, as a result of which SpinCo would merge or consolidate with any other Person or as a result of which one or more Persons would (directly or indirectly) acquire, or have the right to acquire, from SpinCo and/or one or more holders of outstanding shares of SpinCo Capital Stock (or the Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent thereof), a number of shares of such Capital Stock that would, when combined with any other direct or indirect changes in ownership of such Capital Stock pertinent for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code, comprise fifty percent (50%) or more of (i) the value of all outstanding shares of such Capital Stock as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series, or (ii) the total combined voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of SpinCo (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Proposed Acquisition Transaction shall not include (A) the adoption by SpinCo of a shareholder rights plan or (B) issuances by SpinCo that satisfy Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions in connection with a persons performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(d). For purposes of determining whether a transaction constitutes an indirect acquisition, any recapitalization resulting in a shift of voting power or any redemption of shares of stock shall be treated as an indirect acquisition of shares of stock by the non-exchanging shareholders. This definition, and the application thereof, is intended to monitor compliance with Section 355(e) of the Code and shall be interpreted accordingly. Any clarification of, or change in, the statute or regulations promulgated under Section 355(e) of the Code shall be incorporated in this definition and its interpretation, subject to the reasonable review of HoldCo and its Tax Advisors in consultation with SpinCo and its Tax Advisors.
Refund means any refund (or credit in lieu thereof) of Taxes (including any overpayment of Taxes that can be refunded or, alternatively, applied to other Taxes payable) or other reduction or offset of Taxes otherwise payable, including any interest paid on or with respect to such refund of Taxes. The amount of any Refund shall be determined net of any Taxes actually imposed by any Tax Authority on the Party receiving the refund, after accounting for the provisions of Section 5.1.
Restricted Period means the period beginning at the Distribution Time and ending on the two (2)-year anniversary of the day after the Distribution Date.
Separate Entity Tax Return means any Tax Return, other than any HoldCo Consolidated Return, relating to the Progressive Business, the SpinCo Business, or both the Progressive Business and SpinCo Business.
Separation has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the SpinCo Contribution.
6
SpinCo Active Business Entity means any entity conducting the SpinCo Business as of the Distribution Date.
SpinCo Business has the meaning assigned to the term Aarons Business in the Separation Agreement.
SpinCo Consolidated Return means any Combined Income Tax Return that includes SpinCo or any SpinCo Entity that is not a HoldCo Consolidated Return.
SpinCo Contribution has the meaning assigned to the term Contribution in the Separation Agreement.
SpinCo Entity means any Subsidiary of SpinCo from and after the Distribution Time.
SpinCo Group means, individually or collectively, as the case may be, SpinCo and any SpinCo Entities.
SpinCo Tainting Act means (a) any action (or the failure to take any action) within its control by SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group (including entering into any agreement, understanding or arrangement or any negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions), (b) any event (or series of events) involving the SpinCo Capital Stock (or the Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent thereof), any assets of SpinCo or any assets of any member of the SpinCo Group, or (c) any breach by SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group of any representation, warranty or covenant made by such Person in this Agreement, in each case, that would affect the Intended Tax Treatment or otherwise cause the Spin-Off to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment; provided, that, SpinCo Tainting Act shall not include any action required by the Separation Agreement or any other Transaction Document or undertaken pursuant to the Distribution.
SpinCo Taxes means, without duplication, and after accounting for any adjustment pursuant to a Final Determination, (a) any Income Taxes (other than HoldCo Consolidated Taxes) for any Post-Distribution Period of (i) HoldCo or any member of the HoldCo Group attributable to assets or activities of the SpinCo Business, as determined pursuant to Section 3.2, or (ii) SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group, but excluding in either case any Taxes included in clauses (b)(i)(B), (d) and (f) of the definition of HoldCo Taxes, (b) any Other Taxes of (i) HoldCo or any member of the HoldCo Group attributable to assets or activities of the SpinCo Business, as determined pursuant to Section 3.2, and (ii) SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group, but excluding in either case any Taxes included in clauses (c)(i), (f) and (g) of the definition of HoldCo Taxes, (c) any Income Taxes of AIC and Aarons Canada for any taxable period, (d) subject to Section 3.1(c), any Taxes attributable to a SpinCo Tainting Act, and (e) any Taxes attributable to an Extraordinary Transaction effected after the Distribution on the Distribution Date by SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group; provided, that SpinCo Taxes shall not include any Taxes included in clause (e) of the definition of HoldCo Taxes.
Spin-Off means the Separation and the Distribution.
Straddle Period means any Tax Period that begins on or before and ends after the Distribution Date.
7
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person (a) a corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting or capital stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or (b) a partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity in which such Person, directly or indirectly, owns any of the equity economic interests thereof or for which such Person, directly or indirectly, has the power to elect or direct the election of any of the members of the governing body or with respect to which such Person otherwise has control (e.g., as the managing partner or managing member of a partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be).
Tax means (a) all taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts, or other similar assessments, imposed by any governmental authority or political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, net income, gross income, gross receipts, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use, service, service use, license, lease, capital stock, transfer, recording, franchise, business organization, occupation, premium, windfall profits, profits, customs, duties, payroll, wage, withholding, social security, employment, unemployment, insurance, severance, workers compensation, excise, stamp, alternative minimum, estimated, value added, ad valorem, import, export, unclaimed property, escheat and other taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts, or other similar assessments, or any interest, penalties or additions to tax, or additional amounts, in respect of any of the foregoing and (b) all liabilities in respect of any items described in clause (a) payable by reason of transferee or successor liability, contract, operation of Law, or Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof or any analogous provision of Tax Law).
Tax Advisor means a tax counsel or accountant of recognized standing in the relevant jurisdiction that is reasonably acceptable to the Parties, provided that, with respect to the HoldCo Tax Opinion, Tax Advisor shall mean King & Spalding LLP.
Tax Attribute means a net operating loss, net capital loss, investment credit, foreign tax credit, excess charitable contribution, general business credit or any other Tax Item that could reduce a Tax or create a Tax Benefit.
Tax Authority means, with respect to any Tax, the governmental entity or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.
Tax Benefit means any refund, credit, or other reduction in Tax payments, in each case, as determined on a with and without basis, that is actually received or recognized by a Party or any member of its Group. For the avoidance of doubt, the term Tax Benefit shall include any such benefit actually received or recognized as a result of a step-up in Tax basis or an increase in any Tax Attribute.
Tax Item means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, expense, or credit, or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax.
Tax Law means any Law relating to any Tax.
Tax Period means, with respect to any Tax, the period for which the Tax is reported as provided under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.
8
Tax Proceeding means an audit, review, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of re-determining Taxes (including any administrative or judicial review of any claim for refund).
Tax Records means any Tax Returns, Tax Return work papers, documentation relating to any Tax Proceedings, and any other books of account or records (whether or not in written, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms and whether or not stored on electronic or any other medium) required to be maintained under the Code or other applicable Tax Laws or under any record retention agreement with any Tax Authority.
Tax Representation Letter means the representation letter(s) delivered by HoldCo and SpinCo to the Tax Advisor in connection with the rendering by the Tax Advisor of the HoldCo Tax Opinion.
Tax Return means any report of Taxes due, any claim for refund of Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Taxes, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document required to be filed under the Code or other Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing.
Transaction Documents means the Separation Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
Transfer Tax means any sales, use, privilege, transfer (including real property transfer), intangible, recordation, registration, documentary, stamp, duty or similar Tax imposed with respect to the Spin-Off.
Treasury Regulations means the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code.
Unqualified Tax Opinion means an unqualified will opinion of a Tax Advisor, on which each of the Parties may rely to the effect that a transaction will not affect the Intended Tax Treatment or otherwise cause the Spin-Off to fail to qualify for its Intended Tax Treatment. Any such opinion must assume that the Spin-Off would have qualified for the Intended Tax Treatment if the transaction in question did not occur and may assume the accuracy of, and may rely upon, customary assumptions, representations and undertakings reasonably satisfactory to HoldCo and SpinCo contained in certificates delivered by an officer of HoldCo or SpinCo, as the case may be.
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
Term |
Section | |
Agreement |
Preamble | |
Carryback |
2.5(a) | |
Code |
Recitals | |
Distribution |
Recitals | |
HoldCo |
Preamble | |
Indemnified Party |
4.2(a) |
9
Term |
Section | |
Indemnifying Party |
4.2(a) | |
Independent Arbiter |
11.2 | |
Notified Action |
7.4 | |
Parties |
Preamble | |
Party |
Preamble | |
Past Practice |
2.3(a) | |
Post-Distribution Ruling |
7.3(a) | |
Refund Party |
5.1(a) | |
Retention Date |
8.5 | |
Section 336(e) Election |
7.5 | |
Separation Agreement |
Preamble | |
SpinCo |
Preamble | |
SpinCo Common Stock |
Recitals |
ARTICLE II
PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS
Section 2.1 Consolidated Returns.
(a) Except as provided in the TSA, HoldCo shall prepare and file all HoldCo Consolidated Returns, and shall, subject to Section 4.1(a), pay all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
(b) SpinCo shall prepare and file all SpinCo Consolidated Returns, and shall, subject to Section 4.1(a), pay all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
Section 2.2 Separate Entity Tax Returns.
(a) Except as provided in the TSA, HoldCo shall prepare and file (or shall cause to be prepared and filed) any Separate Entity Tax Returns required to be filed by, or with respect to, any member of the HoldCo Group, and shall, subject to Section 4.1(a), pay, or cause the applicable HoldCo Entity to pay, all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.2(c), SpinCo shall prepare and file (or shall cause to be prepared and filed) any Separate Entity Tax Returns required to be filed by, or with respect to, any member of the SpinCo Group and shall, subject to Section 4.1(a), pay, or cause the applicable SpinCo Entity to pay, all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
(c) Except as provided in the TSA, HoldCo shall (or shall cause a HoldCo Entity to) prepare any Tax Return required to be filed by, or with respect to, any member of the SpinCo Group for any Tax Period that ends before the Distribution Date and may elect to prepare (or cause a HoldCo Entity to prepare) any Tax Return required to be filed by, or with respect to, any member of the SpinCo Group for any Straddle Period. At SpinCos timely prior written request and expense, HoldCo shall (or shall cause a HoldCo Entity to) prepare any other Tax
10
Return required to be filed by, or with respect to, any member of the SpinCo Group for any Straddle Period. SpinCo shall file, or cause the applicable SpinCo Entity to file, any such Tax Returns and, subject to Section 4.1(a), pay, or cause the applicable SpinCo Entity to pay, all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.2 to the contrary, SpinCo shall prepare and file all Income Tax Returns required to be filed by AIC and Aarons Canada, and shall pay all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.
Section 2.3 Tax Reporting Practices.
(a) Past Practices. With respect to any Tax Return for which a Party is responsible for preparing such Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the TSA (unless the items reported on such Tax Return could not reasonably be expected to affect Tax Items reported on any Tax Return filed by the other Party or members of its Group), such Tax Return shall be prepared in accordance with the practices, accounting methods, elections or conventions applied in respect of any applicable Tax Item for Pre-Distribution Periods, as modified by the remainder of this Section 2.3(a) (Past Practice). To the extent any Tax Items are not covered by Past Practice, or the Parties jointly determine that variance from Past Practice is required by applicable Tax Law (including as a result of a determination that there is not substantial authority for such position if reported in accordance with Past Practice), subject to the review rights described in Section 2.4, the Tax Return shall be prepared in the manner reasonably determined by the Party responsible for preparing such Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the TSA, following good faith consultation with the other Party.
(b) Reporting of Spin-Off. The Tax treatment of the Spin-Off reported on any Tax Return (whether such Tax Return is for a Pre-Distribution Period or a Post-Distribution Period) shall be consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment. The Tax treatment of the Spin-Off reported on any Tax Return for which SpinCo is responsible for preparing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be consistent with that on any Tax Return filed or to be filed by HoldCo or any member of the HoldCo Group or caused or to be caused to be filed by HoldCo, to the extent that SpinCo has knowledge of such reporting. In furtherance of the foregoing, HoldCo shall, at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Due Date of any applicable Tax Return, provide to SpinCo, to the extent HoldCo has not previously made available, such information with respect to the Intended Tax Treatment and otherwise with respect to the intended tax treatment of the Spin-Off as will enable SpinCo to file any Tax Return it is responsible for preparing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If SpinCo determines, in consultation with HoldCo and their respective Tax Advisors that there is no substantial authority for such reporting position, such disputed item (or items) shall be referred for resolution in accordance with Article XI. In the event that the resolution of such disputed item (or items) with respect to a Tax Return is inconsistent with such Tax Return as filed, the Parties shall, as promptly as practicable, amend the applicable Tax Returns to properly reflect the final resolution of the disputed item (or items).
11
Section 2.4 Right to Review Tax Returns.
(a) Review of HoldCo-Prepared Tax Returns with Separate SpinCo Tax Liability. Except with respect to HoldCo Consolidated Returns, which shall be governed by Section 2.4(d), HoldCo shall, at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Due Date for such Tax Return, or as soon thereafter as reasonably practical, submit to SpinCo a draft of any Tax Return HoldCo is required or permitted to file under this Article II to the extent such Tax Return reflects a Tax liability reasonably expected to be borne by SpinCo (or a member of the SpinCo Group). HoldCo shall consider in good faith any reasonable changes to such Tax Return submitted by SpinCo, provided that such changes are submitted no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after HoldCos submission to SpinCo of such Tax Return (or, in the case of a draft Tax Return delivered later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Due Date, as soon thereafter as reasonably practical, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Due Date), and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve any disputed items relating to any such Tax Return prior to the filing thereof.
(b) Review of SpinCo-Prepared Tax Returns with Separate HoldCo Tax Liability. Except with respect to SpinCo Consolidated Returns, which shall be governed by Section 2.4(d), SpinCo shall, at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Due Date for such Tax Return, or as soon thereafter as reasonably practical, submit to HoldCo a draft of each Tax Return it is required or permitted to file under this Article II to the extent such Tax Return reflects a Tax liability reasonably expected to be borne by HoldCo. SpinCo shall consider in good faith any reasonable changes to such Tax Return submitted by HoldCo, provided that such changes are submitted no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after SpinCos submission to HoldCo of such Tax Return (or, in the case of a draft Tax Return delivered later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Due Date, as soon thereafter as reasonably practical, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Due Date), and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to resolve any disputed items relating to any such Tax Return prior to the filing thereof.
(c) Dispute Mechanics. In the event the Parties are unable to resolve through good faith negotiations any disputed items with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 2.4(a) or Section 2.4(b), the applicable Tax Return shall be filed or caused to be filed as prepared by the Party responsible for preparing such Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement prior to the Due Date, and such disputed item (or items) shall be referred for resolution in accordance with Article XI. In the event that the resolution of such disputed item (or items) with respect to a Tax Return is inconsistent with such Tax Return as filed, the Party responsible for preparing the applicable Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (with cooperation from the other Party) shall, as promptly as practicable, amend such Tax Return to properly reflect the final resolution of the disputed item (or items). In the event that the amount of Taxes shown to be due and owing on a Tax Return is adjusted pursuant to applicable dispute resolution procedures, proper adjustment shall be made to the amounts previously paid or required to be paid in a manner that reflects such resolution.
(d) Review of Consolidated Returns. With respect to all HoldCo Consolidated Returns and SpinCo Consolidated Returns for the taxable year which includes the Distribution Date, HoldCo or SpinCo, as applicable shall use the closing of the books method under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-76, unless otherwise agreed by HoldCo and SpinCo, with respect to the determination of any Tax liability. HoldCo shall provide a draft, prepared in a manner that is consistent with Past Practice, of the portions of any HoldCo Consolidated Return that reflects a
12
Tax liability reasonably expected to be borne by SpinCo (or a member of the SpinCo Group) to SpinCo for its review and comment at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Due Date for such HoldCo Consolidated Return; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent HoldCo from timely filing any such HoldCo Consolidated Return; provided, further, HoldCo shall not be required to provide such draft if it determines in its sole discretion to waive any liability SpinCo may have in respect of such Tax liability and agrees such Tax shall not be treated as a SpinCo Tax. SpinCo shall provide a draft, prepared in a manner that is consistent with Past Practice, of the portions of any SpinCo Consolidated Return that reflects a Tax liability reasonably expected to be borne by HoldCo (or a member of the HoldCo Group) to HoldCo for its review and comment at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Due Date for such SpinCo Consolidated Return, provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent SpinCo from timely filing any such SpinCo Consolidated Return; provided, further, SpinCo shall not be required to provide such draft if it determines in its sole discretion to waive any liability HoldCo may have in respect of such Tax liability and agrees such Tax shall not be treated as a HoldCo Tax. Any disputes that the Parties are unable to resolve shall be resolved pursuant to Article XI. In the event that any dispute is not resolved prior to the Due Date for the filing of any HoldCo Consolidated Return or SpinCo Consolidated Return, such HoldCo Consolidated Return or SpinCo Consolidated Return, as applicable, shall be timely filed by the relevant Party, and the Parties agree to amend such HoldCo Consolidated Return or SpinCo Consolidated Return, as applicable, as necessary to reflect the resolution of such dispute in a manner consistent with such resolution.
Section 2.5 Carrybacks and Amended Tax Returns.
(a) Carrybacks. Except to the extent otherwise consented to by HoldCo in writing or prohibited by applicable Law, SpinCo (or the appropriate member of the SpinCo Group) shall elect to relinquish, waive or otherwise forgo the carryback of any loss, credit or other Tax Attribute from any Post-Distribution Period to any Pre-Distribution Period or Straddle Period with respect to members of the SpinCo Group (a Carryback). In the event that SpinCo (or the appropriate member of the SpinCo Group) is prohibited by applicable Law to relinquish, waive or otherwise forgo a Carryback (or HoldCo consents to a Carryback), HoldCo shall cooperate with SpinCo, at SpinCos expense, in seeking from the appropriate Tax Authority such Refund as reasonably would result from such Carryback, to the extent that such Refund is directly attributable to such Carryback, and shall pay over to SpinCo the amount of such Refund within ten (10) Business Days after such Refund is received; provided, however, that SpinCo shall indemnify and hold the members of the HoldCo Group harmless from and against any and all collateral Tax consequences resulting from or caused by any such Carryback, including, without limitation, the loss or postponement of any benefit from the use of Tax Attributes generated by a member of the HoldCo Group if (i) such Tax Attributes expire unutilized, but would have been utilized but for such Carryback, or (ii) the use of such Tax Attributes is postponed to a later taxable period than the taxable period in which such Tax Attributes would have been utilized but for such Carryback. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the second sentence of this Section 2.5(a) shall not apply to any Refund of HoldCo Consolidated Taxes.
(b) Amended Tax Returns. Except as provided in Section 2.3(b), Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.4(d) to reflect the resolution of any dispute pursuant to Article XI, any amended Tax Return with respect to any member of the SpinCo Group, or any Mixed Business Tax Return, may be made only (i) with respect to any Income Tax Return which includes Pre-
13
Distribution Periods or any Tax Return if the applicable original Tax Return was filed before the Distribution Date, by HoldCo and (ii) with respect to any other Tax Return, by the Party responsible for preparing the applicable Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Such Party shall not file or cause to be filed any such amended Tax Return without the prior written consent of the other Party, if such filing, assuming it is accepted, could reasonably be expected to change the Tax liability of such other Party (or any member of its Group) for any Tax Period, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If any Party permitted to make an amended Tax Return under this Section 2.5(b) is not permitted to file such amended Tax Return under applicable Law, such Party shall provide the amended Tax Return to the other Party which shall file (or cause to be filed) such amended Tax Return as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter.
Section 2.6 Apportionment of Tax Attributes.
(a) Tax Attributes arising in a Pre-Distribution Period will be allocated to (and the benefits and burdens of such Tax Attribute will inure to) the members of the HoldCo Group and the members of the SpinCo Group in accordance with HoldCos historical practice (except as otherwise required by applicable Tax Law), the Code, Treasury Regulations, and any applicable state, local and non-U.S. Law, as determined by HoldCo in its reasonable discretion and consistent with Past Practice, as applicable. The HoldCo Group or the SpinCo Group, as applicable, shall be responsible for the payment of any fees and expenses that become payable in connection with the utilization of any Tax Attributes allocated to it hereunder.
(b) HoldCo shall in good faith (and without being required to undertake an attribute or similar study) advise SpinCo in writing of the portion, if any, of Tax Attributes, or other consolidated, combined or unitary attribute, which shall be allocated or apportioned to the members of the SpinCo Group under applicable Law. HoldCo shall consult in good faith with SpinCo regarding such allocation of Tax Attributes and determinations as to basis and valuation, and shall consider in good faith any reasonable comments timely received from SpinCo. In the event that SpinCo disagrees with any such determination, HoldCo and SpinCo shall endeavor in good faith to resolve such disagreement, and, failing that, the allocations and apportionments under this Section 2.6(b) shall be determined in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions of Article XI as promptly as practicable. To the extent applicable Law requires any member of the HoldCo Group to make a payment to a member of the SpinCo Group, or any member of the SpinCo Group to make a payment to a member of the HoldCo Group, with respect to any Tax Attribute, or other consolidated, combined or unitary attribute, as a result of the Spin-Off, such payment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) All members of the HoldCo Group and SpinCo Group shall prepare all Tax Returns and compute all Taxes for Post-Distribution Periods in accordance with the final allocation of Tax Attributes delivered under Section 2.6(b), except as otherwise required by a Final Determination. In the event of an adjustment to any Tax Attribute as a result of a Final Determination, HoldCo or SpinCo, as applicable, shall promptly notify the other Party in writing of such adjustment, and the reduction or increase in Tax Attributes shall be allocated to the Party to which such Tax Attribute was initially allocated pursuant to this Section 2.6 and, if necessary, an appropriate adjustment payment shall be made by the applicable Party, consistent with the other provisions of this Agreement.
14
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, HoldCo shall not be liable to any member of the SpinCo Group for any failure of any determination under this Section 2.6 to be accurate under applicable Tax Law, provided such determination was made in good faith.
Section 2.7 Coordination. Nothing in this Article II (including a Partys timely payment of Taxes, or filing of a Tax Return, pursuant to the provisions hereof) shall limit a Partys right to indemnification under the provisions of Article III of this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge that the provisions set forth herein relating to the preparation and filing of Tax Returns may be modified by the terms of the TSA.
ARTICLE III
ALLOCATION OF TAX LIABILITIES
Section 3.1 General Rule.
(a) HoldCo Liability. HoldCo shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the SpinCo Group from and against, without duplication, (i) all HoldCo Taxes, (ii) all Taxes incurred by a member of the SpinCo Group resulting from the breach by a member of the HoldCo Group of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, and (iii) any costs and expenses related to the foregoing (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses).
(b) SpinCo Liability. SpinCo shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the HoldCo Group from and against, without duplication, (i) all SpinCo Taxes, (ii) all Taxes incurred by a member of the HoldCo Group by reason of the breach by a member of the SpinCo Group of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder and (iii) any costs and expenses related to the foregoing (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses).
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.1(a) and (b), any liability for any Taxes attributable to both a HoldCo Tainting Act and a SpinCo Tainting Act shall be shared by HoldCo and SpinCo according to relative fault.
Section 3.2 Attribution of Taxes.
(a) General. For all purposes of this Agreement, a Tax and any Tax Items shall be considered attributable to the SpinCo Business on the one hand and the Progressive Business on the other (but not both) to the extent that such Tax and/or Tax Item would result if such Tax Return were prepared on a separate basis taking into account only the operations and assets of the SpinCo Business on the one hand and only the operations and assets of the Progressive Business on the other hand (but not both), as applicable, which allocation shall, in respect of Income Taxes, be jointly determined by HoldCo and SpinCo in good faith and subject to dispute resolution under Article XI, (i) using Past Practices and (ii) applying the highest applicable statutory marginal corporate income Tax rate in effect for the applicable Tax Period. With respect to any other Tax Items, HoldCo and SpinCo shall jointly determine in good faith consistent with Past Practices and subject to dispute resolution under Article XI, which Tax Items are properly attributable to assets or activities of the SpinCo Business and Progressive Business, respectively (and in the case of a Tax Item that is properly attributable to both the SpinCo Business and the Progressive Business, the allocation of such Tax Item between the SpinCo Business and the Progressive Business).
15
(b) Straddle Period Tax Allocation. HoldCo and SpinCo shall take all actions necessary or appropriate to close the taxable year of SpinCo and each member of the SpinCo Group for all Tax purposes as of the close of the Distribution Date to the extent permissible or required under applicable Law. If applicable Law does not require or permit SpinCo or any SpinCo Entity, as the case may be, to close its taxable year on the Distribution Date, then the allocation of Tax Items required to determine any Taxes or other amounts attributable to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on, or beginning after, the Distribution Date shall be made by means of a closing of the books and records of SpinCo or the applicable member of the SpinCo Group as of the close of the Distribution Date; provided that exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual or periodic basis shall be allocated between such portions in proportion to the number of days in each such portion; provided, further, that real property and other property or similar periodic Taxes shall be apportioned on a per diem basis.
(c) Extraordinary Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties shall report any Extraordinary Transactions taking place on the Distribution Date after the Distribution Time as occurring on the day after the Distribution Date pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(B) or any similar or analogous provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law.
ARTICLE IV
TAX PAYMENTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Amounts Due.
(a) Payment of Liability with Respect to Tax Due. Each Party allocated Taxes shown on a Tax Return to be filed in accordance with Article II and responsible for the payment of such Taxes under this Agreement shall, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Due Date for filing any such Tax Return, pay such amount to the Party responsible for filing such Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, however, the obligation described under this Section 4.1(a) shall not commence prior to the date the other Party first was given the opportunity to exercise any review rights available to it with respect to the relevant Tax Return (whether under Article II or otherwise) or the date any dispute with respect to such Tax Return is resolved pursuant to Section 2.4(c), nor shall interest accrue during any such time period.
(b) Adjustments Resulting in Underpayments. In the case of any adjustment pursuant to a Final Determination with respect to any Tax Return, the Party responsible for filing the applicable Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the applicable Tax Authority when due any additional Tax due with respect to such Tax Return required to be paid as a result of such adjustment pursuant to such Final Determination. Such Party shall compute the amount attributable to the SpinCo Group or the HoldCo Group (as the case may be) in accordance with this Agreement and SpinCo shall pay to
16
HoldCo any amount due HoldCo (or HoldCo shall pay SpinCo any amount due SpinCo) under this Agreement no later than the later of (i) two (2) Business Days prior to the Due Date for payment and (ii) ten (10) Business Days after the date of receipt of a written notice and demand from such Party for payment of the amount due, accompanied by a statement detailing the Taxes paid and describing in reasonable detail the particulars relating thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, however, the obligation described under this Section 4.1(b) shall not commence to the extent the other Party was not previously notified of the potential adjustment under the provisions of Article X, in which case the obligation shall accrue on the date of the other Partys receipt of written notice and demand under clause (ii) of this Section 4.1(b), and interest shall accrue only from such later date.
(c) Discharge of Indemnity. A Party (or any member of its Group) seeking indemnity under Article III shall provide written notice of, and a reasonable basis for, its claim to the other Party (or Parties, or any member of their respective Groups) from which it is seeking indemnification, and such other Party (or Parties, or the applicable member of their respective Groups) shall discharge its (or their) indemnification obligations, subject to Section 4.1(b), by paying the relevant amount within ten (10) Business Days of demand therefor. If any Party (or any member of its Group) disputes in good faith the fact or the amount of its indemnification obligation, then no payment of the amount in dispute shall be required until any such good faith dispute is resolved in accordance with Article XI, but interest shall accrue from the date payment would otherwise have been due.
Section 4.2 Treatment of Indemnification and Other Payments.
(a) Any Tax indemnity payment required to be made by a Party responsible to make an indemnification payment pursuant to this Agreement (the Indemnifying Party) shall be reduced by any corresponding Tax Benefit to the indemnified Party (the Indemnified Party) actually realized or recognized during or prior to the taxable year in which the indemnification payment is made or during the two (2) subsequent taxable years. For the avoidance of doubt, a Tax Benefit is treated as corresponding to a Tax indemnity payment to the extent the Tax Benefit realized is directly attributable to the same Tax Item (or adjustment of such Tax Item pursuant to a Final Determination) that gave rise to the Tax indemnity payment.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable Tax Law, HoldCo and SpinCo agree to treat (and to cause each member of their respective Group to treat) any payment required by this Agreement (other than payments with respect to interest accruing after the Distribution Date) as either a contribution by HoldCo to SpinCo or a distribution by SpinCo to HoldCo, as the case may be, occurring immediately prior to the Distribution.
17
ARTICLE V
TAX REFUNDS
Section 5.1 Tax Refunds.
(a) Each Party (and its Affiliates) shall be entitled to, and the other Party shall, at the written request and expense of the first Party (such Party, the Refund Party), use commercially reasonable efforts to claim, all Refunds that relate to Taxes for which the Refund Party (or its Affiliates) is liable under Article III. To the extent that a particular Refund of Taxes may be allocable to a Tax Period or reflected on a Tax Return with respect to which the Parties may share liability under this Agreement, the portion of such Refund to which each Refund Party will be entitled shall be determined by comparing the relative liability of such Refund Party for the Taxes shown on the applicable Tax Return, taking into account the facts as utilized for purposes of claiming such Refund. Any Refund to which a Refund Party is entitled that is received by the other Party shall be paid to such Refund Party within ten (10) days of, in the case of a cash Refund, such other Partys actual receipt of the Refund from the applicable Tax Authority or, in the case of any Refund that reduces or offsets Taxes otherwise payable by such other Party, the earlier of the Due Date for such Tax liability or the date such Tax liability is actually paid.
(b) To the extent that the amount of any Refund under this Section 5.1 is later reduced by a Tax Authority or pursuant to a Final Determination in a Tax Proceeding, such reduction shall be allocated to the Refund Party and, if necessary, an appropriate adjustment payment shall be made to the other Party, consistent with the other provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
DEDUCTION AND REPORTING OF EMPLOYEE AWARDS
Section 6.1 HoldCo and SpinCo Income Tax Deductions in Respect of Certain Equity Awards and Compensation. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the reporting of any Income Tax deductions by the HoldCo Group or the SpinCo Group in respect of equity awards and other compensation shall be governed by the EMA or TSA, as applicable.
ARTICLE VII
TAX-FREE STATUS
Section 7.1 Representations and Warranties.
(a) SpinCo. SpinCo hereby represents and warrants, or covenants and agrees, as appropriate, that the statements and representations made in the Tax Representation Letter, to the extent they relate to SpinCo or the SpinCo Group are, or, as applicable, will be, from the time presented or made (and, if applicable, through and including the Distribution Time (and thereafter as relevant)) true, correct and complete in all respects.
(b) HoldCo. HoldCo hereby represents and warrants, or covenants and agrees, as appropriate, that the statements and representations made in the Tax Representation Letter, to the extent relating to HoldCo or the HoldCo Group are, or, as applicable, will be, from the time presented or made (and, if applicable, through and including the Distribution Time (and thereafter as relevant)), true, correct and complete in all respects.
(c) No Contrary Plan. Each of HoldCo and SpinCo represents and warrants that neither it, nor any of its Subsidiaries, has any plan or intent to take any action which is inconsistent with any statements or representations made in the Tax Representation Letter.
18
Section 7.2 Restrictions on SpinCo.
(a) During the Restricted Period, SpinCo shall not (other than as expressly required under the Separation Agreement):
(i) enter into any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, approve any Proposed Acquisition Transaction for any purpose, or facilitate in any manner or allow any Proposed Acquisition Transaction to occur with respect to SpinCo;
(ii) merge or consolidate with any other Person or liquidate or partially liquidate, including any action that is treated as a liquidation for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes;
(iii) approve or allow the discontinuance, cessation, or sale or other transfer (to an Affiliate or otherwise) of, or a material change in, any Active Business;
(iv) approve or allow the sale, issuance, or other disposition (to an Affiliate or otherwise), directly or indirectly, of any share of, or other equity interest or an instrument convertible into an equity interest in, any SpinCo Active Business Entity;
(v) in the case of the SpinCo Group (including any successors to any member of the SpinCo Group), sell or otherwise dispose of more than thirty-five percent (35%) of its consolidated gross assets, or approve or allow the sale or other disposition (including in any transaction treated for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as a sale, transfer or disposition) (to an Affiliate or otherwise) of more than thirty-five percent (35%) of its consolidated gross assets or more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the consolidated gross assets of any SpinCo Active Business Entity (whether to an Affiliate or otherwise), in each case, excluding (A) sales in the ordinary course of business and measured based on fair market values as of the Distribution Date and (B) any transfers to a Person that is a disregarded entity separate from the transferor for federal income tax purposes (provided, that for purposes of this Section 7.2(a), a merger of SpinCo or one of its Subsidiaries with and into any Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of SpinCo shall constitute a disposition of all of the assets of SpinCo or such Subsidiary);
(vi) amend its certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), or take any other action or approve or allow the taking of any action, whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise, affecting the voting rights of SpinCo stock (including through the conversion of any Capital Stock into another class of Capital Stock);
(vii) purchase, directly or through any Affiliate, any of its outstanding stock, except to the extent such purchases satisfy Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30 (as in effect prior to the amendment by Revenue Procedure 2003-48);
(viii) with respect to the Distribution, take any action or fail to take any action, or permit any member of the SpinCo Group to take any action or fail to take any action, that is inconsistent with any representation or covenant made in the Tax Representation Letter; or
19
(ix) take any action or permit any other member of the SpinCo Group to take any action (including any transactions with a third-party or any transaction with any Affiliate) that is inconsistent with, or individually or in the aggregate (taking into account other transactions described in this Section 7.2) would be reasonably likely to adversely affect, the Intended Tax Treatment.
Section 7.3 Opinions and Rulings. SpinCo and its Affiliates shall be permitted to take the actions described in Section 7.2, if, prior to taking any such actions:
(a) SpinCo notifies HoldCo that it desires to seek a private letter ruling from the IRS, or a ruling from another applicable Tax Authority that confirms that such action or actions will not adversely affect the Intended Tax Treatment, taking into account such actions and any other relevant transactions in the aggregate (a Post-Distribution Ruling), and HoldCo consents in writing to the pursuit of such Post-Distribution Ruling, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and which ruling (and any representations on which it is based) shall, once received, be in form and substance satisfactory to HoldCo in its discretion, which discretion shall be reasonably exercised in good faith to prevent the imposition on HoldCo, or responsibility for payment by HoldCo, of Distribution Taxes; or
(b) SpinCo shall have received an Unqualified Tax Opinion that confirms that such action or actions will not adversely affect the Intended Tax Treatment, taking into account such actions and any other relevant transactions in the aggregate, in form and substance satisfactory to HoldCo in its discretion, which discretion shall be reasonably exercised in good faith to prevent the imposition on HoldCo, or responsibility for payment by HoldCo, of Distribution Taxes (including any representations or assumptions that may be included in such Unqualified Tax Opinion).
(c) HoldCos evaluation of a Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion may consider, among other factors, the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions, representations, and covenants made in connection with such Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion. SpinCo shall (i) bear all costs and expenses of securing any such Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion and (ii) reimburse HoldCo for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses that HoldCo may incur in good faith in pursuing or evaluating any such Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion. Except as provided in this Section 7.3, following the Distribution Time, neither SpinCo nor any of its Subsidiaries shall seek any guidance from, initiate any communication with, the IRS or any other Tax Authority (whether written, verbal or otherwise) at any time concerning the Spin-Off (including the impact of any transaction on the tax treatment of the Spin-Off) without the prior approval of HoldCo (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Section 7.4 Procedures Regarding Opinions and Rulings. If SpinCo notifies HoldCo that it desires to take one of the actions described in Section 7.2 (a Notified Action), HoldCo shall, at SpinCos sole expense, cooperate with SpinCo and use its reasonable best efforts to seek to obtain a Post-Distribution Ruling or permit SpinCo to obtain an Unqualified Tax Opinion for the purpose of permitting SpinCo to take the Notified Action unless HoldCo shall have waived the requirement to obtain such ruling or opinion.
20
Section 7.5 Protective 336(e) Election. Pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.336-2(h)(1)(i) and 1.336-2(j), if and to the extent determined by HoldCo, HoldCo shall make a timely protective election under Section 336(e) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder and any similar provision of state or local Tax Law (and any related elections as determined by HoldCo) with respect to the Distribution (collectively, a Section 336(e) Election). If and to the extent that the Intended Tax Treatment does not apply with respect to the Spin-Off and HoldCo is liable for any resulting Distribution Tax-Related Losses (including any Taxes attributable to the Section 336(e) Election), then, to that extent, HoldCo will be entitled to annual payments from SpinCo of the Tax Benefit of the SpinCo Group arising from the step-up in Tax basis resulting from the Section 336(e) Election, determined using a with and without methodology (treating any deductions attributable to the step-up in tax basis resulting from the Section 336(e) Election as the last items claimed for any taxable period including after the utilization of any available Tax Attributes) and assuming for this purpose that the SpinCo Group is subject to federal income tax at a rate of 21% and state income tax at a rate of 4.57%.
ARTICLE VIII
REPORTING, COOPERATION AND RECORD RETENTION
Section 8.1 Assistance and Cooperation.
(a) The Parties shall cooperate (and cause the members of their respective Groups to cooperate) with each other and with each others representatives, including accounting firms and legal counsel, in connection with Tax matters relating to the Parties and their respective Groups including (i) preparation and filing of Tax Returns, (ii) determining the liability for and amount of any Taxes due (including estimated Taxes) or the right to and amount of any Refund, (iii) examinations of Tax Returns, and (iv) any Tax Proceeding. Such cooperation shall include making all information and documents in such Partys possession relating to the other Party and the members of its Group available to such other Party as provided in this Article VIII and the execution of any document (including the grant of any power of attorney or similar document) reasonably requested by another Party in connection with the filing of a Tax Return or a Refund claim of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups or any Tax Proceeding of any of the Parties or the members of their respective Groups. Each Party shall make its employees, advisors, and facilities available, without charge (except as otherwise provided in the TSA), on a reasonable and mutually convenient basis in connection with the foregoing matters in a manner that does not interfere with the ordinary business operations of such Party. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide any information or documentation requested by the other Party in a manner that permits the other Party (or its Affiliates) to comply with Tax Return filing deadlines or other applicable timing requirements.
(b) Any information or documents provided under this Section 8.1 shall be kept confidential by the Party receiving the information or documents, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other agreement, (i) no Party nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to provide another Party or any Affiliate thereof or any other Person access to or copies of any information or procedures (including the proceedings of any Tax Proceeding) other than information or procedures that reasonably relate to the Taxes (including any Taxes for which the first Party is liable under this Agreement), business or assets of the first Party or any of its
21
Affiliates or are necessary to prepare Tax Returns for which the first Party is responsible for preparing the applicable Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) in no event shall any Party or its Affiliates be required to provide another Party, any of its Affiliates or any other Person access to or copies of any information if such action could reasonably be expected to result in the waiver of any Privilege. In addition, in the event that a Party determines that the provision of any information to another Party or any of its Affiliates could be commercially detrimental, violate any Law or agreement or waive any Privilege, the first Party shall use reasonable best efforts to permit compliance with its obligations under this Section 8.1 in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.
Section 8.2 Return Information. SpinCo and HoldCo acknowledge that time is of the essence in relation to any request for information, assistance or cooperation made by HoldCo or SpinCo pursuant to Section 8.1 or this Section 8.2. Each Party shall provide to the other Parties information and documents relating to its Group reasonably required by the other Parties to prepare Tax Returns. Any information or documents a Party responsible for preparing a Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement requires to prepare such Tax Returns shall be provided in such form as such Party reasonably requests and in sufficient time for such Party to prepare such Tax Returns on a timely basis.
Section 8.3 Non-Performance. If a Party (or any of its Affiliates) fails to comply with any of its obligations set forth in this Article VIII upon reasonable request and notice by the other Party (or any of its Affiliates) and such failure results in the imposition of additional Taxes, the non-performing Party shall be liable in full for such additional Taxes.
Section 8.4 Costs. Each Party shall devote the personnel and resources necessary in order to carry out this Article VIII and shall make its employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide explanations of any documents or information provided hereunder. Except as otherwise provided in the TSA, each Party shall carry out its responsibilities under this Article VIII at its own cost and expense.
Section 8.5 Retention of Tax Records. Each Party shall preserve and keep all Tax Records exclusively relating to the assets and activities of its Group for Pre-Distribution Periods, and HoldCo shall preserve and keep all other Tax Records relating to Taxes of the Groups for Pre-Distribution Periods, for so long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any matter under the Code or other applicable Tax Law, but in any event until the later of (i) the expiration of any applicable statutes of limitations, or (ii) seven (7) years after the Distribution Date (such later date, the Retention Date). After the Retention Date, each Party may dispose of such Tax Records upon ninety (90) Business Days prior written notice to the other Party. If, prior to the Retention Date, a Party reasonably determines that any Tax Records which it would otherwise be required to preserve and keep under this Section 8.5 are no longer material in the administration of any matter under the Code or other applicable Tax Law and the other Party agrees, then such first Party may dispose of such Tax Records upon ninety (90) Business Days prior notice to the other Party. The notified Party shall have the opportunity, at its cost and expense, to copy or remove, within such ninety (90) Business Day period, all or any part of such Tax Records. If, at any time prior to the Retention Date, a Party determines to decommission or otherwise discontinue any computer program or information technology system used to access or store any Tax Records, then such Party may decommission or discontinue such
22
program or system upon ninety (90) Business Days prior notice to the other Party and the other Party shall have the opportunity, at its cost and expense, to copy, within such ninety (90) Business Day period, all or any part of the underlying data relating to the Tax Records accessed by or stored on such program or system.
Section 8.6 Access to Tax Records. The Parties and their respective Affiliates shall make available to each other for inspection and copying during normal business hours upon reasonable notice all Tax Records (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any pertinent underlying data accessed or stored on any computer program or information technology system) in their possession and shall permit the other Party and its Affiliates, authorized agents and representatives and any representative of a Tax Authority or other Tax auditor direct access during normal business hours upon reasonable notice to any computer program or information technology system used to access or store any Tax Records, in each case to the extent reasonably required by the other Party in connection with the preparation of Tax Returns or financial accounting statements, audits, litigation, or the resolution of items under this Agreement. To the extent any Tax Records are required to be or are otherwise transferred by the Parties or their respective Affiliates to any person other than an Affiliate, the Party or its respective Affiliate shall transfer such records to the other Party at such time.
ARTICLE IX
TAX PROCEEDINGS
Section 9.1 Notice. Within ten (10) Business Days after an Indemnified Party becomes aware of the commencement of a Tax Proceeding that may give rise to Taxes for which an Indemnifying Party is responsible pursuant to Article III, such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party of such Tax Proceeding, and thereafter shall promptly forward or make available to the Indemnifying Party copies of notices and communications relating to such Tax Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party of the commencement of any such Tax Proceeding within such ten (10) Business Day period or promptly forward any further notices or communications shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnified Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure.
Section 9.2 Control of Tax Proceedings.
(a) HoldCo Income Tax Returns.
(i) HoldCo shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle in its sole discretion any adjustment to any Tax Item that is proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with any Tax Proceeding with respect to (A) any HoldCo Consolidated Return or (B) any Separate Entity Tax Return that relates solely to Taxes for which HoldCo is liable under this Agreement.
23
(ii) If SpinCo Taxes are asserted in any Tax Proceeding otherwise controlled by HoldCo under this Section 9.2(a), HoldCo shall (i) keep SpinCo timely informed of the actions proposed to be taken by HoldCo with respect to such assertion in such Tax Proceeding, (ii) permit SpinCo to participate (at SpinCos cost and expense) in the aspects of such Tax Proceeding that relate solely to such SpinCo Taxes and (iii) not settle any aspect of such Tax Proceeding that relates to such SpinCo Taxes without the prior written consent of SpinCo, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(b) SpinCo Income Tax Returns.
(i) SpinCo shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle in its sole discretion any adjustment to any Tax Item that is proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with any Tax Proceeding with respect to (A) any SpinCo Consolidated Return or (B) any Separate Entity Tax Return that relates solely to Taxes for which SpinCo is liable under this Agreement.
(ii) If HoldCo Taxes are asserted in any Tax Proceeding otherwise controlled by SpinCo under this Section 9.2(b), SpinCo shall (i) keep HoldCo timely informed of the actions proposed to be taken by SpinCo with respect to such assertion in such Tax Proceeding, (ii) permit HoldCo to participate (at HoldCos cost and expense) in the aspects of such Tax Proceeding that relate solely to such HoldCo Taxes, and (iii) not settle any aspect of such Tax Proceeding that relates to such HoldCo Taxes without the prior written consent of HoldCo, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(c) Separate Entity Tax Returns.
(i) Except as set forth in Section 9.2(a) and Section 9.2(b), HoldCo shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle any adjustment to any Tax Item that is proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with any Tax Proceeding with respect to any Separate Entity Tax Return prepared by HoldCo or a HoldCo Entity pursuant to Section 2.2; provided, that to the extent that any aspect of such Tax Proceeding relates to SpinCo Taxes or would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Tax position of SpinCo or any SpinCo Entity, HoldCo shall (i) keep SpinCo informed in a timely manner of the actions proposed to be taken by HoldCo with respect to such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, (ii) permit SpinCo to participate (at SpinCos cost and expense) in such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, and (iii) not settle any such aspect of such Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of SpinCo, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 9.2(a) and Section 9.2(b), SpinCo shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle any adjustment to any Tax Item that is proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with any Tax Proceeding with respect to any Separate Entity Tax Return prepared by SpinCo or a SpinCo Entity pursuant to Section 2.2; provided, that to the extent that any aspect of such Tax Proceeding relates to HoldCo Taxes or would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Tax position of HoldCo or any HoldCo Entity, SpinCo shall (i) keep HoldCo informed in a timely manner of the actions proposed to be taken by SpinCo with respect to such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, (ii) permit HoldCo to participate (at HoldCos cost and expense) in such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, and (iii) not settle any such aspect of such Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of HoldCo, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
24
(d) Distribution Taxes. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.2, HoldCo shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle any Tax Proceeding relating to the Intended Tax Treatment or that would otherwise give rise to Distribution Taxes; provided, that to the extent that any aspect of such Tax Proceeding (i) would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Tax position of SpinCo or a SpinCo Entity, or (ii) SpinCo has previously acknowledged its potential liability under this Agreement for any Distribution Tax-Related Losses arising out of such Tax Proceeding in writing, HoldCo shall (A) keep SpinCo informed in a timely manner of the actions proposed to be taken by HoldCo with respect to such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, (B) permit SpinCo to participate (at SpinCos cost and expense) in such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, and (C) not settle any such aspect of such Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of SpinCo, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(e) Non-Income Tax Returns. The Party responsible for preparing the applicable Tax Return in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be entitled to contest, compromise and settle any adjustment that is proposed, asserted or assessed pursuant to any Tax Proceeding with respect to any Tax Return other than an Income Tax Return, provided, that to the extent that any aspect of such Tax Proceeding relates to Taxes for which the other Party is liable under this Agreement or would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Tax position of the other Party, the first Party shall (i) keep the other Party informed in a timely manner of the actions proposed to be taken by the first Party with respect to such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, (ii) permit the other Party to participate (at such other Partys cost and expense) in such aspects of such Tax Proceeding, and (iii) not settle any such aspect of such Tax Proceeding without the prior written consent of the other Party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
ARTICLE X
INTEREST PAYMENTS
Section 10.1 Interest Under This Agreement. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent an Indemnifying Party makes a payment of interest to an Indemnified Party under this Agreement with respect to the period from the date that the Indemnified Party made a payment of Tax to a Tax Authority to the date that the Indemnifying Party reimbursed the Indemnified Party for such Tax payment, the interest payment shall be treated as interest expense to the Indemnifying Party (deductible to the extent provided by law) and as interest income by the Indemnified Party (includible in income to the extent provided by law). The amount of the payment shall not be adjusted to take into account any associated Tax Benefit to the Indemnifying Party or increase in Tax to the Indemnified Party.
25
ARTICLE XI
DISAGREEMENTS
Section 11.1 Interaction with Article IX of the Separation Agreement. In the event of any dispute between the Parties as to any matter covered by this Agreement, the Parties shall agree as to whether such dispute shall be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 11.2 and Section 11.3 of this Agreement or in Article IX of the Separation Agreement. If the Parties cannot agree within thirty (30) days from the time such dispute arises as to which procedure will govern such dispute, such disagreement shall be resolved pursuant to Article IX of the Separation Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 11.2 and Section 11.3 of this Agreement shall not apply to any dispute that is governed by Article IX of the Separation Agreement.
Section 11.2 Discussion. The Parties mutually desire that collaboration will continue between them. Accordingly, the Parties will, and will cause the respective members of their Groups to, use reasonable efforts to resolve via bilateral discussion all disagreements in respect of their respective rights and obligations under this Agreement. In furtherance thereof, in the event of any dispute or disagreement between any member of the HoldCo Group and any member of the SpinCo Group as to the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement or the performance of the other Partys obligations hereunder, representatives of each of the Parties, including members of their respective Tax departments, shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute. With respect to any dispute governed by Section 11.2 and Section 11.3 of this Agreement, the Parties agree that the dispute resolution procedures specified in this Section 11.2 and Section 11.3 shall be the sole and exclusive procedures for the resolution of disputes; provided, however, that any Party may seek a preliminary injunction or other preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration before any court of competent jurisdiction if such action is necessary to avoid irreparable damage. Despite such action, the Parties shall continue to participate in good faith in the procedures specified in this Section 11.2 and Section 11.3.
Section 11.3 Referral to Independent Arbiter. In the event any dispute governed by Section 11.2 and this Section 11.3 is not resolved by bilateral discussion, the Parties shall appoint, with respect to any matter requiring the determination of the Parties rights and obligations under this Agreement, a U.S. law firm of national standing or, with respect to any other matter, an internationally recognized independent public accounting firm (in each case, the Independent Arbiter) to resolve such dispute. In this regard, the Independent Arbiter shall make determinations with respect to the disputed items based solely on representations made by HoldCo and SpinCo and their respective representatives, and not by independent review, and shall function only as an expert and not as an arbitrator. The Parties shall require the Independent Arbiter to resolve all disputes no later than thirty (30) days after the submission of such dispute to the Independent Arbiter, and agree that all decisions by the Independent Arbiter with respect thereto shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Parties. The Independent Arbiter shall resolve all disputes in a manner consistent with this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in a manner consistent with Past Practices, except as otherwise required by applicable Law. The Parties shall require the Independent Arbiter to render all determinations in writing and to set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for such determination. The fees and expenses of the Independent Arbiter shall be borne by the Parties based on the inverse of the percentage that the Independent Arbiters resolution of the disputed items (before such allocation) bears to the total amount of the disputed items as originally submitted to the Independent Arbiter (for example, if the total amount of the disputed items as originally submitted to the Independent Arbiter equals $1,000 and the Independent Arbiter awards $600 in favor of the first Partys position, sixty percent (60%) of the fees and expenses of the Independent Arbiter would be borne by the other Party and forty percent (40%) of the fees and expenses of the Independent Arbiter would be borne by the first Party); provided, that if the matters referred to the Independent Arbiter cannot reasonably be reduced to monetary amounts (e.g., if such matters relate to the Parties rights and obligations under this Agreement) the Independent Arbiter shall make a good faith allocation of such fees and expenses based on the foregoing principle.
26
ARTICLE XII
TERM AND COSTS
Section 12.1 Effective Date; Prior Agreements.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall become effective as of the Distribution Time.
(b) As of the Distribution Time, (i) all prior intercompany Tax allocation agreements or arrangements between one or more members of the HoldCo Group, on the one hand, and one or more members of the SpinCo Group, on the other hand, shall be terminated; and (ii) amounts due under such agreements as of the Distribution Time shall be settled as of the Distribution Time. Upon such termination and settlement, no further payments by or to HoldCo or by or to SpinCo, with respect to such agreements shall be made, and all other rights and obligations resulting from such agreements between the Parties and their Affiliates shall cease at such time.
Section 12.2 Survival. The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall each survive the Distribution. The covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall each survive until the full performance of all covenants and agreements set forth herein, in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall remain in effect and its provisions shall survive for one year after the full period of all applicable statutes of limitation (giving effect to any extension, waiver or mitigation thereof) and, with respect to any claim hereunder initiated prior to the end of such period, until such claim has been satisfied or otherwise resolved.
Section 12.3 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the TSA, each Party and its Affiliates shall bear their own expenses incurred in connection with preparation of Tax Returns, Tax Proceedings, and other matters related to Taxes under the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 12.4 Payments. Except as otherwise specified herein, any payment required to be made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made within sixty (60) days of notice thereof (including the reasonable basis of the demand therefor). All payments required to be made between the Parties under this Agreement shall be made in immediately available funds.
Section 12.5 Interest. Any payment required to be made under this Agreement shall bear interest at the rate equal to the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, for the period from and including the Due Date (in the case of any amount relating to payment of Taxes or filing of a Tax Return), or otherwise the date immediately following the date the obligation originated (after accounting for any grace period), through and including the date of payment.
27
ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 13.1 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Conflicts; Corporate Power.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. Each Party acknowledges that it and the other Party may execute this Agreement by manual, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms a stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it shall not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind it to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it shall as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date hereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.
(b) The Separation Agreement, this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements, and any exhibits, schedules or annexes hereto and thereto, contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
(c) HoldCo represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the HoldCo Group, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the SpinCo Group, as follows:
(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes, or will constitute, a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 13.2 Governing Law. This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Georgia irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Georgia, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.
28
Section 13.3 Assignability. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. None of this Agreement or any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party to this Agreement being so assigned or delegated, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. No such consent shall be required for the assignment of a Partys rights and obligations under this Agreement if: (a) any party to this Agreement (or any of its successors or permitted assigns) (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving business entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and/or assets to any Person; and (b) in any such case, the resulting, surviving or assignee Person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the relevant party (or its successors or permitted assigns, as applicable) under this Agreement. No assignment permitted by this Section 13.3 shall release the assigning party from liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 13.4 Third-Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective group members and their permitted successors and assigns, and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties and their respective Group members and their permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder and there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other third party with any remedy, claim, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 13.5 Notices. All notices shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by electronic mail transmission (return receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 13.5):
If to HoldCo, then to:
PROG Holdings, Inc.
256 W. Data Drive
Draper, Utah 84020
Attn: Marvin Fentress
Email: marvin.fentress@progleasing.com
If to SpinCo, then to:
The Aarons Company, Inc.
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Attn: Rachel George
Email: rachel.george@aarons.com
29
Either Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.
Section 13.6 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the terms or provisions of this Agreement the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, and the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable terms or provisions into this Agreement which, insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the Parties. Any term or provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part, degree or within certain jurisdictions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable to the extent consistent with the intent of the parties as reflected by this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each party waives any term or provision of Law which renders any term or provision of this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
Section 13.7 Headings. The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 13.8 Waivers of Default. No failure or delay of any Party (or its applicable Group members) in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party.
Section 13.9 Consent to Jurisdiction. Subject to the provisions of ARTICLE IX of the Separation Agreement and Article XI of this Agreement, each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of (a) the Georgia State-Wide Business Court, and (b) the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (the Georgia Courts), for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding to compel arbitration or for provisional relief in aid of arbitration in accordance with ARTICLE IX of the Separation Agreement or Article XI of this Agreement, as applicable, or for provisional relief to prevent irreparable harm, and to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Georgia Courts for the enforcement of any award issued thereunder or hereunder. Each of the Parties further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States registered mail to such Partys respective address set forth in Section 13.5 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in the Georgia Courts with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 13.9. Each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to any Georgia Courts exercise of personal jurisdiction over the Parties and the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the Georgia Courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
30
Section 13.10 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. Accordingly, it is hereby agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to (a) an injunction or injunctions issued in any arbitration in accordance with ARTICLE IX of the Separation Agreement to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, (b) provisional or temporary injunctive relief in accordance with Section 9.03(j) of the Separation Agreement in any Georgia Court, and (c) enforcement of any such award of an arbitral tribunal or a Georgia Court in any court of the United States, or any other any court or tribunal sitting in any state of the United States or in any foreign country that has jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy or relief to which they may be entitled.
Section 13.11 Amendments. No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of both Parties and their relevant Group members, as the case may be.
Section 13.12 Interpretation. In this Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other gender as the context requires; (b) the terms hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (c) Article, Section or Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections and Schedules of or to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement (including this Agreement) shall be deemed to include the schedules, exhibits and annexes to such agreement; (e) any capitalized terms used in any Schedule to this Agreement but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement; (f) any reference herein to this Agreement, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof; (g) the word including and words of similar import when used in this Agreement means including, without limitation, unless otherwise specified; (h) unless otherwise specified, the word or shall not be exclusive; (i) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word days refers to calendar days; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to the date hereof, the date of this Agreement, hereby and hereupon and words of similar import shall all be references to November 29, 2020.
Section 13.13 Group Members. HoldCo shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a member of the HoldCo Group and SpinCo shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by a member of the SpinCo Group.
31
Section 13.14 Force Majeure. Neither Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement for failure to fulfill any obligation so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event: (a) provide notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, that, prior to any Party invoking the benefit of this provision as a result of a Force Majeure with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, such Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to its failure or potential failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement.
Section 13.15 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.
Section 13.16 No Reliance on Other Party. The Parties hereto represent to each other that this Agreement is entered into with full consideration of any and all rights which the Parties hereto may have. The Parties hereto have relied upon their own knowledge and judgment and have conducted such investigations they and their in-house counsel have deemed appropriate regarding this Agreement and their rights in connection with this Agreement. The Parties hereto are not relying upon any representations or statements made by any other Party, or any such other Partys employees, agents, representatives or attorneys, regarding this Agreement, except to the extent such representations are expressly set forth or incorporated in this Agreement. The Parties hereto are not relying upon a legal duty, if one exists, on the part of any other Party (or any such other Partys employees, agents, representatives or attorneys) to disclose any information in connection with the execution of this Agreement or its preparation, it being expressly understood that no Party hereto shall ever assert any failure to disclose information on the part of any other Party as a ground for challenging this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 13.17 Limited Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no individual who is a shareholder, director, employee, officer, agent or representative of HoldCo or SpinCo, or any of their respective Group members, in such individuals capacity as such, shall have any liability in respect of or relating to the covenants or obligations of HoldCo or SpinCo, as applicable, under this Agreement or in respect of any certificate deliver