Exhibit 10.4
EXECUTION VERSION
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
between
Redwood Holdco, LP
and
Seaport Global Acquisition Corp.
and
Redwood Intermediate, LLC
Dated as of October 22, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | Page |
| | |
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 2 |
Section 1.1. | Definitions | 2 |
ARTICLE II DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFIT | 9 |
Section 2.1. | Basis Schedule | 9 |
Section 2.2. | Tax Benefit Schedule | 9 |
Section 2.3. | Procedures, Amendments | 10 |
ARTICLE III TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS | 11 |
Section 3.2. | No Duplicative Payments | 12 |
ARTICLE IV TERMINATION | 12 |
Section 4.1. | Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement | 12 |
Section 4.2. | Early Termination Notice | 13 |
Section 4.3. | Payment upon Early Termination | 13 |
ARTICLE V SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS | 14 |
Section 5.1. | Subordination | 14 |
Section 5.2. | Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer | 14 |
ARTICLE VI NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION | 15 |
Section 6.1. | Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and OpCo’s Tax Matters | 15 |
Section 6.2. | Consistency | 15 |
Section 6.3. | Cooperation | 15 |
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS | 16 |
Section 7.1. | Notices | 16 |
Section 7.2. | Counterparts | 16 |
Section 7.3. | Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries | 16 |
Section 7.4. | Governing Law | 17 |
Section 7.5. | Severability | 17 |
Section 7.6. | Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers | 17 |
Section 7.7. | Titles and Subtitles | 18 |
Section 7.8. | Resolution of Disputes | 18 |
Section 7.9. | Reconciliation | 19 |
Section 7.10. | Withholding | 19 |
Section 7.11. | Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets | 20 |
Section 7.12. | Confidentiality | 21 |
Section 7.13. | Change in Law | 21 |
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT
This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is dated as of October 22, 2021, and is between Redwood Holdco, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “TRA Holder”), Seaport Global Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquiror”) and Redwood Intermediate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the TRA Holder directly or indirectly hold limited liability company interests in OpCo (the “Units”), which is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax (as defined below) purposes;
WHEREAS, after the Acquisition (as defined below), Acquiror will be the managing member of OpCo, and holds and will hold, directly and/or indirectly, Units;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Acquisition, Acquiror will (directly or indirectly) acquire Acquired Units (as defined below) for a contribution of cash to OpCo not treated as part of a disguised sale under Section 707(a) of the Code (the “Acquisition Exchange”);
WHEREAS, the Units held by the TRA Holder may be exchanged for Class A Shares, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the OpCo Agreement (as defined below) and/or for other cash or other property;
WHEREAS, OpCo and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries (as defined below) treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code, for each Taxable Year (as defined below) that includes the Acquisition Date and for each Taxable Year in which a taxable acquisition (including a deemed taxable acquisition under Section 707(a) of the Code) or non-taxable acquisition of Units by the Corporate Taxpayer from the TRA Holder (an “Exchanging Holder”) for Class A Shares and/or other consideration (to the extent permitted by the governing documents of OpCo or its applicable subsidiary) or redemption by OpCo, in each case, in connection with the Acquisition or after the Acquisition Date (any such acquisition, including any deemed taxable acquisition under Section 707(a) of the Code, or redemption, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Acquisition Exchange, an “Exchange”) occurs;
WHEREAS, as a result of an Exchange, the Corporate Taxpayer will be entitled to use the Basis Adjustments (as defined below) relating to such Units exchanged in the Exchange;
WHEREAS, the income, gain, loss, expense and other Tax items of the Corporate Taxpayer may be affected by the (i) Basis Adjustments, (ii) the Existing Tax Basis and (iii) Imputed Interest (as defined below) (collectively, the “Tax Attributes”); and
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to the effect of the Tax Attributes on the liability for Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).
“Acquired Units” means the Units acquired by the Acquiror pursuant to the Acquisition (excluding any Units acquired in an Exchange).
“Acquisition” means the Merger and the contribution of Aggregate Cash Proceeds (as such terms are defined in the Business Combination Agreement), taken as a whole.
“Acquisition Date” means the Closing Date, as such term is defined in the Business Combination Agreement.
“Acquisition Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Acquiror” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the sum of (A) the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer (determined without regard to deductions for state and local taxes which are addressed in clause (ii)) and (B) without duplication, the portion of any liability for U.S. federal income Taxes imposed directly on OpCo (and OpCo’s applicable subsidiaries) under Section 6225 or any similar provision of the Code that is allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer under Section 704 of the Code, in each case using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the relevant IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) and (ii) the product of the amount of the U.S. federal taxable income for such taxable year reported on the Corporate Taxpayer’s IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) and the Blended Rate.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.
“Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of SOFR plus 100 basis points.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) of this Agreement.
“Basis Adjustment” means the adjustment to the tax basis of a Reference Asset under Sections 732, 734(b), 743(b), 754, 755 and 1012 (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, OpCo becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of the Code and analogous sections of U.S. state and local Tax laws, as a result of an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement in respect of such Exchange. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units (or any predecessor of such Units) and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred. The amount of any Basis Adjustment shall be determined using the Market Value at the time of the Exchange.
“Basis Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
“Beneficial Owner” means, with respect to any security, a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings.
“Blended Rate” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of the apportionment-weighted effective rates of Tax (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any U.S. federal benefit of the state tax deduction) imposed on the aggregate net income of the Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo, as applicable, in each state or local jurisdiction in which the Corporate Taxpayer or OpCo, as applicable, files Tax Returns for such Taxable Year, with the maximum effective rate in any state or local jurisdiction being equal to the product of (i) the apportionment factor on the income or franchise Corporate Taxpayer Return in such jurisdiction for such Taxable Year and (ii) the maximum applicable corporate Tax rate in effect in such jurisdiction in such Taxable Year. As an illustration of the calculation of the Blended Rate for a Taxable Year, if the Corporate Taxpayer solely files Tax Returns in State 1 and State 2 in a Taxable Year, the maximum applicable corporate Tax rates in effect in such states in such Taxable Year are 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively, and the apportionment factors for such states in such Taxable Year are 55% and 45% respectively, then the Blended Rate for such Taxable Year is equal to 6.05% (i.e., 6.5% multiplied by 55% plus 5.5% multiplied by 45%).
“Board” means the Board of Directors of Acquiror.
“Business Combination Agreement” means that certain Business Combination Agreement dated as of May 16, 2021 entered into by and among, Acquiror, Seaport Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and OpCo.
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) a merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar form of business transaction involving Acquiror unless, immediately following such transaction, more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock or other equities of Acquiror resulting from consummation of such transaction is held by the TRA Holder or its Affiliates (determined immediately prior to such transaction and related transactions),
(ii) a transaction in which the Acquiror, directly or indirectly, sells, assigns, conveys, transfers, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to another Person other than an Affiliate,
(iii) a transaction in which there is an acquisition of control of the Acquiror by a Person or group of Persons (other than the TRA Holder and its Affiliates), or
(iv) a transaction in which individuals who constitute the board as of the date of the Acquisition (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Closing Date, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Acquiror in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of Acquiror as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director or the liquidation or dissolution of the corporation.
“Class A Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Corporate Taxpayer” means Acquiror and any company that is a member of any consolidated Tax Return of which Acquiror (or a successor thereto) is a member, where appropriate.
“Corporate Taxpayer Return” means the U.S. federal and/or state and/or local Tax Return, as applicable, of the Corporate Taxpayer filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year.
“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriment for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedules or Amended Schedules, if any, in existence at the time of such calculation; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the computation of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit shall be adjusted to reflect any applicable Determination with respect to any Realized Tax Benefits and/or Realized Tax Detriments.
“Default Rate” means a per annum rate of SOFR plus 500 basis points.
“Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, foreign or local Tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.
“Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a) of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.
“Early Termination Effective Date” means the date on which an Early Termination Schedule becomes binding pursuant to Section 4.2.
“Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement.
“Early Termination Rate” means SOFR plus 100 basis points.
“Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Exchange Date” means the date of any Exchange.
“Exchanging Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Existing Tax Basis” means the TRA Holder’s share of OpCo’s existing tax basis in the Reference Assets as of the date of this Agreement that is amortizable under Section 197 of the Code or that is otherwise amortizable or depreciable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“Expert” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.
“Future TRAs” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the sum of (A) the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer (determined without regard to deductions for state and local taxes which are addressed in clause (ii)) and (B) without duplication, the portion of any liability for U.S. federal income Taxes imposed directly on OpCo (and OpCo’s applicable subsidiaries) under Section 6225 or any similar provision of the Code that is allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer under Section 704 of the Code, in each case using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the relevant IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) and (ii) the product of the U.S. federal taxable income for such taxable year reported on the Corporate Taxpayer’s IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) and the Blended Rate, but, in the determination of the liability in clauses (i) and (ii), above, (a) using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule including amendments thereto for the Taxable Year, and (b) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest attributable to any payment made under this Agreement for the Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to a Tax Attribute as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the basis of the Reference Assets in the aggregate for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability can never be less than zero.
“Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Sections 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state and local Tax law with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations under this Agreement.
“Interest Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“Incumbent Directors” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Change of Control.
“Market Value” shall mean the closing price of the Class A Shares on the applicable Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided, that if the closing price is not reported by the Wall Street Journal for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value shall mean the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided, further, that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” shall mean the cash consideration paid for Class A Shares, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Class A Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the above sentence, to the extent property is exchanged for cash in a transaction, the Market Value shall be determined by reference to the amount of cash transferred in such transaction.
“Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.
“Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at the time of an Exchange, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made and that the Existing Tax Basis were zero.
“Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.
“OpCo” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“OpCo Agreement” means, with respect to OpCo, the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.
“Pre-Exchange Transfer” means any transfer or distribution in respect of one or more Units (or any predecessor to such Units) (i) that occurs prior to an Exchange of such Units, and (ii) to which Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code applies.
“Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.
“Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.
“Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.
“Reconciliation Procedures” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.
“Reference Asset” means an asset that is held by OpCo, or by any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries treated as a partnership or disregarded entity (but only if such indirect Subsidiaries are held only through Subsidiaries treated as partnerships or disregarded entities) for purposes of the applicable Tax, at the time of the Acquisition or an Exchange, as applicable; provided, that a Reference Asset shall include any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.
“Schedule” means any of the following: (i) a Basis Schedule; (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule; or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule.
“Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.
“SOFR” shall mean, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“SOFR Administrator” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” shall mean the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.
“Tax Attributes” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.
“Tax Benefit Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.
“Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state or local Tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the Acquisition Date.
“Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, and any interest related to such Tax.
“Taxing Authority” means any domestic, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.
“TRA Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.
“Units” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Valuation Assumptions” shall mean, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, (1) the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the Tax items arising from the Tax Attributes during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future payments made under this Agreement that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions) in which such deductions would become available, (2) all losses and credits will be fully utilized in the earliest Taxable Year permitted by applicable law, (3) all non-amortizable assets will be disposed of on the fifteenth (15th) anniversary of the date of this agreement; provided, that in the event of a Change of Control, such non-amortizable assets shall be deemed disposed of at the time of sale (if applicable) of the relevant asset in the Change of Control (if earlier than such fifteenth (15th) anniversary), (4) the U.S. federal income tax rates and state and local income tax that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, (5) any payment obligations pursuant to this Agreement will be satisfied on the date that any Tax Return to which such payment obligation relates is required to be filed excluding any extensions and (6) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been Exchanged, then each such Unit, shall be deemed Exchanged for the Market Value of the Class A Shares and the amount of cash that would be transferred if the Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date.
ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFIT
Section 2.1. Basis Schedule. Within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days of the earlier of (i) the filing of the U.S. federal income tax return of the Corporation for any federal Taxable Year ending after the Calculation Date or (ii) the due date (taking into account extensions) of such tax return for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the TRA Holder a schedule (the “Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, (i) the unamortized and/or undepreciated amount of the Existing Tax Basis, if any, (ii) the Basis Adjustment with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year or any prior Taxable Year, if any, calculated in the aggregate, (iii) the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis of the Reference Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date, if any, and (iv) the period (or periods), if any, over which the Reference Assets are amortizable, depreciable or otherwise recoverable. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision and preparation of the Basis Schedules and Tax Benefit Schedules in compliance with this Agreement shall be borne by OpCo.
Section 2.2. Tax Benefit Schedule.
(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days of the earlier of (i) the filing of the U.S. federal income tax return of the Corporation for any federal Taxable Year ending after the Calculation Date or (ii) the due date (taking into account extensions) of such tax return for any such federal Taxable Year for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or a Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to the TRA Holder a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit and Tax Benefit Payment or the Realized Tax Detriment, as applicable, in respect of such TRA Party for such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”). Each Tax Benefit Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).
(b) Applicable Principles. For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any period, carryovers of any Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Existing Tax Basis or Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers of the relevant type. If a carryover of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Existing Tax Basis and/or Imputed Interest and another portion that is not, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology, consistent with the methodology of calculating a Realized Tax Detriment or Realized Tax Benefit.
Section 2.3. Procedures, Amendments.
(a) Procedure. Every time the Corporate Taxpayer delivers a Schedule to the TRA Holder under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule, the Corporate Taxpayer shall also (x) deliver to the TRA Holder supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer or as reasonably requested by the TRA Holder, providing reasonable detail regarding data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing such Schedule and (y) allow the TRA Holder reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives at the Corporate Taxpayer, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer or as reasonably requested by the TRA Holder, in connection with a review of such Schedule. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporate Taxpayer shall ensure that any Tax Benefit Schedule that is delivered to the TRA Holder, along with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations. An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the TRA Holder is treated as having received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1 unless the TRA Holder (i) within thirty (30) calendar days from such date provides the Corporate Taxpayer with written notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”) made in good faith or (ii) provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date the waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of an Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “Reconciliation Procedures”).
(b) Amended Schedule. The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to a TRA Party, (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit, or the Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or the Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust the TRA Holder’s Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to each TRA Party and to the TRA Party Representative within ninety (90) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence.
ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS
Section 3.1. Payments.
(a) Payments. Within five (5) business days after the Tax Benefit Schedule is delivered to the TRA Holder becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a) and Section 7.9, if applicable, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay the TRA Holder for such Taxable Year the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b). Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the Corporate Taxpayer or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal estimated income Tax payments and (y) the payments provided for pursuant to the above sentence shall be computed separately for each TRA Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to each Exchange by or with respect to any TRA Party, if such TRA Party notifies the Corporate Taxpayer in writing of a stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 15A.453-1(c)(2)), then the amount of the consideration received in connection with such Exchange and the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to such TRA Party in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed such stated maximum selling price.
(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” in respect of a TRA Party for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, a portion of the Interest Amount shall be treated as interest pursuant to Section 483 of the Code and a portion of the Interest Amount shall be treated as additional consideration in the applicable transaction, unless otherwise required by law. Subject to Section 3.3, the “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year, over the total amount of payments previously made under the first sentence of Section 3.1(a) (excluding payments attributable to Interest Amounts); provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that no such recipient shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. The “Interest Amount” shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to Taxes for such Taxable Year until the payment date under Section 3.1(a).
Section 3.2. No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to ensure such intentions are realized.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
Section 4.1. Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement.
(a) The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement with respect to all amounts payable to the TRA Holder and with respect to all of the Units held by the TRA Holder at any time by paying to the TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment. Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment in respect of each TRA Party by the Corporate Taxpayer the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (a) Tax Benefit Payments due and payable and that remain unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (b) Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (b) is included in the Early Termination Payment). If an Exchange occurs after the Corporate Taxpayer makes all of the required Early Termination Payments, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange.
(b) In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer (1) breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, unless otherwise waived or directed in writing by the TRA Holder, all obligations hereunder shall be automatically accelerated and shall be immediately due and payable, and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but not be limited to, (x) the Early Termination Payments calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (y) any Tax Benefit Payment due and payable and that remains unpaid as of the date of a breach, and (z) any Tax Benefit Payment for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of a breach (except to the extent that the amount described in clauses (y) and (z) are included in the Early Termination Payment); provided, that procedures similar to the procedures of Section 4.2 shall apply with respect to the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the TRA Party shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (x), (y) and (z) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof. The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a breach of a material obligation of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer has insufficient funds to make such payment; provided, that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate).
(c) In the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise waived in writing by the TRA Holder, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such Change of Control and utilizing the Valuation Assumptions by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” in each place where the phrase “Early Termination Date” appears. Such obligations shall include (1) the Early Termination Payments calculated as if the Early Termination Date is the date of such Change of Control, (2) any Tax Benefit Payment due and payable and that remains unpaid as of the date of such Change of Control, and (3) any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of such Change of Control (except to the extent any amounts described in clause (2) or (3) are included in the Early Termination Payment). For the avoidance of doubt, Sections 4.2 and 4.3 shall apply to a Change of Control, mutatis mutandis.
Section 4.2. Early Termination Notice. If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1(a) above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the TRA Holder notice of such intention to exercise such right (“Early Termination Notice”) and a schedule (the “Early Termination Schedule”) specifying the Corporate Taxpayer’s intention to exercise such right under either clause (i) or (ii) thereof and showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment(s) due. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the TRA Holder is treated as having received such Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1 unless the TRA Holder (i) within thirty (30) calendar days after such date provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (ii) provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures in which case such Schedule becomes binding ten (10) calendar days after the conclusion of the Reconciliation Procedures.
Section 4.3. Payment upon Early Termination.
(a) Within three (3) calendar days after an Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to the TRA Holder an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment. Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA holder.
(b) “Early Termination Payment” in respect of a TRA Party shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the applicable Early Termination Effective Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of such TRA Party that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions in respect of such TRA Party are applied.
ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS
Section 5.1. Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment required to be made by the Corporate Taxpayer to the TRA Holder under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries (“Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations. To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holder and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates enters into future Tax receivable or other similar agreements (“Future TRAs”), the Corporate Taxpayer shall ensure that the terms of any such Future TRA shall provide that the Tax Attributes subject to this Agreement are considered senior in priority to any Tax attributes subject to any such Future TRA for purposes of calculating the amount and timing of payments under any such Future TRA. The Corporate Taxpayer shall use commercially reasonable efforts not to enter into any agreement if a principal purpose of such agreement is to restrict in any material respect the amounts payable hereunder. To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer incurs, creates, assumes or permits to exist any indebtedness after the date hereof, the Corporate Taxpayer shall make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that such indebtedness permits any amounts payable hereunder to be paid. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the previous sentence shall prevent Corporate Taxpayer from deferring payments pursuant to this Section 5.1.
Section 5.2. Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer. Subject to the proviso in the last sentence of Section 4.1(b), the amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the TRA Parties when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable to the date of actual payment.
ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION
Section 6.1. Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and OpCo’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as provided in the OpCo Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer shall notify the TRA Holder of, and keep the TRA Holder reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit of the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holder under this Agreement, and shall provide to the TRA Holder reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit; provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer and OpCo shall not be required to take any action that is inconsistent with any provision of the OpCo Agreement; provided, further, that the Corporate Taxpayer shall not settle or fail to contest any issue pertaining to Taxes or Tax matters where such settlement or failure to contest would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect TRA Holder’s rights and obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the TRA Holder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed.
Section 6.2. Consistency. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that contemplated by this Agreement or specified by the Corporate Taxpayer in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement unless otherwise required by law. Any dispute concerning such advice shall be subject to the terms of Section 7.9. Any payment under this agreement made with respect to the Existing Tax Basis will be treated as a guaranteed payment (within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code).
Section 6.3. Cooperation. The TRA Holder shall (a) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (b) make itself available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (a) above, and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3. Upon the request of the TRA Holder, the Corporate Taxpayer shall cooperate in taking any action reasonably requested by the TRA Holder in connection with its tax or financial reporting and/or the consummation of any assignment or transfer of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation, providing any information or executing any documentation. The Corporate Taxpayer shall not, without the prior written consent of the TRA Holder, take any action that has the primary purpose of circumventing the achievement or attainment of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile or email with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Corporate Taxpayer, to:
Redbox Entertainment Inc. (f/k/a Seaport Global Acquisition Corp.)
One Tower Lane, Suite 800
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Attention: Fred Stein, Chief Legal Officer
Email: fstein@redbox.com
If to the TRA Holder to:
Redwood Holdco, LP
One Tower Lane, Suite 800
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Attention: Fred Stein, Chief Legal Officer
Email: fstein@redbox.com
Any party may change its address, fax number or email by giving the other party written notice of its new address, fax number or email in the manner set forth above.
Section 7.2. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including counterparts transmitted electronically in portable document format (pdf)), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement. Electronic signatures shall be a valid method of executing this Agreement.
Section 7.3. Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.4. Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern (a) all proceedings, claims or matters related to or arising from this Agreement (including any tort or non-contractual claims) and (b) any questions concerning the construction, interpretation, validity and enforceability of this Agreement, and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, in each case without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
Section 7.5. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 7.6. Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers.
(a) The TRA Holder may assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to any Person as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in form of Exhibit A hereto, agreeing to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in such joinder.
(b) No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of (i) the executive committee of the Board or, if such executive committee does not exist, the Board and (ii) the TRA Holder. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(c) All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. If more than one Person holds rights under this agreement pursuant to an assignment described under Section 7.6(a), all uses of the term TRA Holder under this agreement shall apply to each such Person mutatis mutandis. The Corporate Taxpayer shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
Section 7.7. Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
Section 7.8. Resolution of Disputes.
(a) Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.9 and cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “Dispute”) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York, NY in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the Corporate Taxpayer may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), the TRA Holder (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.8 to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Corporate Taxpayer as agent for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise the TRA Holder of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the TRA Holder in any such action or proceeding.
(c) (i) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE OR THE DELAWARE COURT OF CHANCERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 7.8, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award. The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another; and (ii) The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph of this Section 7.8 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.
Section 7.9. Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the matters governed by Sections 2.3, 4.2 and 6.2 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “Expert”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both parties. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the TRA Holder or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, then the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the TRA Holder’s Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the TRA Holder’s position, in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position, in which case the TRA Holder shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.9 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.
Section 7.10. Withholding. The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such withholding was made. To the extent that any payment pursuant to this Agreement is not reduced by such deductions or withholdings, such recipient shall indemnify the applicable withholding agent for any amounts imposed by any Taxing Authority together with any costs and expenses related thereto. The TRA Holder shall promptly provide the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo or other applicable withholding agent with any applicable Tax forms and certifications (including IRS Form W-9 or the applicable version of IRS Form W-8) reasonably requested, in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign Tax law.
Section 7.11. Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.
(a) If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state or local law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by treating any direct or indirect transfer of one or more Reference Assets to a corporation with which the Corporate Taxpayer files a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code as an Exchange which gives rise to a Basis Adjustment).
(b) If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a)) transfers one or more Reference Assets to a Person treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (with which, in the case of Acquiror, Acquiror does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), such transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefits Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer. The consideration deemed to be received by the Corporate Taxpayer, shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred asset plus the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered asset. For purposes of this Section 7.1(b), a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s applicable share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporate Taxpayer or any member of a group described in Section 7.1(a) transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies (other than any such reorganization or any such other transaction, in each case, pursuant to which such entity transfers assets to a corporation with which the Corporate Taxpayer or any member of the group described in Section 7.1(a) (other than any such member being transferred in such reorganization or other transaction) does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.1(b).
Section 7.12. Confidentiality.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 6.3, the TRA Holder and each of its assignees acknowledge and agree that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning OpCo and its Affiliates and successors or the members, learned by the TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for the TRA Holder to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of the TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, OpCo and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.
(b) If the TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporate Taxpayer and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.
Section 7.13. Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, the TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause (i) the recognition of taxable income to the TRA Holder prior to an Exchange or (ii) income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by the TRA Holder upon any Exchange by the TRA Holder to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income Tax purposes or would have other material adverse consequences to the TRA Holder, then at the election of the TRA Holder and to the extent specified by the TRA Holder, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to the TRA Holder, (ii) shall not apply to an Exchange by the TRA Holder Party occurring after a date specified by the TRA Holder, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by the TRA Holder, provided, that such amendment shall not result in an increase in payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquiror and the TRA Holder have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Acquiror: |
| | |
| SEAPORT GLOBAL ACQUISITION CORP. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Stephen C. Smith |
| | Name: Stephen C. Smith Title: Chief Executive Officer |
| TRA Holder: |
| | |
| REDWOOD HOLDCO, LP |
| |
| By: | /s/ Kavita Suthar |
| | Name: Kavita Suthar Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
| OpCo: |
| | |
| REDWOOD INTERMEDIATE, LLC |
| |
| By: | /s/ Kavita Suthar |
| | Name: Kavita Suthar Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary |
Exhibit A
Form of Joinder
This JOINDER (this “Joinder”) to the Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined below), is by and among Seaport Global Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (including any successor corporation, “Acquiror”), ______________________ (“Transferor”) and ______________________ (“Permitted Transferee”).
WHEREAS, on ______________________, Permitted Transferee shall acquire ______________________ percent of the Transferor’s right to receive payments that may become due and payable under the Tax Receivable Agreement (as defined below) (the “Acquired Interests”) from Transferor (the “Acquisition”); and WHEREAS, Transferor, in connection with the Acquisition, has required Permitted Transferee to execute and deliver this Joinder pursuant to Section 7.6(a) of the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2021, between Acquiror, OpCo and the TRA Holder (as defined therein) (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1.1 Definitions. To the extent capitalized words used in this Joinder are not defined in this Joinder, such words shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Section 1.2 Acquisition. For good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the Transferor and the Permitted Transferee, the Transferor hereby transfers and assigns absolutely to the Permitted Transferee all of the Acquired Interests.
Section 1.3 Joinder. Permitted Transferee hereby acknowledges and agrees (i) that it has received and read the Tax Receivable Agreement, (ii) that the Permitted Transferee is acquiring the Acquired Interests in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Tax Receivable Agreement and [(iii) to become the “TRA Holder” (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) for all purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement.]1
Section 1.4 Notice. Any notice, request, consent, claim, demand, approval, waiver or other communication hereunder to Permitted Transferee shall be delivered or sent to Permitted Transferee at the address set forth on the signature page hereto in accordance with Section 7.1 of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Section 1.5 Governing Law. This Joinder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
1 Note to Draft: To be included if the TRA Holder is transferring all of its interests.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Joinder has been duly executed and delivered by Permitted Transferee as of the date first above written.
| SEAPORT GLOBAL ACQUISTION CORP. |
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| By: | |
| | Name: Title: |
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| [TRANSFEROR] |
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| By: | |
| | Name: Title: |
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| [PERMITTED TRANSFEREE] |
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| By: | |
| | Name: Title: |
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| Address for notices: |