Form of Lock-Up Agreement LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [●], 2019 by and between (a) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Cheese Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any predecessor or successor entity thereto, the “Company”) and (b) AP VIII CEC Holdings, L.P., Delaware limited partnership (“AP VIII”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of April [●], 2019, by and among the Company, Queso Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation, AP VIII, and solely for purposes of Section 7.14(f) thereof, ▇▇▇ Investors Limited Partnership, a Cayman limited partnership (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “BCA”). AP VIII and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 1 are referred to herein, individually, as a “Holder” and, collectively, as the “Holders.”
WHEREAS, pursuant to the BCA, and in view of the valuable consideration to be received by the parties thereunder, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to the Holders’ ▇▇▇ Common Stock (the “Restricted Securities”) shall become subject to limitations on disposition as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Lock-Up Provisions.
(a) The Holders hereby agree not to, during the period commencing from the Closing and through the earlier of (x) the one hundred and eightieth (180) day anniversary of the date of the Closing and (y) the date after the Closing on which the Company consummates a Change of Control (as defined in the BCA) (the “Lock-Up Period”): (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Restricted Securities, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Restricted Securities, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Restricted Securities or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any of the foregoing described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “Prohibited Transfer”); and provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that nothing in this Agreement shall restrict any Holder’s right to cause the Company to file and cause to become effective a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission naming such Holder as a selling securityholder (and to make any required disclosures on Schedule 13D in respect thereof). The foregoing sentence shall not apply:
(A) to the transfer of any or all of the Restricted Securities by a bona fide gift or charitable contribution;
(B) to the transfer of any or all of the Restricted Securities to any Permitted Transferee;
(C) to the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Restricted Securities; provided, that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Restricted Securities during the Lock-Up Period; and
(D) with respect to voting rights pursuant to the execution and delivery of a support, voting or similar agreement in connection with a Change of Control;
provided, however, that in any of cases (A) or (B), it shall be a condition to such transfer that the transferee executes and delivers to the Company an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the Restricted Securities subject to the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such holder, and there shall be no further transfer of such Restricted Securities except in accordance with this Agreement; provided, further, that in any of the of cases (A) or (B) such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Permitted Transferee” shall mean:
(i) as a distribution to the direct or indirect general partners, limited partners, shareholders, members of, or owners of similar equity interests in a Holder; or
(ii) any affiliate of AP VIII.
The Holders further agree to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.
(b) If any Prohibited Transfer is made or attempted contrary to the provisions of this Agreement, such purported Prohibited Transfer shall be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall refuse to recognize any such purported transferee of the Restricted Securities as one of its equity holders for any purpose. In order to enforce this Section 1, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Restricted Securities (and permitted transferees and assigns thereof) until the end of the Lock-Up Period.
(c) During the Lock-Up Period, each certificate or book-entry position evidencing any Restricted Securities shall be marked with a legend in substantially the following form, in addition to any other applicable legends:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF [●], 2019, BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). A COPY OF SUCH LOCK-UP AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, each Holder shall retain all of its rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Restricted Securities during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Restricted Securities that are entitled to vote. The Company agrees to (i) instruct its transfer agent to remove the legends in clause (c) immediately above upon the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (ii) cause its legal counsel to deliver the necessary legal opinions, if any, to the transfer agent in connection with the instruction under subclause (i).
2
2. Miscellaneous.
(a) Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. This Agreement and all obligations of a Holder are personal to such Holder and may not be transferred or delegated at any time.
(b) Third Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any person or entity that is not a party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a party.
(c) Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, 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 AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
(d) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
(e) Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iii) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
3
particular section or other subdivision of this Agreement; and (iv) the term “or” means “and/or”. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
(f) Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, or mailed first class mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company or AP VIII, or its permitted assignees, as applicable, at the addresses set forth below. Notices shall be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally, three days after deposit in the U.S. mail or one day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service, as applicable.
If to the Company,
▇▇▇ Holdings Corp.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇ (▇) ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Secretary
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
| Facsimile: | (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ |
| Email: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ |
▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
| Facsimile: | (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ |
| Email: | ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ |
▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
4
if, to AP VIII, to:
c/o Apollo Management VIII, L.P.
▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
| Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
(g) Amendments and Waivers. Only upon the approval by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company then in office that qualify as “independent” for purposes of audit committee membership under Section 10A-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived by the Company, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of Restricted Securities, shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
(h) Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
5
(i) Specific Performance. Each Holder acknowledges that its obligations under this Agreement are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by such Holder, money damages will be inadequate and the Company will have no adequate remedy at law, and agrees that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by such Holder in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement by a Holder and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the BCA or any documents related thereto or referred to therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit any of the rights or remedies of the Company or any of the obligations of any of the Holders under any other agreement between any of the Holders and the Company or any certificate or instrument executed by any of the Holders in favor of the Company, and nothing in any other agreement, certificate or instrument shall limit any of the rights or remedies of the Company or any of the obligations of any of the Holders under this Agreement.
(k) Further Assurances. From time to time, at another party’s request and without further consideration (but at the requesting party’s reasonable cost and expense), each party shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(l) Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature or by other electronic means in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]
6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.
| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Cheese Brands Inc. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: |
||
| Title: |
||
| AP VIII CEC Holdings, L.P. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||