Baldwin Insurance signs $32.50-a-share merger deal
The company anticipates completion in the first quarter of 2027, subject to stockholder approval and other closing conditions.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (BWIN) entered into a merger agreement on September 14, 2026, with an acquisition vehicle affiliated with Sequence AI Holdings, Inc. and DFO Private Investments, L.P. If completed, each eligible Class A share will convert into the right to receive $32.50 in cash, without interest; remaining Class B shares will be canceled without payment. Certain holders agreed to contribute or retain approximately 7.3% of outstanding common stock, on an as-exchanged basis.
The special committee unanimously recommended the transaction, and the board unanimously approved it and recommends a vote in favor. Adoption requires a majority in voting power of outstanding common shares voting as one class. Completion is subject to closing conditions, including stockholder approval; the company anticipates a first-quarter 2027 closing but cannot assure a particular date. Estimated funds to complete the transaction are approximately $7.7 billion, and the agreement is not conditioned on Parent obtaining financing. Final cash payments under the amended Tax Receivable Agreement are capped at $298,450,598 in aggregate and are conditioned on completion.
Filing Explained
Rollover holders representing approximately fifteen percent of common stock have committed to vote for the deal, but the proposal still awaits stockholder approval.
The preliminary proxy for The Baldwin Insurance Group states that the merger is still awaiting stockholder approval and other closing conditions; if completed, Class A stock would be delisted and deregistered, ending public trading and causing Exchange Act reporting to terminate or be suspended, as applicable.
As of
Key Figures
Key Terms
Merger Consideration financial
Retained Units financial
Final TRA Payment financial
Requisite Company Vote regulatory
Dissenting Shares regulatory
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How much will BWIN Class A stockholders receive in the merger?
What vote does BWIN need to approve the merger?
When does BWIN expect the merger to close?
Is the BWIN merger conditional on Parent obtaining financing?
Can BWIN stockholders seek appraisal in the merger?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
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THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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No fee required.
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 14, 2026 (as amended from time
to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo LLC”), Square Acquisition Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Square
Acquisition Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Square Acquisition Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“LLC
Merger Sub” and, together with Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”), and the parties who execute the joinder thereto, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement, pursuant to which, among other things, (a) LLC
Merger Sub will merge with and into OpCo LLC (the “LLC Merger”), with OpCo LLC surviving the LLC Merger, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as may be amended from time to time
(the “DLLCA”), (b) simultaneously with the LLC Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Company Merger” and, together with the LLC Merger, the “Initial Mergers”), with the Company surviving the Company Merger as a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as may be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), and (c) OpCo LLC will form a new, wholly owned
limited liability company (“Seller LLC”), Seller LLC will form a new, wholly owned limited liability company (“Seller Intermediate”) and Seller Intermediate will form a new, wholly owned limited liability company (“Seller Merger Sub”)
and, immediately following the Initial Mergers, the Surviving Corporation and Seller Intermediate will cause Seller Merger Sub to merge with and into OpCo LLC (the “Second LLC Merger” and, together with the Initial Mergers, the
“Mergers”), with each share of Class A Common Stock, other than certain excluded shares, converted into the right to receive $32.50 in cash, without interest, pursuant to the Company Merger subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement
(the “Merger Agreement Proposal”);
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to consider and vote on one or more proposals to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates if necessary or appropriate,
including adjournments to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Merger Agreement Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and
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to approve, by nonbinding, advisory vote, certain compensation arrangements for the Company’s named executive officers in
connection with the Mergers (the “Merger-Related Compensation Proposal”).
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Page
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Summary Term Sheet
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1
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Questions and Answers About the Special Meeting and the
Mergers
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15
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Special Factors
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24
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The Merger Agreement
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98
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The Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements
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119
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TRA Amendment
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121
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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information
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Parties to the Mergers
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123
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The Special Meeting
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The Merger (The Merger Agreement Proposal—Proposal 1)
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129
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Adjournment of the Special Meeting (The Adjournment
Proposal—Proposal 2)
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130
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Merger-Related Executive Compensation
Arrangements (The Merger-Related Compensation Proposal—Proposal 3)
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Other Important Information Regarding the Company
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Other Important Information Regarding the Parent Entities
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139
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Delisting and Deregistration of the Company’s Class A
Common Stock
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Stockholder Proposals and Nominations
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
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144
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Where You Can Find More Information
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Annex A – Merger Agreement
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A-146
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Annex B – Opinion of Perella Weinberg Partners LP
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B-1
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Annex C – Opinion of Ardea Partners LP
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C-1
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Annex D – Form of Voting, Support and Rollover Agreement
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D-1
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Annex E – Amendment No. 1 to the Tax Receivable Agreement
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E-1
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“Ardea” refers to Ardea Partners LP, financial advisor to the Company;
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“Board” refers to the board of directors of the Company;
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“Baldwin Parties” refers to Trevor Baldwin and L. Lowry Baldwin;
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“Class A Common Stock” refers to the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company;
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“Class B Common Stock” refers to the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company;
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“Closing Exchanges” refers to the exchanges, immediately prior to and conditioned upon the immediate subsequent occurrence of
the Effective Time, by holders of OpCo LLC Units (other than the Company) of OpCo LLC Units for an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement and Section 2.01 of the Merger Agreement;
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“Company Common Stock” refers to the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, together;
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“Company Credit Agreement” refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2024, among The Baldwin
Insurance Group Holdings, LLC (formerly known as Baldwin Risk Partners, LLC), as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties thereto, as amended by Amendments No. 1 through No. 4;
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“Company Indenture” refers to the Indenture, dated as of May 24, 2024, by and among The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings, LLC,
The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings Finance, Inc., the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent;
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“Company Merger” refers to the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with the Company
surviving;
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“Company PSUs” refers to the Company restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are subject to
performance-based vesting conditions and that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time;
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“Company Restricted Shares” refers to shares of Class A Common Stock or restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Company’s
equity plans that are subject to forfeiture, vesting or other lapse conditions;
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“Company RSAs” refers to awards of Company Restricted Shares;
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“Confidentiality Agreement” refers to the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2026, between the Company and
Sequence;
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“Debt Commitment Letter” refers to the executed commitment letter, dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement, delivered to
Parent by the debt financing sources identified therein confirming their respective commitments to provide or arrange the Debt Financing, including the related exhibits, schedules, annexes, supplements, term sheets and fee letters;
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“Debt Financing” refers to the debt financing that the debt financing sources have committed to provide to LLC Merger Sub in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement pursuant to the Debt Commitment Letter;
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“DFO” refers to DFO Private Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and an affiliated investment entity of DFO
Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
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“DGCL” refers to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as may be amended from time to time;
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“DLLCA” refers to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as may be amended from time to time;
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“Equity Commitment Letter” refers to the executed commitment letter, dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement, delivered by
DFO to Parent;
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“Equity Financing” refers to the equity financing that DFO has committed to provide to Parent in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Commitment Letter;
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“Exchange Act” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
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“Financing” refers to the Equity Financing and the Debt Financing, together;
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“Governmental Authority” refers to any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state, provincial, local or other
governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency, commission or official, including any insurance department or division thereof, any political subdivision thereof, or any other governmental or
quasi-governmental (including self-regulatory) authority or instrumentality;
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“Initial Mergers” refers to the LLC Merger and the Company Merger, together;
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“Limited Guarantee” refers to the limited guarantee, dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement, delivered by DFO in favor of
the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement;
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“LLC Merger” refers to the merger of LLC Merger Sub with and into OpCo LLC pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with OpCo LLC
surviving;
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“LLC Merger Sub” refers to Square Acquisition Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned,
direct subsidiary of Parent;
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“Merger Agreement” refers to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 14, 2026, by and among the Company, OpCo
LLC, Parent, Merger Sub and LLC Merger Sub, as it may be amended from time to time;
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“Merger Consideration” refers to $32.50 in cash, without interest, for each share of Class A Common Stock and each OpCo LLC Unit
converted into the right to receive such amount pursuant to the Merger Agreement;
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“Mergers” refers to the Initial Mergers and the Second LLC Merger, together;
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“Merger Sub” refers to Square Acquisition Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of
Parent;
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“Merger Subs” refers to Merger Sub and LLC Merger Sub, together;
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“Nasdaq” refers to the Nasdaq Global Select Market;
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“NEO” refers to the named executive officers of the Company;
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“OpCo LLC Agreement” refers to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of OpCo LLC, dated as of
October 7, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 3, 2020, and Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 2, 2024;
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“OpCo LLC Units” refers to the common limited liability company interests in OpCo LLC;
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“Parent” refers to Square Acquisition Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
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“Parent Entities” refers to Topco, Parent, Merger Subs, DFO and Sequence, together;
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“Perella Weinberg” refers to Perella Weinberg Partners LP, financial advisor to the Special Committee;
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“Person” refers to an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, trust
or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority or any “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act;
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“Reciprocals” refers to the Builder Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, a Texas domestic reciprocal insurer, and Invictus Insurance
Exchange, an Arizona domestic reciprocal insurer;
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“Record Date” refers to [ ], 2026, the record date for the Special Meeting;
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“Representatives” refers to the directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors or
representatives of a Person;
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“Requisite Company Vote” refers to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock, voting together as a single class, and entitled to vote on the Merger Agreement Proposal at the Special Meeting;
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“Retained Units” refers to the OpCo LLC Units that certain holders agree not to exchange and to retain immediately prior to the
Effective Time pursuant to the Rollover Agreements;
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“Rollover” refers to the Stockholder Rollover and the Unitholder Retention, together;
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“Rollover Agreements” refers to the Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements and the other rollover agreements entered into in
connection with the Merger Agreement, collectively;
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“Rollover Commitment Letters” refers to the rollover commitment letters entered into concurrently with the Merger Agreement by
and among the Company, OpCo LLC and each of the stockholders party thereto;
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“Rollover Stock” refers to the shares of Class A Common Stock contributed to Topco immediately prior to the Initial Mergers and
following the Closing Exchanges in exchange for equity interests in Topco pursuant to the Rollover Agreements;
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“SEC” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
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“Second LLC Merger” refers to the merger, immediately following the Initial Mergers, of Seller Merger Sub with and into OpCo LLC
pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with OpCo LLC surviving;
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“Second Surviving LLC” refers to OpCo LLC as the surviving limited liability company in the Second LLC Merger;
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“Securities Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
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“Section 262” refers to Section 262 of the DGCL;
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“Seller Intermediate” refers to a Delaware limited liability company to be formed by Seller LLC as Seller LLC’s wholly owned
subsidiary in connection with the Second LLC Merger;
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“Seller LLC” refers to a Delaware limited liability company to be formed by OpCo LLC as OpCo LLC’s wholly owned subsidiary in
connection with the Second LLC Merger;
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“Seller Merger Sub” refers to a Delaware limited liability company to be formed by Seller Intermediate as Seller Intermediate’s
wholly owned subsidiary in connection with the Second LLC Merger;
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“Sequence” refers to Sequence AI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
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“Special Committee” refers to the special committee of the Board consisting only of directors determined by the Board to be
“disinterested directors” as defined in Section 144 of the DGCL;
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“Special Meeting” refers to the special meeting of the stockholders of the Company to be held virtually via live webcast on the
Internet at [ ], on [ ], 2026, at [ ] Eastern Time, including any adjournment or postponement thereof;
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“Sponsors” refers to DFO and Sequence, together;
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“Stockholders Agreement Consent” refers to the written consent executed by Holders (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) of
a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Holders approving and consenting to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Mergers, for purposes of Section 1.01 of the Stockholders Agreement;
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“Stockholder Rollover” refers to the contribution of Rollover Stock to Topco in exchange for equity interests in Topco pursuant
to the Rollover Agreements;
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“Stockholders Agreement” refers to the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2024, by and among the Company and the
other parties thereto;
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“Tax Receivable Agreement” refers to the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2019, by and among the Company, OpCo
LLC and the other parties thereto;
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“Topco” refers to Square Acquisition Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
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“TRA Amendment” refers to Amendment No. 1 to the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2026, which provides, among
other things, for the payment of a termination payment as set forth therein and the termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement upon such payment;
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“Unaffiliated Stockholders” refers to the Company’s stockholders other than holders of Rollover Stock and stockholders that are
parties to the Tax Receivable Agreement;
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“Unitholder Retention” refers to the retention of Retained Units immediately prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the
Rollover Agreements;
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“Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements” refers to the voting, support and rollover agreements, entered into concurrently with
the Merger Agreement, by and among the Company, OpCo LLC, Parent, Merger Subs, Topco and each of the stockholders party thereto.
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Company PSUs: Achievement of performance goals applicable to each award of Company
performance stock units (“Company PSUs”) will be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee prior to the Effective Time (but will not exceed the midpoint between “target” and “superior” performance), and each Company PSU award,
to the extent so earned, will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such earned Company PSU award, multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration. However, if necessary to avoid
adverse tax consequences under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, certain Company PSU awards may instead be converted into contingent cash awards that are subject to the same service vesting schedule that applied to the
corresponding Company PSU award prior to the Effective Time.
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Company RSAs: Each outstanding Company restricted stock award (“Company RSA”) that was
outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement and scheduled to vest on or before January 1, 2028 will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such Company RSA, multiplied by
(ii) the Merger Consideration. Each outstanding Company RSA scheduled to vest in whole or in part after January 1, 2028 will become vested with respect to that portion that would have vested on or prior to January 1, 2028 if such award
had vested in equal annual installments, and such vested portion will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such vested portion, multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration. All
other Company RSAs (including all Company RSAs granted after the date of the Merger Agreement) will be converted into contingent cash awards that are subject to the same service vesting schedule that applied to the corresponding Company
RSA prior to the Effective Time.
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Closing and Effective Times of Mergers. Assuming timely satisfaction of necessary
closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
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Conditions to the Mergers. The closing of the Mergers depends on conditions being
satisfied or waived. These conditions, which are described more fully in “The Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Mergers,” include:
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the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Requisite Company Vote;
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any notification and waiting period requirements applicable to the consummation of the Mergers under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) has expired or been terminated and the approvals, clearances or expirations of waiting periods under certain other laws or regulations have been obtained as a result of the
expiration of applicable waiting periods;
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the absence of any law or order of any governmental authority restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting
consummation of the Mergers;
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the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement (generally subject to materiality
qualifications);
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the performance, in all material respects, by each party of all obligations required to be performed by it under the Merger
Agreement;
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the absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect; and
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the delivery of an officers’ certificate by each party with respect to the accuracy of the representations and warranties and
performance of obligations of such party under the Merger Agreement.
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No Solicitation and Negotiation. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company may not,
directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, propose or knowingly encourage any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), enter into, engage in or participate in any discussions or negotiations with, or furnish any
non-public information to, any third party relating to any Acquisition Proposal, make an Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the section of this proxy statement titled “The Merger Agreement—No
Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes—No Change of Recommendation”), or enter into any agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, we may, prior
to the time the Merger Agreement is adopted by our stockholders, (x) provide information in response to a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal received after the date of the Merger Agreement
that did not result from a breach of the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement, subject to certain conditions, and (y) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with certain third parties who have made such
a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal, if and only if the Board (acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee) has determined in good faith based on the information then available
and after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel that such Acquisition Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior
Proposal and that the failure to take action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
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Board Recommendation Changes. The Merger Agreement also provides that, at any time
before the stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement, the Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) may effect an Adverse Recommendation Change (or terminate the Merger Agreement) with respect to a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that did not arise from a breach of the obligations in non-solicitation provisions in the Merger Agreement if prior to taking such actions (A) the Board (acting
upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal, and (B) the Company, the Board
and/or the Special Committee, as applicable, complies with certain procedures. Such non-solicitation provisions generally prohibit the Company from soliciting, initiating, proposing, or knowingly encouraging any Acquisition Proposal, or
entering into discussions, negotiations, or agreements relating thereto. The non-solicitation provisions are described in more detail in
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Intervening Events. The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the time the
stockholders of the Company adopt the Merger Agreement, in response to an Intervening Event, the Board (acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee) may effect an Adverse Recommendation Change, solely with respect to (1) the
withdrawal, withholding, qualification or modification of, or public proposal to withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, the Company Board Recommendation and (2) the failure to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy
Statement, if, prior to taking such action, (1) the Board (acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee) determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be
reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under Delaware law and (2) the Company, the Board and/or the Special Committee, as applicable, complies with certain procedures.
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Termination and Termination Fees. The Merger Agreement contains certain termination
rights, including, among other things, the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement (provided, in the case of the Company, it is also approved by the Special Committee) if the Mergers have not occurred on or before
June 14, 2027 (the “Initial End Date”), subject to extension to September 14, 2027 in certain circumstances, and the right of the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for
a Superior Proposal, subject to specified exceptions and limitations. In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $170,334,000 (the “Company Termination Fee”) if the
Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, if (a) either Parent or the Company terminates upon the End Date at which time the Requisite Company Vote has not been obtained, either Parent or
the Company terminates for failure to obtain the Requisite Company Vote, or Parent terminates because of the Company’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement; (b) an Acquisition
Proposal has been publicly announced and not publicly withdrawn prior to the Special Meeting; and (c) the Company consummates a transaction contemplated by an Acquisition Proposal or enters into an alternative acquisition agreement
within 12 months following the date of termination. The Company Termination Fee would also be payable if (a) Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because the Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) makes an
Adverse Recommendation Change or (b) the Company terminates the Merger Agreement to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a Superior Proposal. For further discussion of the rights of the parties to terminate the
Merger Agreement and the circumstances in which the Company Termination Fee will be payable, see the sections of this proxy statement titled “The Merger Agreement—Termination” and “The Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee.”
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Remedies; Specific Performance:
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If the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in circumstances where the Company Termination Fee is payable and is paid in full,
receipt by Parent of the Company Termination Fee and any applicable Enforcement Costs will be the sole and exclusive remedy of Parent and the Merger Subs, subject to claims or damages for a Willful Breach of Section 6.03 or Section 8.03
of the Merger Agreement.
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If the Merger Agreement is terminated in circumstances where the Parent Termination Fee is payable, the Company’s right to
receive the Parent Termination Fee of $276,218,000, plus any Financing Costs (subject to the Reimbursement Cap) and Enforcement Costs, will be the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of the Company and its Affiliates against Parent,
Merger Subs and the other Parent Related Parties, and in no event will the liability of Parent, Merger Subs or DFO exceed the Cap of $281,468,000.
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Prior to the valid termination of the Merger Agreement, each party is entitled to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
of the Merger Agreement subject to the terms thereof, including the Company’s right to obtain specific performance of Parent’s obligation to cause the Equity Financing
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Q.
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Why am I receiving this document?
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A.
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On September 14, 2026, The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation whose Class A Common Stock trades
on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “BWIN,” entered into the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, among other things, the Mergers will result in the Company becoming a subsidiary of Parent. A copy of the Merger Agreement is
attached to this proxy statement as Annex A. The Board, following the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and recommends that you vote
“FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal.
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Q.
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What is the proposed transaction and what effects will it have on the Company?
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A.
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The proposed transaction is a three-merger structure. The Initial Mergers consist of (i) the LLC Merger, in which Square
Acquisition Merger Sub II, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) will merge with and into The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings, LLC (“OpCo LLC”), with OpCo LLC surviving, and (ii) simultaneously with the LLC Merger, the Company
Merger, in which Square Acquisition Merger Sub I, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a subsidiary of Parent. Immediately following the Initial Mergers, the Second LLC Merger
will occur, in which a merger subsidiary of OpCo LLC will merge with and into OpCo LLC, with OpCo LLC surviving. The LLC Merger, the Company Merger and the Second LLC Merger are collectively the “Mergers.” The Mergers are governed by the
Merger Agreement dated September 14, 2026. If the Requisite Company Vote is obtained and the other closing conditions are satisfied or waived, the Company will become a subsidiary of Parent and will no longer be a public company. Parent
is a Delaware corporation, Square Acquisition Topco, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company, Sequence AI Holdings, Inc. is a Delaware corporation and DFO Private Investments, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership. DFO and Sequence
AI Holdings, Inc. are collectively the “Sponsors.”
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Q.
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What will happen to Company Common Stock as a result of the Mergers?
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A.
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At the Effective Time, each share of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time, other than
treasury shares, shares held by Parent or its subsidiaries (including Rollover Stock), shares held by Company subsidiaries and shares held by persons who properly demanded appraisal pursuant to Section 262, will be converted into the
right to receive $32.50 per share of the Class A Common Stock in cash, without interest. Other than shares held by persons who properly demanded appraisal pursuant to Section 262, each share of the Class B Common Stock will be cancelled
at the Effective Time and no consideration will be paid with respect to those shares. Shares of the Class A Common Stock have a par value of $0.01 and shares of the Class B Common Stock have a par value of $0.0001. Following the Effective
Time, shares of the Class A
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Q.
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What is the transaction value and what premium does the Merger Consideration represent?
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A.
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The transaction value is approximately $7.7 billion. The $32.50 per share of the Class A Common Stock in cash, without interest,
represents an 87.5% premium to the Company’s unaffected closing price on June 17, 2026, the last closing price prior to the initial public leak of the Company’s consideration of a sale process.
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Q.
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What will happen to OpCo LLC Units and Retained Units?
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A.
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Prior to the Effective Time, holders of OpCo LLC Units may effect Closing Exchanges for shares of the Class A Common Stock. At the
Effective Time, the remaining OpCo LLC Units, other than Retained Units and Units held by the Company, Topco or any of their subsidiaries, will be converted into the right to receive $32.50 in cash per OpCo LLC Unit. The Retained Units
will remain outstanding following the LLC Merger and will not receive the Merger Consideration, and at the Second Effective Time will be converted into Seller LLC Units.
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Q.
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What is the Company’s capitalization?
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A.
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As of September 11, 2026, 97,617,596 shares of the Class A Common Stock were outstanding, including 4,655,112 Company Restricted
Shares; 42,624,762 shares of the Class B Common Stock were outstanding; no Preferred Shares were outstanding; and 140,074,438 OpCo LLC Units were outstanding. The Record Date capitalization will be updated when the Record Date is
determined.
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Q.
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What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Mergers to holders of OpCo LLC Units (and
corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock, if any) and shares of Class A Common Stock?
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A.
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Each of (i) the exchange by U.S. holders (as defined in the section of this proxy statement titled “Special Factors—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers”) of shares of Class A Common Stock for cash in the Company Merger and (ii) the exchange by U.S. holders of OpCo LLC Units (other than any such
U.S. holder who participates in the Rollover) for cash in the LLC Merger is expected to be treated as a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, current or former holders of OpCo LLC Units may receive a Final
TRA Payment, all or a portion of which may relate to OpCo LLC Units a U.S. holder exchanges in the LLC Merger, and such portion is expected to be treated as additional consideration for the OpCo LLC Units exchanged by such U.S. holder in
the LLC Merger.
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Q.
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What happens if the Mergers are not completed?
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A.
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If the Merger Agreement Proposal is not approved by the Company’s stockholders or if the Mergers are not completed for any other
reason, the Company’s stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Company Merger. Instead, the Company will remain a public company and its Class A Common Stock will continue
to be listed and traded on Nasdaq and registered under the Exchange Act, so long as the Company continues to meet the applicable listing requirements.
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Q.
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When and where is the Special Meeting, and who may attend?
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A.
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The Special Meeting will be held virtually via live audio webcast at [ ], at [ ] Eastern Time, on [ ]. There will be no
physical location for the Special Meeting. To attend and participate in the Special Meeting, including to vote, you will need to visit [ ] and enter the control number included on your proxy card.
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Q.
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Who can vote at the Special Meeting?
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A.
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All holders of Company Common Stock of record as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting are entitled to receive notice of, and
to vote at, the Special Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You will have one vote for each share of Company Common Stock that you owned of record on the Record Date. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you should
instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares in accordance with the voting instruction form that you will receive from your bank, broker or other nominee. Your bank, broker or other nominee cannot vote on any of the
proposals without your instructions. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you may not vote your shares at the Special Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from your bank, broker or other nominee.
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Q.
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What is the difference between being a “stockholder of record” and a “beneficial owner” of shares of Company
Common Stock held in “street name”?
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A.
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If, on the Record Date, your shares of Company Common Stock are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer
agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record. In that case, this proxy statement and your proxy card have been sent directly to you. As a stockholder of record, you may
vote during the Special Meeting or vote by proxy card using any of the methods set forth in the section of this proxy statement titled “The Special Meeting—How to Vote.”
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Q.
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What am I being asked to vote on at the Special Meeting?
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A.
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You are being asked to consider and vote on the following:
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A proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A, pursuant to which (a)
Square Acquisition Merger Sub II, LLC (the “LLC Merger Sub”) will merge with and into OpCo LLC, with OpCo LLC surviving, (b) simultaneously with the LLC Merger, Square Acquisition Merger Sub I, Inc. (the “Merger Sub”) will merge with and
into the Company, with the Company surviving as a subsidiary of Parent, and (c) immediately following the Initial Mergers, the Surviving Corporation and Seller Intermediate will cause Seller Merger Sub to merge with and into OpCo LLC,
with OpCo LLC surviving (the “Merger Agreement Proposal”);
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One or more proposals to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or dates if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments
to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Merger Agreement Proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and
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A nonbinding, advisory proposal regarding certain compensation arrangements for the Company’s NEOs in connection with the Mergers,
as disclosed in the table under “Special Factors—Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of the Company in the Mergers—Golden Parachute Compensation” (the “Merger-Related Compensation
Proposal”).
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Q.
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What is a quorum?
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A.
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The representation online or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Special Meeting. If you submit a properly executed proxy card, even if you vote “AGAINST” the proposal or
vote to “ABSTAIN” in respect of the proposal, your shares of Company Common Stock will be counted for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present.
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Q.
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How many votes do I have?
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A.
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You are entitled to one vote on each of the proposals for each share of Company Common Stock that you owned as of the Record Date.
As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were [ ] shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and [ ] shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.
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Q.
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What vote is required for the Company’s stockholders to approve the Merger Agreement Proposal?
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A.
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The approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal requires the Requisite Company Vote . No separate vote of the Unaffiliated
Stockholders is required. The shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by the Baldwin Parties, which they have agreed to vote in favor of the Merger Agreement Proposal, will be counted toward the Requisite Company Vote and
represent approximately 30% of the votes needed to approve the Merger Agreement Proposal. Accordingly, an abstention, failure to vote or broker non-vote, if any, will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST”
the Merger Agreement Proposal.
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Q.
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What vote is required for the Company’s stockholders to approve the Adjournment Proposal?
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A.
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The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the shares of Company
Common Stock (voting together as a single class) present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal, whether or not a quorum is present. Accordingly, a failure to vote or broker
non-vote, if any, will not have any effect on the Adjournment Proposal. However, an abstention will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Adjournment Proposal.
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Q.
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What vote is required for the Company’s stockholders to approve the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal?
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A.
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The approval of the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the shares
of Company Common Stock (voting together as a single class) present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal, assuming a quorum is present. Accordingly, a failure to
vote or broker non-vote, if any, will not have any effect on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal. However, an abstention will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger-Related
Compensation Proposal.
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Q.
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How will the Rollover Holders vote the shares of Company Common Stock they hold?
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A.
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Under the executed Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements, the Rollover Holders agreed to vote in favor of the Merger Agreement
Proposal and the approval of the Mergers, each of the other actions contemplated by the
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Q.
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Why are the Company’s stockholders being asked to cast a nonbinding, advisory vote to approve certain
compensation arrangements for the NEOs under existing agreements with the Company in connection with the Mergers?
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A.
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SEC rules require the Company to seek approval on a nonbinding, advisory basis with respect to certain compensation arrangements
for the NEOs in connection with the Mergers. Approval of the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal is not required to consummate the Mergers.
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Q.
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How does the Board recommend that I vote?
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A.
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The Board recommends that you vote:
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“FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal;
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“FOR” the Adjournment Proposal; and
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“FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal.
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Q.
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How do I vote?
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A.
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If you are a stockholder of record as of the Record Date, you may vote your shares of Company Common Stock on matters presented at
the Special Meeting in any of the following ways:
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visit the website shown on your proxy card to submit your proxy via the Internet prior to the Special Meeting;
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call the toll-free number for telephone proxy submission shown on your proxy card;
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complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid reply envelope; or
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vote online during the Special Meeting. To attend and vote online, visit [ ] and enter the control number included on your proxy
card.
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Q.
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What is the deadline for voting my shares of Company Common Stock?
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A.
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If you are a stockholder of record as of the Record Date and choose to vote your shares of Company Common Stock through the
Internet or by telephone, your proxy must be received through the Internet or by telephone by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on [ ], 2026, the day before the Special Meeting, for your shares of Company
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Q.
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What is a proxy?
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A.
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A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote your shares of Company Common Stock. This written document describing
the matters to be considered and voted on at the Special Meeting is called a “proxy statement.” The document used to designate a proxy to vote your shares of Company Common Stock is called a “proxy card.”
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Q.
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If I am a stockholder of record, what happens if I do not vote or submit a proxy card?
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A.
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If you fail to vote, either online at the Special Meeting or by proxy, your shares of Company Common Stock will not be voted at
the Special Meeting and will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.
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Q.
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If my shares of Company Common Stock are held in “street name” by my bank, broker or other nominee, will my
bank, broker or other nominee vote my shares of Company Common Stock for me?
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A.
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If your Company Common Stock is held in “street name” in a stock brokerage account or by a broker, bank or other nominee, you must
provide the record holder of your Company Common Stock with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote Company Common
Stock held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to or by voting online at the Special Meeting unless you provide a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain from your broker, bank or other nominee. Your broker, bank or other
nominee is obligated to provide you with a voting instruction form for you to use.
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Q.
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If a stockholder gives a proxy, how are the shares of Company Common Stock voted?
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A.
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Regardless of the method you choose to submit a proxy, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of
Company Common Stock as you instruct. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of Company Common Stock should be voted “FOR” or “AGAINST,” or to “ABSTAIN” from voting on, all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Special Meeting.
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Q.
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Can I change or revoke my vote?
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A.
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Yes. You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is
exercised by:
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submitting another proxy, including a proxy card, at a later date through any of the methods available to you;
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giving written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, which must be filed with the Company’s Corporate
Secretary before the Special Meeting begins; or
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attending the Special Meeting online and voting electronically during the meeting. However, your attendance online at the Special
Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you properly vote electronically during the Special Meeting.
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Q.
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What do I do if I receive more than one proxy or set of voting instructions?
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A.
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If you hold shares of Company Common Stock in “street name,” or through more than one bank, broker or other nominee, and also
directly as a record holder or otherwise, you may receive more than one proxy or set of voting instructions relating to the Special Meeting. These should each be executed and returned separately in accordance with the instructions
provided in this proxy statement to ensure that all of your shares of Company Common Stock are voted.
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Q.
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What happens if I sell my shares of Company Common Stock before the Special Meeting?
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A.
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The Record Date for the Special Meeting is earlier than the date of the Special Meeting. If you sell or transfer your shares of
Company Common Stock after the Record Date but before the Special Meeting, unless you provide the person to whom you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Company Common Stock with a proxy, you will retain your right to vote at the
Special Meeting. Even if you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Company Common Stock after the Record Date, we encourage you to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid reply envelope or grant your
proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone (using the instructions provided in the enclosed proxy card).
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Q.
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Am I entitled to rights of appraisal under the DGCL?
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A.
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If the Company Merger is completed, holders of record or beneficial owners of Company Common Stock who (1) do not vote in favor of
the Merger Agreement Proposal (whether by voting against the Merger Agreement Proposal, abstaining or otherwise not voting with respect to the Merger Agreement Proposal), (2) continuously hold (in the case of holders of record) or
continuously own (in the case of beneficial owners) their applicable shares of Company Common Stock through the effective date of the Company Merger, (3) deliver a written demand for appraisal of their applicable shares to the Company
prior to the vote on the Merger Agreement Proposal, (4) meet certain statutory requirements described in this proxy statement and satisfy certain ownership thresholds set forth in Section 262(g), and (5) do not withdraw their demands or
otherwise lose their rights to appraisal will be entitled to seek appraisal of their shares in connection with the Company Merger under Section 262. This means that these holders of record and beneficial owners will be entitled to have
their shares of Company Common Stock appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive payment in cash of the “fair value” of their shares of Company Common Stock, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment
or expectation of the Company Merger, together with (unless the Delaware Court of Chancery in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown) interest on the amount determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery to be fair value
from the effective date of the Company Merger through the date of payment of the judgment at a rate of five percent over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period
between the effective date of the Company Merger and the date of payment of the judgment, compounded quarterly (except that, if at any time before the entry of judgment in the proceeding, the Surviving Corporation makes a voluntary cash
payment to persons entitled to appraisal, interest will accrue thereafter only upon the sum of (1) the difference, if any, between the amount so paid and the fair value of the shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery; and
(2) interest theretofore accrued, unless paid at that time). The Surviving Corporation is under no obligation to make such voluntary cash payment prior to such entry of judgment. Due to the complexity of the appraisal process, any persons
who wish to seek appraisal of their shares are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel with respect to the exercise of appraisal rights. Persons considering seeking appraisal should be aware that the fair value of their shares as
determined pursuant to Section 262 could be more than, the same as or less than the value of the consideration that they would receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement if they did not seek appraisal of their shares. The DGCL requirements
for perfecting and exercising appraisal rights are described in additional detail in this proxy statement, which description is qualified in its entirety by Section 262, the relevant section of the DGCL regarding appraisal rights, which
may be accessed without subscription or cost at the following publicly available website: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc09/index.html#262. See the section of this proxy statement titled “Special
Factors—Appraisal Rights.”
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Q.
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Who will solicit and pay the cost of soliciting proxies?
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A.
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The Company has engaged Sodali & Co. (“Sodali”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. The Company
has agreed to pay Sodali a fee of $30,000, and to reimburse Sodali for reasonable and customary documented expenses in connection with its services. The Company will indemnify Sodali and its affiliates against all claims, expenses,
losses, damages, liabilities and/or judgments of any kind whatsoever that arise out of or relate to Sodali’s services with certain customary exceptions for willful misconduct and breach. The Company also will reimburse banks, brokers and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of the shares of Company Common Stock for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners of our shares of Company Common Stock and in
obtaining voting instructions from those owners. Our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by electronic means. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.
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Q.
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What do I need to do now?
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A.
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You should carefully read and consider this entire proxy statement and the annexes to this proxy statement, including the Merger
Agreement, along with all of the documents that are referred to in this proxy statement, as they contain important information about, among other things, the Mergers and how they affect you. Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting
online, after carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, please sign, date and return, as promptly as possible, the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid reply envelope, or grant your
proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone
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Q.
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Should I send in my evidence of ownership now?
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A.
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No. You should not send in any documents evidencing ownership of shares of Company Common Stock with the proxy card. If the
Mergers are consummated, promptly after the Effective Time, and in no event later than two Business Days thereafter, Parent will send, or will cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of OpCo LLC Units and, to the extent agreed by
Parent and the Company, each holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, in each case entitled to receive the Merger Consideration, instructions and transmittal materials in customary form for use in the exchange. If you are a beneficial
owner of shares of Company Common Stock held in “street name,” you may receive instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee as to what action, if any, you need to take to effect the surrender of your shares. If the Mergers are
consummated, each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically be cancelled and cease to exist and no payment will be made with respect thereto.
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Q.
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What is householding and how does it affect me?
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A.
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The Company is sending only one copy of this proxy statement to stockholders who share the same address, unless they have notified
the Company that they want to continue receiving multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce duplicate mailings and save significant printing and postage costs.
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Q.
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Where can I find the voting results of the Special Meeting?
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A.
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The Company will publish final voting results from the Special Meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC
following the Special Meeting. For more information, please see the section of this proxy statement titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Q.
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Who can help answer my other questions?
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A.
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If you have additional questions about the Mergers, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares of Company
Common Stock, or need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, please contact:
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Continued Procedural Protections. The Special Committee negotiated for certain rights and procedural protections in the Merger
Agreement so that it can continue to monitor for potential conflicts and protect the interests of the Unaffiliated Stockholders, including with respect to termination of the Merger Agreement or an Adverse Recommendation Change.
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Terms of the TRA Amendment. The terms of the TRA Amendment, which were the product of arms’-length negotiations with Trevor
Baldwin and L. Lowry Baldwin (acting on behalf of the Tax Receivable Agreement beneficiaries) and the Sponsors, and the fact that the TRA Amendment, while accelerating the payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, are expected to
result in a reduction of the total payments otherwise due to beneficiaries under the Tax Receivable Agreement relative to the estimated aggregate early termination payments that would otherwise be payable to the beneficiaries of the Tax
Receivable Agreement if the Company were to elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement in accordance with its terms at the Effective Time, and that such reduction resulted in an increase in the consideration payable to the
stockholders in the Company Merger of $0.50 per share of Class A Common Stock.
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Best Value Reasonably Obtainable. The belief of the Special Committee that $32.50 per share of Class A Common Stock represented
the Sponsors’ best and final offer and the best value that the Company could reasonably obtain from bidders for the shares of Class A Common Stock, taking into account (i) the business, operations, prospects, business strategy, assets,
liabilities and general financial condition of the Company, (ii) the strategic review process conducted by the Board, as overseen by the Special Committee; and (iii) the terms of the Merger Agreement and the TRA Amendment. The Special
Committee also considered that the per share Merger Consideration represented a premium of approximately (i) 87.5% to the unaffected closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock on June 17, 2026 (the last closing price prior to the
initial public leak of the Company’s consideration of a sale process), (ii) 65.9% to the 30-day VWAP of the shares of Class A Common Stock as of June 17, 2026, and (iii) 9.6% to the closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock as
of September 11, 2026. In forming this belief, the Special Committee also considered that (i) the Board, through its financial advisor, Ardea, conducted a sales process for the Company, (ii) the Sponsors offered the highest price per
share throughout two rounds of bidding, (iii) there was a market leak of the sales process for the Company that did not result in any outreach from potential counterparties, (iv) the Sponsors did not increase their offer price from their
first round bid to their second round bid and only increased their offer by $0.25 per share of Class A Common Stock thereafter in response to Ardea’s request that the Sponsors increase their offer by $1.25 per share of Class A Common
Stock, and (v) it negotiated for a discount to the payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement relative to the estimated aggregate early termination payments that would otherwise be payable
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Loss of Opportunity. The Special Committee considered the possibility that there may not be another opportunity for the Company’s
stockholders to receive a comparably priced offer.
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Opinion of Perella Weinberg. The financial analysis and opinion of Perella Weinberg rendered to the Special Committee on
September 13, 2026, which was subsequently confirmed in writing, that as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to, among other things, the various qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth therein, the Merger
Consideration to be received by the Unaffiliated Stockholders in the Company Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, as more fully described in the section titled “Special Factors – Opinion of Perella Weinberg Partners LP”.
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Procedural Safeguards.
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Independence and Disinterestedness. The Special Committee consisted solely of independent and disinterested members of the Board,
each of whom the Board in good faith determined to be disinterested and independent, including without limitation for purposes of Section 144 of the DGCL, with respect to a Potential Transaction.
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Oversight Authority. The power and authority granted to the Special Committee by the Board to, among other things, (i) review,
evaluate and oversee the negotiations by the Company with each interested party with respect to any element of a Potential Transaction and to oversee and supervise the negotiation by the Company of the terms and conditions of any
definitive agreement with respect to a Potential Transaction, including any amendment to, compromise of, or early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, (ii) determine and recommend to the Board (a) whether a Potential Transaction
is advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company and (b) that the Board take other actions or consider other matters that the Special Committee may determine are necessary or advisable or appropriate
with respect to any Potential Transaction, and (iii) determine, in its sole discretion, to elect not to pursue a Potential Transaction.
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Active Involvement and Oversight. The numerous meetings held by the Special Committee to discuss and evaluate, among other things,
a Potential Transaction, the terms of the Merger Agreement and the treatment of the Tax Receivable Agreement. The Special Committee was actively engaged in this process on a regular basis and was provided with full access to Company
management and its own independent advisors in connection with its evaluation process.
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Independent Advice. The Special Committee selected and engaged its own independent legal and financial advisors and received the
advice of such advisors throughout its review, evaluation and negotiation of a Potential Transaction.
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No Obligation to Recommend. The recognition by the Special Committee that it had no obligation to recommend to the Board the
approval of the Merger Agreement or the other transaction documents and had the authority to reject any proposals made.
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Prior Special Committee Action. The Board was not permitted to authorize, approve or proceed with, or recommend, a Potential
Transaction without a prior favorable recommendation by the Special Committee.
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Other Factors. The Special Committee also considered the:
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work performed by the Board, the Board’s advisors, and Company management;
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information received by the members of the Special Committee in their capacity as directors on the Board, including the legal
presentations from Davis Polk and financial presentations and opinion from Ardea; and
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other material factors and countervailing factors considered by the Board that were presented to the Special Committee members in
their capacity as directors on the Board.
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(a)
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The Sponsors offered the highest price per share throughout two rounds of bidding in the sales process, submitting an initial
non-binding offer of $31.75 per share on July 27, 2026, as compared to initial offers from the five other bidders ranging from $24.00 to $28.50 per share;
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(b)
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The Sponsors did not increase their offer price from their first round bid to their second round bid and only increased their
offer by $0.25 per share of Class A Common Stock thereafter, to $32.00 per share, in response to Ardea’s request that the Sponsors increase their offer by $1.25 per share of Class A Common Stock, and described the $32.00 per share offer
as their best and final offer;
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(c)
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Party A, the only other bidder to submit a final proposal, offered $28.50 per share on September 1, 2026 and, after being informed
that it would need to increase its proposal meaningfully to be competitive, indicated that $30.00 per share was the highest price it was prepared to offer, and Party B indicated that it was unable to increase its price materially above
the upper end of the $24.00 to $27.00 per share range in its initial proposal; and
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(d)
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the Special Committee negotiated for a discount to the payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which resulted in an
increase in the consideration to be paid to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock to $32.50 per share relative to the estimated aggregate early termination payments that would otherwise be payable to the beneficiaries of the Tax
Receivable Agreement if the Company were to elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement in accordance with its terms at the Effective Time, without decreasing the level of certainty of closing.
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(a)
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that Ardea contacted twenty-five potential financial investors on behalf of the Company, focused on large-cap private equity firms
and other financial investors with relevant sector expertise and capital capacity, twenty-four of which executed non-disclosure agreements and were provided access to a virtual data room, and that twenty-two potential bidders met with
Company management;
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(b)
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that six potential bidders submitted written non-binding offers on July 27, 2026, that the Board invited the three highest bidders
to continue into a second round, and that two bidders submitted final proposals on September 1, 2026, which created competitive tension through the conclusion of the process; and
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(c)
|
that the Company’s strategic review process became publicly known as a result of the June 18 Leak, such that third parties that
might have been interested in a transaction were likely to be aware that the Company may be receptive to a possible transaction, and the market leak of the sales process did not result in any outreach from potential counterparties,
including from any strategic counterparty.
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(a)
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that Mr. L. Lowry Baldwin and Mr. Trevor Baldwin (the “Baldwin Parties”), each of whom is a member of the Board, and certain other
members of the Company’s management entered into the Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements, pursuant to which Mr. L. Lowry Baldwin agreed to retain 6,155,562 OpCo LLC Units (representing approximately 49% of the aggregate OpCo LLC Units
held by him) and Mr. Trevor Baldwin agreed to retain 2,545,118 OpCo LLC Units (representing 83% of the aggregate OpCo LLC Units held by him and 933,499 OpCo LLC Units held of record by BIGH, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. L. Lowry
Baldwin, for the benefit of Mr. Trevor Baldwin), and that certain other employees of the Company agreed to contribute or retain a portion of their shares of Company Common Stock and/or OpCo LLC Units;
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(b)
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that the Baldwin Parties and certain other stockholders are party to the Tax Receivable Agreement and will receive payments under
the TRA Amendment, and that the Baldwin Parties and the Special Committee negotiated the concession to the Early Termination Payments in their capacities as, and on behalf of the other, beneficiaries under the Tax Receivable Agreement;
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(c)
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that, based on information currently available, Ardea will receive fees for its services in connection with the Mergers of
$76,300,000 pursuant to its engagement letter with the Company, the principal portion of which is payable contingent upon the consummation of the Mergers, and that Ardea disclosed that during the two-year period ended September 11, 2026
it was not party to any retention agreements to provide financial advisory or similar services to the Company (other than its engagement in connection with the Mergers), the Sponsors or the Company’s chairman or CEO.
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the fact that the Merger Consideration was attractive relative to recent and historical trading prices for Class A Common Stock,
including that the Merger Consideration represents: (a) a premium of approximately 87.5% to the closing price of Class A Common Stock of $17.33 on June 17, 2026 (the last closing price prior to the initial public leak of the Company’s
consideration of a sale process) (as further described in the section of this proxy statement titled “Background of the Merger”), (b) a premium of approximately 9.6% to the closing price of Class A
Common Stock of $29.65 on September 11, 2026, the last full trading day prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement and (c) a premium of approximately 65.9% of the 30-day volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A Common
Stock as of June 17, 2026. The Parent Entities viewed these premiums as meaningful in light of the Company’s recent trading history and potential of artificial intelligence disintermediation and disruption to the Company’s businesses and
industry;
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the fact that certain Company stockholders and unitholders of OpCo LLC who have executed the Rollover Agreements will be receiving
unlisted, unregistered equities of substantially equivalent cash value to the Merger Consideration in respect of their OpCo LLC Units and Class A Common Stock, and that the terms of the Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements and
transactions contemplated thereby were negotiated with the Rollover Holders party thereto or through their respective counsel;
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the fact that the Board formed the Special Committee, comprised solely of independent and disinterested directors, which (as to
both substantive and procedural aspects of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Mergers), unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and related transactions contemplated thereby are fair to and
in the best interests of the Company and Unaffiliated Stockholders and (ii) recommended that the Board approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers;
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the fact that the Board (which was comprised of directors, the majority of whom were not employees of the Company) unanimously (i)
determined that the Merger Agreement and transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, including the Unaffiliated Stockholders, (ii) approved and
declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers, (iii) approved the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement by the Company, the performance by the Company of its covenants
and other obligations contained therein and the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained therein and (iv) recommended that the
stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement;
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the fact that the Special Committee was fully empowered to, among other things, (i) review, evaluate and oversee the negotiations
by the Company with each interested party of any element of a potential transaction involving the Company, including a potential take-private transaction, and (ii) determine and recommend to the Board whether a potential transaction is
advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, and to say “no” definitively to any transaction;
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•
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the fact that, although the Company Merger is not structured so that approval of at least a majority of the unaffiliated security
holders is required, the Merger Agreement includes a condition to the closing that the Merger Agreement be approved by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote thereon (voting as a single
class), which, if satisfied, will confirm that the Company Merger has substantial support from the unaffiliated security holders;
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the fact that the Special Committee and the Board considered the risks that the Company’s directors and executive officers may
have interests in the Mergers that are in addition to, or that may be different from those of, the Unaffiliated Stockholders;
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the fact that the Special Committee and Board retained, and had the benefit of advice from, nationally recognized legal and
financial advisors, and that such legal and financial advisors were involved throughout the negotiations between the Board (and, where appropriate, the Special Committee) and the Parent Entities;
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the fact that the Merger Consideration will be paid to the unaffiliated security holders (other than in respect of Dissenting
Shares or in respect of Rollover Stock) in cash, thus allowing the unaffiliated security holders (other than in respect of Dissenting Shares or in respect of Rollover Stock) to, upon Closing, realize a certain and fair value for their
shares, which value represents a significant premium to (i) the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on September 11, 2026, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the Transactions and (ii) the 30-day volume weighted
average stock price of the Class A Common Stock as of September 11, 2026;
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•
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the fact that parties to the Rollover Agreements will be, upon consummation of the Mergers, receiving unlisted, unregistered
equities of substantially equivalent cash value to the Merger Consideration in respect of their OpCo LLC Units and Class A Common Stock and permitted to continue to participate in potential equity appreciation from the Company’s
operations;
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•
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the fact that the Mergers will provide liquidity for the unaffiliated security holders (other than in respect of Rollover Stock)
without the delays that might otherwise be necessary in order to liquidate the positions of larger holders, and without incurring brokerage and other costs typically associated with market sales;
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•
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the fact that the Mergers will provide liquidity for the unaffiliated security holders (other than in respect of Rollover Stock)
without the risks of market volatility and downward pressure on the stock price associated with the liquidation of such positions;
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•
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the current, historical and projected financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company, as well as the
Company’s prospects and risks if it were to remain a public company, including the risks of market volatility and global uncertainty along with the compliance costs and obligations imposed on the Company as a result of having publicly
traded common stock and the potential for artificial intelligence disintermediation and disruption to the Company’s businesses and industry;
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•
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the fact that the Company has the ability to seek specific performance under the Merger Agreement to prevent breaches of the
Merger Agreement and to specifically enforce the terms of the Merger Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
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•
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the fact that, notwithstanding that the Parent Entities are not entitled to, and did not, rely on the opinion provided by Perella
Weinberg to the Special Committee, the opinion of Perella Weinberg rendered to the Special Committee stated that, as of September 13, 2026, the Merger Consideration to be received by the unaffiliated security holders in the Company Merger
pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, which opinion was based on and subject to assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the
review undertaken by Perella Weinberg in connection with the preparation of its opinion as more fully described in the section titled “Special Factors—Opinion of Perella Weinberg Partners LP”;
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the fact that, notwithstanding that the Parent Entities are not entitled to, and did not, rely on the opinion provided by Ardea to
the Board, the opinion of Ardea rendered to the Board, to the effect that, as of September 14, 2026, the Merger Consideration to be paid by Parent or its affiliates to the Company’s stockholders (other than the Company, Topco or any of
their respective subsidiaries) in the Company Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, which opinion was based on and subject to assumptions made, procedures followed, matters
considered and limitations on the review undertaken by Ardea in connection with the preparation of its opinion as more fully described in the section titled “Special Factors—Opinion of Ardea Partners LP”;
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•
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the fact that DFO has, subject to the terms and conditions of the Limited Guarantee (as defined in the section of this proxy
statement titled “The Limited Guarantee”), unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed the due and punctual payment, performance and discharge of Parent’s payment obligations with respect to: (i)
the Parent Termination Fee, (ii) certain expense and reimbursement obligations related to the Debt Financing (in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Reimbursement Cap), and (iii) any
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the Debt Financing provided to Parent by the Debt Commitment Parties in connection with the Merger and the fact that such
financing was committed concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement and that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are not subject to a financing condition, thus increasing the likelihood
that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be consummated and that the Merger Consideration (or Rollover Stock) to be paid to the unaffiliated security holders in the Company Merger will be
received;
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•
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the Equity Financing to be provided to Parent by DFO in connection with the Merger and the fact that such financing was committed
concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement;
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•
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the fact that the Merger Consideration and the terms and conditions of the Mergers were the result of the Company’s (through the
Board’s and, as appropriate, the Special Committee’s) extensive arm’s length negotiations with Parent;
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•
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the fact that the Merger Agreement is subject to limited, customary conditions to the Parent’s obligation to consummate the
Mergers, and is not subject to a financing condition;
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•
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the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances as set out in the Merger Agreement, to furnish information to and conduct
negotiations with third parties regarding certain Acquisition Proposals that constitute or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal;
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•
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the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances as set out in the Merger Agreement, to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter
into a definitive agreement to effect a Superior Proposal, subject to paying a termination fee of $170,334,000 in cash to Parent, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement;
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•
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the availability of appraisal rights to the Company stockholders who comply with all of the required procedures under Delaware law
for exercising appraisal rights, which allow such holders to seek appraisal of the fair value of their shares, in accordance with and subject to the limitations in Section 262 of the DGCL;
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•
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the fact that the Parent Entities have not made any purchases required to be disclosed in response to Item 1002(f) of Reg M-A;
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•
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the fact that, in certain circumstances under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Board, acting upon the recommendation of the
Special Committee, is able to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change;
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•
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the Parent Entities’ belief that the Mergers, which would result in the payment of the Merger Consideration (or Rollover Stock) to
the unaffiliated security holders, could be completed in a timely and orderly manner;
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•
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the possibility that, if the Company remained a public company, the shares of Class A Common Stock might not trade at levels equal
to or greater than the per share price based on the Merger Consideration in the near term, over an extended period of time or at all;
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•
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the requirement that, in certain events of a failure of the Mergers to be consummated relating to a Parent Breach or Parent
Failure to Close, Parent will pay the Company a termination fee in the amount of $276,218,000, which is guaranteed by DFO, subject to the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letter and the Limited Guarantee;
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•
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the fact that the Board, under the oversight of the Special Committee, ran a sale process in which other third parties were
provided an opportunity to acquire the Company and/or OpCo LLC and the Special Committee and Board determined to proceed with a transaction with Parent (as further described in the section of this proxy statement titled “Background of the Mergers”);
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the fact that Parent Entities were not authorized to engage in negotiations with the parties to the Rollover Agreements with
respect to the Rollover until after the Board had determined to proceed with negotiations
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the fact that certain Company stockholders and unitholders of OpCo LLC have executed the Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements,
pursuant to which, among other things, such stockholders or unitholders have agreed, among other things, to vote or cause to be voted any shares of Company Common Stock owned by them: in favor of (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement
and the approval of the Mergers and (ii) the approval of any proposal to adjourn or postpone any Special Meeting if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such postponement or adjournment in accordance with the Merger Agreement. For
additional information, see the section of this proxy statement titled “The Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements”.
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(i) the fact that the unaffiliated security holders other than parties to the Rollover Agreements and other holders of Rollover
Stock and Retained Units will not participate in any future earnings, appreciation in value or growth of the Company’s business and will not benefit from any potential sale of the Company or its assets to a third party in the future, and
(ii) the risks that the value of the Company Business may decline for such parties to the Rollover Agreements and other holders of Rollover Stock and Retained Units;
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•
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(i) the risk that the Mergers might not be completed in a timely manner or at all, and (ii) the fact that Parent and the Merger
Subs are newly formed entities with essentially no assets other than the Equity Financing commitment of DFO to Parent pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter;
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•
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the restrictions on the conduct of the Company’s business prior to the completion of the Mergers set forth in the Merger
Agreement, which may delay or prevent the Company from undertaking business opportunities that may arise and certain other actions it might otherwise take with respect to the operations of the Company pending completion of the Mergers;
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•
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the negative effect that the pendency of the Mergers, or a failure to complete the Mergers, could potentially have on the
Company’s business and relationships with its employees, vendors and customers;
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•
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the fact that, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries are restricted from
soliciting, initiating, proposing, knowingly encouraging or knowingly taking any action to facilitate or encourage the submission of an Acquisition Proposal;
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•
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the possibility that the amounts that may be payable by the Company upon the termination of the Merger Agreement, including
payment of a termination fee of $170,334,000 in cash to Parent, and the processes required to terminate the Merger Agreement could discourage other potential acquirors from making a competing bid to acquire the Company;
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•
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the fact that consummation of the Mergers is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions not within the Company’s or
the other parties’ control, including but not limited to, receipt of certain regulatory clearances and approvals;
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•
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the fact that the Company’s directors, officers and employees have expended and will expend extensive time and effort attempting
to complete the Mergers and such persons have experienced and will experience significant distractions from their work during the pendency of such Mergers, and that the Company has incurred and will incur substantial costs in connection
with the Mergers, even if such transactions are not consummated; and
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the fact that the receipt of the Merger Consideration by a Company stockholder pursuant to the Mergers is expected to be a taxable
transaction to the Company stockholders that are U.S. holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other publicly available business and financial information with
respect to the Company, including equity research analyst reports;
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•
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reviewed certain internal financial statements, analyses and forecasts (the “Company Forecasts”) and other internal financial
information and operating data relating to the business of the Company, in each case, prepared by management of the Company and approved for Perella Weinberg’s use by management of the Company (see the section of this proxy statement
titled “Unaudited Prospective Financial Information of the Company”;
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•
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discussed the past and current business, operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company with senior management of
the Company, the Special Committee and other representatives and advisors of the Company;
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•
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compared the financial performance of the Company with that of certain publicly-traded companies which Perella Weinberg believed
to be generally relevant;
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compared the financial terms of the Company Merger with the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions which
Perella Weinberg believed to be generally relevant;
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reviewed the historical trading prices and trading activity for the Class A Common Stock and compared such price and trading
activity with that of securities of certain publicly-traded companies which Perella Weinberg believed to be generally relevant;
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participated in discussions among representatives of the Company and Parent and their respective advisors;
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•
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took into account the results of Perella Weinberg’s review, at the direction of the Special Committee, of indications of interest
and proposals from third parties with respect to a potential acquisition of the Company;
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reviewed a draft of the Merger Agreement dated September 13, 2026, and a draft of the TRA Amendment received by Perella Weinberg
on September 13, 2026; and
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conducted such other financial studies, analyses and investigations, and considered such other factors, as Perella Weinberg deemed
appropriate.
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Aon plc
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•
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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
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•
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Brown & Brown, Inc.
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•
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
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•
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Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company
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Financial Metric
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Selected Multiple Range
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Implied Per Share Equity Value
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EV / 2026E EBITDA
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12.0x – 14.0x
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$9.90 – $15.20
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EV / 2027E EBITDA
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11.0x – 13.0x
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$13.00 – $19.30
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P / 2026E
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14.5x – 17.5x
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$19.20 – $23.20
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P / 2027E
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13.0x – 16.0x
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$22.50 – $27.70
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Date Announced
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Acquiror
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Target
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8/31/2026
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Aon plc
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USI Insurance Services
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12/10/2025
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Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company
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Newfront Insurance Holdings, Inc.
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12/2/2025
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The Baldwin Group
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CAC Group
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6/10/2025
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Brown & Brown, Inc.
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Accession Risk Management Group, Inc. (Risk Strategies)
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12/9/2024
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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
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AssuredPartners
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3/9/2020
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Aon plc
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Willis Towers Watson Public Company Limited (Terminated)
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9/18/2018
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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
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Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc
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6/30/2015
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Willis Group Holdings plc
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Towers Watson & Co.
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7/12/2010
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Aon Corporation
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Hewitt Associates Inc.
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8/22/2008
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Aon Corporation
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Benfield Group Limited
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6/8/2008
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Willis Group Holdings plc
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Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company
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2/26/2007
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Apax Partners & Morgan Stanley Principal Investments
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Hub International Limited
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1/16/2007
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Goldman Sachs Capital Partners
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USI Holdings Corp
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calculating the present value as of June 30, 2026 of the estimated standalone unlevered free cash flows that the Company was
forecasted to generate (burdened by stock-based compensation expense and net of noncontrolling interest expense) for the last six months of calendar year 2026 and the complete calendar years 2027 through 2031, based on the Company
Forecasts (and on a basis that excludes impact of M&A transactions), using a range of selected discount rates ranging from 9.5% to 10.5%; and
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adding the present value as of June 30, 2026 of the terminal value of the Company at the end of calendar year 2031 using a
selected range of perpetuity growth rates ranging from 3.0% to 4.0% and a selected range of discount rates ranging from 9.5% to 10.5%.
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|
The presentation presented or delivered by Perella Weinberg to the Special Committee on August 31, 2026, which is attached as
Exhibit (c)(3) to the Schedule 13E-3, contains, among other information, a review of the Company’s financial and share price performance, observations and perspectives on the Company Forecasts, and a summary of preliminary financial
analyses of the Company, similar to those described above, based on the Company Forecasts.
|
|
•
|
The presentation presented or delivered by Perella Weinberg to the Special Committee on September 2, 2026, which is attached as
Exhibit (c)(4) to the Schedule 13E-3, contains, among other information, a review and comparison of the potential bidders’ non-binding indications of interest to acquire the Company (including the Sponsors), including key terms of the
merger agreement, a review of the Company’s financial and share price performance, observations and perspectives on the Company Forecasts, and a summary of preliminary financial analyses of the Company, similar to those described above,
based on the Company Forecasts.
|
|
•
|
The presentation presented or delivered by Perella Weinberg to the Special Committee on September 8, 2026, which is attached as
Exhibit (c)(5) to the Schedule 13E-3, contains, among other information, a review of the updated model from the Company's tax advisors, forecasting the total tax benefits and total early termination payments under the Tax Receivable
Agreement, and a comparison against the prior model from the Company's tax advisors, a review of the previous bids from the Sponsors, and a comparison of the impact of potential concessions with respect to the early termination payments
that would otherwise be payable to the beneficiaries of the Tax Receivable Agreement if the Company were to elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement in accordance with its terms at the Effective Time relative to the Merger
Consideration to be received in the Proposed Transaction.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
the Merger Agreement;
|
|
•
|
annual reports to stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Company for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2025;
|
|
•
|
certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company;
|
|
•
|
certain other communications from the Company to its stockholders;
|
|
•
|
certain publicly available research analyst reports for the Company;
|
|
•
|
certain internal financial analyses and forecasts for the Company that include the impact of future acquisitions, as included in
the Projections, which consisted of the Company Forecasts, as prepared by the management of the Company and approved for Ardea's use by the Company, and the Tax Attributes Projections, as prepared by the management of the Company with the
assistance of its tax advisors and approved for Ardea's use by the Company, in each case, as described in further detail in the sections of this proxy statement titled “—Company Forecasts” and ” —-Tax
Attributes Projections”
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metric
|
|
|
Premium
|
|
75th Percentile
|
|
|
53%
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
40%
|
|
Median
|
|
|
36%
|
|
25th Percentile
|
|
|
23%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Announced
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Acquiror
|
|
|
TEV
(in billions)
|
|
|
TEV/Adjusted
EBITDA
|
|
Aug-2026
|
|
|
USI Corp
|
|
|
Aon
|
|
|
$17.0
|
|
|
17.1x
|
|
Dec-2025
|
|
|
Newfront
|
|
|
Willis Towers Watson PLC
|
|
|
$1.1
|
|
|
17.5x
|
|
Dec-2025
|
|
|
CAC Group
|
|
|
The Baldwin Group
|
|
|
$1.1(1)
|
|
|
15.7x
|
|
June-2025
|
|
|
Accession Risk Management Group
|
|
|
Brown & Brown
|
|
|
$9.8
|
|
|
15.7x
|
|
Mar-2025
|
|
|
Woodruff Sawyer
|
|
|
Arthur J. Gallagher
|
|
|
$1.3
|
|
|
14.5x(2)
|
|
Dec-2024
|
|
|
AssuredPartners
|
|
|
Arthur J. Gallagher
|
|
|
$13.5
|
|
|
13.0x(3)
|
|
Aug-2024
|
|
|
US Assure
|
|
|
Ryan Specialty
|
|
|
$1.1
|
|
|
12.8x
|
|
Feb-2024
|
|
|
Truist Insurance Holdings
|
|
|
Stone Point Capital / CD&R
|
|
|
$15.5
|
|
|
15.7x
|
|
Dec-2023
|
|
|
NFP
|
|
|
Aon
|
|
|
$13.4
|
|
|
15.0x
|
|
Oct-2023
|
|
|
Cadence Insurance
|
|
|
Arthur J. Gallagher
|
|
|
$0.9
|
|
|
14.6x(2)
|
|
Sep-2023
|
|
|
Eastern Insurance Group
|
|
|
Arthur J. Gallagher
|
|
|
$0.5
|
|
|
13.8x(2)
|
|
Aug-2021
|
|
|
Willis Re
|
|
|
Arthur J. Gallagher
|
|
|
$3.3
|
|
|
12.6x
|
|
Sep-2018
|
|
|
Jardine Lloyd Thompson
|
|
|
Marsh & McLennan
|
|
|
$6.4
|
|
|
16.0x
|
|
Mar-2017
|
|
|
USI Corp
|
|
|
KKR / CDPQ
|
|
|
$4.3
|
|
|
12.4x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based on 30-day volume-weighted average price as of 12/1/2025. Includes $70M deferred payment (to be paid in Q1 2030) at nominal
value and excludes contingent earnout payments.
|
|
(2)
|
Reflects quoted synergized multiple; pre-synergized multiple not disclosed.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes M&A run-rate adjustment.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
an executive summary of the Company’s historical financial performances and certain valuation pressures faced by the Company;
|
|
•
|
a U.S. insurance distribution market update, including industry trends, public trading comparisons and recent private insurance
brokerage platform transaction activity;
|
|
•
|
market backdrop and illustrative potential strategic alternatives, including status quo, asset sales, a take-private transaction,
and a strategic sale;
|
|
•
|
preliminary and illustrative scenario analysis, including an analysis of the exit multiple and required rate of return assumptions
implied at various share prices and an analysis of implied multiples at various share prices;
|
|
•
|
preliminary perspectives on process and potential investors, including an illustrative process timeline, an illustrative equity
check threshold analysis and a list of potential lead investors, co-investors and strategic partners; and
|
|
•
|
a process update, including the proposed timing of buyer outreach to assess interest in a potential transaction; and
|
|
•
|
an illustrative process timeline and key milestones, including anticipated dates for first-round and final bids, signing and
closing.
|
|
•
|
an executive summary of the proposed process to assess interest in a potential transaction;
|
|
•
|
a U.S. insurance distribution and services industry update, including public trading comparisons and recent private transaction
activity;
|
|
•
|
market backdrop and considerations relating to the Company;
|
|
•
|
illustrative potential strategic alternatives, including status quo, asset sales, a take-private transaction, and a strategic
sale;
|
|
•
|
preliminary and illustrative scenario analysis, including a comparison of the Company’s long-range plan and an illustrative
private market opportunity case; and
|
|
•
|
landscape of potential capital partners and partnership structures and perspectives on potential investors.
|
|
•
|
a progress update on the Transaction process, including investor diligence activities, investor engagement and a list of
participating investors.
|
|
•
|
a process update, including an update on the diligence process, and the initial public leak of the Company’s engagement in a sale
process;
|
|
•
|
bidder engagement and timeline, including a list of participating bidders and potential co-investors, investor diligence
activities and an illustrative process timeline; and
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
considerations regarding a potential strategic acquiror, including a landscape of potential strategic buyers and case studies of
the precedent strategic transactions in the insurance distribution and services industry.
|
|
•
|
an executive summary of the first round of the process (“Round I”), including diligence process and a summary of bidder
participation and the indications of interest received;
|
|
•
|
an overview of the Round I proposals and detailed preliminary summaries of each proposal, including headline valuation, sources of
financing, and other key terms of each proposal;
|
|
•
|
an overview of the implied multiples and premia for each Round I proposal; and
|
|
•
|
an illustrative process timeline, including anticipated timing for confirmatory diligence, final bids, signing and closing.
|
|
•
|
a process overview, including a summary of buyer outreach, diligence process and bidder participation in the second round of the
process (“Round II”) and the Company’s stock price performance the last unaffected trading day;
|
|
•
|
an overview of the Round I and Round II proposals, including headline valuation, key terms, sources and uses, pro forma
capitalization and total enterprise value bridges for each Round II proposal; and
|
|
•
|
preliminary financial analyses, including a discounted cash flow analysis, premia paid analysis, precedent transactions analysis,
present value of future share price analysis and certain other valuation methodologies that Ardea referenced.
|
|
•
|
a process update following the September 2, 2026 board meeting, including a summary of Round II proposals and subsequent verbal
indications from each bidder; and
|
|
•
|
preliminary financial analyses, including a discounted cash flow analysis, premia paid analysis, precedent transactions analysis,
present value of future share price analysis and certain other valuation methodologies that Ardea referenced.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
All of the members of the Special Committee were and are disinterested and independent directors and are not affiliated with
either Baldwin Party. None of them is or ever was an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. None of them has any financial interest in the Mergers that differs from that of the unaffiliated security holders,
apart from:
|
|
○
|
their right to receive Board compensation and Special Committee compensation, which is not
contingent on completion of the Mergers or on the Special Committee’s or the Board’s recommendation or approval of the Mergers.
|
|
○
|
their rights to indemnification and liability insurance under their indemnification agreements with
the Company and under the Merger Agreement.
|
|
•
|
The Special Committee and the Board were fully informed about the extent to which the Baldwin Parties’ interests in the Mergers
differed from those of the unaffiliated security holders.
|
|
•
|
The Board, following the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers, are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and approved and declared them advisable.
|
|
•
|
The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved by the Board.
|
|
•
|
The Special Committee and Baldwin Parties negotiated, in their capacities as and on behalf of the other beneficiaries under the
Tax Receivable Agreement, a concession to the Early Termination Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and secured the Sponsors’ agreement to reallocate its value to the Company’s stockholders. The Special Committee also directed
that the TRA Amendment prevent the beneficiaries from receiving more than they would otherwise be entitled to receive without the negotiated concession.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
Completion of the Mergers is conditioned on receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, and appraisal rights are available to eligible
holders of Company Common Stock who comply with Section 262.
|
|
•
|
The Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements do not restrict the Rollover Holders from exploring in good faith the possibility of
working with any third parties regarding any alternative acquisition proposal (including taking part in meetings and negotiations) to the extent the Company is permitted to engage in discussions with such third parties under the Merger
Agreement, and the Voting, Support and Rollover Agreements would terminate if the Merger Agreement is terminated, including as a result of termination in connection with a Superior Proposal.
|
|
•
|
The Merger Consideration of $32.50 per share in cash represents a premium of approximately 87.5% to the closing price of the
Class A Common Stock of $17.33 on June 17, 2026, the last closing price prior to the initial public leak of the Company’s consideration of a sale process.
|
|
•
|
The Merger Consideration was the result of a competitive process in which, on behalf of the Company, Ardea contacted twenty-five
potential financial investors, twenty-four of which executed nondisclosure agreements, and six potential bidders submitted initial indications of interest. The Merger Consideration is the highest price offered by any bidder in that
process and reflects increases from the Sponsors’ initial bid of $31.75 per share, as described in the section of this proxy statement titled “Special Factors—Background of the Mergers.”
|
|
•
|
The concession to the Early Termination Payments negotiated by the Baldwin Parties on behalf of the beneficiaries under the Tax
Receivable Agreement increased the Merger Consideration by $0.50 per share of Class A Common Stock, a benefit that accrues to all holders of Class A Common Stock and OpCo LLC Units receiving the Merger Consideration.
|
|
•
|
The Baldwin Parties will receive the same Merger Consideration per share or unit as the unaffiliated security holders for any
shares of Class A Common Stock or OpCo LLC Units that are not Retained Units, and the Retained Units will not receive any consideration of greater value per unit than the Merger Consideration.
|
|
•
|
The Special Committee received an opinion from Perella Weinberg, and the Board received an opinion from Ardea Partners, in each
case to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters set forth therein, the Merger Consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders
specified therein, as more fully described in the sections of this proxy statement titled “Special Factors—Opinion of Perella Weinberg Partners LP” and “Special
Factors—Opinion of Ardea Partners LP.” The Baldwin Parties are not entitled to rely on either opinion.
|
|
•
|
The Mergers are not subject to a financing condition, and Parent has obtained committed equity financing from DFO and committed
debt financing, increasing the likelihood that the Mergers will be completed and the Merger Consideration will be paid.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
Company PSUs: Achievement of performance goals applicable to each award of Company
performance stock units (“Company PSUs”) will be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee prior to the Effective Time (but will not exceed the midpoint between “target” and “superior” performance), and each Company PSU award, to
the extent so earned, will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such earned Company PSU award, multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration. However, if necessary to avoid adverse
tax consequences under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, certain Company PSU awards may instead be converted into contingent cash awards that are subject to the same service vesting schedule that applied to the corresponding
Company PSU award prior to the Effective Time.
|
|
•
|
Company RSAs: Each outstanding Company restricted stock award (“Company RSA”) that were
outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement and are scheduled to vest on or before January 1, 2028 will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such Company RSA, multiplied by
(ii) the Merger Consideration. Each outstanding Company RSA scheduled to vest in whole or in part after January 1, 2028 will become vested with respect to that portion that would have vested on or prior to January 1, 2028 if such award
had vested in equal annual installments, and such vested portion will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (i) the number of shares subject to such vested portion, multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration. All
other Company RSAs (including all Company RSAs granted after the date of the Merger Agreement) will be converted into contingent cash awards that are subject to the same service vesting schedule that applied to the corresponding Company
RSA prior to the Effective Time.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Beneficial Ownership of Company
Prior to the Merger(1)
|
|
|
Beneficial Ownership of Company
After the Merger(2)
|
||||||||||||
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
|
%
Owner-
ship
|
|
|
Net Book
Value at
June 30,
2026(3)
|
|
|
Net
Loss
for the
Three
Months
Ended
June 30,
2026(4)
|
|
|
%
Owner-
ship
|
|
|
Net Book
Value at
June 30,
2026(3)
|
|
|
Net
Income
for the
Three
Months
Ended
June 30,
2026(4)
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$—
|
|
|
$—
|
|
|
[ ]%
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
Parent Entities
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$—
|
|
|
$—
|
|
|
[ ]%
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
L. Lowry Baldwin
|
|
|
14.2%
|
|
|
$203,177
|
|
|
$7,959
|
|
|
[ ]%
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
1.5%
|
|
|
$21,140
|
|
|
$828
|
|
|
[ ]%
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based on 97,617,596 shares of Class A Common Stock and 42,624,762 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding as of
September 11, 2026.
|
|
(2)
|
The actual interests of the Parent Entities following completion of the Mergers will be based on the parties to the Rollover
Agreements’ ownership of the equity interests of Topco as of immediately after the Effective Time. Assumes the stakes under “% Ownership” column.
|
|
(3)
|
Based on the net book value per share of Company Common Stock of approximately $10.19 as of June 30, 2026.
|
|
(4)
|
Based on net loss of $55,981,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2026, of which $16,986,000 was attributable to noncontrolling
interests, as reported in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for such period.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2026E
|
|
|
2027E
|
|
|
2028E
|
|
|
2029E
|
|
|
2030E
|
|
|
2031E
|
|
|
|
|
($ in millions except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Revenue
|
|
|
$1,991
|
|
|
$2,194
|
|
|
$2,405
|
|
|
$2,644
|
|
|
$2,933
|
|
|
$3,366
|
|
Revenue (Excluding M&A Impact)
|
|
|
1,991
|
|
|
2,194
|
|
|
2,405
|
|
|
2,644
|
|
|
2,908
|
|
|
3,188
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
|
450
|
|
|
515
|
|
|
588
|
|
|
681
|
|
|
779
|
|
|
909
|
|
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA(2)
|
|
|
493
|
|
|
553
|
|
|
622
|
|
|
707
|
|
|
808
|
|
|
956
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Excluding M&A Impact)(3)
|
|
|
450
|
|
|
515
|
|
|
588
|
|
|
681
|
|
|
775
|
|
|
877
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
“Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, change in fair value of
contingent consideration and certain items of income and expense, including share-based compensation expense, transaction-related partnership and integration expenses, transformation costs, severance, and certain non-recurring items,
including those related to raising capital.
|
|
(2)
|
“Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, with additional adjustments permitted under the company’s debt
agreements, including pro forma credit for acquisitions in the unowned periods, as well as additional compensation expense adjustments.
|
|
(3)
|
“Adjusted EBITDA (Excluding M&A Impact)” is defined as Adjusted EBITDA excluding expected contributions from future
acquisitions completed during the projection period.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Year
|
|
|
Cash Tax
Savings
(Excluding
M&A
Impact)(1)
|
|
|
TRA
Payments
(Excluding
M&A
Impact)
|
|
|
Net Cash
Savings
(Excluding
M&A
Impact)(2)
|
|
|
|
|
($ in millions)
|
||||||
|
12/31/2026
|
|
|
$9
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
$9
|
|
12/31/2027
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
77
|
|
12/31/2028
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
70
|
|
12/31/2029
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
61
|
|
12/31/2030
|
|
|
119
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
64
|
|
12/31/2031
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
87
|
|
12/31/2032
|
|
|
119
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
83
|
|
12/31/2033
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
58
|
|
12/31/2034
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
55
|
|
12/31/2035
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
50
|
|
12/31/2036
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
37
|
|
12/31/2037
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
20
|
|
12/31/2038
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
17
|
|
12/31/2039
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
18
|
|
12/31/2040
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
17
|
|
12/31/2041
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
4
|
|
12/31/2042
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
1
|
|
12/31/2043
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2044
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2045
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2046
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2047
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2048
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2049
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2050
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2051
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2052
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,274
|
|
|
544
|
|
|
730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents cash tax savings from various tax attributes (including net operating losses, tax receivable agreements, R&D credits
and charitable donations). Excludes the impact of future acquisitions.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents Cash Tax Savings minus TRA Payments.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Year
|
|
|
Cash Tax
Savings(1)
|
|
|
TRA
Payments
|
|
|
Net Cash
Savings(2)
|
|
|
|
|
($ in millions)
|
||||||
|
12/31/2026
|
|
|
$9
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
$9
|
|
12/31/2027
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
77
|
|
12/31/2028
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
70
|
|
12/31/2029
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
61
|
|
12/31/2030
|
|
|
119
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
66
|
|
12/31/2031
|
|
|
154
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
99
|
|
12/31/2032
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
93
|
|
12/31/2033
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
69
|
|
12/31/2034
|
|
|
101
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
67
|
|
12/31/2035
|
|
|
96
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
62
|
|
12/31/2036
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
49
|
|
12/31/2037
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
31
|
|
12/31/2038
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
29
|
|
12/31/2039
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
29
|
|
12/31/2040
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
28
|
|
12/31/2041
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
16
|
|
12/31/2042
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
13
|
|
12/31/2043
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
12
|
|
12/31/2044
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
12
|
|
12/31/2045
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
10
|
|
12/31/2046
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2047
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2048
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2049
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2050
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2051
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
12/31/2052
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,408
|
|
|
507
|
|
|
901
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents cash tax savings from various tax attributes (including net operating losses, tax receivable agreements, R&D credits
and charitable donations). Includes the impact of future acquisitions.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents Cash Tax Savings minus TRA Payments.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
Trevor Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer;
|
|
•
|
Bradford Hale, Chief Financial Officer;
|
|
•
|
Daniel Galbraith, President, The Baldwin Group and Chief Executive Officer, Retail Brokerage Operations;
|
|
•
|
Jim Roche, President, The Baldwin Group and Chief Executive Officer, Underwriting, Capacity & Technology Operations; and
|
|
•
|
Seth Cohen, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
|
|
•
|
For purposes of this disclosure, Corbyn Lichon, the Chief Accounting Officer, is an executive officer of the Company but she is
not one of the five NEOs. The aggregate value of the payments and benefits (including in respect to her Company equity awards) that Ms. Lichon would receive in connection with the Mergers, assuming that she experienced a Qualified
Termination (as defined below) is $1,566,067. Additionally, the Company’s non-employee directors are: L. Lowry Baldwin (Chairman of the Company Board), Jay Cohen, Joseph J. Kadow, Barbara Matas, Sathish Muthukrishnan, Sunita Parasuraman,
Ellyn Shook, Chris Sullivan and Myron Williams. The Company’s non-employee directors receive their equity compensation in the form of fully vested shares of Class A Common Stock and, accordingly, none of the Company’s non-employee
directors holds any unvested Company equity awards that will vest in connection with the Mergers.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
a severance payment (paid over a 24-month period in the case of each executive officer other than Mr. Cohen who is paid over a
12-month period) equal to 2.0 times (in the case of each executive officer, other than Mr. Cohen) the executive’s annual base salary or to 1.0 times (in the case of Mr. Cohen) the executive’s annual base salary;
|
|
•
|
a pro-rata portion of the executive officer’s target annual bonus for the year of termination;
|
|
•
|
a monthly cash payment equal to the applicable COBRA premium for a period of 12 months following the date of termination;
|
|
•
|
full accelerated vesting of all outstanding time-based equity awards held by the named executive officer as of the date of
termination; and
|
|
•
|
full accelerated vesting of all outstanding performance-based equity awards held by the named executive officer as of the date of
termination, with performance deemed achieved at the greater of target or actual performance through the most recently completed measurement period.
|
|
•
|
The Severance Plan also provides that, upon a change in control, awards under the Company’s incentive plan will continue to vest
if assumed or will vest in full if not assumed, and, if the applicable bonus arrangement is not assumed, executives will receive a prorated target bonus.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
|
Cash
($)(1)
|
|
|
Equity
Awards
($)(2)
|
|
|
Perquisites /
Benefits(3)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
2,305,479
|
|
|
17,172,416
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
19,507,894
|
|
Jim Roche
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
|
15,091,895
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
16,368,470
|
|
Bradford Hale
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
|
7,300,313
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
8,576,888
|
|
Daniel Galbraith
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
|
7,300,313
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
8,576,888
|
|
Seth Cohen
|
|
|
691,610
|
|
|
3,067,546
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
3,789,156
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Cash. Amounts represent the aggregate dollar value of cash severance payments that each
named executive officer would be entitled to receive upon a Qualified Termination as described in the subsection titled “—Executive Severance and Change in Control Benefit Program” above
(consisting of a salary component and a pro rata target bonus component). These cash severance amounts would constitute “double trigger” benefits and are subject to the named executive officer’s execution and nonrevocation of a release of
claims.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
|
Salary
Component
($)
|
|
|
Prorated
Bonus
Component
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
900,000
|
|
|
1,405,479
|
|
|
2,305,479
|
|
Jim Roche
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
546,575
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
Bradford Hale
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
546,575
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
Daniel Galbraith
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
546,575
|
|
|
1,246,575
|
|
Seth Cohen
|
|
|
350,000
|
|
|
341,610
|
|
|
691,610
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Equity. Amounts represent the potential value of unvested equity awards held by each named
executive officer that would be canceled and converted into cash amounts as described in the subsection titled “—Treatment of Company Equity Awards” above, subject to vesting acceleration upon a
Qualified Termination as described in the subsection titled “- Executive Severance and Change in Control Benefit Program” above or pursuant to the terms set forth in the subsection titled “—Employment Agreements” above. Amounts payable in
respect of Company PSU Awards and Company RSAs that vest at the Effective Time are “single trigger” benefits; amounts payable in respect of Contingent PSU Cash Awards and Contingent RSA Cash Awards upon a Qualified Termination are “double
trigger” benefits and are subject to the named executive officer’s execution and nonrevocation of a release of claims.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
|
Number of Unvested
Company PSUs
(#)(A)
|
|
|
Value of Unvested
Company PSUs
($)(B)
|
|
|
Number of Unvested
Company RSAs
(#)(C)
|
|
|
Value of Unvested
Company RSAs
($)(D)
|
|
|
Total Value of
Unvested
Awards
($)
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
525,085
|
|
|
17,065,263
|
|
|
3,297
|
|
|
107,153
|
|
|
17,172,416
|
|
Jim Roche
|
|
|
223,212
|
|
|
7,254,390
|
|
|
241,154
|
|
|
7,837,505
|
|
|
15,091,895
|
|
Bradford Hale
|
|
|
223,212
|
|
|
7,254,390
|
|
|
1,413
|
|
|
45,923
|
|
|
7,300,313
|
|
Daniel Galbraith
|
|
|
223,212
|
|
|
7,254,390
|
|
|
1,413
|
|
|
45,923
|
|
|
7,300,313
|
|
Seth Cohen
|
|
|
92,239
|
|
|
2,997,768
|
|
|
2,147
|
|
|
69,778
|
|
|
3,067,546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A)
|
The Merger Agreement provides that the achievement of performance goals applicable to unvested Company PSUs will be determined by
the Company’s Compensation Committee (but will not exceed the midpoint between “target” and “superior”
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
(B)
|
The estimated value of Company PSUs equals the aggregate number of shares underlying such Company PSUs (assuming performance at the
midpoint between target and superior performance) multiplied by the Merger Consideration.
|
|
(C)
|
The Merger Agreement provides that unvested Company RSAs that were outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement will be
treated as follows: (i) each outstanding Company RSA scheduled to vest on or before January 1, 2028 will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (a) the number of shares subject to such Company RSA, multiplied by (b) the
Merger Consideration. Each outstanding Company RSA that was outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement and is scheduled to vest in whole or in part after January 1, 2028 will become vested with respect to that portion that would
have vested on or prior to January 1, 2028 if such award had vested in equal annual installments, and such vested portion will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to (a) the number of shares subject to such vested
portion, multiplied by (b) the Merger Consideration. All other Company RSAs (including all Company RSAs granted after the date of the Merger Agreement) will be converted into Contingent RSA Cash Awards that are subject to the same
service-vesting schedule that applied to the corresponding Company RSA prior to the Effective Time and are not reflected in this table.
|
|
(D)
|
The estimated value of Company RSAs equals the aggregate number of shares underlying such Company RSAs (in accordance with the
treatment described in Footnote C above) multiplied by the Merger Consideration.
|
|
(3)
|
Perquisites/Benefits. Amounts shown reflect the value of a monthly cash payment payable to
each named executive officer equal to the applicable COBRA premium for a period of 12 months following the date of termination. Such benefits become payable only upon a qualifying termination irrespective of whether such termination
occurs in connection with a “change in control.”
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
the stockholder or beneficial owner must not vote in favor of the Merger Agreement Proposal;
|
|
•
|
the stockholder or beneficial owner must deliver to the Company a written demand for appraisal of such holder’s or owner’s shares
of Company Common Stock before the vote on the Merger Agreement Proposal at the Special Meeting; and
|
|
•
|
the stockholder must continuously hold or the beneficial owner must continuously own the shares from the date of making the demand
through the effective date of the Company Merger (a stockholder or beneficial owner will lose appraisal rights if the stockholder or beneficial owner transfers the shares before the effective date of the Company Merger).
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions;
|
|
•
|
tax-exempt or governmental organizations;
|
|
•
|
corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
|
|
•
|
entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or holders of
interests therein;
|
|
•
|
dealers in securities or foreign currencies or traders in securities that use the mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S.
federal income tax purposes;
|
|
•
|
persons that hold OpCo LLC Units or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion
transaction or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction;
|
|
•
|
persons that purchased or sell their OpCo LLC Units or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, as part of a wash sale;
|
|
•
|
persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar or certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
|
|
•
|
persons that acquired or hold their OpCo LLC Units or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, through the exercise of
employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan;
|
|
•
|
persons that actually or constructively hold (or actually or constructively held at any time during the five-year period ending on
the date of the Mergers) five percent or more (by vote or value) of the OpCo LLC Units, shares of Class B Common Stock, or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable;
|
|
•
|
persons that are participating in the Rollover; and
|
|
•
|
persons that own a direct or indirect equity interest in Parent following the Mergers.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
|
|
•
|
a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
|
|
•
|
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
|
|
•
|
a trust (i) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “United
States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) that has made a valid election under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be
treated as a United States person.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
confirmation of the prior consummation or consummation of the Mergers substantially concurrent with the initial borrowing under
the Debt Facilities in accordance with the Merger Agreement;
|
|
•
|
the execution and delivery of definitive loan, guarantee and security documentation for the credit facilities consistent with the
terms in the Debt Commitment Letter and the delivery of customary closing documents (in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the Debt Commitment Letter);
|
|
•
|
the delivery of customary “know your customer” documentation and beneficial ownership information;
|
|
•
|
the prior payment or substantially concurrent payment of applicable fees and expenses;
|
|
•
|
subject to customary limitations and exceptions, the accuracy of certain representations and warranties made by the borrowers and
guarantors under and pursuant to the Debt Facilities in all material respects;
|
|
•
|
subject to customary limitations and exceptions, the accuracy of certain representations and warranties made in the Merger
Agreement by or on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries in all material respects;
|
|
•
|
since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the
Merger Agreement);
|
|
•
|
the delivery of certain audited and unaudited financial statements of the Company;
|
|
•
|
the occurrence or substantially concurrent funding of the equity contribution described in the Debt Commitment Letter, with the
initial borrowing under the Debt Facilities; and
|
|
•
|
the occurrence or substantially concurrent occurrence of the Refinancing described in the Debt Commitment Letter, with the initial
borrowing under the Debt Facilities.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
Financial advisory fees and expenses(1)
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
Legal fees and expenses(2)
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
SEC filing fees
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
Printing, proxy solicitation, filing and mailing costs
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
Total
|
|
|
$[ ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Does not include any discretionary fees that may be paid to such advisors.
|
|
(2)
|
The estimate for legal fees set forth in this proxy statement does not include any amounts attributable to any existing or future
litigation challenging the Mergers.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
the due organization, valid existence and good standing of the Company Parties (as defined in the Merger Agreement), their
corporate and limited liability company powers and governmental authorizations, and their qualification to do business;
|
|
•
|
the corporate and limited liability company power and authority of the Company Parties to execute and deliver the Merger
Agreement, perform their obligations thereunder and consummate the Mergers, subject to the Requisite Company Vote;
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
the required actions by or in respect of, and filings with, governmental authorities in connection with the execution and delivery
of the Merger Agreement and consummation of the Mergers;
|
|
•
|
the execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement, and whether such execution, delivery and performance would result
in violations of, or conflicts with, organizational documents or applicable law, or any defaults, terminations, cancellations or accelerations under certain contracts or the creation of liens;
|
|
•
|
the capitalization of the Company and OpCo LLC;
|
|
•
|
the due organization, valid existence and good standing of our subsidiaries, their organizational powers and governmental
authorizations, and the ownership of subsidiary equity interests;
|
|
•
|
our SEC filings since January 1, 2023 (the “Applicable Date”), including the Company 10-K and Company 10-Q, the accuracy of such
filings, compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Nasdaq listing requirements, and our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting;
|
|
•
|
the fair presentation and accuracy of our financial statements and statutory statements included in the Company SEC Documents;
|
|
•
|
the accuracy of this proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 and compliance with applicable SEC requirements;
|
|
•
|
the absence of material undisclosed liabilities of the Company, its subsidiaries or the Reciprocals other than those reflected in
the Company Balance Sheet (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or incurred in the ordinary course of business, and the Company’s good and valid title to material assets;
|
|
•
|
the conduct of the business of the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals in the ordinary course in all material respects
since the Company Balance Sheet Date and the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect;
|
|
•
|
the absence, as of the date of the Merger Agreement, of material actions pending or threatened against the Company, its
subsidiaries or the Reciprocals;
|
|
•
|
compliance by the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals with applicable, including anti-corruption, anti-money laundering,
export-control, sanctions and Insurance Laws;
|
|
•
|
compliance by the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and, to the Company’s knowledge, employees
and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Ex-Im Laws and Sanctions;
|
|
•
|
certain matters relating to our employee benefit plans, including the absence of Title IV/multiemployer plans, qualified status,
compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Code, and the absence of excess parachute payments in connection with the Mergers;
|
|
•
|
certain matters relating to our material contracts, including partnership, joint venture, indebtedness, intellectual property
licensing, supply, non-compete, exclusivity and acquisition-related contracts, and the validity and enforceability of such contracts;
|
|
•
|
certain matters relating to our leased real property, including valid leasehold interests and the absence of material defaults
under leases;
|
|
•
|
the inapplicability of anti-takeover statutes to the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and that the
Company has taken all necessary action to render Section 203 of the DGCL and any other similar anti-takeover provisions inapplicable;
|
|
•
|
compliance by the Company and its subsidiaries with Environmental Laws and the possession of material environmental permits;
|
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•
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certain tax matters relating to the Company and its subsidiaries, including the timely filing and accuracy of tax returns, timely
payment of taxes, the absence of tax audits and liens, the classification of OpCo LLC as a partnership, and the absence of listed transactions;
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the absence of collective bargaining agreements, union representation, and material labor disputes, and compliance with employment
laws relating to wages, hours, employee classification, discrimination, harassment, work authorization and immigration;
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certain intellectual property matters, including ownership and validity of registered Company-owned intellectual property, the
absence of infringement claims, the proper functioning of its assets and the absence of security incidents, and compliance with privacy/data security laws;
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certain matters relating to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ insurance policies, and insurance operational matters, including
insurance contracts, material reinsurance contracts, reserves, insurance permits and compliance with insurance laws;
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the absence of undisclosed related party contracts that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K;
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the absence of any undisclosed broker’s or finder’s fees, except for Ardea and Perella Weinberg;
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the receipt by the Special Committee of a fairness opinion from Perella Weinberg and the receipt by the Board of a fairness
opinion from Ardea;
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the registration, compliance and good standing of each RIA Subsidiary (as defined in the Merger Agreement) under the Investment
Advisers Act and applicable state statutes, the establishment of required policies and procedures, and the absence of disciplinary events or disqualifications;
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certain matters relating to Advisory Agreements with Advisory Clients, including compliance with requirements of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 and applicable obligations thereunder.
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changes in GAAP, statutory accounting principles or other regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which
the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals operate, or the authoritative interpretation of any of the foregoing, except to the extent the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals, taken as a whole, are disproportionately
affected relative to other participants in the relevant industry;
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changes, developments or conditions after the date of the Merger Agreement generally in financial or securities markets or in
general economic or political conditions globally or in any jurisdiction in which the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals operate, including the imposition or adjustment of tariffs, except to the extent the Company, its
subsidiaries and the Reciprocals, taken as a whole, are disproportionately affected relative to other participants in the relevant industry;
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changes in conditions affecting generally the industries in which the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals operate,
except to the extent the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals, taken as a whole, are disproportionately affected relative to other participants in those industries;
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changes in geopolitical conditions (and any evolutions thereof and any Sanctions or other Applicable Laws, directives or policies
promulgated by any Governmental Authority in connection therewith), the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, actual or threatened acts of war, sabotage, cyberattack or terrorism, global health conditions, including any epidemic,
pandemic or disease outbreak, or natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and weather-related events, except to the extent the Company, its subsidiaries and the Reciprocals, taken as a whole, are
disproportionately affected relative to other participants in the relevant industry;
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changes in Applicable Law after the date of the Merger Agreement, except to the extent the Company, its subsidiaries and the
Reciprocals, taken as a whole, are disproportionately affected relative to other participants in the relevant industry;
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the execution, delivery and performance or public announcement of the Merger Agreement, the pendency or consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or facts or circumstances relating to the identity of Parent, including the impact of any of the foregoing on relationships with third parties, except to the extent otherwise addressed by
a representation or warranty or closing condition in the Merger Agreement;
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any failure by the Company, its subsidiaries or the Reciprocals to meet, with respect to any period after the date of the Merger
Agreement, any internal or published budgets, business plans, projections, forecasts or estimates of earnings or revenues, it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure may be considered unless
independently excluded by the Material Adverse Effect as defined in the Merger Agreement;
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any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Company, its subsidiaries or the Reciprocals at the written request of Parent or
its affiliates;
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any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Company, its subsidiaries or the Reciprocals that is expressly required to be
taken or omitted pursuant to the Merger Agreement, other than actions or omissions taken in accordance with the conduct covenant in Section 6.01.
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their due organization, existence and good standing and their corporate or limited liability company power and authority to carry
on their businesses;
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their corporate or limited liability company power and authority to perform their obligations under the Merger Agreement and
consummate the Mergers, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and its enforceability against them;
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the required actions by or in respect of, approvals from, and filings with, governmental authorities in connection with the
Mergers and the Merger Agreement;
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the execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will
not contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of their governing documents, Applicable Law, or result in termination or acceleration under certain contracts or liens on any of their assets;
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the accuracy of information supplied by Parent and Merger Subs for inclusion in this proxy statement and the Schedule 13E-3;
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the absence of any broker’s or finder’s fees for which the Company would be responsible, except for Barclays Capital Inc., Moelis
& Company LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Piper Sandler & Co.;
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the delivery by Parent of true, complete and fully executed copies of the Debt Commitment Letter and the Equity Commitment Letter,
each of which is in full force and effect and enforceable against the applicable counterparties thereto in accordance with their terms, and the sufficiency of the aggregate proceeds of the Financing to pay the amounts payable by Parent
under the Merger Agreement;
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the solvency of the Surviving Corporation on a consolidated basis immediately following the Effective Time, after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
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the capitalization and limited business conduct of each Merger Sub, each of which was formed solely for the purpose of
consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
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the delivery by DFO of a duly executed Limited Guarantee, which is in full force and effect and enforceable against DFO in
accordance with its terms;
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none of Parent, each Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates competes with the Company or has entered into any agreement
to acquire or invest in any business organization that competes with the Company;
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neither Parent nor any Merger Sub qualifies as a “foreign person” as defined by 31 C.F.R. § 800.224; and
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none of Parent, the Merger Subs or any of their respective “affiliates” or “associates” (in each case, as such terms are defined
in Section 203 of the DGCL) is, or at any time in the last three years has been, an “interested stockholder” of the Company (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) or beneficially owns any shares of Company Common Stock or other
securities of, or economic interests in, the Company.
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amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the comparable organizational documents of any subsidiary of
the Company or any Reciprocal, including the OpCo LLC Agreement;
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adjust, split, combine, exchange, subdivide or reclassify any shares of its capital stock, except for exchanges of shares of
Class B Common Stock and OpCo LLC Units in accordance with the OpCo LLC Agreement;
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declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution in respect of its capital stock, except for (A) dividends by its or
OpCo LLC’s wholly owned subsidiaries, (B) distributions under the OpCo LLC Agreement no greater than necessary to satisfy tax-distribution obligations to all members consistent with past practice and (C) exchanges of shares of Class B
Common Stock and OpCo LLC Units in accordance with the OpCo LLC Agreement;
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issue, deliver, sell, dispose, encumber, grant, confer, award or authorize the issuance, delivery, sale, disposal, encumbrance,
grant, conferral or award of, any securities of the Company or its subsidiaries, including OpCo LLC Units, other than the issuance of (A) any Shares upon settlement of Company PSUs outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with their respective terms, (B) any grant or issuance of shares of Company Common Stock in exchange for OpCo LLC Units in accordance with the OpCo LLC Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Closing Exchanges),
or (C) any Company Subsidiary Securities to the Company or any other wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company;
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amend any term of any security of the Company or its subsidiaries (in each case, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);
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acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise), directly or indirectly, any material amount of
assets, securities, properties, interests or businesses for consideration in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $25,000,000 in the aggregate in any transaction or series of related transactions, other than acquisitions pursuant to
existing contracts set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule;
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adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other
reorganization of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Reciprocals (other than the Mergers);
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sell, lease, license, assign or otherwise transfer, or dispose of, mortgage, sell or create or incur any material Lien on, any of
the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ or the Reciprocals’ material assets, securities, properties (including the leased real property), interests or businesses, other than (i) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (ii) as
required pursuant to existing contracts in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, (iii) Permitted Liens and (iv) transfers among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, among the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company or
among the wholly owned subsidiaries of OpCo LLC;
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sell, assign, transfer, abandon, license or sublicense, fail to maintain, subject to any Lien or otherwise dispose of any material
Company-owned intellectual property (except (i) non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business, (ii) licenses pursuant to existing contracts or (iii) among the Company and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries);
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make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any person, other than (i) by the Company (or a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or (ii) in the ordinary course of business;
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create, incur, assume, provide any guarantee of or otherwise become liable with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money or
guarantees thereof, except that the Company and its subsidiaries may make drawdowns not exceeding $25,000,000 in the aggregate;
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other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (excluding in the case of any contract that is, or
would have been, a “Material Contract” under Section 4.21(a)(i) (partnership/joint venture), (ii) (indebtedness), (v) (non-compete/exclusivity/Right of First Refusal), (viii) (Advisory Agreements) or (xiv) (SEC material contracts), or a
related party contract, or a Lease involving annual payments exceeding $2,000,000, to which such ordinary course of business exception shall not apply), (i) enter into any contract which if entered into prior to the date of the Merger
Agreement would have been a Material Contract, material lease or related party contract, or (ii) amend or modify in any material respect (in each case, in a manner adverse to Parent), waive any material rights under, or terminate any
Material Contract, lease or related party contract;
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except as required under the terms of an employee plan in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement: (1) grant or increase
compensation, bonuses, severance, retention, change-in-control, termination pay, welfare or other benefits; (2) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any employee plan; (3) accelerate any material payment or benefit, or the
funding of any material payment or benefit, payable or to become payable to directors, officers, employees or individual independent contractors; (4) terminate the employment or service of any employee or individual independent contractor
whose annual base salary or base compensation exceeds $300,000, other than for cause; or (5) hire any employee or individual independent contractor whose annual base salary or base compensation would exceed $300,000;
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negotiate, modify, amend, extend, terminate or enter into any collective bargaining agreement or certify any labor union, labor
organization, works council or group of employees as the bargaining representative for any Company Employees;
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implement or announce any employee layoffs, furloughs, reductions in force, plant closings, reductions in compensation or other
similar actions that trigger obligations under WARN (as defined in the Merger Agreement);
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materially change the Company’s methods of accounting, except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP or in Regulation S-X of
the 1934 Act, as agreed to by its independent public accountants;
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settle or compromise (i) any action or threatened action (excluding any action or threatened action relating to taxes) involving
or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Reciprocals, other than settlements or compromises that do not result in (x) a payment obligation (net of insurance proceeds and any payment obligations for which the Company
reasonably expects to be indemnified) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Reciprocals in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the
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(i) make, change or revoke any material election with respect to taxes, (ii) file any material tax return in a manner materially
inconsistent with past practice or file any material amended tax return, (iii) settle or compromise any material tax claim, audit or assessment, (iv) adopt or change any material tax accounting method or period, (v) enter into any closing
agreement with respect to any material tax or surrender any right to claim a material tax refund, offset or reduction in tax or (vi) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any material tax claim or
assessment (other than any such extensions or waivers automatically granted in the ordinary course of business);
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make or commit to any capital expenditures exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate, other than in accordance with the Company’s
annual capital expenditures budget made available to Parent;
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enter into or discontinue any line of business of the Company, its applicable Subsidiary or applicable Reciprocal or enter into
any new lines of business that would require any Reciprocal to add new lines of authority to its certificates of authority which are not present on its certificate of authority from its domestic insurance regulator;
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agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.
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in favor of (a) the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement, (b) any proposal to adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such adjournment or postponement in accordance with the Merger Agreement, (c) the adoption of any amendment to
the Merger Agreement that does not (x) decrease the Merger Consideration or results in the imposition of any restriction on the Rollover Holder’s right to receive the Merger Consideration, (y) change the form of the Merger Consideration,
or (z) make any other amendment to the Merger Agreement that results in a change that adversely and disproportionately affects the Rollover Holder relative to any other stockholders of the Company (any amendment that results in clauses
(x) through (z), an “Adverse Amendment”), and (d) any other proposal necessary or desirable for the consummation of the Mergers; and
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against (a) any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Acquisition Agreement (or any action or proposal in furtherance thereof), (b)
any action or agreement that would be reasonably likely to result in a material breach of the Merger Agreement or any of the conditions to Closing not being satisfied, and (c) any other action or agreement that is intended to, or could
reasonably be expected to, materially delay, impede, interfere with, postpone, prevent or otherwise materially adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
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consummate and make effective the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as promptly as
reasonably practicable;
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obtain from any governmental authority any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations, clearances or orders
advisable or required to be obtained by Parent or the Company or any of their respective controlled affiliates as promptly as reasonably practicable, including under the antitrust laws;
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avoid or defend against any proceeding by any governmental authority, in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery
of the Merger Agreement, the Mergers or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
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as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 15 Business Days after the date of the Merger Agreement, make all
necessary filings under the HSR Act, and as promptly as reasonably practicable submit all other notifications, filings and registrations required or advisable under the antitrust laws, and thereafter promptly respond to any additional
information and documentary material requested pursuant to any antitrust law; and
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as promptly as reasonably practicable, make any other required or advisable registrations, declarations, submissions and filings
with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement required under the Exchange Act, any other applicable federal or state securities laws, and any other applicable law.
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the Requisite Company Vote has been obtained;
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any applicable waiting period (including any extension thereof) under the HSR Act relating to the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement has expired or been terminated and each consent, approval, waiver, clearance, authorization or permission of a Governmental Authority constituting a Specified Regulatory Approval (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and
set forth on Section 9.01(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule has been made, obtained or received (or, as applicable, the waiting periods with respect thereto have expired or been terminated); and
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no Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Applicable Law has been enacted, issued, promulgated, entered or
enforced by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction prohibiting, making illegal or enjoining the consummation of the Company Merger remains in effect.
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the representation and warranty of the Company set forth in Section 4.10(b) (Absence of Certain Changes) of the Merger Agreement
must be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time;
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the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the first two sentences of Section 4.05 (Capitalization) of the
Merger Agreement must be true and correct at and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time (other than representations and warranties that by their terms address matters only as of another specific time, which
must be true and correct only as of that specific time), except for de minimis inaccuracies;
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the Company’s representations and warranties relating to Corporate Existence and Power (Section 4.01(a)(i) of the Merger
Agreement), Corporate Authorization (Section 4.02 of the Merger Agreement), Non-contravention (Section 4.04(a) of the Merger Agreement) (solely to the extent related to the Organizational Documents of the Company and OpCo LLC),
Capitalization (Section 4.05 of the Merger Agreement) (other than the first two sentences and the last sentence of the Capitalization representation), Finders’ Fees (Section 4.25 of the Merger Agreement) and Antitakeover Statutes
(Section 4.27 of the Merger Agreement) (A) to the extent qualified by materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect must be true and correct in all respects as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time (except
representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of another date, in which case as of such date) and (B) to the extent not so qualified must be true and correct in all material respects as of the Effective Time as
if made at and as of the Effective Time (except, in each case, to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of that date or period);
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the Company’s other representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than those described above) must be
true and correct at and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of the Effective Time (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of that date or
period), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, disregarding for this
purpose all “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “materiality” or similar qualifications contained in such representations and warranties;
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the Company and OpCo LLC must have performed and complied with the financing-cooperation covenant subject to certain deemed
compliance standards and performed and complied in all material respects with each of their other obligations, covenants and agreements under the Merger Agreement required to be performed or complied with by them at or prior to the
Effective Time;
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since the date of the Merger Agreement, no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred; and
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Parent and Merger Subs must have received from the Company a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company dated as of
the Closing, certifying that the conditions relating to the Company’s covenant compliance, representation bring-down and absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect have been satisfied;
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Parent’s and Merger Subs’ representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct at and as of
the Effective Time (except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of that date or period), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be
so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, disregarding for this purpose all “Parent Material Adverse Effect,” “materiality” or similar qualifications
contained in such representations and warranties;
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each of Parent and Merger Subs must have performed and complied in all material respects with each of their obligations, covenants
and agreements under the Merger Agreement required to be performed or complied with by them at or prior to the Effective Time; and
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the Company must have received from Parent a certificate signed by an executive officer of Parent dated as of the Closing,
certifying that the conditions relating to Parent’s and Merger Subs’ covenant compliance and representation bring-down have been satisfied.
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by either Parent or the Company, if:
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the Effective Time has not occurred on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 14, 2027 (the “Initial End Date”); provided that
if on the Initial End Date the conditions set forth in Section 9.01(a) or Section 9.01(c) of the Merger Agreement are not satisfied but all other conditions to the Closing in Article 9 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing) have been satisfied or waived, then the Initial End Date will automatically be extended to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 14,
2027 (such date or such later date as agreed to by the parties, the “End Date”) (provided, however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to any party whose failure to comply with any provision of the
Merger Agreement has primarily caused or primarily resulted in the failure of the Company Merger to be consummated by the End Date);
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at the Special Meeting of the Company’s stockholders, including any postponement or adjournment thereof, the Requisite Company
Vote has not been obtained if a vote will have been taken thereon; or
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any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction has issued any order that permanently restrains, enjoins, renders
illegal or otherwise permanently prohibits consummation of the Company Merger and such order has become final and non-appealable; provided, that this right to terminate will not be available to the party whose breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement has been the proximate cause of such order.
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by the Company, if, prior to the Effective Time:
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there is a breach by Parent or the Merger Subs of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Merger
Agreement, causing the conditions to closing related to the accuracy of Parent’s and Merger Subs’ representations and warranties and to the performance, in all material respects, of the obligations of Parent and Merger Subs in the Merger
Agreement, to not be satisfied, such breach is incurable prior to the End Date or, if curable by the End Date, is not cured by Parent or Merger Subs within 30 days after receipt by Parent of written notice of such breach (provided,
however, that the right to terminate the Mergers and any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not be available to the Company if the Company or OpCo LLC is in material breach of any obligation, covenant or
agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement or there is any inaccuracy of the Company’s representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement which would give rise to a failure of the conditions to closing); or
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prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, in order to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a
Superior Proposal in accordance with the Merger Agreement, if the Company pays Parent the $170,334,000 Company Termination Fee immediately before or simultaneously with and as a condition to termination.
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if (A) all of the conditions set forth in Sections 9.01 and 9.02 of the Merger Agreement have been satisfied (other than those
conditions which by their terms or nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), (B) the Company has irrevocably notified Parent in writing three Business Days prior to such termination that (I) it is ready, willing and able to consummate
the Company Merger, (II) all conditions set forth in Section 9.03 have been satisfied or that it is irrevocably waiving any unsatisfied conditions, and (III) the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement if Parent and Merger Sub fail to
consummate the Company Merger on the date required pursuant to Section 2.03, and (C) Parent and Merger Sub have failed to consummate the Company Merger on such date.
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by Parent, if, prior to the Effective Time:
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there is a breach or inaccuracy by the Company or OpCo LLC of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the
Merger Agreement, causing the conditions to closing related to the accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties and the performance, in all material respects, of its obligations under the Merger Agreement, to not be satisfied,
and such breach is incurable prior to the End Date or, if curable by the End Date, is not cured by the Company within 30 days after receipt by the Company of written notice of such breach or failure (without giving effect to any extension
of the End Date) (provided, however, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to Parent if it or any Merger Sub is in material breach of its or their obligations, covenants or agreements or there is any
inaccuracy of Parent’s or any Merger Sub’s representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement, which would give rise to a failure of the conditions to closing); or
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the Company makes an Adverse Recommendation Change prior to the Requisite Company Vote.
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either Parent or the Company terminates upon the End Date at which time the Requisite Company Vote has not been obtained, either
Parent or the Company terminates for failure to obtain the Requisite Company Vote, or Parent terminates because of the Company’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement, causing the
conditions to closing related to the accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties and the performance, in all material respects, of its obligations under the Merger Agreement, to not be satisfied, and such breach is incurable
or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days as described above;
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an Acquisition Proposal has been publicly announced and not publicly withdrawn prior to the Special Meeting; and
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within 12 months following the date of termination, the Company consummates a transaction contemplated by an Acquisition Proposal
or enters into an alternative acquisition agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (in each case, the references to “20%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” being deemed to be references to “50%”)
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if Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because the Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) makes an
Adverse Recommendation Change, in which case the Company must pay Parent the Company Termination Fee within two business days after the termination of the Merger Agreement; or
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if the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in order to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a
Superior Proposal, in which case the Company must pay Parent the Company Termination Fee immediately before and as a condition to termination of the Merger Agreement.
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the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental or regulatory approvals of the Mergers that could reduce
the anticipated benefits of or cause the parties to abandon the Mergers;
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risks related to the satisfaction of the conditions to closing (including the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or
the necessary approvals of the Company’s stockholders) in the anticipated timeframe or at all;
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disruption to the Company’s business and business relationships and uncertainty surrounding the Company’s business as a result of
the pending Mergers, including with respect to partner firm clients, or other parties with which the Company or its partner firms maintain business relationships, principals of partner firms and employees experiencing uncertainty about
their future roles, and the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel and other employees;
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement;
|
|
•
|
risks relating to the financing required to complete the Mergers;
|
|
•
|
the possibility that alternative Acquisition Proposals will or will not be made;
|
|
•
|
risks related to diversion of management’s attention from the Company’s day-to-day operations of its business due to the pending
Mergers;
|
|
•
|
significant transaction costs, fees, expenses and charges;
|
|
•
|
the risk of litigation related to the Mergers and injunctions or governmental orders initiated by a governmental entity
restraining, enjoining or prohibiting consummation of the pending Mergers and costs related to, and unfavorable results from, any such litigation and proceedings;
|
|
•
|
the impact of competitive responses to the public announcement of the Mergers;
|
|
•
|
the impact on the Company’s ability to make successful acquisitions after announcement of the Mergers;
|
|
•
|
other business effects and developments beyond the parties’ control, including the effects of industry, market, economic,
political or regulatory conditions;
|
|
•
|
the ability to meet expectations regarding the timing and completion of the Mergers; and
|
|
•
|
information technology system failures, data security breaches, data privacy compliance, network disruptions, and cybersecurity,
malware or ransomware attacks.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
visit the website shown on your proxy card to submit your proxy via the Internet prior to the Special Meeting;
|
|
•
|
call the toll-free number for telephone proxy submission shown on your proxy card;
|
|
•
|
complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid reply envelope; or
|
|
•
|
vote online during the Special Meeting. To attend and vote online, visit [ ] and enter the control number included on your proxy
card.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
submitting another proxy, including a proxy card, at a later date through any of the methods available to you;
|
|
•
|
giving written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, which must be filed with the Company’s Corporate
Secretary before the Special Meeting begins; or
|
|
•
|
attending the Special Meeting online and voting during the meeting. To attend the Special Meeting, visit [ ] and enter the
control number included on your proxy card.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
in favor of (a) the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement, (b) any proposal to adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such adjournment or postponement in accordance with the Merger Agreement, (c) the adoption of any amendment to
the Merger Agreement that is not an Adverse Amendment, and (d) any other proposal necessary or desirable for the consummation of the Mergers; and
|
|
•
|
against (a) any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Acquisition Agreement (or any action or proposal in furtherance thereof), (b)
any action or agreement that would be reasonably likely to result in a material breach of the Merger Agreement or any of the conditions to Closing not being satisfied, and (c) any other action or agreement that is intended to, or could
reasonably be expected to, materially delay, impede, interfere with, postpone, prevent or otherwise materially adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
|
in favor of (a) the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement, (b) any proposal to adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such adjournment or postponement in accordance with the Merger Agreement, (c) the adoption of any amendment to
the Merger Agreement that is not an Adverse Amendment, and (d) any other proposal necessary or desirable for the consummation of the Mergers; and
|
|
•
|
against (a) any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Acquisition Agreement (or any action or proposal in furtherance thereof), (b)
any action or agreement that would be reasonably likely to result in a material breach of the Merger Agreement or any of the conditions to Closing not being satisfied, and (c) any other action or agreement that is intended to, or could
reasonably be expected to, materially delay, impede, interfere with, postpone, prevent or otherwise materially adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Position
|
|
|
Citizenship
|
|
L. Lowry Baldwin
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Jay Cohen
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Joseph Kadow
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Barbara Matas
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Sathish Muthukrishnan
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Sunita Parasuraman
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Ellyn Shook
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Paul Sparks
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Chris Sullivan
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
Lead Independent Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Myron Williams
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Position
|
|
|
Citizenship
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Bradford Hale
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Jim Roche
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
President, The Baldwin Group and Chief Executive Officer, Underwriting,
Capacity & Technology Operations
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Daniel Galbraith
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
President, The Baldwin Group and Chief Executive Officer, Retail Brokerage
Operations
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Seth Cohen
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
Corbyn Lichon
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer
|
|
|
U.S.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|||
|
|
|
|
2026
|
|
|
2025
|
|
|
2024
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
$184,499
|
|
|
$123,669
|
|
|
$90,045
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
$1,846,091
|
|
|
$1,199,718
|
|
|
$1,026,490
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
$6,174,724
|
|
|
$3,862,220
|
|
|
$3,534,731
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
$1,720,565
|
|
|
$1,032,760
|
|
|
$1,056,434
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
$4,752,937
|
|
|
$2,777,822
|
|
|
$2,525,934
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
$1,421,173
|
|
|
$1,083,879
|
|
|
$1,008,344
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
2025
|
|
|
2024
|
|
|
2023
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except
per share information)
|
||||||
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
$1,504,884
|
|
|
$1,389,037
|
|
|
$1,218,555
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
$73,936
|
|
|
$60,648
|
|
|
$(42,551)
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
$(52,425)
|
|
|
$(39,350)
|
|
|
$(162,734)
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
$(54,154)
|
|
|
$(41,081)
|
|
|
$(164,019)
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
|
|
|
$(0.50)
|
|
|
$(0.39)
|
|
|
$(1.50)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Dividend
Paid
|
|
2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
$30.84
|
|
|
$21.70
|
|
|
—
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
$36.02
|
|
|
$26.08
|
|
|
—
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
$51.67
|
|
|
$34.94
|
|
|
—
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
$55.82
|
|
|
$34.22
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Dividend
Paid
|
|
2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
$47.15
|
|
|
$34.78
|
|
|
—
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
$46.13
|
|
|
$37.16
|
|
|
—
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
$43.64
|
|
|
$27.53
|
|
|
—
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
$29.83
|
|
|
$21.26
|
|
|
—
|
|
2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
$27.01
|
|
|
$15.88
|
|
|
—
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
$26.96
|
|
|
$16.84
|
|
|
—
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
$32.71
|
|
|
$24.66
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter (through October 7, 2026)
|
|
|
$31.94
|
|
|
$31.75
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding voting securities,
|
|
•
|
each director,
|
|
•
|
each of our NEOs, and
|
|
•
|
all our current directors and executive officers as a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
Class A Common
Stock
|
|
|
Class B Common
Stock
|
|
|
Combined Voting
Power(1)
|
|||||||||
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
5% Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Lowry Baldwin(3)
|
|
|
361,538
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
19,577,371
|
|
|
45.9%
|
|
|
19,938,909
|
|
|
14.2%
|
|
William Blair Investment Management, LLC(4)
|
|
|
6,794,492
|
|
|
7.0%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
6,794,492
|
|
|
4.8%
|
|
Glazer Capital, LLC(5)
|
|
|
5,179,906
|
|
|
5.3%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
5,179,906
|
|
|
3.7%
|
|
The Villages Invesco, LLC
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
6,263,805
|
|
|
14.7%
|
|
|
6,263,805
|
|
|
4.5%
|
|
IHC Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,807,622
|
|
|
6.6%
|
|
|
2,807,622
|
|
|
2.0%
|
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Lowry Baldwin
|
|
|
361,538
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
19,577,371
|
|
|
45.9%
|
|
|
19,938,909
|
|
|
14.2%
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
132,225
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
1,942,388
|
|
|
4.6%
|
|
|
2,074,613
|
|
|
1.5%
|
|
Jim Roche
|
|
|
322,437
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
781,786
|
|
|
1.8%
|
|
|
1,104,223
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
Class A Common
Stock
|
|
|
Class B Common
Stock
|
|
|
Combined Voting
Power(1)
|
|||||||||
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
%
|
|
Daniel Galbraith
|
|
|
43,486
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
1,145,992
|
|
|
2.7%
|
|
|
1,189,478
|
|
|
*
|
|
Bradford Hale
|
|
|
184,501
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
120,171
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
304,672
|
|
|
*
|
|
Seth Cohen
|
|
|
14,024
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
14,024
|
|
|
*
|
|
Jay Cohen
|
|
|
18,623
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
18,623
|
|
|
*
|
|
Joseph Kadow
|
|
|
24,600
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
24,600
|
|
|
*
|
|
Barbara Matas
|
|
|
19,600
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
19,600
|
|
|
*
|
|
Chris Sullivan
|
|
|
85,682
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
85,682
|
|
|
*
|
|
Sunita Parasuraman
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
Ellyn Shook
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
Myron Williams
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
14,445
|
|
|
*
|
|
Sathish Muthukrishnan
|
|
|
10,254
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
10,254
|
|
|
*
|
|
Paul Sparks
|
|
|
1,113,817
|
|
|
1.1%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,113,817
|
|
|
*
|
|
Directors and executive officers as
a group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15 persons)
|
|
|
2,013,910
|
|
|
2.1%
|
|
|
20,359,157
|
|
|
47.8%
|
|
|
22,373,067
|
|
|
16.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
Less than 1%.
|
|
(1)
|
Represents the percentage of the voting power of our Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a single
class. Each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote.
|
|
(2)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Unless indicated by footnote, and subject to community
property laws where applicable, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. This table is based on ownership data from the Company’s
DEF 14A filed April 22, 2026 (as of the April 6, 2026 Record Date for the 2026 Annual Meeting) and the most recent Schedule 13G/A and Form 4 filings available on EDGAR.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes 7,401,319 shares of Class A Common Stock and Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by other holders (Elizabeth H.
Krystyn, Laura R. Sherman, Trevor L. Baldwin, Daniel A. Galbraith, and Bradford L. Hale). Based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on May 8, 2026 (reporting as of March 31, 2026) by L. Lowry Baldwin and the other reporting persons named
therein. Based on 97,617,596 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of September 11, 2026.
|
|
(4)
|
Based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on May 7, 2026 by William Blair Investment Management, LLC (reporting as of March 31,
2026). William Blair Investment Management’s principal business address is 150 North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606. William Blair has sole voting power over 6,190,476 shares and sole dispositive power over 6,794,492 shares.
|
|
(5)
|
Based on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on September 25, 2026 by Glazer Capital, LLC. Glazer Capital, LLC’s principal business
address is 250 West 55th Street, Suite 30A, New York, New York 10019.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Business
Address and
Telephone
Number
|
|
|
Present
Principal
Occupation
|
|
|
Material Occupations in
Past Five Years
|
|
|
Country of
Citizenship
|
|
Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
300 Vesey Street, Suite 1230,
New York, NY 10282
(312) 426-1140
|
|
|
CEO and Co-Founder of Sequence since January 2025.
|
|
|
Prior to January 2025, Mr. Lee served as Managing Director and Head of
Private Investments of Lone Pine Capital.
|
|
|
United States
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Name
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Business
Address and
Telephone
Number
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Present
Principal
Occupation
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Material Occupations in
Past Five Years
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Country of Citizenship
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Michael J. Lee
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300 Vesey Street, Suite 1230, New York, NY 10282
(312) 426-1140
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CEO and Co-Founder of Sequence since January 2025.
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|
Prior to January 2025, Mr. Lee served as Managing Director and Head of
Private Investments of Lone Pine Capital.
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United States
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Alexander C. Rubin
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|
300 Vesey Street, Suite 1230, New York, NY 10282
(312) 426-1140
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Co-Founder of Sequence since April 2025.
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|
|
From February 2022 to January 2025, Mr. Rubin served as the Head of Product
and Engineering for the International Public Sector business at Scale AI. Prior to February 2022, Mr. Rubin was a software engineer at The Routing Company.
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United States
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Name
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Business
Address and
Telephone
Number
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Present
Principal
Occupation
|
|
|
Material Occupations in
Past Five Years
|
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|
Country of Citizenship
|
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Brandon Reeves
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920 Broadway, New York, NY 10010
(646) 475-4385
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Partner at Lux Capital since July 2017.
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Mr. Reeves has held the same principal material occupation for the past
five years.
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United States
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Name
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Business Address
and Telephone
Number
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Present
Principal
Occupation
|
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Material
Occupations in
Past Five Years
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Country of
Citizenship
|
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Marc R. Lisker
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550 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York,
NY 10022
(212) 377-1060
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|
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President of DFO Management, LLC since January 2023
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|
From 2010 until January 2023,
Mr. Lisker served as Chief Legal Officer of MSD Partners, L.P.
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United States
|
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Alisa M. Mall
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550 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor New York,
NY 10022
(212) 377-1060
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Chief Investment Officer of DFO Management, LLC since January 2023
|
|
|
From September 2022 until January 2023, Ms. Mall served as Chief Investment
Officer of MSD Capital, L.P. Immediately prior to that, she was a Managing Director at Foresite Capital from November 2020 until August 2022.
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United States
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
•
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Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed on February 26, 2026;
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|
•
|
Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC on May 4, 2026 and July 30,
2026;
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|
•
|
Our Form Schedule 14-A as filed with the SEC on September 14, 2026; and
|
|
•
|
Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on January 2, 2026 (excluding Item 9.01), January 2, 2026, June 4,
2026, September 14, 2026, September 21, 2026 and October 9,
2026.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
|
|
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
|
||||||
|
Section 1.01
|
|
|
Definitions
|
|
|
A-2
|
|
Section 1.02
|
|
|
Other Definitional and
Interpretative Provisions
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A-10
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ARTICLE 2
THE MERGERS
|
||||||
|
Section 2.01
|
|
|
Exchange of OpCo LLC Units
|
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A-11
|
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Section 2.02
|
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|
The LLC Merger
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A-11
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Section 2.03
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The Merger
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A-12
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Section 2.04
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|
|
Conversion of Class A Shares and
Class B Shares
|
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A-12
|
|
Section 2.05
|
|
|
Payment
|
|
|
A-12
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|
Section 2.06
|
|
|
Dissenting Shares
|
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A-13
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|
Section 2.07
|
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|
Company Equity Awards
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A-14
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Section 2.08
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Adjustments
|
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A-15
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Section 2.09
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|
|
Withholding Rights
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A-15
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Section 2.10
|
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The Second LLC Merger
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A-15
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|
ARTICLE 3
THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
|
||||||
|
Section 3.01
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|
|
Certificate of Incorporation
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A-16
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|
Section 3.02
|
|
|
Bylaws
|
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|
A-16
|
|
Section 3.03
|
|
|
Directors and Officers
|
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|
A-16
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
||||||
|
Section 4.01
|
|
|
Corporate Existence and Power
|
|
|
A-16
|
|
Section 4.02
|
|
|
Corporate Authorization
|
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|
A-16
|
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Section 4.03
|
|
|
Governmental Authorization
|
|
|
A-17
|
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Section 4.04
|
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Non-contravention
|
|
|
A-17
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Section 4.05
|
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Capitalization
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|
A-17
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Section 4.06
|
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Subsidiaries
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|
A-18
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|
Section 4.07
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SEC Filings and the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act
|
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|
A-19
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Section 4.08
|
|
|
Financial Statements
|
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|
A-19
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|
Section 4.09
|
|
|
Disclosure Documents
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
Section 4.10
|
|
|
Absence of Certain Changes
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
Section 4.11
|
|
|
No Undisclosed Material
Liabilities
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
Section 4.12
|
|
|
Compliance with Laws and Court
Orders
|
|
|
A-20
|
|
Section 4.13
|
|
|
Anti-Corruption & Trade
Controls
|
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|
A-20
|
|
Section 4.14
|
|
|
Litigation
|
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|
A-21
|
|
Section 4.15
|
|
|
Properties
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 4.16
|
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 4.17
|
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Section 4.18
|
|
|
Employee Benefit Plans
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
Section 4.19
|
|
|
Labor Matters
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
Section 4.20
|
|
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
Section 4.21
|
|
|
Material Contracts
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
Section 4.22
|
|
|
RIA Compliance Matters
|
|
|
A-26
|
|
Section 4.23
|
|
|
Client Agreements
|
|
|
A-27
|
|
Section 4.24
|
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
A-27
|
|
Section 4.25
|
|
|
Finders’ Fees
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 4.26
|
|
|
Opinion of Financial Advisor
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 4.27
|
|
|
Antitakeover Statutes
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 4.28
|
|
|
Related Party Transactions
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 4.29
|
|
|
Insurance Operational Matters.
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 4.30
|
|
|
No Other Representations or
Warranties
|
|
|
A-29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
|
||||||
|
Section 5.01
|
|
|
Corporate Existence and Power
|
|
|
A-29
|
|
Section 5.02
|
|
|
Corporate Authorization
|
|
|
A-29
|
|
Section 5.03
|
|
|
Governmental Authorization
|
|
|
A-30
|
|
Section 5.04
|
|
|
Non-contravention
|
|
|
A-30
|
|
Section 5.05
|
|
|
Disclosure Documents
|
|
|
A-30
|
|
Section 5.06
|
|
|
Finders’ Fees
|
|
|
A-30
|
|
Section 5.07
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
A-30
|
|
Section 5.08
|
|
|
Solvency
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
Section 5.09
|
|
|
No Prior Operations;
Capitalization
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
Section 5.10
|
|
|
Guarantee
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
Section 5.11
|
|
|
Other Businesses
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
Section 5.12
|
|
|
National Security Matters
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 5.13
|
|
|
No Other Representations or
Warranties
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 5.14
|
|
|
Ownership
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 5.15
|
|
|
No Form A Impediments
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
|
||||||
|
Section 6.01
|
|
|
Conduct of the Company
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 6.02
|
|
|
Access to Information
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 6.03
|
|
|
Non-Solicitation; Other Offers
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 6.04
|
|
|
Advisory Client Consents
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7
COVENANTS OF PARENT
|
||||||
|
Section 7.01
|
|
|
Conduct of Parent
|
|
|
A-37
|
|
Section 7.02
|
|
|
Obligations of Merger Subs
|
|
|
A-37
|
|
Section 7.03
|
|
|
Director and Officer Liability
|
|
|
A-37
|
|
Section 7.04
|
|
|
Employee Matters
|
|
|
A-37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8
COVENANTS OF PARENT AND THE COMPANY
|
||||||
|
Section 8.01
|
|
|
Antitrust and Other Regulatory
Filings.
|
|
|
A-38
|
|
Section 8.02
|
|
|
Cooperation
|
|
|
A-40
|
|
Section 8.03
|
|
|
Proxy Statement; Schedule 13E-3;
Company Meeting
|
|
|
A-40
|
|
Section 8.04
|
|
|
Public Announcements
|
|
|
A-41
|
|
Section 8.05
|
|
|
Further Assurances
|
|
|
A-41
|
|
Section 8.06
|
|
|
Confidentiality
|
|
|
A-41
|
|
Section 8.07
|
|
|
Section 16 Matters
|
|
|
A-41
|
|
Section 8.08
|
|
|
Notices of Certain Events
|
|
|
A-42
|
|
Section 8.09
|
|
|
Litigation and Proceedings
|
|
|
A-42
|
|
Section 8.10
|
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
A-42
|
|
Section 8.11
|
|
|
Company Financing Cooperation
|
|
|
A-44
|
|
Section 8.12
|
|
|
Credit Agreement
|
|
|
A-46
|
|
Section 8.13
|
|
|
Company Indenture
|
|
|
A-46
|
|
Section 8.14
|
|
|
Stock Exchange De-listing
|
|
|
A-47
|
|
Section 8.15
|
|
|
Resignations
|
|
|
A-47
|
|
Section 8.16
|
|
|
Formation of Seller LLC, Seller
Intermediate and Seller Merger Sub
|
|
|
A-47
|
|
Section 8.17
|
|
|
Rollover Agreements
|
|
|
A-47
|
|
Section 8.18
|
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
|
A-47
|
|
Section 8.19
|
|
|
Pre-Closing Tax Cooperation
|
|
|
A-48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS
|
||||||
|
Section 9.01
|
|
|
Conditions to the Obligations of
Each Party
|
|
|
A-48
|
|
Section 9.02
|
|
|
Conditions to the Obligations of
Parent and Merger Subs
|
|
|
A-49
|
|
Section 9.03
|
|
|
Conditions to the Obligations of
the Company and OpCo LLC
|
|
|
A-49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION
|
||||||
|
Section 10.01
|
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
A-49
|
|
Section 10.02
|
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
A-50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
|
||||||
|
Section 11.01
|
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
A-51
|
|
Section 11.02
|
|
|
Survival of Representations,
Warranties, Covenants and Agreements
|
|
|
A-52
|
|
Section 11.03
|
|
|
Amendments and Waivers
|
|
|
A-52
|
|
Section 11.04
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
A-52
|
|
Section 11.05
|
|
|
Disclosure Schedule
|
|
|
A-53
|
|
Section 11.06
|
|
|
Binding Effect; Benefit;
Assignment
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.07
|
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.08
|
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.09
|
|
|
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.10
|
|
|
Counterparts; Effectiveness
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.11
|
|
|
Entire Agreement
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.12
|
|
|
Severability
|
|
|
A-54
|
|
Section 11.13
|
|
|
Specific Performance
|
|
|
A-55
|
|
Section 11.14
|
|
|
Debt Financing Sources
|
|
|
A-55
|
|
Section 11.15
|
|
|
No Recourse
|
|
|
A-56
|
|
Section 11.16
|
|
|
Special Committee Approval
|
|
|
A-56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
(a)
|
to the extent the Closing Date occurs on a date that is 120 days or more after December 31, 2026, the audited consolidated
financial statements (including any related notes and schedules) of the Company, as of the end of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; and
|
|
(b)
|
the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements (including any related notes and schedules) of the Company, as of the
end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal quarter of any fiscal year) ended after the date of this Agreement and at least 60 days prior to the Closing Date (in the case of this clause (b), which shall be subject to a SAS
100 review and include a comparative period for the previous fiscal year);
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term
|
|
|
Section
|
|
|
|
|
Adverse Recommendation Change
|
|
|
6.03(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Agreement
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Financing
|
|
|
8.10(c)
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Financing Commitment Letter
|
|
|
8.10(c)
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Bonus Plan
|
|
|
7.04(e)
|
|
|
|
|
Applicable Date
|
|
|
4.07
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Directors
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
OpCo LLC
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization Date
|
|
|
4.05
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Common Stock
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Class B Common Stock
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Client Consent
|
|
|
6.04(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
2.03(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Date
|
|
|
2.03(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Exchanges
|
|
|
2.01
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Exchanges Notice
|
|
|
2.01
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Year
|
|
|
7.04(e)
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Company Board Recommendation
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Company Common Stock
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Company Disclosure Documents
|
|
|
4.09
|
|
|
|
|
Company Meeting
|
|
|
4.03
|
|
|
|
|
Company Related Parties
|
|
|
11.04(d)(i)
|
|
|
|
|
Company Restricted Share
|
|
|
2.07(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Company RSA
|
|
|
2.07(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Company SEC Documents
|
|
|
4.07
|
|
|
|
|
Company Securities
|
|
|
4.05(c)
|
|
|
|
|
Company Subsidiary Securities
|
|
|
4.06(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Company Termination Fee
|
|
|
11.04(b)(i)
|
|
|
|
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
|
|
6.02
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent PSU Cash Award
|
|
|
2.07(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent RSA Cash Award
|
|
|
2.07(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Continuation Period
|
|
|
7.04(b)
|
|
|
|
|
D&O Insurance
|
|
|
7.03(c)
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Debt Commitment Letters
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5.07(a)(i)
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Debt Financing
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5.07(a)(i)
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Debt Financing Source
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5.07(a)(i)
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Debt Financing Sources Related Party
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11.14
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LLC Merger
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Recitals
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LLC Merger Sub
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Preamble
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DGCL
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Recitals
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DLLCA
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Recitals
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Effective Time
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2.03(c)
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Electronic Delivery
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11.10
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Term
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Section
|
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Email
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11.01
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End Date
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10.01(b)(i)
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Enforcement Costs
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11.04(c)
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Equity Commitment Letter
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5.07(a)(ii)
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Equity Financing
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5.07(a)(ii)
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Equity Financing Source(s)
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5.07(a)(ii)
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Exchange Agent
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2.05(a)
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Excluded Benefits
|
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7.04(b)
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Financing
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5.07(a)(ii)
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Financing Commitment Letters
|
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5.07(a)(ii)
|
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Financing Costs
|
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|
8.11(c)
|
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Guarantee
|
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Recitals
|
|
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|
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Indemnified Person
|
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7.03(a)
|
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|
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Insurance Permits
|
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4.06
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Intervening Event
|
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6.03(b)(ii)
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Material Contract
|
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|
4.21(a)
|
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|
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Merger
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
|
2.04(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Merger Sub
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Merger Subs
|
|
|
Preamble
|
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|
|
Note Redemption Documents
|
|
|
Section 8.14
|
|
|
|
|
Notice Period
|
|
|
6.03(d)
|
|
|
|
|
Notice of Recommendation Change
|
|
|
6.03(d)
|
|
|
|
|
OpCo LLC
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
|
Parent-Filed Tax Returns
|
|
|
8.18(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Related Parties
|
|
|
11.04(d)(ii)
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Termination Fee
|
|
|
11.04(b)(iii)
|
|
|
|
|
Payment Fund
|
|
|
2.05(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Payoff Amount
|
|
|
8.12
|
|
|
|
|
Payoff Letter
|
|
|
8.12
|
|
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|
|
Pre-Closing Flow-Through Contest
|
|
|
8.18(c)
|
|
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|
|
Preferred Shares
|
|
|
4.05
|
|
|
|
|
Preserved Claims
|
|
|
11.04(d)(ii)
|
|
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|
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Proxy Statement
|
|
|
4.03
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Company-Owned Intellectual Property
|
|
|
4.16(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory Concession
|
|
|
8.01
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory Filings
|
|
|
4.22(j)
|
|
|
|
|
Reimbursement Cap
|
|
|
8.11(c)
|
|
|
|
|
Representatives
|
|
|
6.02
|
|
|
|
|
Requisite Company Vote
|
|
|
4.02
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 13E-3
|
|
|
8.03(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Section 409A
|
|
|
2.05(e)
|
|
|
|
|
Solvent
|
|
|
5.08(a)(ii)
|
|
|
|
|
Special Committee
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Special Committee Recommendation
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsor
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Superior Proposal
|
|
|
6.03(e)
|
|
|
|
|
Surviving Corporation
|
|
|
2.03
|
|
|
|
|
Surviving LLC
|
|
|
2.02(a)
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction Litigation
|
|
|
8.09
|
|
|
|
|
Uncertificated Share
|
|
|
2.05(e)
|
|
|
|
|
Voting, Support and Rollover Agreement
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
|
Willful Breach
|
|
|
10.02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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|
||||||
|
|
|
|
if to Parent, Merger Subs or, after the Effective Time, the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or the Surviving LLC, to:
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Square Acquisition Parent, Inc.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c/o Sequence AI Holdings, Inc.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
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300 Vesey Street, Suite 1230
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10282
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
Michael Lee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email: [***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DFO Private Investments, L.P.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c/o DFO Management, LLC
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
Dan Bitar; John Bailey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email: [***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latham & Watkins LLP
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1271 Avenue of the Americas
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10020
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
Ian Nussbaum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean Parish
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julian Azran
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seth Gottleib
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email:
|
|
|
[***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
125 Broad Street
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10004-2498
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
C. Andrew Gerlach
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lauren S. Boehmke
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email:
|
|
|
[***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
if to the Company or OpCo LLC, prior to the Effective Time, to:
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4211 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 800
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa, Florida 33607
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
Seth Cohen, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email:
|
|
|
[***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450 Lexington Avenue
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, New York 10017
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
|
Oliver Smith
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Gilson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Email:
|
|
|
[***]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
SQUARE ACQUISITION PARENT, INC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
SQUARE ACQUISITION MERGER SUB I, INC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
SQUARE ACQUISITION MERGER SUB II, LLC
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
Michael J. Lee
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
T 212.287.3200
F 212.287.3201
pwpartners.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
1.
|
reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other publicly available business and financial information with
respect to the Company, including equity research analyst reports;
|
|
2.
|
reviewed certain internal financial statements, analyses and forecasts (the “Company Forecasts”) and other internal
financial information and operating data relating to the business of the Company, in each case, prepared by management of the Company and approved for our use by management of the Company;
|
|
3.
|
discussed the past and current business, operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company with senior management of
the Company, the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Special Committee”) and other representatives and advisors of the Company;
|
|
4.
|
compared the financial performance of the Company with that of certain publicly-traded companies which we believe to be
generally relevant;
|
|
5.
|
compared the financial terms of the Merger with the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions which we believe
to be generally relevant;
|
|
6.
|
reviewed the historical trading prices and trading activity for the Class A Common Stock and compared such price and trading
activity with that of securities of certain publicly-traded companies which we believe to be generally relevant;
|
|
7.
|
participated in discussions among representatives of the Company and Parent and their respective advisors;
|
|
8.
|
took into account the results of our review, at the direction of the Special Committee, of indications of interest and
proposals from third parties with respect to a potential acquisition of the Company;
|
|
9.
|
reviewed a draft of the Merger Agreement dated September 13, 2026, and a draft of the TRA Amendment received by us on
September 13, 2026; and
|
|
10.
|
conducted such other financial studies, analyses and investigations, and considered such other factors, as we have deemed
appropriate.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
PERELLA WEINBERG PARTNERS LP
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
(a)
|
Ownership and Title. As of the time of execution of this Agreement, (i) such Stockholder is the record and beneficial
owner of the Stockholder Securities set forth on Annex 1 hereto and has good and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Liens, other than transfer restrictions imposed by applicable securities Law or contemplated by the
Company’s Organizational Documents, the OpCo LLC Agreement or customary Liens pursuant to the terms of any custody or similar agreement applicable to Stockholder Securities held in
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
(b)
|
Existence and Power. If the Stockholder is an entity, the Stockholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization. The Stockholder has the legal right, power, authority and capacity to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
|
|
(c)
|
Authority and Enforceability. This Agreement has been, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and,
assuming this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, Parent, Merger Subs and Topco, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the
Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as (A) such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws affecting or relating to creditors’
rights generally and (B) equitable remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought (the “Enforceability Exceptions”). No other action on the part of or vote of holders of any equity securities of the Stockholder is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of,
compliance with and performance by the Stockholder of this Agreement.
|
|
(d)
|
No Conflicts; No Consents. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation by the Stockholder
of the transactions contemplated hereby or the performance of the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder will (i) to the Stockholder’s knowledge, cause a violation, or a default, by the Stockholder of any applicable Law or Order applicable
to the Stockholder or the Stockholder Securities, or to which the Stockholder or the Stockholder Securities are subject, (ii) require any consent by any Person under, constitute a breach or default, or an event that, with or without
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under, or cause or permit the termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit to which such Stockholder is
entitled under any Contract to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or its assets or the Stockholder Securities are bound, other than as required under the Exchange Act, (iii) if such Stockholder is an entity,
violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Stockholder, (iv) to the Stockholder’s knowledge, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority on the
part of the Stockholder, except for compliance with applicable securities Laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (v) result (or, with the giving of notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would result) in the
creation or imposition of any lien on any of the Stockholder Securities (other than any liens created by this Agreement); except in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iv), as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Other than the filings and reports pursuant to and in compliance with the Exchange Act, to the Stockholder’
knowledge, no filings, notifications, approvals or other consents are required to be obtained by the Stockholder from, or to be given by the Stockholder to, or be made by the Stockholder with, any Governmental Authority in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Stockholder of this Agreement, except as would not, prevent or materially delay the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
|
|
(e)
|
Voting Power. Other than as provided in the BIGH Voting Agreement (as defined below), this Agreement, Company’s
Organizational Documents and the OpCo LLC Agreement, the Stockholder has full and unencumbered voting power with respect to the Stockholder Securities and full and unencumbered power of
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
(f)
|
Litigation. As of the time of execution of this Agreement, there is no Order, nor is there any Action pending or, to the
knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against the Stockholder or any of its assets (including the Stockholder Securities) at law or equity before or by any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to impair, prevent or
delay the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect or otherwise impact the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder in a timely manner.
|
|
(g)
|
Reliance. The Stockholder has received and reviewed a copy of the Merger Agreement. The Stockholder understands and
acknowledges that the Company, Parent and Merger Subs are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Stockholder has been represented by or had the
opportunity to be represented by independent counsel of its own choosing and has had the right and opportunity to consult with its attorney, and to the extent, if any, that the Stockholder desired, the Stockholder availed itself of such
right and opportunity.
|
|
(h)
|
Finders’ Fees. No broker, investment bank, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s,
financial adviser’s or similar fee or commission for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or after the Closing, Parent or any of its Affiliates (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) could become liable in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder (it being understood that arrangements of the Company or its other Affiliates shall not be deemed to be an arrangement of
such Stockholder).
|
|
(i)
|
Investment Intent. The Stockholder is acquiring the Exchange Shares for the Stockholder’s own account as principal, for
investment purposes only, not for any other Person and not for the express purposes of resale or distribution. The Stockholder is not subscribing for the Exchange Shares from Topco in a fiduciary capacity.
|
|
(j)
|
Financial Status. The Stockholder (i) is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act or (ii) an entity in which all equity owners are “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Stockholder is able to bear the economic
risk of an investment in the Exchange Shares for an indefinite period of time, has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and business contingencies, has no need for liquidity in the investment in the Exchange Shares,
understands that the Stockholder may not be able to liquidate the Exchange Shares in an emergency, if at all, and can afford a complete loss of the investment. The Stockholder has received no advice from Topco or any of its Affiliates as
to the legal, investment or tax consequences of the Contribution contemplated by this Agreement or the Stockholder’s investment in the Exchange Shares.
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(k)
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Access to Information. The Stockholder has been given the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
Topco and its representatives concerning (i) the terms and conditions of the issuance of the Exchange Shares and the other transactions contemplated in connection with the Rollover and (ii) the financial condition, operation and prospects
of Topco and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to the Mergers.
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(l)
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No Other Representation. In entering into this Agreement, the Stockholder has received no other representations or
warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from the Company or any other Person acting on behalf of the Company, other than those contained in Section 2 of this Agreement, and has received no other representations
or warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from Parent, Merger Subs or Topco or any other Person acting on behalf of Parent, Merger Subs or Topco, other than those contained in Section 3 of this Agreement.
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(a)
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Existence and Power. The Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of
the State of Delaware and the Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and has taken all necessary
corporate action to duly authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
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(b)
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Authority and Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming this
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the other Parties, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability
Exceptions.
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(c)
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No Conflicts; No Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder, will not: (i) violate or conflict with any Law to which the Company is subject; (ii) constitute a breach or default under, or cause or
permit the termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration or creation of any right or obligation under any provision of any Contract binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) violate any provision of the
Company’s Organizational Documents or the OpCo LLC Agreement, except, in the case of the foregoing clause (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or delay the performance by the Company of any of its obligations
under this Agreement.
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(d)
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No Other Representation. In entering into this Agreement, the Company has received no other representations or
warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from the Stockholder or any other Person acting on behalf of the Stockholder, other than those contained in Section 1 of this Agreement, and has received no other
representations or warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from Parent, Merger Subs or Topco or any other Person acting on behalf of Parent, Merger Subs or Topco, other than those contained in Section 3 of this
Agreement or expressly set forth in Article 5 of the Merger Agreement.
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(a)
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Existence and Power. Each of Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub and Topco is an entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and each of Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub and Topco have the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform their obligations
under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and each has taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to duly authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
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(b)
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Authority and Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of Parent, Company
Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub and Topco, and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the other Parties, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger
Sub and Topco, is enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
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(c)
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No Conflicts; No Consents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC
Merger Sub and Topco, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of each of their obligations hereunder, will not: (i) violate or conflict with any Law to which Parent, Company Merger Sub,
LLC Merger Sub or Topco is subject; (ii) constitute a breach or default under, or cause or permit the termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration or creation of any right or obligation under any provision of any Contract
binding upon Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub or Topco; or (iii) violate any provision of the Organizational Documents of Parent or Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub or Topco, except, in the case of the foregoing clause (ii),
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or delay the performance by Parent, Company Merger Sub, LLC Merger Sub or Topco of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
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(d)
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Interests Duly Authorized. All of the Exchange Shares to be issued to the Stockholder under this Agreement, when issued
and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly
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(e)
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No Other Representation. In entering into this Agreement, Parent, Merger Subs and Topco have received no other
representations or warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from the Stockholder or any other Person acting on behalf of the Stockholder, other than those contained in Section 1 of this Agreement, and have
received no other representations or warranties with respect to the matters contemplated herein from the Company or any other Person acting on behalf of the Company, other than those contained in Section 2 of this Agreement or
expressly set forth in Article 4 of the Merger Agreement.
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(a)
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Prior to the Termination Date, the Stockholder shall not, and shall cause each of its controlled Affiliates not to, directly or
indirectly: (i) transfer, assign, sell, gift-over, hedge or swap (or such other transaction or Contract which is designed to (or is reasonably expected to lead to or result in) transfer the economic or voting consequences of ownership of
any Equity Interests), pledge or otherwise dispose of (whether by sale, liquidation, dissolution, dividend, distribution, merger, tendering into any tender or exchange offer, testamentary disposition, by operation of Law or otherwise),
enter into any derivative arrangement with respect to, or create or permit to exist any lien or encumbrance on, or enter into any agreement with respect to, any Stockholder Securities (“Transfer”);
(ii) enter into any Contract, option or other agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any Transfer; (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization or consent with respect to any of the Stockholder
Securities; (iv) deposit any of the Stockholder Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to any Stockholder Securities; (v) take or cause the taking of any other action that would
reasonably be expected to restrict, prevent, materially impede or delay the performance of such Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or seek to do or solicit any of the foregoing actions, or cause or permit any other Person to take any of
the foregoing actions, excluding any bankruptcy filing; (vi) solely with respect to the Rollover Units, exchange any LLC Units for shares of Class B Common Stock or (vii) otherwise approve or consent to any of the foregoing; provided,
that, other than with respect to the Rollover Units, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit a Transfer of Stockholder’s Equity Interests in the Company, including any Stockholder Securities, to a controlled Affiliate
of Stockholder (including, without limitation, to Stockholder’s Family Group or any trust, limited partnership or other legal entity the sole beneficiary (or beneficiaries) of which is a member (or members) of such Stockholder’s Family
Group (including a charitable remainder trust, provided that the current beneficiary (or beneficiaries) comply with the foregoing) (such Transfer, an “Estate Planning Transfer”), so long as in any
such case, (x) (A) such Person remains a controlled Affiliate and (B), in the case of an Estate Planning Transfer, during the period that any such transferee holds any right, title or interest in any Stockholder Securities, no other
Person other than such Stockholder may have voting control over such Stockholder Securities, and (y) prior to any such Transfer, (I) the transferring Stockholder provides written notice of such Transfer to Parent at least two (2) Business
Days in advance and the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by each of the terms of, and to assume all of the obligations of such Stockholder under, this Agreement with respect to such Equity Interests in the Company, including any
Stockholder Securities, by executing and delivering to Parent a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company (on the execution and delivery of a joinder agreement by such transferee, such
transferee shall be deemed to be a Party hereto as if such transferee’s signature appeared on the signature pages of this Agreement and shall be deemed to be a Stockholder) and (II) Stockholder remains bound and subject to this Agreement,
including with respect to all its obligations herein, and provided that Stockholder, in the event of such a Transfer, shall cause such transferee to comply with all of Stockholder’s obligations herein. “Family
Group” means, as to any particular Person, (i) such Person’s spouse, siblings (whether natural or adopted) and descendants (whether natural or adopted), (ii) any trust solely for the benefit of such Person or such Person’s
spouse, siblings (whether natural or adopted) or descendants (whether natural or adopted) and (iii) any partnerships, corporations or limited liability companies where the only partners, equityholders or members are such Person or such
Person’s spouse, siblings (whether natural or adopted) or
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(b)
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At all times from the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the Rollover Closing and (ii) the Termination Date, in furtherance
of this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company (or its counsel) to notify its transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Stockholder Securities (and that this Agreement places limits
on the voting and transfer of the Stockholder Securities), subject to the provisions hereof and provided that any such stop transfer order and notice shall immediately be withdrawn and terminated by the Company promptly following the
earlier of (x) the Rollover Closing and (y) the Termination Date.
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(c)
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The Stockholder waives and agrees not to exercise or assert any appraisal rights or dissenter’s rights that may be available to
the Stockholder with respect to the Merger or all or any portion of the Stockholder Securities pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL.
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(d)
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The Stockholder agrees that it will not commence or participate in, assist or knowingly encourage or receive any economic or
other benefit from any claim or other Action, whether derivative or otherwise, against Parent, Merger Subs, Sponsors, Sponsor Related Persons, Topco, OpCo, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, successors or assigns, or their
respective boards of directors (or similar governing bodies) and officers, relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, including any such claim or other Action (A) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the Closing)
or (B) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof, including the Special Committee) or any member thereof in connection with the Merger Agreement or the Transactions, and the Stockholder
hereby agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action relating to the foregoing; provided, that this Section 4(d) shall not be deemed a waiver of any rights of the Stockholder or its
Affiliates for any breach of this Agreement by Parent, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates.
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(a)
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Prior to the execution of this Agreement, each Stockholder that as of the date hereof is a record owner of Class B Shares and
is a party to the Company Stockholders Agreement has duly executed and validly delivered to Parent an executed counterpart to the Class B Consent and irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that the Class B Consent may not be revoked,
superseded or modified in any way, unless and until this Agreement shall have been validly terminated in accordance with Section 11. In the event that the Merger Agreement is modified or amended in accordance with its terms after
the execution of the Class B Consent and such modification or amendment is not materially adverse to a Stockholder party to the Company Stockholders Agreement, such Stockholder shall promptly (and in any event within one (1) Business Day)
duly execute and validly deliver (or cause the holder of record of the Stockholder’s Class B Shares to duly execute and validly deliver) to Parent a modified version of the Class B Consent (in a form approved by the Stockholders that are
signatories to the Class B Consent, Parent and the Company (acting upon the
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(a)
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From the date of this Agreement until the Termination Date, the Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that
at every annual, special or other meeting of the stockholders of the Company or any vote of the unitholders of OpCo LLC, however called, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and in connection with any action proposed to be
taken by written consent of the Company stockholders or the unitholders of OpCo LLC, the Stockholder (in Stockholder’s capacity as a holder of the Stockholder Securities) shall, or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record
date to, in each case to the fullest extent that the Stockholder’s shares of Stockholder Securities are entitled to vote thereon: (i) appear (in person or by proxy) at each such meeting or otherwise cause all of Stockholder’s shares of
Stockholder Securities entitled to vote to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and (ii) unconditionally and irrevocably affirmatively vote (or cause to be voted if another Person is the holder of record of
any Stockholder Securities beneficially owned by the Stockholder), in person or by proxy, (and not to withdraw any such vote), or deliver (or cause to be delivered) and not withdraw a written consent with respect to, all the Stockholder
Securities entitled to vote (A) in favor of (1) the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (2) any proposal to adjourn or postpone any Company
Stockholder Meeting to a later date if the Company or Parent proposes or requests such postponement or adjournment in accordance with Section 8.03(e) of the Merger Agreement, (3) the adoption of any amended and restated Merger Agreement
or amendment to the Merger Agreement that, in any such case, does not (x) decrease the Merger Consideration or result in the imposition of any restriction on Stockholder’s right to receive the Merger Consideration, (y) change the form of
the Merger Consideration, or (z) make any other amendment pursuant to Section 11.03 of the Merger Agreement that results in a change that adversely and disproportionately affects the Stockholder relative to any other stockholders of the
Company (any amendment that results in clauses (x) through (z), an “Adverse Amendment”) and (4) any other proposal considered and voted upon by the Company stockholders at any meeting of the
stockholders of the Company necessary or desirable for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and/or (B) against any (1) Acquisition Proposal and Alternative Acquisition Agreement (or
any action or proposal in furtherance of any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Acquisition Agreement), (2) action or agreement that would be reasonably likely to result in (I) a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or any other obligation or agreement of the Company contained in the Merger Agreement or of the Stockholder contained in this Agreement or (II) any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied and
(3) other action or agreement that is intended to, or which could reasonably be expected to, materially delay, impede, interfere with, postpone, prevent or otherwise materially adversely affect the consummation of the Mergers or the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Subject to Section 12(a), the obligations of the Stockholder specified in this Section 6(a) shall apply whether or not (a) the Merger or any action described above is recommended by the
Special Committee or Board of Directors or (b) there has been any Company Board Recommendation Change.
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(b)
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Without limitation to Section 6(a), the Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote the Stockholder
Securities in its sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company Stockholders (other than those set forth in Section 6(a)).
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(a)
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Contribution of the Rollover Shares in Exchange for the Exchange Shares. On the terms and conditions set forth herein,
(i) the Stockholder agrees, immediately prior to and subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time (the “Rollover Closing”), to contribute, transfer and assign to Topco all of its right, title and
interest in a number of Class A Common Stock equal to the amount set forth on Annex 1 hereto under the caption “Rollover Shares” (such shares, the “Rollover Shares”), free and clear of any
and all Liens, other than transfer restrictions imposed under applicable securities Laws or contemplated by the Company’s Organizational Documents (which, in any event, will not prevent such contribution (the “Contribution”)), in exchange for the issuance by Topco to the Stockholder of a number of newly issued common equity
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(b)
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Units as Retained Units. On the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Stockholder agrees that each of the units of
OpCo LLC set forth on Annex 1 hereto under the caption “Rollover Units” (such units, the “Rollover Units”) shall be deemed “Retained Units” pursuant to the Merger Agreement and shall be
unaffected by the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the LLC Merger.
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(c)
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Topco Deliveries. At the Rollover Closing, Topco shall deliver to the Stockholder (i) customary documentation evidencing
the issuance of the Exchange Shares to the Stockholder and (ii) duly executed counterparts to the Topco LLC Agreement and the A&R Seller LLC Agreement.
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(d)
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Stockholder Deliveries. At the Rollover Closing, the Stockholder shall deliver to Topco (i) a duly executed counterpart
to the Topco LLC Agreement, (ii) a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8 (together with any appropriate attachments), (iii) such other documentation as may be necessary or reasonably advisable for Topco or
any of its Affiliates, and as reasonably available to Stockholder, to reduce or eliminate withholding or other Taxes or comply with any tax or reportion regime, in each case, that are reasonably requested by Topco in writing at least five
(5) Business Days prior to the Rollover Closing.
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(e)
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Contribution to Parent. At the Closing, immediately following the receipt of the Rollover Shares, Topco shall indirectly
contribute to Parent (through a series of contributions by Topco and its wholly owned Subsidiaries in the ownership chain between Topco and Parent) the Rollover Shares (each contribution, a “Subsequent
Contribution”). Each Subsequent Contribution is intended to qualify as a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code.
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(f)
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Management Incentive Plan. Topco will adopt (or cause a designated aggregator entity to adopt), contemporaneously with,
or promptly following the Closing, a management incentive plan.
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(a)
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The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants, and covenants and agrees, that, except for this Agreement, such Stockholder (a)
is not currently party to, and shall not enter into at any time until the Termination Date, any voting agreement, voting trust or similar agreement with respect to any of the Stockholder Securities and does not have any Stockholder
Securities currently deposited, and shall not deposit at any time until the Termination Date any of the Stockholder Securities, in any voting trust, (b) has not granted (which grant is currently in effect), and shall not grant at any time
until the Termination Date, a proxy, consent or power of attorney with respect to any of the Stockholder Securities, (c) has not given, and shall not give at any time until the Termination Date, any voting instructions or authorities in
any manner inconsistent with Section 6 with respect to any of the Stockholder Securities and (d) has not taken, and shall not take at any time until the Termination Date, any action that (i) would reasonably be expected to
constitute a material breach hereof or have the effect of preventing such Stockholder from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to, restrict, prevent, impede or
delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Mergers; provided, that the foregoing shall not restrict the Stockholder from the good faith negotiation and/or execution of arrangements
related to the Stockholder’s compensation and/or benefits in any way. The Stockholder agrees that it shall not, and shall cause each of its controlled Affiliates not to, become a member of a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) with respect to any securities in the Company for the purpose of opposing or competing with or taking any actions inconsistent with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
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(b)
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In the event that such Stockholder is a party to the Company Stockholders Agreement or the BIGH Voting Agreement (each, as
defined below), subject to and effective upon the Closing, each of the Company and the
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(c)
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The Stockholder agrees and acknowledges neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement by the
Company nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby nor the performance of the Company’s obligations contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case, constitute or will constitute a material breach
or default, or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach or default under, or cause or permit the termination (or payment of any termination or similar fee), cancellation,
modification or acceleration of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit to which the Company is entitled under any Contract or other commercial arrangement between the Stockholder (or any Affiliate thereof) and the Company (or
any Affiliate thereof).
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(d)
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The Stockholder shall, effective as of the Rollover Closing, become a party to, and become subject to and bound by, the
definitive agreements for the Topco LLC Agreement and A&R Seller LLC Agreement and such other governing, organizational or other applicable agreements or documents of OpCo LLC (the “Governing Documents”) that are
consistent with the terms set forth in the term sheet attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Term Sheet”), respectively, by executing a counterpart or joinder thereto; provided that in the event
that the Governing Documents are not executed at or prior to the Rollover Closing, (i) each of the Parties shall enter into, execute and deliver the Governing Documents, including the Topco LLC Agreement and the A&R Seller LLC
Agreement, as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, and (ii) until such time as the Governing Documents are entered into, executed and delivered by Topco and the Stockholder and any other parties thereto, the rights and
obligations set forth in the Term Sheet shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of the Parties.
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(e)
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The Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its controlled Affiliates to, participate in or otherwise support any tender offer
for any equity securities of the Company.
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(f)
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The Stockholder agrees and acknowledges that the Rollover Units and the Exchange Shares are being acquired in a transaction not
involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, in reliance on an exemption therefrom. The Stockholder understands that the Rollover Units and the Exchange Shares have not been, and will not be, approved or
disapproved by the SEC or by any other federal or state agency, and that no such agency has passed on the accuracy or adequacy of disclosures made to the Stockholder by Topco.
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(g)
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The Stockholder agrees and acknowledges that the Rollover Units and the Exchange Shares have not been and will not be
registered under the Securities Act or the securities Laws of any state and, unless so registered, may not be offered, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state or foreign securities Laws. Except as required by the Topco LLC Agreement and the Fourth A&R Seller LLC Agreement, the Stockholder agrees not to sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of the Exchange Shares unless the Exchange Shares have been so registered or an exemption from such registration requirement is available. The Stockholder further acknowledges that its ability to dispose of
the Rollover Units and the Exchange Shares will be subject to the restrictions contained in the Topco LLC Agreement and the Fourth A&R LLC Agreement, and that there will not be any public trading market for the Rollover Units and the
Exchange Shares.
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(h)
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The Stockholder agrees and acknowledges that the Exchange Shares received in the Contribution, to the extent represented by
physical certificates, will bear a customary legend referencing the fact that such Exchange Shares have not been registered under applicable securities Laws and are subject to the terms of the Topco LLC Agreement.
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(i)
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The Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in such person’s capacity as the record and beneficial owner of such
Stockholder Securities and not in any other capacity. Without limiting the terms of the Merger Agreement in any respect, nothing set forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to restrict or limit the ability of any Stockholder to take any
actions in such Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company or from complying with such Stockholder’s fiduciary duties in such capacity.
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(a)
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This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the Parties, shall terminate immediately without any notice or other action
by any Person, upon the earliest to occur of the following (the date of such termination, the “Termination Date”):
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(i)
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the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms;
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(ii)
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the Effective Time;
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(iii)
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any Adverse Amendment; provided that the Stockholder delivers written notice to Parent at least five (5) Business Days in
advance of such termination pursuant to this Section 12(a)(iii) and such Adverse Amendment is not cured by Parent within such five (5)-Business Day period after receipt of written notice of such termination; or
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(iv)
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the written consent of each of the Parties.
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(b)
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Upon termination of this Agreement, all obligations of the Parties under this Agreement will terminate, without any liability
or other obligation on the part of any Party to any Person in respect hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no Party shall have any claim against another (and no person shall have any rights against such Party), whether
under contract, tort or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided, however, that the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party from liability for fraud or any willful and material
breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
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(c)
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Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, Section 12(b), Section 13, Section 14 and Section 18
hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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(a)
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Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any Party hereunder shall be in writing (including electronic
mail (“email”) transmission, so long as a receipt of such email is requested and received or a confirming copy of such notice is sent on the same day by a nationally recognized overnight courier
service (costs prepaid)) and shall be given.
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(i) If to the Stockholder:
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[Stockholder]
[Address]
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[City, State ZIP]
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Attn:
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[ ]
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Email:
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[ ]
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
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Katzke, Miller & Morgenbesser LLP
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Attn:
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Michael S. Katzke
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Joshua M. Miller
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Email:
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[***]
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(ii) If to Parent, Merger Subs or Topco:
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Square Acquisition Parent, Inc.
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c/o Sequence AI Holdings, Inc.
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300 Vesey Street, Suite 1230
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New York, NY 10282
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Attn:
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Michael Lee
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Email:
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[***]
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with copies (which will not constitute notice) to:
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Latham & Watkins LLP
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1271 Avenue of the Americas
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New York, NY 10020
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Attn:
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Ian Nussbaum
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Sean Parish
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Julian Azran
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Seth Gottlieb
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Email:
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[***]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
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125 Broad Street
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New York, NY 10004-2498
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Attn:
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C. Andrew Gerlach
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Lauren S. Boehmke
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Email:
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[***]
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(iii) If to the Company:
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The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc.
|
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4211 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 800
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Tampa, Florida 33607
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Attn:
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Seth Cohen, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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Email:
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[***]
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
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Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
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450 Lexington Avenue
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New York, New York 10017
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Attention:
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Oliver Smith
Michael Gilson
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Email:
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[***]
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(b)
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Headings; Interpretations. The 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 1.02 of the Merger Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the terms of this Agreement. An “Affiliate” of the Stockholder
will only be deemed to be an Affiliate under this Agreement for so long as it continues to the meet the definition of such term.
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(c)
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Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be signed (including by electronic signatures) in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, it being understood that the Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Any such counterpart,
to the extent delivered by fax or .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail (any such delivery, an “Electronic Delivery”), will be treated in all manner and respects as an
original executed counterpart and will be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. This Agreement shall become effective when each Party shall have received a
counterpart hereof signed (including by electronic signature) by all of the other Parties. Until and unless each Party has received a counterpart hereof signed (including by electronic signature) by the other Party, this Agreement shall
have no effect and no Party shall have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any other oral or written agreement or other communication). No Party may raise the use of an Electronic Delivery to deliver a signature, or
the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was executed electronically or transmitted or communicated through the use of an Electronic Delivery, as a defense to the formation of a contract, and each Party forever waives any
such defense, except to the extent such defense relates to lack of authenticity.
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(d)
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Entire Agreement, No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement (i) constitutes the entire
agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings both oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and (ii) (x) shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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(e)
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Governing Law, Jurisdiction. This Agreement and any and all Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such
state. The Parties hereto irrevocably agree that any Action seeking to interpret or enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (whether
brought by any Party or any of its Affiliates or against any Party or any of its Affiliates) shall be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in
the State of Delaware or other Delaware state court, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Action and irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Action in any such court or that any such Action brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Process in any such Action may be served on any Party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party agrees that service of process on
such Party as provided in this Section 19(e) shall be deemed effective service of process on such Party.
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(f)
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Waiver of Jury Trial.EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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(g)
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Assignment. Other than in connection with any Transfer permitted by Section 4, no Party may assign, delegate or
transfer either this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Parties, except that Parent, Merger Subs and Topco will have the right to assign all or any portion of their
respective rights and obligations pursuant to this Agreement to any Affiliate thereof or any party to whom they have assigned the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that, following the Effective Time, Parent, Merger Subs
and Topco may assign, in their sole discretion and without the consent of any other party, any or all of their rights, interests and obligations hereunder to each other or to one or more direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of
Parent in connection with the assignment of the rights, interests and obligations of Parent, Merger Subs and/or Topco under the Merger Agreement to such direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Parent in accordance with the terms
of the Merger Agreement; provided, further, that no such assignment shall relieve Parent, Merger Subs or Topco of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement. Any assignment in violation of the preceding sentence shall be
void ab initio. Subject to the preceding two sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
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(h)
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Severability of Provisions. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby, taken as a whole, is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such a determination, the Parties
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally
contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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(i)
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Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement
(including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby) were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof for which money damages, even if available, would not be an
adequate remedy, and that the Parties shall be entitled, prior to any termination of this Agreement, to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the
performance of the terms and provisions hereof in the courts referred to in Section 19(e), in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity. The Parties agree not to assert that a remedy of
specific performance or other equitable relief is unenforceable,
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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(j)
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Amendment; Waiver. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless it shall be in writing and
signed by each of the Parties and, with respect to the Company, approved by the Board of Directors (subject to the prior approval of the Special Committee), and no waiver or consent hereunder shall be effective against any Party unless it
shall be in writing and signed by such Party and, with respect to the Company, approved by the Board of Directors (subject to the prior approval of the Special Committee).
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(k)
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No Presumption. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and each has
been represented by counsel of its choosing and, in the event of an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by such Parties and no presumption or burden of proof
will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party due to the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
|
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(l)
|
No Agreement Until Executed. This Agreement shall not be effective unless and until (i) the Merger Agreement is executed
by all parties thereto and (ii) this Agreement is executed by the Parties.
|
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(m)
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No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or Merger Subs any direct
or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Stockholder Securities. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Stockholder Securities shall remain vested in and belong to Stockholder,
and neither Parent nor Merger Subs shall have any authority to manage, direct, restrict, regulate, govern, or administer any of the policies or operations of the Company and none of Parent nor Merger Subs shall exercise any power or
authority to direct the Stockholder in the voting of any of the Stockholder Securities, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
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(n)
|
No Recourse. All claims, obligations, liabilities and causes of action based upon, in respect of, arising under, by
reason of, in connection with, or relating in any manner to this Agreement may be made only against (and are those solely of) the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except as set forth in the immediately sentence, no
Person, including the Sponsors or any Sponsor Related Person, shall have any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature (whether known or unknown, due or to become due, absolute, contingent or otherwise) hereunder, and no
recourse hereunder or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith (or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby) shall be had against any Person who is not a Party, including the
Sponsors or any Sponsor Related Person, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable action, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other Applicable Law or otherwise (whether by or through attempted
piercing of the corporate (or limited liability company or limited partnership) veil or otherwise).
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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||||||
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SQUARE ACQUISITION PARENT, INC., a Delaware corporation
|
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By:
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Name:
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Michael J. Lee
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer and President
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||||||
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SQUARE ACQUISITION MERGER SUB I, INC., a Delaware corporation
|
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By:
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|
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Name:
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Michael J. Lee
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer and President
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|
||||||
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SQUARE ACQUISITION MERGER SUB II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
|
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By:
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|
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Name:
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Michael J. Lee
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer and President
|
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|
||||||
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|
SQUARE ACQUISITION TOPCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
|
||||||
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By:
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|
|||
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Name:
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Michael J. Lee
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|
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Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
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|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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|
||||||
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|
|
THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
|
||||||
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By:
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|
|||
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Name:
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|
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Seth Cohen
|
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|
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Title:
|
|
|
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
|
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|
||||||
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THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
|
||||||
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By:
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|
|||
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Name:
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|
|
Seth Cohen
|
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|
|
Title:
|
|
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General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
|
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|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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|
|||
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|
|
[STOCKHOLDER]
|
|||
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By:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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Stockholder Name
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|
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[ ]
|
|
Shares of Company Common Stock
|
|
|
[ ] Class A Common Stock
|
|
|
[ ] Class B Common Stock
|
||
|
Rollover Shares
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|
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[ ]
|
|
Number of LLC Units
|
|
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[ ]
|
|
Rollover Units
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[ ]
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|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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|
|||
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|
|
THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
|
|||
|
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By:
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|
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/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
|
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|
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Name:
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|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
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Title:
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
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|
|||
|
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THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
|
|||
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By:
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|
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/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
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|
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Name:
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|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
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|
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Title:
|
|
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Chief Executive Officer
|
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|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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|
|||
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|
MEMBERS:
|
|||
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BIGH, LLC
|
|||
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By:
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|
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/s/ Lowry Baldwin
|
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Name
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Lowry Baldwin
|
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|
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Title:
|
|
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Managing Member
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|
|||
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BRAD HALE
|
|||
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By:
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/s/ Brad Hale
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Name
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Brad Hale
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|
|||
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|
|
DANIEL A GALBRAITH AS TTEE OF THE DANIEL A GALBRAITH
REVOCABLE TRUST DTD 7/27/2020
|
|||
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By:
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|
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/s/ Dan Galbraith
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Name
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Dan Galbraith
|
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Title:
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President
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|
|||
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Elizabeth A. Galbraith, as Trustee of the Daniel A.
Galbraith 2020 Irrevocable Trust, dated August 5, 2020
|
|||
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By:
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|
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/s/ Elizabeth Galbraith
|
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|
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Name
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Elizabeth Galbraith
|
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|
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Title:
|
|
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Boss
|
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|
|||
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|
ELIZABETH H KRYSTYN AS TTEE OF THE ELIZABETH H KRYSTYN
2017 REVOCABLE TR DTD 6/28/2017
|
|||
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By:
|
|
|
/s/ Elizabeth Krystyn
|
|
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|
|
Name
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|
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Elizabeth Krystyn
|
|
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|
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Title:
|
|
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Founding Partner
|
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/s/ Elizabeth Krystyn
|
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Elizabeth Krystyn
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|
Enrique M. Fueyo TTEE Elizabeth H. Krystyn 2019
Irrevocable Trust DTD 9/30/19
|
|||
|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Rick Fueyo
|
|
|
|
|
Name
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|
|
Rick Fueyo
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Manager
|
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|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Hannibal L. Baldwin Trustee of the HLB 2020 Trust DTD
11/11/2020
|
|||
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By:
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|
|
/s/ Hannibal Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Name
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|
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Hannibal Baldwin
|
|
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|
|
Title:
|
|
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Trustee
|
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|
|||
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|
IHC Holdings, Inc.
|
|||
|
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|
||
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By:
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|
|
/s/ Brian Kapiloff
|
|
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|
|
Name
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|
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Brian Kapiloff
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
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President
|
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|
INSURANCE AFFORDABLE, INC.
|
|||
|
|
|
|
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|
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By:
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|
|
/s/ Dennis Gagnon
|
|
|
|
|
Name
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|
|
Dennis Gagnon
|
|
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|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Pres
|
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|
|||
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|
|
INSURANCE AGENCIES OF THE VILLAGES INC
|
|||
|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Mark Morse
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Mark Morse
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|||
|
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|
|
IRP Holdings, LLC
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Paul Brown
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Paul Brown
|
|
|
|
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Title:
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Managing Member
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/s/ James Roche
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James Roche
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KGB 2020 Trust, dated November 10, 2020
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By:
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/s/ Keenan Baldwin
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Name
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Keenan Baldwin
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Title:
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Vice President
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KJCA HOLDINGS LLC
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By:
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/s/ Chris Staub
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Name
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Chris Staub
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Title:
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Managing Partner
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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KVH HOLDINGS LLC
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By:
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/s/ Vinnie Hager
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Name
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Vinnie Hager
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Title:
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Managing Partner
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L LOWRY BALDWIN TRUSTEE L LOWRY BALDWIN REVOCABLE FAMILY
TRUST
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By:
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/s/ Lowry Baldwin
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Name
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Lowry Baldwin
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Title:
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Managing Member
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LAURA R SHERMAN AS TTEE OF THE LAURA R SHERMAN TRUST DTD
4/15/2019
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By:
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/s/ Laura Sherman
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Name
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Laura Sherman
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Title:
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Member
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/s/ Laura Sherman
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Laura Sherman
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/s/ Lowry Baldwin
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Lowry Baldwin
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Path 230, Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Michael Minsky
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Name
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Michael Minsky
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Title:
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Senior Managing Partner
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Poynter Exempt Legacy Trust U/A/D 10/1/21
|
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By:
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/s/ Chris Poynter
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Name
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Chris Poynter
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Title:
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CEO
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STRATEGUS RG INC
|
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By:
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/s/ Dave Robinson
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Name
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Dave Robinson
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Title:
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Regional President
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|||
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Suzanne Jordan TTEE Laura Sherman Irrevocable Trust DTD
09/30/19
|
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By:
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/s/ Suzanne Jordan
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Name
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Suzanne Jordan
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Title:
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Trustee
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|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
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|
|||
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The Honey Bee Family Trust, U/A/D May 13, 2019
|
|||
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By:
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/s/ Jennifer Baldwin
|
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Name
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Jennifer Baldwin
|
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Title:
|
|
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Trustee
|
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|
|||
|
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The Pop Pop Trust, dated October 16, 2020
|
|||
|
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By:
|
|
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/s/ Lowry Baldwin
|
|
|
|
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Name
|
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Lowry Baldwin
|
|
|
|
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Title:
|
|
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Managing Member
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
THE VILLAGES INVESCO
|
|||
|
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|
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|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Mark Morse
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Mark Morse
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
TLB 2020 Trust, dated November 11, 2020
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
|
Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
Name: Trevor Baldwin
|
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS



