EX-10.4 9 d535105dex104.htm EX-10.4 EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

among

Lionheart II Holdings, LLC,

Lionheart Acquisition Corporation II,

and

THE PERSONS NAMED HEREIN

Dated as of May 23, 2022


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I

  DEFINITIONS      2  

SECTION 1.1

  Definitions      2  

Article II

  DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED Tax BENEFIT     
13
 

SECTION 2.1

  Basis Schedule      13  

SECTION 2.2

  Tax Benefit Schedule      14  

SECTION 2.3

  Procedures, Amendments      15  

SECTION 2.4

  Section 754 Election      16  

Article III

  TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS      17  

SECTION 3.1

  Payments      17  

SECTION 3.2

  No Duplicative Payments      17  

SECTION 3.3

  Pro Rata Payments      18  

SECTION 3.4

  Payment Ordering      18  

Article IV

  TERMINATION      19  

SECTION 4.1

  Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement      19  

SECTION 4.2

  Early Termination Notice      21  

SECTION 4.3

  Payment upon Early Termination      22  

Article V

  SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS      22  

SECTION 5.1

  Subordination      22  

SECTION 5.2

  Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer      23  

Article VI

  NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION      23  

SECTION 6.1

  Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and MSP’s Tax Matters      23  

SECTION 6.2

  Consistency      23  

SECTION 6.3

  Cooperation      24  

Article VII

  MISCELLANEOUS      24  

SECTION 7.1

  Notices      24  

SECTION 7.2

  Counterparts      25  

SECTION 7.3

  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries      25  

SECTION 7.4

  Governing Law      26  

SECTION 7.5

  Severability      26  

 

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SECTION 7.6

  Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers      26  

SECTION 7.7

  Interpretation      27  

SECTION 7.8

  Waiver of Jury Trial; Jurisdiction      28  

SECTION 7.9

  Reconciliation      28  

SECTION 7.10

  Withholding      29  

SECTION 7.11

  Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets      30  

SECTION 7.12

  Confidentiality      31  

SECTION 7.13

  TRA Party Representative      31  

 

- ii -


TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “TRA Agreement”), is dated as of May 23, 2022, among Lionheart II Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MSP”), Lionheart Acquisition Corporation II, a Delaware corporation, (the “Corporate Taxpayer”), and the TRA Parties (defined below), the TRA Party Representative, and each of the other Persons from time to time that become a party to this TRA Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, interests (the “Interests”) in each limited liability company set forth on Schedule 1, (individually an “MSP Purchased Company,” and collectively, the “MSP Purchased Companies”), which are classified as either a partnership or an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for United States federal income Tax purposes, are held directly or indirectly by certain TRA Parties listed on Schedule 2;

WHEREAS, as of the Closing, the Corporate Taxpayer, as the sole member of MSP, shall amend and restate MSP’s limited liability company agreement to be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the “MSP A&R LLCA”) to, among other things, increase the capitalization of MSP to permit the issuance and ownership of the Class B Units set forth in this TRA Agreement and the MSP A&R LLCA, and establish the ownership of the Class B Units, in each case, as set forth in this TRA Agreement;

WHEREAS, MSP, the Corporate Taxpayer, certain TRA Parties and the other parties thereto entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2021 (as amended, the “Membership Interest Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, MSP will purchase the Interests (the “Purchase”);

WHEREAS, following the Purchase, Corporate Taxpayer will be the managing member of MSP;

WHEREAS, MSP and each of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code for each Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date and for each Taxable Year in which an Exchange occurs;

WHEREAS, following the Closing, each Class B Paired Interest held by a TRA Party may be Exchanged, together with the surrender and delivery by such holder of one share of Class V Common Stock, for one share of Class A Common Stock in accordance with and subject to the conditions and limitations in the MSP A&R LLCA;

WHEREAS, as a result of the Purchase and Exchanges, the income, gain, loss, deduction, expense and other Tax items of the Corporate Taxpayer may be affected by the (i) Transferred Basis, (ii) Contribution Basis, (iii) Exchange Basis, (iv) Exchange Basis Adjustments, (v) Purchase Basis Adjustments, and (vi) any deduction attributable to any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this TRA Agreement (collectively, the “Tax Attributes”); and

 

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WHEREAS, the parties to this TRA Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to the effect of the Tax Attributes on the liability for Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth in this TRA Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 Definitions.

As used in this TRA Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings.

Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer (but not below zero) for such Taxable Year and, if applicable, determined in accordance with a Determination or Amended Schedule (including any interest and penalty imposed in respect thereof under applicable law), (ii) the product of (A) the actual amount of taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income Tax purposes for such Taxable Year (but not below zero) and, if applicable, determined in accordance with a Determination or Amended Schedule and (B) the Blended Rate for such Taxable Year, and (iii) the actual liability of the Corporate Taxpayer for Covered Taxes other than U.S. federal, state, and local income Taxes.

Affiliate” of any particular Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, its capacity as a sole or managing member or otherwise, including any private equity fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. For purposes of this TRA Agreement, no TRA Party shall be considered to be an Affiliate of the Corporate Taxpayer or MSP.

Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Attributable” means the portion of any Tax Attribute of the Corporate Taxpayer that is attributable to a TRA Party (including, for the absence of doubt, any present or former holder of Units, but excluding the Corporate Taxpayer) and shall be determined by reference to the Tax Attributes, under the following principles:

 

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(i) any Purchase Basis Adjustments shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and are Attributable to each TRA Party in an amount equal to the Purchase Basis Adjustments, if any, relating to the Interests Purchased, directly or indirectly, from such TRA Party;

(ii) any Exchange Basis and Exchange Basis Adjustments shall be determined separately with respect to each Exchanging Member and are Attributable to each Exchanging Member in an amount equal to the total Exchange Basis and Exchange Basis Adjustments relating to such Units Exchanged by such Exchanging Member or to a Specific Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction with respect to such TRA Party;

(iii) any Transferred Basis shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party that is a holder of Interests and is Attributable to each TRA Party that is a holder of Interests, as the case may be;

(iv) any Contribution Basis shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and is Attributable to each TRA Party in an amount equal to its Total Percentage Interest as of immediately prior to a Contribution; and

(v) any deduction to the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to a Taxable Year in respect of any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this TRA Agreement is Attributable to the Person that is required to include such payment or such Imputed Interest in income (without regard to whether such Person is actually subject to Tax thereon).

Basis Adjustment” means a Purchase Basis Adjustment or an Exchange Basis Adjustment.

Basis Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Blended Rate” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the sum of the apportionment-weighted effective rates of Tax imposed on the aggregate net income of the Corporate Taxpayer in each U.S. state or local jurisdiction in which the Corporate Taxpayer files Tax Returns for such Taxable Year, with the maximum effective rate in any state or local jurisdiction being equal to the product of (i) the apportionment factor on the income or franchise Corporate Taxpayer Return in such jurisdiction for such Taxable Year and (ii) the maximum applicable corporate income Tax rate in effect in such jurisdiction in such Taxable Year, it being understood that the sum of apportionment factors applicable in all jurisdictions may exceed 100%. As an illustration of the calculation of Blended Rate for a Taxable Year, if the Corporate Taxpayer solely files Tax Returns in State 1 and State 2 in a Taxable Year, the maximum applicable corporate income Tax rates in effect in such states in such Taxable Year are 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively, and the apportionment factors for such states in such Taxable Year are 55% and 45%, respectively, then the Blended Rate for such Taxable Year is equal to 6.05% (i.e., the sum of (a) 6.5% multiplied by 55%, plus (b) 5.5% multiplied by 45%).

Board” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

Breach Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

 

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Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to close in the State of New York.

Cash Exchange Payment” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) any Person or any group of Persons (excluding any TRA Party) acting together that would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or any successor provisions thereto is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer or MSP representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer’s or MSP’s then outstanding voting securities;

(ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer or MSP then serving: individuals who, on the Closing Date, constitute the Board and any new director whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Corporate Taxpayer’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Closing Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause (ii);

(iii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporate Taxpayer or MSP with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (x) the Board immediately prior to the merger or consolidation does not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (y) the voting securities of the Corporate Taxpayer or MSP immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof;

(iv) the Corporate Taxpayer ceases to be the sole managing member of MSP; or

(v) the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale, lease or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s direct or indirect assets (including any direct or indirect assets of MSP).

Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporate Taxpayer.

Class B Paired Interest” means one Class B Unit, together with one share of Class V Common Stock.

 

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Class B Unit” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Class V Common Stock” means the shares of Class V common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporate Taxpayer.

Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement.

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement.

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

Contribution” means the contribution of money or property by the Corporate Taxpayer to MSP in connection with the Closing or at any time in the future.

Contribution Basis” means the share of Tax basis of the Reference Assets, including Tax basis under Sections 167, 168, or 197 of the Code or that are otherwise reported as amortizable on IRS Form 4562 for United States federal income Tax purposes relating to the Contribution Units at the time of the Contribution (based upon Total Percentage Interest).

Contribution Units” means the Units acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in the Contribution.

Corporate Taxpayer” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals; provided that, with respect to any Tax, Tax Return, Tax item, or other appropriate matter relating to Taxes, the term “Corporate Taxpayer” shall include any direct or indirect Subsidiary that is a member of (or is otherwise eligible to join as a member) any consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group that join in filing any Tax Return with the Corporate Taxpayer.

Corporate Taxpayer Return” means the United States federal, state or local Tax Return, as applicable, of the Corporate Taxpayer filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year (including for the avoidance of doubt the Tax Return of any consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is a member).

Covered Person has the meaning set forth in Section 7.13.

Covered Taxes means any and all U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits and any interest related thereto.

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same such Taxable Years. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination; provided that the computation of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit shall be adjusted to reflect any applicable Determination with respect to any Realized Tax Benefits and/or Realized Tax Detriments.

 

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Default Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, foreign or local Tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

Early Termination Effective Date” means the date on which an Early Termination Schedule becomes binding pursuant to Section 4.2.

Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).

Early Termination Rate” means (a) in respect of Tax Benefit Payments resulting solely from the application of clause (5) of the Valuation Assumptions, a per annum rate of LIBOR and (b) in respect of all Tax Benefit Payments not described in the foregoing clause (a), a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA, and “Exchanged” has a correlative meaning (for the avoidance of doubt, each case including the direct or indirect acquisition of an Interest in VRM MSP Recovery Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, by the Corporate Taxpayer that it has not otherwise acquired by Purchase.

Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Exchange Basis” means the Exchanging Member’s share of Tax basis of the Reference Assets, including Tax basis under Sections 167, 168, or 197 of the Code or that are otherwise reported as amortizable on IRS Form 4562 for United States federal income Tax purposes (based upon Total Percentage Interest) relating to the Units transferred upon an Exchange Attributable to such Exchanging Member acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer upon such Exchange.

Exchange Basis Adjustment” means the adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset under Sections 732, 734(b) and/or 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, MSP becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for United States federal income Tax purposes) or under Sections 734(b), 743(b), 754 and/or 755 of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, MSP remains in existence as an

 

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entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income Tax purposes) and, in each case, any similar provision of state, local or foreign tax law, as a result of (i) an Exchange, (ii) the payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement in respect of such Exchange, (iii) the payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement in respect of Exchange Basis or (iv) under Section 734(b), as a result of a Specific Section 734(b) Adjustment Transaction and any payments under this TRA Agreement in respect of such Specific Section 734(b) Adjustment Transaction. The amount of any Exchange Basis Adjustment shall be determined using the Market Value with respect to such Exchange, except, for the avoidance of doubt, as otherwise required by a Determination. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this TRA Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in an Exchange Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

Exchange Date” means the date of any Exchange.

Exchanging Member” means a “Exchanging Holder” as that term is defined in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Expert” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

Final Payment Date” means, with respect to any payment required to be made pursuant to this TRA Agreement, the last date on which such payment may be made within the applicable time period prescribed for such payment under this TRA Agreement (i.e., the date on which such payment is due under this TRA Agreement). For example, the Final Payment Date in respect of a Tax Benefit Payment is determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of this TRA Agreement.

Future TRAs” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of (i) the hypothetical liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer for such Taxable Year (ii) the product of (A) the hypothetical amount of taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income Tax purposes for such Taxable Year and (B) the Blended Rate for such Taxable Year, and (iii) the hypothetical tax liability for the Corporate Taxpayer for Covered Taxes (other than those covered in (i) and (ii) of this definition), in each case determined using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used in computing the Actual Tax Liability (taking into account any modifications required by an applicable Determination or Amended Schedule), but (a) calculating depreciation, amortization or similar deductions and income, gain or loss using the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis, the Non-Transferred Basis, the Non-Exchange Basis, and the Non-Contribution Basis, in each case, of the Reference Assets as reflected on the Schedules including amendments thereto for such Taxable Year, (b) without taking into account any depreciation, amortization or similar deductions allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (including under Section 704(c)) with respect to Contribution Basis, Exchange Basis or Transferred Basis, and (c) excluding any deduction attributable to any payment (including amounts attributable to Imputed Interest) made under this TRA Agreement for such Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to a Tax Attribute, as applicable.

ICC” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

 

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Imputed Interest” in respect of a TRA Party shall mean any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or any other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state and local Tax law with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations in respect of such TRA Party under this TRA Agreement.

Interest Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

LIBOR” means during any period, the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), or the rate which is quoted by another source selected by the Corporate Taxpayer as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying rates at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market (an “Alternate Source”), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such period as the London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollars having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to such period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Corporate Taxpayer at such time, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error); provided that at no time shall LIBOR be less than 0%. If the Corporate Taxpayer has made the determination (such determination to be conclusive absent manifest error) that LIBOR is no longer a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in the U.S. loan market in U.S. dollars, then the Corporate Taxpayer shall, subject to the prior written consent of the TRA Party Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, establish a replacement interest rate (the “Replacement Rate”), after giving due consideration to any evolving or then prevailing conventions for similar loans in the U.S. loan market in U.S. dollars for such alternative benchmark, and including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then prevailing convention for similar loans in the U.S. loan market in U.S. dollars for such benchmark, which adjustment, method for calculating such adjustment and benchmark shall be published on an information service as selected from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer. The Replacement Rate shall, subject to the next two sentences, replace LIBOR for all purposes under this TRA Agreement. In connection with the establishment and application of the Replacement Rate, this TRA Agreement shall be amended, with the consent of the Corporate Taxpayer and MSP, as necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable judgment of the Corporate Taxpayer, to replace the definition of LIBOR and otherwise to effect the provisions of this definition. The Replacement Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that, in each case, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Corporate Taxpayer, such Replacement Rate shall be applied as otherwise reasonably determined by the Corporate Taxpayer.

Liquidity Exceptions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

Mandatory Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6(c).

Market Value” means, with respect to a Unit (a) Exchanged for a Share Exchange or that is subject to a deemed Exchange under this TRA Agreement, the Stock Value on the Exchange Date or the date of the applicable deemed Exchange, as applicable, or (b) Exchanged for a Cash Exchange Payment, the amount of the Cash Exchange Payment paid in respect of such Unit.

 

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Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

Membership Interest Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

MSP A&R LLCA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

Non-Adjusted Tax Basis” means, with respect to any Reference Asset, the Tax basis that such asset would have had if no Basis Adjustments had been made.

Non-Contribution Basis” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at the time of the Contribution, the Tax basis that such Reference Asset would have had if the Contribution Basis of such Reference Asset at the time of the Contribution was equal to zero.

Non-Exchange Basis” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at the time of an Exchange, the Tax basis that such Reference Asset would have had if the Exchange Basis at the time of such Exchange was equal to zero.

Non-Transferred Basis” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at the time of the Purchase, the Tax basis that such Reference Asset would have had if such Transferred Basis at the time of the Purchase was equal to zero.

Non-Payment Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

MSP” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Payment Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

Person” means any natural person, sole proprietorship, partnership, trust, unincorporated association, corporation, limited liability company, entity or governmental entity.

Purchase” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and “Purchased” has a correlative meaning.

Purchase Basis Adjustment” means the adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset under Sections 734(b), 743(b), 754 and/or 755 of the Code and, in each case, any similar provision of state, local or foreign tax law, as a result of (a) the Purchase (including, for the absence of doubt, as a result of any transfer or deemed transfer of the Interests in connection with the Closing), (b) the payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement in respect of such Purchase, (c) the payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement in respect of Contribution Basis, and (d) the payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement in respect of Transferred Basis. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this TRA Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Purchase Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

 

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Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit, unless and until there has been a Determination.

Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment, unless and until there has been a Determination.

Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

Reconciliation Procedures” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Reference Asset” means an asset that is held by MSP, the MSP Purchased Companies (including any successors or assigns), or by any of MSP’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries treated as a partnership or disregarded entity (but only if such indirect Subsidiaries are held only through Subsidiaries treated as partnerships or disregarded entities) for purposes of the applicable Tax, at the time of the Purchase or an Exchange, as relevant. A Reference Asset also includes any asset the Tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, for purposes of the applicable Tax, by reference to the Tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

Schedule” means any of the following: (i) a Basis Schedule; (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule; or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule, and, in each case, any amendments thereto.

Section 734(b) Exchange” means any Basis Adjustment under Section 734(b) of the Code.

Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

Share Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

Specific Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction means (i) any distribution, transaction or other event or change in circumstances, including any repayment by MSP of any liabilities or the issuance by MSP of additional units or other equity interests to Corporate Taxpayer in connection with the Purchase or otherwise which results in a reduction in the amount of liabilities allocated to a TRA Party under Section 752 of the Code, other than as a result of an Exchange, and (ii) any payment made pursuant to this TRA Agreement with respect to such Specific Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction, in each case, only to the extent that such distribution, transaction, event or change in circumstance, or such payment, results in the recognition of gain by a TRA Party under Section 731 of the Code.

 

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Specified Default has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

Stock Value” means, on any date, (a) if the Class A Common Stock trades on a national securities exchange (as defined in the MSP A&R LLCA) or automated or electronic quotation system, the arithmetic average of the high trading price on such date (or if such date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day) and the low trading price on such date (or if such date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day) or (b) if the Class A Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, as applicable, the Fair Market Value (as defined in the MSP A&R LLCA) on such date of one (1) share of Class A Common Stock that would be obtained in an arm’s-length transaction between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to buy or sell, respectively, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller.

Subsidiary” means, of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power or equity is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such Person, or one (1) or more of the Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof.

Tax(es)” means any and all United States federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits (including franchise taxes that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits), and any interest related to such Tax.

Tax Attributes” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

Tax Benefit Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, information returns, claims for refund, disclosures or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to or in connection with Taxes (including any related or supporting schedules, attachments, statements or information filed or required to be filed with respect thereto), including any amendments thereof and declarations of estimated Tax.

Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state or local Tax law, as applicable (and which may include a period of more or less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the Closing Date.

Taxing Authority” means any domestic, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body, in each case, exercising any taxing authority or any other authority or jurisdiction of any kind in relation to Tax matters.

 

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Tentative Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

Total Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Person, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested and unvested) then owned directly or indirectly by such Person by the number of Units (vested and unvested) then outstanding; provided, that, all Restricted Units (as defined in the MSP A&R LLCA) for which an election has not been made under Section 83(b) of the Code shall be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator in such determination.

TRA Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

TRA Party” means the parties set forth on Schedule 2 hereto.

TRA Party Representative” means, initially, John H. Ruiz, and thereafter, that TRA Party or committee of TRA Parties determined from time to time by a plurality vote of the TRA Parties ratably in accordance with their right to receive Early Termination Payments hereunder if all TRA Parties had fully Exchanged their Units for Class A Common Stock or other consideration and the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange.

Trading Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed, quoted or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

Transfer” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA and the terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

Transferred Basis” means the share of Tax basis of the Reference Assets, including Tax basis under Sections 167, 168, or 197 of the Code or that are otherwise reported as amortizable on IRS Form 4562 for United States federal income Tax purposes (based upon Total Percentage Interest as of immediately prior to the Purchase) relating to such Interests to the extent acquired (or deemed acquired) directly or indirectly by the Corporate Taxpayer in the Purchase.

Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

Units” has the meaning set forth in the MSP A&R LLCA.

 

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Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, (1) the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the Tax items, including deductions, arising from the Tax Attributes (other than any items addressed in clause (2) below) during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including deductions and other Tax items arising from Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from the applicable future payments made under this TRA Agreement that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming that such applicable future payments would be paid on the due date for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions or other Tax items would become available, (2) the United States federal, state and local income Tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date and the Blended Rate will be calculated based on such rates and the apportionment factors applicable in the most recently ended Taxable Year, except to the extent any change to such Tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law, (3) any non-amortizable or non-depreciable Reference Assets will be deemed to be disposed of for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Exchange Basis, Contribution Basis, Transferred Basis and Basis Adjustment with respect to such Reference Asset, on the later of (i) the fifteenth (15th) anniversary of the Closing or (ii) the Early Termination Date, provided that in the event of a Change of Control, such Reference Assets shall be deemed disposed of at the time of sale (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of the relevant asset (if otherwise earlier than the time generally provided for in this clause (3)), (4) if, on the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been Exchanged, then each such Unit shall be deemed Exchanged for the Market Value (as determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition thereof) that would be transferred if the Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date, and (5) in the event of a Change of Control, such assumptions shall not take into account any changes in the Corporate Taxpayer’s stand-alone Tax position that might result from the transaction giving rise to the Change of Control, including but not limited to changes pursuant to Section 382 of the Code or any analogous provisions of U.S. state, local, or non-U.S. Taw law.

ARTICLE II

DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

SECTION 2.1 Basis Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the due date (including extensions) of IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each TRA Party a schedule (the “Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this TRA Agreement, (i) the actual Tax basis and the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis of the Reference Assets as of the Closing Date and the date of each Exchange made during such Taxable Year, (ii) the Exchange Basis and the Exchange Basis Adjustments Attributable to such TRA Party as a result of such Exchanges or Specific Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transactions effected by such TRA Party in such Taxable Year, (iii) the Purchase Basis Adjustments Attributable to such TRA Party in such Taxable Year, (iv) the Transferred Basis and Contribution Basis, in each case, Attributable to such TRA Party, (v) the period (or periods) over which the Reference Assets in respect of such TRA Party are amortizable and/or depreciable, and (vi) the period (or periods) over which the Transferred Basis, the Contribution Basis, each Contribution Basis Adjustment, the Exchange Basis, each Exchange Basis Adjustment, and each Purchase Basis Adjustment in respect of such TRA Party are amortizable and/or depreciable, in each case, calculated in the aggregate for all TRA Parties and solely with respect to the TRA Party to which such Basis Schedule is delivered. Each Basis Schedule shall become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).

 

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SECTION 2.2 Tax Benefit Schedule.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the due date (including extensions) of IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or a Realized Tax Detriment Attributable to a TRA Party, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to such TRA Party a schedule showing, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this TRA Agreement, the calculation of the Tax Benefit Payment (and any Realized Tax Benefit) or the lack of a Tax Benefit Payment (and any Realized Tax Detriment), as applicable, Attributable to such TRA Party for such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”). Each Tax Benefit Schedule shall become final as provided in Section 2.3(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b)).

(b) Applicable Principles.

i. Subject to Section 3.3, the Realized Tax Benefit (or the Realized Tax Detriment) for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease (or increase) in the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer for such Taxable Year attributable to the Tax Attributes, determined using a “with and without” methodology. Carryovers or carrybacks of any Tax item attributable to any of the Tax Attributes shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of United States state and local income and franchise Tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to any Tax Attribute and another portion that is not, such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology. The parties agree that (A) all payments made pursuant to this TRA (other than Imputed Interest) attributable to Transferred Basis, Exchange Basis, Contribution Basis or Basis Adjustments will be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the year of payment, and as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate, and (B) the Actual Tax Liability will take into account the deduction of the portion any payment made pursuant to this TRA Agreement that must be accounted for as Imputed Interest under applicable law.

ii. Each Tax Benefit Schedule shall include a statement from the Corporate Taxpayer to the effect that the computations reflected in the Tax Benefit Schedule have been made without regard to any transaction a significant purpose of which is to reduce or defer any Tax Benefit Payment (including any rates of interest hereunder). If the Corporate Taxpayer determines that it is necessary to adjust any computations reflected in a Tax Benefit Schedule in order to provide the certification required by the preceding sentence, then the Corporate Taxpayer will be permitted to make such adjustments in a manner reasonably acceptable to the TRA Party for which the Tax Benefit Schedule is being prepared (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment reflected on this adjusted Tax Benefit Schedule shall be used for purposes of determining the corresponding Tax Benefit Payment and shall ignore any such transactions a significant purpose of which was to reduce or defer any Tax Benefit Payment).

 

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iii. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this TRA Agreement relating to a Section 734(b) Exchange shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest. The parties intend that (A) a TRA Party that has made a Section 734(b) Exchange shall, with respect to the Basis Adjustment resulting from such Section 734(b) Exchange or any payments hereunder in respect of such Section 734(b) Exchange, be entitled to Tax Benefit Payments attributable to such Basis Adjustment only to the extent such Basis Adjustment is allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (based upon Total Percentage Interest) following such Section 734(b) Exchange (without taking into account any concurrent or subsequent Exchanges) and (B) if, as a result of a subsequent Exchange, an increased portion of the Basis Adjustments resulting from such Section 734(b) Exchange or any payments hereunder in respect of such Section 734(b) Exchange becomes allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (based upon Total Percentage Interest), then the TRA Party that makes such subsequent Exchange shall be entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment calculated in respect of such increased portion. For purposes of this TRA Agreement, such Basis Adjustments resulting from subsequent Section 734(b) Exchanges as described in (B) in the previous sentence shall be reported and treated as Exchange Basis Adjustments for purposes of this TRA Agreement.

SECTION 2.3 Procedures, Amendments.

(a) Procedure. Every time the Corporate Taxpayer delivers to a TRA Party an applicable Schedule under this TRA Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.3(b), and any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule, the Corporate Taxpayer shall also (x) deliver to such TRA Party supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer or as reasonably requested by such TRA Party, providing reasonable detail regarding data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule, and (y) allow such TRA Party and its advisors reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer, as determined by the Corporate Taxpayer or as reasonably requested by such TRA Party. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporate Taxpayer shall ensure that any Tax Benefit Schedule or Early Termination Schedule that is delivered to a TRA Party, along with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations. An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which all relevant TRA Parties have been given the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1, unless the TRA Party Representative (i) within thirty (30) calendar days from such date gives the Corporate Taxpayer written notice of a material objection to such Schedule or amendment thereto made in good faith (“Objection Notice”), or (ii) provides a written waiver of its right to give an Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto shall become binding on the date such waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by

 

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the Corporate Taxpayer of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall employ the reconciliation procedures described in Section 7.9 (the “Reconciliation Procedures”), in which case such Schedule or Amended Schedule shall become binding in accordance with Section 7.9. The TRA Party Representative will represent the interests of each of the TRA Parties and shall use reasonable efforts to raise and pursue, in accordance with this Section 2.3(a), any reasonable objection to a Schedule or amendment thereto timely given in writing to the TRA Party Representative by a TRA Party.

(b) Amended Schedule. The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct material inaccuracies in the Schedule, including those identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to a TRA Party, (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit, or the Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or the Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust an applicable TRA Party’s Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this TRA Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to each TRA Party when the Corporate Taxpayer delivers the Basis Schedule for the following Taxable Year. In the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a) or, if applicable, Section 7.9, (A) the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs, and (B) as a result of the foregoing, any increase of the Net Tax Benefit attributable to an Amended Schedule shall not accrue the Interest Amount (or any other interest hereunder) until after the due date (without extensions) for filing IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to Taxes for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

SECTION 2.4 Section 754 Election.

For the Taxable Year that includes the date hereof and for each Taxable Year in which an Exchange occurs and with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer has obligations under this TRA Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer, in its capacity as the managing member of MSP, shall (i) ensure that MSP will, and (ii) ensure that each of MSP’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes will, in each case, have in effect a valid election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for each such Taxable Year.

 

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ARTICLE III

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

SECTION 3.1 Payments.

(a) Payments. Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Schedule delivered to a TRA Party becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a) or, if applicable, Section 7.9, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay such TRA Party for such Taxable Year the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) that is Attributable to the relevant TRA Party. Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such TRA Party to the Corporate Taxpayer or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Party. The payments provided for pursuant to the above sentence shall be computed separately for each TRA Party. No TRA Party shall be required to make a payment or return a payment to the Corporate Taxpayer in respect of any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid to such TRA Party (including any portion of any Early Termination Payment). The TRA Parties acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this TRA Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this TRA Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this TRA Agreement, unless the applicable TRA Party notifies the Corporate Taxpayer otherwise, the stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 15A.453-1(c)(2)) with respect to any transfer (or deemed transfer) of Class B Paired Interests or interests in MSP by a TRA Party pursuant to the Purchase or an Exchange shall not exceed the sum of (I) the Stock Value of the Class A Common Stock and the amount of cash delivered to the TRA Party plus (II) 85% of all Exchange Basis, Contribution Basis, Transferred Basis and Basis Adjustments arising therefrom, and the aggregate payments under this TRA Agreement to such TRA Party (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed the amount described in this clause (II).

(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” in respect of a TRA Party for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of (i) the Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Party and (ii) the Interest Amount with respect thereto. Subject to Section 3.3, the “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of eighty-five percent (85%) of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year, over the total amount of payments previously made under the first sentence of Section 3.1(a) (excluding payments attributable to Interest Amounts). The “Interest Amount” shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to Taxes for the applicable Taxable Year until the payment date under Section 3.1(a).

SECTION 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this TRA Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this TRA Agreement. For purposes of this TRA Agreement, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be based on estimated Tax payments, including United States federal estimated income Tax payments. The provisions of this TRA Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to ensure such intentions are realized.

 

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SECTION 3.3 Pro Rata Payments. Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate Realized Tax Benefit of the Corporate Taxpayer with respect to the Tax Attributes is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income, the Net Tax Benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall be allocated among all parties eligible for Tax Benefit Payments under this TRA Agreement in proportion to the amounts of Net Tax Benefit, respectively, that would have been Attributable to each TRA Party if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income so that there were no such limitation.

SECTION 3.4 Payment Ordering. If for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under this TRA Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Parties agree that (i) Tax Benefit Payments for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to all parties eligible for Tax Benefit Payments under this TRA Agreement in proportion to the amounts of Net Tax Benefit, respectively, that would have been Attributable to each TRA Party if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient cash available to make such Tax Benefit Payments and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payments shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all TRA Parties in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

SECTION 3.5 Overpayments. To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Party in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Party in respect of such Taxable Year (taking into account Section 3.3 and Section 3.4) under the terms of this TRA Agreement, then such TRA Party shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Party has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess.

SECTION 3.6 Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transactions.

(a) To the extent any portion of a Tax Benefit Payment in respect of a Taxable Year arises from a Specified Section 734(b) Basis Adjustment Transaction and would be paid to a TRA Party on a Final Payment Date in the absence of this Section 3.6, such portion (the “Tentative Payment”) shall be subdivided and treated as follows:

(i) An amount equal to the Tentative Payment multiplied by a quotient, expressed as a percentage, obtained by dividing (x) the number of all Units Exchanged by such TRA Party to date by (y) the total number of Units held by such TRA Party immediately after the Closing (as defined in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement) shall be paid to such TRA Party on the Final Payment Date in accordance with the other provisions of this TRA Agreement; and

(ii) The remaining portion of the Tentative Payment shall be funded by the Corporate Taxpayer into a reserve, and on the first Final Payment Date following an additional Exchange by such TRA Party, such TRA Party shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to the amount in reserve multiplied by the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the number of all Units Exchanged by such TRA Party in such Exchange by (ii) the total number of Units held by such TRA Party immediately after the Closing (as defined in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that no duplicative payments be made under this TRA Agreement with respect to the usage of the tax basis of the Reference Assets as of immediately prior to any Exchange and the provisions of this TRA Agreement shall be interpreted consistently with such intent.

ARTICLE IV

TERMINATION

SECTION 4.1 Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement.

(a) Corporate Taxpayer’s Early Termination Right. The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this TRA Agreement (including with respect to all amounts payable to the TRA Parties and with respect to all of the Units held by the TRA Parties, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence) at any time by paying to each TRA Party the entire Early Termination Payment in respect of such TRA Party; provided, however, that this TRA Agreement shall terminate only upon the receipt by each TRA Party of its respective entire Early Termination Payment and payments described in the next sentence, if any, and provided, further that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid in its entirety. Upon payment of the entire Early Termination Payment by the Corporate Taxpayer to all of the TRA Parties, none of the TRA Parties or the Corporate Taxpayer shall have any further payment rights or obligations under this TRA Agreement, other than with respect to any (i) Tax Benefit Payments due and payable and that remain unpaid as of the Early Termination Date (which Tax Benefit Payments shall not be included in the Early Termination Payments) and as of the date of payment of the Early Termination Payment and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to or including the Early Termination Date (except to the extent that the amounts described in this clause (ii) are included in the Early Termination Payment or are included in clause (i)); provided that upon payment in full of all amounts to all TRA Parties, to the extent applicable and without duplication, described in this Section 4.1(a), this TRA Agreement shall terminate. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange occurs after the Corporate Taxpayer has made all of the required Early Termination Payments described herein, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no obligations under this TRA Agreement with respect to such Exchange.

(b) Acceleration Upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide at least 30 days’ prior written notice of such Change of Control to the TRA Parties, and the TRA Party Representative shall have the option, upon written notice to the Corporate Taxpayer, to cause the acceleration of the unpaid payment obligations as calculated in accordance with this Section 4.1(b), and such payment obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such Change of Control and shall include, without duplication: (i) the Early Termination Payments calculated with respect to such TRA Parties as if the Early Termination Date is the date of such Change of Control; (ii) any Tax Benefit Payments due and payable and that remain unpaid as of the date of such Change of Control; and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payments due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to or including the date of such Change of Control; provided that the procedures of Section 4.2 (and Section 2.3, to the extent applicable) and Section 4.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to

 

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the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this sentence and the payment thereof, except that such amount shall not be due and payable until five (5) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date. In the event of an acceleration following a Change of Control, any Early Termination Payment described in the preceding sentence shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions, substituting in each case the terms “date of a Change of Control” for “Early Termination Date.” For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange occurs after the Corporate Taxpayer makes all such required Early Termination Payments in their entirety and other payments described in this Section 4.1(b), the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no obligations under this TRA Agreement with respect to such Exchange.

(c) Acceleration Upon Material Breach of TRA Agreement.

(i) In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer (1) breaches any of its material obligations under this TRA Agreement, whether (A) as a result of any failure to make a payment required to be made pursuant to this TRA Agreement by the Final Payment Date therefor or any material breach of any of its obligations under this TRA Agreement (a “Specified Default”) or (B) by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this TRA Agreement in a case commenced under bankruptcy laws or otherwise or (2)(A) commences any case, proceeding or other action (I) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate a bankruptcy or insolvency, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts or (II) seeking an appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or it shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (B) has commenced against it any case, proceeding or other action of the nature referred to in the foregoing clause (2)(A) (such breach, rejection or commencement as described in the foregoing clauses (1) or (2), a “Breach Event”), all unpaid payment obligations hereunder as calculated in accordance with Section 4.1(c)(ii) shall automatically accelerate and become immediately due and payable.

(ii) The unpaid payment obligations specified in Section 4.1(c)(i) shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such Breach Event and shall include, without duplication: (i) the Early Termination Payments calculated with respect to the TRA Parties as if the Early Termination Date is the date of such Breach Event; (ii) any Tax Benefit Payments due and payable and that remain unpaid as of the date of such Breach Event; and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payments due for the Taxable Year ending immediately prior to or including the date of such Breach Event; provided that the procedures of Section 4.2 (and Section 2.3, to the extent applicable) and Section 4.3 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to the determination of the amount payable by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this sentence and the payment thereof. In the event of an acceleration described in this Section 4.1(c), any Early Termination Payment described in the preceding sentence shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions, substituting in each case the terms “date of a Breach Event” for “Early Termination Date.” For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange occurs after the Corporate Taxpayer makes all such required Early Termination Payments in their entirety and other payments described in this Section 4.1(c), the Corporate Taxpayer shall have no obligations under this TRA Agreement with respect to such Exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this TRA Agreement, a TRA Party shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this TRA Agreement.

 

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(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this TRA Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment made in connection with a Change of Control, it shall not be a Specified Default if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any payment due pursuant to this TRA Agreement (other than an Early Termination Payment or any payment made in connection with a Change of Control) to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer cannot make such payment as a result of limitations imposed in connection with any Senior Obligations, and cannot take any actions to obtain a waiver of such limitations, or otherwise to obtain sufficient funds, to make such payment (the “Liquidity Exception”); provided that (A) the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment, (B) any such payment obligation shall nonetheless accrue for the benefit of the TRA Parties, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Liquidity Exception not to apply and shall make such payment at the first opportunity that the Liquidity Exception does not apply, and (C) if the Liquidity Exception applies and the Corporate Taxpayer declares or pays any dividend of cash to its shareholders while any such Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable and remains unpaid following the relevant Final Payment Date, then the Liquidity Exception shall immediately cease to apply.

SECTION 4.2 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination in accordance with Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each TRA Party written notice of such decision to exercise such right (“Early Termination Notice”) and a schedule (the “Early Termination Schedule”) specifying the Corporate Taxpayer’s decision to exercise such right and showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment(s) due to each TRA Party. Each Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all TRA Parties have been given such Schedule or amendment thereto under Section 7.1, unless the TRA Party Representative (i) within thirty (30) calendar days after such date gives the Corporate Taxpayer written notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (ii) provides a written waiver of its right to give a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule shall become binding on the date such waiver is received by the Corporate Taxpayer. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such Material Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures in which case such Schedule shall become binding in accordance with Section 7.9. The TRA Party Representative will represent the interests of each of the TRA Parties and shall use reasonable efforts to raise and pursue, in accordance with this Section 4.2, any reasonable objection to an Early Termination Schedule or amendment thereto timely given in writing to the TRA Party Representative by a TRA Party.

 

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SECTION 4.3 Payment upon Early Termination.

(a) Within five (5) Business Days after an Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Party an amount equal to the entire Early Termination Payment in respect of such TRA Party. Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by such TRA Party or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Party or, in the absence of such designation or agreement, by check mailed to the last mailing address provided by such TRA Party to the Corporate Taxpayer.

(b) “Early Termination Payment” in respect of a TRA Party shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of and starting from the applicable Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments (excluding the Interest Amount, unless such amount was previously due and owing hereunder and not previously paid) in respect of such TRA Party that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer beginning from the Early Termination Date, and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions in respect of such TRA Party are applied and that each such Tax Benefit Payment for each relevant Taxable Year would be paid on the due date (without extensions) under applicable law as of the Early Termination Date for filing of IRS Form 1120 (or any successor form) of the Corporate Taxpayer. For the avoidance of doubt, an entire Early Termination Payment shall be made to each applicable TRA Party regardless of whether such TRA Party has exchanged all of its Units as of the Early Termination Date.

ARTICLE V

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

SECTION 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this TRA Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment required to be made by the Corporate Taxpayer to any TRA Party under this TRA Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries (the “Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations. To the extent that any payment under this TRA Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of TRA Parties and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this TRA Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates enters into future Tax receivable or other similar agreements (“Future TRAs”), the Corporate Taxpayer shall ensure that the terms of any such Future TRA shall provide that the Tax Attributes subject to this TRA Agreement are senior in priority in all respects to any Tax attributes subject to any such Future TRA for purposes of calculating the amount and timing of payments under any such Future TRA.

 

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SECTION 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the TRA Parties when due under the terms of this TRA Agreement (whether as a result of Section 4.1(c), Section 5.1 or otherwise) shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (in place of the Agreed Rate, if applicable) commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable until the date of actual payment; provided, that if the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient funds to make the payment as a result of limitations imposed by, or payment obligations in respect of, any Senior Obligations, interest shall instead be computed at the Agreed Rate; provided, further, that if any unpaid portion of any Tax Benefit Payment is the subject of a Reconciliation Dispute and is finally determined in such Reconciliation Dispute to be due and payable, then interest shall accrue on such unpaid portion at the Default Rate (in place of the Agreed Rate) from the due date for the applicable Tax Benefit Schedule until the date of actual payment.

ARTICLE VI

NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

SECTION 6.1 Participation in the Corporate Taxpayers and MSPs Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided in this TRA Agreement, the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement or the MSP A&R LLCA, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and MSP, including the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer shall notify the TRA Party Representative in writing of the commencement of, and keep the TRA Party Representative reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit or proceeding of the Corporate Taxpayer and MSP or any of MSP’s Subsidiaries by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which could reasonably be expected to materially affect the rights and obligations of a TRA Party under this TRA Agreement, including the Tax Benefit Payments or Early Termination Payments payable to TRA Parties, and shall provide to the TRA Party Representative reasonable opportunity (at the cost and expense of the TRA Party Representative, on behalf of the TRA Parties) to participate in or provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, MSP and its Subsidiaries and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit or proceeding. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the consent of the TRA Party Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not, (i) change any accounting method, or amend, or take any position inconsistent with a previously-filed Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer, if such action could materially and adversely affect the Tax Attributes, (ii) seek any guidance from, or initiate any communication with, the IRS or any other Taxing Authority (whether written, verbal, or otherwise) at any time concerning the Tax Attributes, or (iii) settle or otherwise resolve any Tax claim, but in each case only to the extent that such action described in (i), (ii) or (iii) could have a material adverse effect on the TRA Parties’ rights (including the right to receive payments) under this TRA Agreement.

SECTION 6.2 Consistency. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Parties agree to report and cause their respective Affiliates to report for all purposes, including United States federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that set forth in this TRA Agreement or specified by the Corporate Taxpayer in any Schedule, or Amended Schedule, provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this TRA Agreement that is final and binding on the parties, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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The Corporate Taxpayer shall use commercially reasonable efforts (and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause MSP and its other Subsidiaries to) (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account the interests and entitlements of all TRA Parties under this TRA Agreement) defend the Tax treatment contemplated by this TRA Agreement and any Schedule (or Amended Schedule, as applicable) in any audit, contest or similar proceeding with any Taxing Authority.

SECTION 6.3 Cooperation. Each of the TRA Parties shall (a) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this TRA Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (b) make itself available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (a) above, and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. MSP shall reimburse the TRA Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3. Upon the reasonable request of any TRA Party, the Corporate Taxpayer shall cooperate in taking any action reasonably requested by such TRA Party in connection with its tax or financial reporting and/or the consummation of any assignment or transfer of any of its rights and/or obligations under this TRA Agreement, including without limitation, providing any information or documentation.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 7.1 Notices. All notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under this TRA Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when personally delivered (or, if delivery is refused, upon presentment) or received by email (with confirmation of transmission), (b) one (1) Business Day following delivery by reputable express courier (charges prepaid) or (c) three (3) calendar days following mailing by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested. Unless another address is specified in writing pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.1, notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the addresses indicated below:

If to the Corporate Taxpayer, to:

4218 NE 2nd Avenue

2nd Floor

Miami, Florida 33137

Attention: Ophir Sternberg

Email: o@lheartcapital.com

 

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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Gutiérrez Bergman Boulris, PLLC

901 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Suite 303 Coral Gables, Florida 331134

Attention: Dale S. Bergman, Esq.

Email: dale.bergman@gbbpl.com

If to the TRA Parties, to:

if to the Members’ Representative:

2701 Le Jeune Road, Floor 10

Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Attn: General Counsel

Email: generalcounsel@msprecovery.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attn: Michael J. Aiello

Amanda Fenster

Email: michael.aiello@weil.com

Amanda.Fenster@weil.com

Any party may change its address, fax number or email by giving the other party written notice of its new address, fax number or email in the manner set forth above.

SECTION 7.2 Counterparts. This TRA Agreement may be executed and delivered in one or more counterparts and by fax, email or other electronic transmission, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement. No party shall raise the use of a fax machine or email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a fax machine or email as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each party forever waives any such defense.

SECTION 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This TRA Agreement, the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules to this TRA Agreement, contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter in any way. This TRA Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this TRA Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this TRA Agreement.

 

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SECTION 7.4 Governing Law. The law of the State of Delaware shall govern (a) all claims or matters related to or arising from this TRA Agreement (including any tort or non-contractual claims) and (b) any questions concerning the construction, interpretation, validity and enforceability of this TRA Agreement, and the performance of the obligations imposed by this TRA Agreement, in each case without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

SECTION 7.5 Severability. If any provision of this TRA Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any governmental entity, all other provisions of this TRA Agreement shall, to the greatest extent possible, nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this TRA Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

SECTION 7.6 Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers.

(a) Each TRA Party may assign all or any portion of its rights under this TRA Agreement to any Person as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this TRA Agreement, substantially in form of Exhibit A hereto, agreeing to become a TRA Party for all purposes of this TRA Agreement, except as otherwise provided in such joinder. If a TRA Party Transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the MSP A&R LLCA but does not assign to the Transferee of such Units its rights and obligations under this TRA Agreement with respect to such Transferred Units, (i) such TRA Party shall remain a TRA Party under this TRA Agreement for all purposes, including with respect to the receipt of Tax Benefit Payments to the extent payable hereunder (including any Tax Benefit Payments in respect of the Exchanges of such Transferred Units by such Transferee), and (ii) the Transferee of such Units shall not be a TRA Party. The Corporate Taxpayer may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this TRA Agreement to any Person (other than in connection with a Mandatory Assignment) without the prior written consent of the TRA Party Representative (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Any purported assignment in violation of the terms of this Section 7.6 shall be null and void.

(b) No provision of this TRA Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by the Corporate Taxpayer and by each of the TRA Parties who would be entitled to receive at least two-thirds of the total amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Parties hereunder if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Party pursuant to this TRA Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange); provided, that (i) no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment will have a disproportionate effect on the payments one or more TRA Parties receive under this TRA Agreement unless such amendment is consented in writing by such TRA Parties disproportionately affected who would be entitled to receive at least two-thirds of the total amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Parties disproportionately affected hereunder if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Party pursuant to this TRA Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange) and (ii) no such amendment shall adversely affect a TRA Party unless such amendment in consented in writing by such TRA Party. No provision of this TRA Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

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(c) All of the terms and provisions of this TRA Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporate Taxpayer shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this TRA Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place (any such assignment, a “Mandatory Assignment”).

SECTION 7.7 Interpretation. The headings and captions used in this TRA Agreement and the table of contents to this TRA Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this TRA Agreement. Any capitalized terms used in any Schedule or Exhibit attached hereto and not otherwise defined therein shall have the meanings set forth in this TRA Agreement. The use of the word “including” herein shall mean “including without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this TRA Agreement, shall refer to this TRA Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this TRA Agreement. References herein to the Recitals or to a specific Section, Subsection, Clause, Schedule or Exhibit shall refer, respectively, to the Recitals, Sections, Subsections, Clauses, Schedules or Exhibits of this TRA Agreement. Terms defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa. References herein to any gender shall include each other gender. The word “or” shall not be exclusive unless the context clearly requires the selection of one (1) (but not more than one (1)) of a number of items. References to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form. References herein to any Person shall include such Person’s heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 7.7 is intended to authorize any assignment or transfer not otherwise permitted by this TRA Agreement. References herein to a Person in a particular capacity or capacities shall exclude such Person in any other capacity. Any reference to “days” shall mean calendar days unless Business Days are expressly specified; provided that if any action is required to be done or taken on a day that is not a Business Day, then such action shall be required to be done or taken not on such day but on the first succeeding Business Day thereafter. References herein to any contract or agreement (including this TRA Agreement) mean such contract or agreement as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. With respect to the determination of any period of time, the word “from” means “from and including”. References herein to any law shall be deemed also to refer to such law, as amended (and any successor laws), and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” (or similar phrases) shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” Except where otherwise expressly provided, all amounts in this TRA Agreement are stated and shall be paid in United States dollars. The parties to this TRA Agreement and their respective counsel have reviewed and negotiated this TRA Agreement as the joint agreement and understanding of such parties, and the language used in this TRA Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by such parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Person.

 

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SECTION 7.8 Waiver of Jury Trial; Jurisdiction.

(a) EACH PARTY TO THIS TRA AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS TRA AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS TRA AGREEMENT AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER. THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

(b) Subject to Section 7.9, each of the parties submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of first, the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware or if such court declines jurisdiction, then to the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this TRA Agreement, agrees that all claims in respect of such action, suit or proceeding shall be heard and determined in any such court and agrees not to bring any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this TRA Agreement in any other courts. Nothing in this Section 7.8, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or at equity. Each party agrees that a final judgment in any action, suit or proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law or at equity.

SECTION 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculation of amounts owed hereunder (including any matters governed by Sections 2.3, 3.1, 4.1 and 4.2) within the relevant period designated in this TRA Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement, acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator (the “Expert”), mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative. The Expert shall be a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative agree otherwise, the Expert shall not have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the TRA Party Representative or any other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, then the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative shall cause the Expert to be selected by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise (the “ICC”) in accordance with the criteria set forth above in this Section 7.9. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter

 

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has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this TRA Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The sum of (a) the costs and expenses relating to (i) the engagement (and, if applicable, selection by the ICC) of such Expert and (ii) if applicable, amending any Tax Return in connection with the decision of such Expert and (b) the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Party Representative incurred in the conduct of such proceeding shall be allocated between the Corporate Taxpayer, on the one hand, and the TRA Party Representative (on behalf of the TRA Parties), on the other hand, in the same proportion that the aggregate amount of the disputed items so submitted to the Expert that is unsuccessfully disputed by each such party (as finally determined by the Expert) bears to the total amount of such disputed items so submitted, and each such party shall promptly reimburse the other party for the excess that such other party has paid in respect of such costs and expenses over the amount it has been so allocated. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.9 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and each of the TRA Parties and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

SECTION 7.10 Withholding. The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this TRA Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of applicable state, local, or foreign Tax law; provided, however, that the Corporate Taxpayer shall notify and shall reasonably cooperate with the TRA Party Representative reasonably in advance of such payment to determine whether such deductions or withholding are required under applicable law and in obtaining any available exemption from or reduction of, or otherwise minimizing to the extent permitted by applicable law, such deduction and withholding. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and duly paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this TRA Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such withholding was made. Each TRA Party shall promptly provide the Corporate Taxpayer, MSP or other applicable withholding agent with any applicable Tax forms and certifications (including IRS Form W-9 or the applicable version of IRS Form W-8) reasonably requested (provided that it is legally eligible to provide such forms or certifications and can do so without commercial prejudice). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a withholding obligation arises as a result of a Change of Control, any amount payable to a TRA Party under this TRA Agreement shall be increased such that after all required deductions and withholdings have been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this sentence) the TRA Party receives an amount equal to the sum that it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Representative agree that, absent a change in law or a contrary Determination, no Tax withholding is required with respect to any payments under this TRA Agreement.

 

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SECTION 7.11 Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

(a) If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of corporations that files a consolidated, combined or unitary income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state or local Tax law, then: (i) the provisions of this TRA Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated, combined or unitary taxable income of the group as a whole.

(b) If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a)) transfers or is deemed to transfer any Unit or any Reference Asset to a transferee that is treated as a corporation for United States federal income Tax purposes (other than a member of a group described in Section 7.11(a)) in a transaction in which the transferee’s basis in the property acquired is determined in whole or in part by reference to such transferor’s basis in such property, then the Corporate Taxpayer shall cause such transferee to assume the obligation to make payments hereunder with respect to the applicable Tax Attributes associated with any Reference Asset or interest therein acquired (directly or indirectly) in such transfer (taking into account any gain recognized in the transaction) in a manner consistent with the terms of this TRA Agreement as the transferee (or one of its Affiliates) actually realizes Tax benefits from the Tax Attributes.

(c) If MSP transfers (or is deemed to transfer for United States federal income Tax purposes) any Reference Asset to a transferee that is treated as a corporation for United States federal income Tax purposes (other than a member of a group described in Section 7.11(a)) in a transaction in which the transferee’s basis in the property acquired is determined in whole or in part by reference to such transferor’s basis in such property, MSP shall be treated as having disposed of the Reference Asset in a wholly taxable transaction. The consideration deemed to be received by MSP in a transaction contemplated in the prior sentence shall be equal to the fair market value of the deemed transferred asset, plus (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest.

(d) If any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a) that owns any Unit deconsolidates from the group (or the Corporate Taxpayer deconsolidates from the group), then the Corporate Taxpayer shall cause such member (or the parent of the consolidated group in a case where the Corporate Taxpayer deconsolidates from the group) to assume the obligation to make payments hereunder with respect to the applicable Tax Attributes associated with any Reference Asset it owns (directly or indirectly) in a manner consistent with the terms of this TRA Agreement as the member (or one of its Affiliates) actually realizes Tax benefits. If a transferee or a member of a group described in Section 7.11(a) assumes an obligation to make payments pursuant to this Section 7.11(d), then the initial obligor is relieved of the obligation assumed.

(e) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7.11(d), if the Corporate Taxpayer (or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a)) transfers (or is deemed to transfer for United States federal income Tax purposes) any Unit in a transaction that is wholly or partially taxable, then for purposes of calculating payments under this TRA Agreement, MSP shall be treated as having disposed of the portion of any Reference Asset (determined based on a pro rata share of an undivided interest in each Reference Asset) that is indirectly transferred by the Corporate Taxpayer or other entity described above (i.e., taking into account the number of Units

 

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transferred) in a wholly or partially taxable transaction, as applicable, in which all income, gain or loss is allocated to the Corporate Taxpayer in accordance with the MSP A&R LLCA. The consideration deemed to be received by MSP shall be equal to the fair market value of the deemed transferred asset, plus (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest.

SECTION 7.12 Confidentiality.

(a) Subject to Section 6.3, each TRA Party acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this TRA Agreement, such person shall keep and retain in confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors or concerning MSP and its Affiliates and successors learned by the TRA Party pursuant to this TRA Agreement. This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the TRA Party in violation of this TRA Agreement) or is generally known and (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for the TRA Party to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this TRA Agreement, to the extent required by applicable law or to the extent reasonably necessary for the TRA Party to comply with any applicable reportable transaction requirements under applicable law, each TRA Party (and each employee, representative or other agent of the TRA Party, as applicable) may disclose the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, MSP and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the TRA Party relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

(b) If a TRA Party breaches any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right to seek to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

SECTION 7.13 TRA Party Representative. By executing this TRA Agreement, each of the TRA Parties shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the TRA Party Representative as its agent and attorney in fact with full power of substitution to act from and after the date hereof and to do any and all things and execute any and all documents on behalf of such TRA Parties which may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to facilitate any matters under this TRA Agreement, including: (i) execution of the documents and certificates required pursuant to this TRA Agreement; (ii) except to the extent provided in this TRA Agreement, receipt and forwarding of notices and communications pursuant to this TRA Agreement; (iii) administration of the provisions of this TRA Agreement; (iv) any and all consents, waivers, amendments or

 

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modifications deemed by the TRA Party Representative to be necessary or appropriate under this TRA Agreement and the execution or delivery of any documents that may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith; (v) amending this TRA Agreement or any of the instruments to be delivered to the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to this TRA Agreement; (vi) taking actions the TRA Party Representative is authorized to take pursuant to the other provisions of this TRA Agreement; (vii) negotiating and compromising, on behalf of such TRA Parties, any dispute that may arise under, and exercising or refraining from exercising any remedies available under, this TRA Agreement and executing, on behalf of such TRA Parties, any settlement agreement, release or other document with respect to such dispute or remedy; and (viii) engaging attorneys, accountants, agents or consultants on behalf of such TRA Parties in connection with this TRA Agreement and paying any fees related thereto on behalf of such TRA Parties, subject to reimbursement by such TRA Parties. The TRA Party Representative may resign upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Corporate Taxpayer. All reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the TRA Party Representative in its capacity as such shall be promptly reimbursed by the Corporate Taxpayer upon invoice and reasonable support therefor by the TRA Party Representative. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the TRA Party Representative, any of its Affiliates, or any of the TRA Party Representative’s or Affiliate’s directors, officers, employees or other agents (each a “Covered Person”) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to any TRA Party, MSP or the Corporate Taxpayer for damages arising from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the TRA Party Representative or any other Person with respect to MSP or the Corporate Taxpayer, except in the case of any action or omission which constitutes, with respect to such Person, willful misconduct or fraud. Each of the Covered Persons may consult with legal counsel, accountants, and other experts selected by it, and any act or omission suffered or taken by it on behalf of MSP or the Corporate Taxpayer or in furtherance of the interests of MSP or the Corporate Taxpayer in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or other experts shall create a rebuttable presumption of the good faith and due care of such Covered Person with respect to such act or omission; provided, that such counsel, accountants, or other experts were selected with reasonable care. Each of the Covered Persons may rely in good faith upon, and shall have no liability to MSP, the Corporate Taxpayer or the TRA Parties for acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

SECTION 7.14 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Party reasonably believes that the existence of this TRA Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this TRA Agreement) recognized by the TRA Party upon any Exchange by such TRA Party to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for United States federal income Tax purposes or would have other material adverse Tax consequences to such TRA Party, then at the election of such TRA Party and to the extent specified by such TRA Party, this TRA Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to such TRA Party, (ii) shall not apply to an Exchange (or any other action that may give rise to payments under this TRA Agreement) by such TRA Party occurring after a date specified by such TRA Party, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Party, provided that such amendment shall not (a) result in an increase in payments under this TRA Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment or (b) adversely affect any other TRA Party.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

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LIONHEART ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
By:  

/s/ Ophir Sternberg

  Name: Ophir Sternberg
  Title: Chairman and CEO
LIONHEART II HOLDINGS, LLC
Name: Lionheart Acquisition Corporation II
Its: Sole Member
By:  

/s/ Ophir Sternberg

  Name: Ophir Sternberg
  Title: Chairman and CEO
MSP RECOVERY, INC.
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  Name: John H. Ruiz
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
TRA PARTY REPRESENTATIVE
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  Name: John H. Ruiz

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
John H. Ruiz
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  John H. Ruiz

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
JOCRAL Family LLLP
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  Name: John H. Ruiz
  Title: Partner

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Jocral Holdings LLC
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  Name: John H. Ruiz
  Title: Member

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Frank Quesada
By:  

/s/ Frank C. Quesada

  Frank C. Quesada

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Quesada Group Holdings, LLC
By:  

/s/ Frank C. Quesada

  Name: Frank C. Quesada
  Title: Member

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Ruiz Group Holdings Limited LLC
By:  

/s/ John H. Ruiz

  Name: John H. Ruiz
  Title: Member

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Virage Recovery Master LP
By:   Virage Recovery LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Edward Ondarza

  Name: Edward Ondarza
  Title: Manager

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA PARTIES:
Virage Recovery Participation LP
By: Virage Recovery LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Edward Ondarza                

  Name: Edward Ondarza
  Title: Manager

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

Intentionally Omitted


EXHIBIT B

Intentionally Omitted


SCHEDULE 1

Intentionally Omitted

 

44


SCHEDULE 2

Intentionally Omitted

 

45