Document:

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

VIVINT SOLAR, INC.

and

the other parties hereto

Dated as of October 6, 2014

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
 
	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
	
 
	
1

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 1.1     Certain Definitions.
	
 
	
1

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 1.2     Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation
	
 
	
5

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS
	
 
	
5

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 2.1     Piggyback Rights
	
 
	
5

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 2.2     Demand Registration
	
 
	
7

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 2.3     Registration Procedures
	
 
	
9

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 2.4     Other Registration-Related Matters
	
 
	
12

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
ARTICLE III INDEMNIFICATION
	
 
	
15

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.1     Indemnification by the Company
	
 
	
15

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.2     Indemnification by the Holders and Underwriters
	
 
	
15

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.3     Notices of Claims, Etc.
	
 
	
16

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.4     Contribution
	
 
	
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SECTION 3.5     Other Indemnification
	
 
	
17

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 3.6     Non-Exclusivity
	
 
	
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ARTICLE IV OTHER
	
 
	
17

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.1     Notices
	
 
	
17

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.2     Assignment
	
 
	
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SECTION 4.3     Amendments; Waiver
	
 
	
19

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.4     Third Parties
	
 
	
19

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.5     Governing Law
	
 
	
20

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.6     Jurisdiction
	
 
	
20

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.7     MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
	
 
	
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SECTION 4.8     Specific Performance
	
 
	
20

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.9     Entire Agreement
	
 
	
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SECTION 4.10   Severability
	
 
	
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SECTION 4.11   Counterparts
	
 
	
21

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
SECTION 4.12   Effectiveness
	
 
	
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SECTION 4.13   Confidentiality
	
 
	
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is dated as of October 6, 2014 and is by and among Vivint Solar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Blackstone (as defined below), Summit (as defined below), Black Horse (as defined below) and each of the Director Stockholders (as defined below). 

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is currently contemplating an underwritten initial public offering (“IPO”) of shares of its Common Stock (as defined below); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant registration rights to Blackstone, Summit, Black Horse and the Director Stockholders on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1Certain Definitions.

 As used in this Agreement:

“Affiliate” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Black Horse” means the entities listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading Black Horse” and their successors and permitted assigns, who may holders of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by Blackstone of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders.

“Blackstone” means the entities listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Blackstone.”  

“Blackstone Entities” means the entities comprising Blackstone, their respective Affiliates and the successors and permitted assigns of the entities and their respective Affiliates.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, federal or New York State holiday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close.

“Closing Date” means the date of completion of the IPO.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

 

 

“Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such common stock is reclassified or reconstituted. 

“Control” (including its correlative meanings, “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

“Demand Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a). 

“Director Stockholder” means each of Dunn and Pedersen.

“Dunn” means Alex Dunn, his Affiliates and the successors and permitted assigns of Alex Dunn and his Affiliates, who may become holders of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by Blackstone of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders.

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 

“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

“Holder” means each member of Blackstone, Summit, Black Horse and each Director Stockholder that is a holder of Registrable Securities or Securities exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Registrable Securities or any Transferee of such Person to whom registration rights are assigned pursuant to Section 4.2.  For the avoidance of doubt, “Holder” shall include those Persons who become holders of Registrable Securities after the date of this Agreement as a result of any distribution by Blackstone of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders.

“Indemnified Party” and Indemnified Parties” have the meanings set forth in Section 3.1.

“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals. 

“Law” means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, injunction, order, decree, governmental approval, directive, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

“Lockup Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(d)(i).

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“Pedersen” means Todd Pedersen, his Affiliates and the successors and permitted assigns of Todd Pedersen and his Affiliates, who may become holders of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by Blackstone of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a cooperative, an unincorporated organization, or other form of business organization, whether or not regarded as a legal entity under applicable Law, or any Governmental Authority or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Public Offering” means a public offering of equity securities of the Company or any successor thereto or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act.

“Registrable Securities” means all shares of Common Stock and any Securities into which the Common Stock may be converted or exchanged pursuant to any merger, consolidation, sale of all or any part of its assets, corporate conversion or other extraordinary transaction of the Company held by a Holder (whether now held or hereafter acquired, and including any such Securities received by a Holder (x) upon the conversion or exchange of, or pursuant to such a transaction with respect to, other Securities held by such Holder and (y) as a distribution of shares of Common Stock by Blackstone to its members, limited partners or stockholders).  As to any Registrable Securities, such Securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when: 

	
(a)
	
a registration statement covering such Registrable Securities has been declared effective and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; 

	
(b)
	
such Registrable Securities shall have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act;

	
(c)
	
such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale, unless such Registrable Securities are held by a Holder that beneficially owns 5% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; or

	
(d)
	
such Registrable Securities cease to be outstanding.

“Registration Expenses” means any and all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including:

	
(a)
	
all SEC, stock exchange, or FINRA registration fees and expenses (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA, and of its counsel); 

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(b)
	
all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky Laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); 

	
(c)
	
all printing, messenger and delivery expenses; 

	
(d)
	
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance; 

	
(e)
	
any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of Securities, including liability insurance if the Company so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any; 

	
(f)
	
the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of not more than one law firm (as selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration) incurred by all the Holders in connection with the registration; 

	
(g)
	
the costs and expenses of the Company relating to analyst and investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the registration and/or marketing of the Registrable Securities (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders); and 

	
(h)
	
any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency. 

“Securities” means capital stock, limited partnership interests, limited liability company interests, beneficial interests, warrants, options, notes, bonds, debentures, and other securities, equity interests, ownership interests and similar obligations of every kind and nature of any Person. 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which: (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, representatives or trustees thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (ii) if a limited liability company, 

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partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the total voting power of stock (or equivalent ownership interest) of the limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.  For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

“Summit” means the entities listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Summit” and their successors and permitted assigns, who may become holders of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by Blackstone of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders.

“Transfer” (including its correlative meanings, “Transferor”, “Transferee”  and “Transferred”) shall mean, with respect to any security, directly or indirectly, to sell, contract to  sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a security interest in, offer, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any economic, voting or other rights in or to such security.  When used as a noun, “Transfer” shall have such correlative meaning as the context may require.

SECTION 1.2Other Definitional Provisions; Interpretation

.

(a)The words “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and references in this Agreement to a designated “Article” or “Section” refer to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(b)The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and do not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(c)The meanings given to terms defined herein are equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 2.1Piggyback Rights

.

(a)If at any time following expiration of the Lockup Period (or, if earlier, such time as the Demand Party exercises a demand right pursuant to Section 2.2(a)) the Company proposes to register Securities for public sale (whether proposed to be offered for sale by the Company or by any other Person) under the Securities Act (other than a registration on Form S‐4 or S‐8, or any successor or other forms promulgated for similar purposes) in a manner which would permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to the public under the Securities Act, it will, at each such time following expiration of the Lockup Period (or if earlier, 

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such time as the Demand Party exercises a demand right pursuant to Section 2.2(a)), give prompt written notice (which notice shall specify the intended method or methods of disposition) to the Holders of its intention to do so and of such Holder’s rights under this Section 2.1.  Upon the written request of any Holder made within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Holders have so requested to be registered; provided that: (i) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any Securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to proceed with the proposed registration of the Securities to be sold by it, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Holders and, thereupon, the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses incurred in connection therewith) without prejudice to the rights of the Demand Party to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Section 2.2(a); and (ii) if such registration involves an underwritten offering, the Holders of Registrable Securities requesting to be included in the registration must, upon the written request of the Company, sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters on the same terms and conditions as apply to the other Securities being sold through underwriters under such registration, with, in the case of a combined primary and secondary offering, only such differences, including any with respect to representations and warranties, indemnification and liability insurance, as may be customary or appropriate in combined primary and secondary offerings.  

(b)Expenses.  The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 2.1.

(c)Priority in Piggyback Registrations. If a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to the Holders) that, in its opinion, the number of Registrable Securities and other Securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering, so as to be likely to have a material and adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Securities offered in such offering, then the Company will include in such registration: (i) first, the Securities the Company proposes to sell for its own account; and (ii) second, such number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of such managing underwriter, can be sold without having the material and adverse effect referred to above, which number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated pro rata among the Registrable Securities held by all such requesting Holders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder (provided that any Securities thereby allocated to any such Holder that exceed such Holder’s request will be reallocated among the remaining requesting Holders in like manner).  Any other selling holders of the Company’s Securities (other than transferees to whom a Holder has assigned its rights under this Agreement) will be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of Holders holding a majority of the shares being sold in such offering.

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(d)Excluded Transactions.  The Company shall not be obligated to effect any registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2.1 incidental to the registration of any of its Securities in connection with:

(i)the IPO;

(ii)a registration statement filed to cover issuances under employee benefits plans or dividend reinvestment plans; or

 (iii)any registration statement relating solely to the acquisition or merger after the date hereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of or with any other businesses.

(e)Plan of Distribution, Underwriters and Counsel.  If a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering, the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering shall have the right to (i) determine the plan of distribution, (ii) select the investment banker or bankers and managers to administer the offering, including the lead managing underwriter (provided that such investment banker or bankers and managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), and (iii) select counsel for the selling Holders.  

(f)Shelf Takedowns.  In connection with any shelf takedown (whether pursuant to Section 2.2(f) or at the initiative of the Company), the Holders may exercise “piggyback” rights in the manner described in this Agreement to have included in such takedown Registrable Securities held by them that are registered on such shelf registration statement.

SECTION 2.2Demand Registration

.

(a)General.  At any time, upon the written request of any Blackstone Entity (the “Demand Party”) requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of Registrable Securities and specifying the amount and intended method of disposition thereof (including, but not limited to, an underwritten public offering), the Company will (i) promptly give written notice of such requested registration to the other Holders and other holders of Securities entitled to notice of such registration, if any, and (ii) as expeditiously as possible, use its reasonable best efforts to file a registration statement to effect the registration under the Securities Act of: 

(i)such Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Demand Party in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof; and

(ii)the Registrable Securities of other Holders which the Company has been requested to register by written request given to the Company within fifteen (15) days after the giving of such written notice by the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration statement relating to any registration request under this Section 2.2(a):

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(x)within a period of one hundred eighty (180) days (or such lesser period as the managing underwriters in an underwritten offering may permit) after the effective date of any other registration statement relating to any registration request under this Section 2.2(a) or relating to any registration referred to in Section 2.1; or

 (y)if, in the good faith judgment of a majority of the disinterested members of the Board, the Company is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which would be materially adverse to the Company and would not otherwise be required under Law, in which case the filing of the registration statement may be delayed until the earlier of the second Business Day after such conditions shall have ceased to exist and the 60th day after receipt by the Company of the written request from a Demand Party to register Registrable Securities under this Section 2.2(a); provided that the Company shall not effect such a delay more than two times in any twelve (12) month period.    

(b)Form.  Each registration statement prepared at the request of a Demand Party shall be effected on such form as reasonably requested by the Demand Party, including by a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act on a Form S-3 (or any successor rule or form thereto) if so requested by the Demand Party and if the Company is then eligible to effect a shelf registration and use such form for such disposition.

(c)Expenses.  The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 2.2.

(d)Plan of Distribution, Underwriters and Counsel.  If a requested registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering, the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering shall have the right to (i) determine the plan of distribution, (ii) select the investment banker or bankers and managers to administer the offering, including the lead managing underwriter (provided that such investment banker or bankers and managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) and (iii) select counsel for the selling Holders.

(e)Priority in Demand Registrations.  If a requested registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing (a copy of which shall be provided to the Holders) that, in its opinion, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration (including Securities of the Company which are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering, so as to be likely to have a material and adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Securities offered in such offering, then the number of such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall be allocated pro rata among Registrable Securities held by the Demand Party and other parties that have requested that their Registrable Securities be sold pursuant to Section 2.1(a), if any, on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such Holder (provided that any Securities thereby allocated to any such Holder that exceed such Holder’s request will be reallocated among all such remaining parties in like manner).  Any other selling holders of the Company’s Securities (other than transferees to whom a Holder has 

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assigned its rights under this Agreement) will be included in an underwritten offering only with the consent of Holders holding a majority of the shares being sold in such offering.

(f)Shelf Takedowns.  Upon the written request of the Demand Party at any time and from time to time, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a “takedown” of the Demand Party’s Registrable Securities off of an effective shelf registration statement.  Upon the written request of the Demand Party, the Company will file and seek the effectiveness of a post-effective amendment to an existing shelf registration statement in order to register up to the number of the Demand Party’s Registrable Securities previously taken down off of such shelf by the Demand Party and not yet “reloaded” onto such shelf registration statement.

(g)Additional Rights.  Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request or require the Company to register any equity Securities of the Company, or any Securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for or into such Securities, or amend any grant of such a right, without the prior written consent of the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities subject to this Agreement.  In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the shares of Common Stock are converted into Securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to Holders by the issuer of such Securities.  To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company will use its best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by Holders then holding a majority of Registrable Securities.  

SECTION 2.3Registration Procedures

.  If and whenever the Company is required to file a registration statement with respect to, or to use its reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the registration of, any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement, the Company will as expeditiously as possible:

(a)promptly prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of Securities which it has initiated for its own account at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto (and, in such event, the Company shall pay the Registration Expenses incurred in connection therewith); and provided, further, that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will (i) furnish to counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel, (ii) fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities being sold  may request, and (iii) make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the sellers of the Registrable Securities being sold available for discussion of such documents;

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(b)prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period not in excess of two (2) years (which period shall not be applicable in the case of a shelf registration effected pursuant to a request under Section 2.2(b)) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement; provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company will (i) furnish to counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel, (ii) fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities being sold  may request, and (iii) make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the sellers of the Registrable Securities being sold available for discussion of such documents;

(c)furnish to each seller of such Registrable Securities such number of copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits filed therewith, including any documents incorporated by reference), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such seller;

(d)use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities covered by such registration in such jurisdictions as each seller shall reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

(e)use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(f)notify each seller of any such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the Company’s becoming aware that the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller, prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of an amended or supplemental prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;

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(g)otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its Security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable (but not more than eighteen (18) months) after the effective date of the registration statement, an earnings statement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

(h)(i) use its reasonable best efforts to list such Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which other Securities of the Company are then listed if such Registrable Securities are not already so listed and if such listing is then permitted under the rules of such exchange; and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(i)enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form), which may include indemnification provisions in favor of underwriters and other Persons in addition to, or in substitution for the indemnification provisions hereof, and take such other actions as sellers of a majority of such Registrable Securities or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(j)obtain a “cold comfort” letter or letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the seller or sellers of a majority of such Registrable Securities shall reasonably request;

(k)make available for inspection by any seller of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, by any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or any such underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

(l)notify counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, immediately, and confirm the notice in writing: (i) when the registration statement, or any post-effective amendment to the registration statement, shall have become effective, or any supplement to the prospectus or any amendment to any prospectus shall have been filed; (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the SEC; (iii) of any request of the SEC to amend the registration statement or amend or supplement the prospectus or for additional information; and (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the registration statement for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the institution or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes;

(m)provide each Holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement reasonable opportunity to comment on the registration statement, any post-effective 

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amendments to the registration statement, any supplement to the prospectus or any amendment to any prospectus;

(n)make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;

(o)if requested by the managing underwriter or agent or any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post‐effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or agent or such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, including, with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold by such Holder to such underwriter or agent, the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriter or agent and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post‐effective amendment as soon as practicable after being notified of the matters incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(p)cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Securities to be sold under the registration statement, and enable such Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or agent, if any, or the Holders may request;

(q)use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities and any underwriters in any “road shows” that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with distribution of Registrable Securities;

(r)obtain for delivery to the Holders of Registrable Securities being registered and to the underwriter or agent an opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company in customary form and in form, substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to such Holders, underwriters or agents and their counsel; and

(s)cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.

SECTION 2.4Other Registration-Related Matters

.

(a)The Company may require any Person that is Transferring Securities in a Public Offering pursuant to Sections 2.1 or 2.2 to furnish to the Company in writing such information regarding such Person and pertinent to the disclosure requirements relating to the registration and the distribution of the Registrable Securities which are included in such Public Offering as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

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(b)Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.3(f), it will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until its receipt of the copies of the amended or supplemented prospectus contemplated by Section 2.3(f) and, if so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in their possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  If the Company gives any such notice, the period for which the Company will be required to keep the registration statement effective will be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 2.3(f) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement has received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.3(f).

(c)Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.3(l)(iv), it will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until the lifting of such stop order, other order or suspension or the termination of such proceedings and, if so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in its possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  If the Company gives any such notice, the period for which the Company will be required to keep the registration statement effective will be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 2.3(l)(iv) to and including the date when such stop order, other order or suspension is lifted or such proceedings are terminated.

(d)(i)  Each Holder (x) hereby agrees, with respect to the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder, to be bound by any and all restrictions on the sale, disposition, distribution, hedging or other Transfer of any interest in Registrable Securities imposed on Blackstone, Summit, Black Horse or the Director Stockholders and/or their respective Affiliates in connection with the IPO by the underwriters managing such offering for the duration of the term of such restriction (the period in which such sale, disposition, distribution, hedging or other Transfer of any interest is restricted, the “Lockup Period”) and (y) will, in connection with a Public Offering of the Company’s equity Securities (whether for the Company’s account or for the account of any Holder or Holders, or both), upon the request of the Company or of the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Company’s Securities, agree in writing not to effect any sale, disposition or distribution of Registrable Securities (other than those included in the Public Offering) without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter for such period of time commencing seven (7) days before and ending one hundred eighty (180) days (or such earlier date as the managing underwriter shall agree) after the effective date of such registration; provided that the Company shall cause all directors and officers of the Company, Holders of more than 5% of the Registrable Securities and all other Persons with registration rights with respect to the Company’s Securities (whether or not pursuant to this Agreement) to enter into agreements similar to those contained in this Section 2.4(d)(i) (without regard to this proviso); and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries will, in connection with an underwritten Public Offering of the Company’s Securities in respect of which Registrable Securities are 

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included, upon the request of the underwriters managing such offering, agree in writing not to effect any sale, disposition or distribution of equity Securities of the Company (other than those included in such Public Offering, offered pursuant to Section 2.2(f), offered on Form S-8, issuable upon conversion of Securities or upon the exercise of options, or the grant of options in the ordinary course of business pursuant to then-existing management equity plans or equity-based employee benefit plans or as otherwise permitted by Section 6(e)(i) of the Underwriting Agreement dated September 30, 2014 by and among the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto, in each case outstanding on the date a notice is given by the Company pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or a request is made pursuant to Section 2.2(a), as the case may be), without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, for such period of time commencing seven (7) days before and ending one hundred eighty (180) days (or such earlier date as the managing underwriter shall agree) after the effective date of such registration.

(e)With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale of Securities of the Company to the public without registration after such time as a public market exists for Registrable Securities, the Company agrees:

(i)to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its Securities to the public;

(ii)to use its commercially reasonable efforts to then file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(iii)so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to such Holder promptly upon request: (A) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company for an offering of its Securities to the public), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); (B) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company; and (C) such other reports and documents of the Company as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself or himself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such Securities without registration.

(f)Counsel to represent Holders of Registrable Securities shall be selected by the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the relevant registration.

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(g)Each of the parties hereto agrees that the registration rights provided to the Holders herein are not intended to, and shall not be deemed to, override or limit any other restrictions on Transfer to which any such Holder may otherwise be subject.

ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 3.1Indemnification by the Company

.  If any registration of any Securities of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2, the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Holder who sells Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, each Affiliate of such Holder and their respective directors and officers or general and limited partners (and the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and controlling Persons of any of the foregoing), each other Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such Securities and each other Person, if any, who controls such Holder or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act (each, and “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, and reasonable and documented expenses to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto) arise out of or are based upon: (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which such Securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein, or any other such disclosure document (including reports and other documents filed under the Exchange Act and any document incorporated by reference therein) or related document or report; (b) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances when they were made; or (c) any violation or alleged violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any federal, state, foreign or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and relating to action or inaction in connection with any such registration, disclosure document or related document or report, and the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, liability, action or proceeding; provided that the Company will not be liable to any Indemnified Party in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, in any such preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Indemnified Party furnished to the Company by such Indemnified Party expressly for use in the preparation thereof.  Such indemnity will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder or any Indemnified Party and will survive the Transfer of such Securities by such Holder or any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 3.2Indemnification by the Holders and Underwriters

.  The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration 

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statement filed in accordance with Section 2.1 or 2.2, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the Holder of such Registrable Securities or any prospective underwriter to indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 3.1) the Company, all other Holders or any prospective underwriter, as the case may be, and any of their respective Affiliates, directors, officers and controlling Persons, with respect to any untrue statement in or omission from such registration statement, any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement, if such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder or underwriter furnished to the Company by such Holder or underwriter expressly for use in the preparation of such registration statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus or amendment or supplement, or a document incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing.  Such indemnity will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any of the Holders, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors, officers or controlling Persons and will survive the Transfer of such Securities by such Holder.  In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds actually received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. 

SECTION 3.3Notices of Claims, Etc.

  Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party hereunder of written notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Article III, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action; provided that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein will not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under Section 3.1 or 3.2, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice.  In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, unless in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel selected by the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the relevant registration, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  If, in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, having common counsel would result in a conflict of interest between the interests of such indemnified and indemnifying parties, then such Indemnified Party may employ separate counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party to represent or defend such Indemnified Party in such action, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party will not be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such Indemnified Parties (and not more than one separate firm of local counsel at any time for all such Indemnified Parties) in such action.  No indemnifying party will consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.

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SECTION 3.4Contribution

.  If the indemnification provided for hereunder from the indemnifying party is unavailable to an Indemnified Party hereunder in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein for reasons other than those described in the proviso in the first sentence of Section 3.1, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and Indemnified Parties in connection with the actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such indemnifying party and Indemnified Parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or Indemnified Parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount paid or payable by a party under this Section 3.4 as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding.  In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds actually received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

SECTION 3.5Other Indemnification

.  Indemnification similar to that specified in this Article III (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each seller of Registrable Securities with respect to any required registration or other qualification of Securities under any Law or with any Governmental Authority other than as required by the Securities Act.

SECTION 3.6Non-Exclusivity

.  The obligations of the parties under this Article III will be in addition to any liability which any party may otherwise have to any other party.

ARTICLE IV
OTHER

SECTION 4.1Notices

.  Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party hereto to another party hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) when delivered personally, (b) five (5) Business Days after being sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent by Federal Express or other nationally recognized overnight courier, or (d) if transmitted by facsimile, if confirmed within 24 hours thereafter by a signed original sent in the 

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manner provided in clause (a), (b) or (c) to parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by prior written notice from such party):

if to the Company:

Vivint Solar, Inc.
4931 North 300 West

Provo, Utah 84604
Attention:Chief Legal Officer
Fax:  (801) 229-7714

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. 
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5100

Seattle, WA 98104 
Attention: Michael Nordtvedt, Esq.
Fax:  (206) 883-2699

 

if to Blackstone:

The Blackstone Group L.P.
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Attention:Peter Wallace
Fax:  (212) 583-5710

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention:Peter Martelli, Esq. 

Edgar Lewandowski, Esq.
Fax:  (212) 455-2502

 

if to Summit:

Summit Partners
222 Berkeley Street, 18th floor
Boston, MA 02116
Attention:Joseph Trustey
Fax:  (617) 824-1100

 

 

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if to Black Horse:

Black Horse Holdings, LLC
137 Newbury Street, 7th floor
Boston, MA 02116
Attention:Eric Scheuermann

if to a Director Stockholder:

313 Acquisition LLC
4931 North 300 West

Provo, Utah 84604
Attention:Alex Dunn; Todd Pedersen
Fax:  (801) 377-4116

 

SECTION 4.2Assignment

.  Neither the Company nor any Holder shall assign all or any part of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company and Blackstone; provided, however, that, without the prior written consent of the Company, any Blackstone Entity may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement in whole or in part to (x) any of its Affiliates and (y) any Person who becomes a holder of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by such Blackstone Entity of shares of Common Stock to its members, limited partners or stockholders that becomes a party hereto by executing and delivering an assignment and joinder agreement to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

SECTION 4.3Amendments; Waiver

.  This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by a written instrument executed by the Company and the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities subject to this Agreement; provided that no such amendment, supplement or other modification shall adversely affect the economic interests of any Holder hereunder disproportionately to other Holders without the written consent of such Holder.  For the avoidance of doubt, no consent pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be required in connection with any amendment or revision to Schedule A unless such amendment or revision is to remove a Holder from such schedule at a time when such Holder would otherwise be entitled to registration rights herein. No waiver by any party of any of the provisions hereof will be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and executed by the party so waiving.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, will be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any covenants or agreements contained herein.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

SECTION 4.4Third Parties

.  This Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto.

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SECTION 4.5Governing Law

.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 4.6Jurisdiction

.  The Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware) shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the parties with respect to any dispute or controversy between them arising under or in connection with this agreement and, by execution and delivery of this agreement, each of the parties to this Agreement submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts, including but not limited to the in personam and subject matter jurisdiction of those courts, waives any objections to such jurisdiction on the grounds of venue or forum non conveniens, the absence of in personam or subject matter jurisdiction and any similar grounds, consents to service of process by mail (in accordance with the notice provisions of this Agreement) or any other manner permitted by Law, and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement.

SECTION 4.7MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

.  THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. 

SECTION 4.8Specific Performance

.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that if there is any breach of this Agreement by any of them, the non-breaching party would be irreparably harmed and could not be made whole by monetary damages.  Each party accordingly agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and that the parties, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.9Entire Agreement

.  This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  There are no agreements, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth herein.  This Agreement supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement supersedes all other registration rights with respect to the Company’s Common Stock that are forth in the Securityholders Agreement dated as of November 16, 2012 among 313 Acquisition LLC and the other parties thereto.

SECTION 4.10Severability

.  If one or more of the provisions, paragraphs, words, clauses, phrases or sentences contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision, paragraph, word, clause, phrase or sentence in every other respect and of the remaining provisions, paragraphs, words, clauses, phrases or sentences hereof shall not be in any way impaired, it being intended that all rights, powers and privileges of the parties hereto shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

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SECTION 4.11Counterparts

.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which together will be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

SECTION 4.12Effectiveness

.

This Agreement shall become effective, as to any Holder, as of the date signed by the Company and countersigned by such Holder.

SECTION 4.13Confidentiality

.

Blackstone, Summit, Black Horse and each Director Stockholder agrees that all material non-public information provided pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be kept confidential by the person to whom such information is provided, until such time as such information becomes public other than through violation of this provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party may disclose the information if (1) required to do so by any law, rule, regulation, order, decree or subpoena of any governmental agency or authority or court or (2) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such information by such Person.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY

 

VIVINT SOLAR, INC.

 

	
By:
	
_/s/ Gregory Butterfield________________

Name:Gregory Butterfield

Title:Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

313 ACQUISITION LLC

 

	
By:
	
_/s/ Peter Wallace_____________________

Name:Peter Wallace

Title:   Senior Managing Director

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

SUMMIT PARTNERS GROWTH EQUITY FUND VIII-A, L.P.

 

	
By: 
	
Summit Partners GE VIII, L.P., its General Partner

	
By:
	
Summit Partners GE VIII, LLC, its Managing Member

By: _/s/ Joseph F. Trustey_________________

Name: Joseph F. Trustey

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

SUMMIT PARTNERS GROWTH EQUITY FUND VIII-B, L.P.

	
By: 
	
Summit Partners GE VIII, L.P., its General Partner

	
By:
	
Summit Partners GE VIII, LLC, its Managing Member

By: _/s/ Joseph F. Trustey_________________

Name: Joseph F. Trustey

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

SUMMIT INVESTORS I, LLC

	
By: 
	
Summit Investors Management, LLC, its Manager

	
By:
	
Summit Partners, L.P., its Manager

	
By:
	
Summit Master Company, LLC, its General Partner

By: _/s/ Joseph F. Trustey_________________

Name: Joseph F. Trustey

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

SUMMIT INVESTORS I (UK), L.P.

	
By: 
	
Summit Investors Management, LLC, its General Partner

	
By:
	
Summit Partners, L.P., its Manager

	
By:
	
Summit Master Company, LLC, its General Partner

By: _/s/ Joseph F. Trustey_________________

Name: Joseph F. Trustey

Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

BLACK HORSE HOLDINGS LLC

 

By: _/s/ Eric Schevermenn________________

Name: Eric Schevermenn

Title:   Manager

 

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

DIRECTOR STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

By: /s/ Alex Dunn________________________

Name: Alex Dunn

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

DIRECTOR STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

By: /s/ Todd Pedersen_____________________

Name: Todd Pedersen

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND JOINDER

[______], 20__

 

Reference is made to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2014, by and among Vivint Solar, Inc. (the “Company”), Blackstone (as defined therein) and the other parties thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Registration Rights Agreement, [313 Acquisition LLC] (the “Assignor”) in its capacity as a Blackstone Entity in the Registration Rights Agreement hereby assigns [in part][or: in full] its rights and obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to each of [_____], [_____] and [______] (each, an “Assignee” and collectively, the “Assignees”).  [For the avoidance of doubt, the Assignor will remain a party to the Registration Rights Agreement following the assignment in part of its rights and obligations thereunder to the undersigned Assignees.]

 

Each undersigned Assignee hereby agrees to and does become party to the Registration Rights Agreement as a Blackstone Party and Holder. This assignment and joinder shall serve as a counterpart signature page to the Registration Rights Agreement and by executing below each undersigned Assignee is deemed to have executed the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named a party thereto and each Assignee’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

 

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this assignment and joinder as of date first set forth above.

 

 

ASSIGNOR:

 

[313 ACQUISITION LLC]

 

 

By:  

Name: 

Title:  

 

 

ASSIGNEES:

 

[Signature Blocks to Come]Exhibit 10.9

 

 

Vivint Solar, Inc.

Amended and Restated

2013 Long-Term Incentive Pool Plan for Recruiting Regional Sales Managers

 

Section 1.Purpose. The purpose of the Vivint Solar, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Pool Plan for Recruiting Regional Sales Managers is to:

 

(a)provide a means through which Vivint Solar, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Affiliates may attract and retain key Recruiting Regional Sales Managers (and prospective Recruiting Regional Sales Managers); and

 

(b)provide a means whereby Recruiting Regional Sales Managers (and prospective Recruiting Regional Sales Managers) of the Company and its Affiliates can be paid incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s direct and indirect stockholders.

 

Section 2.Definitions. Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the meanings assigned such terms herein or in Appendix A (Definitions).

 

Section 3.Eligibility.

 

(a)Any Recruiting Regional Sales Manager of the Company or its Affiliates shall be eligible to be designated a Participant by the Committee.

 

(b)Unless otherwise provided for in an Award Agreement, when a Participant ceases to be a Recruiting Regional Sales Manager or otherwise ceases to satisfy the eligibility requirements for participation in this Plan (the last date of such participation, the “Cessation  Date”), but continues to provide Services, such Participant shall be eligible to continue to receive payments in respect of LTIP Credits accrued on or prior to the Cessation Date pursuant to Section 4(b) and otherwise in accordance with the Plan, provided that such Participant shall not accrue any additional LTIP Credits in this Plan after the Cessation Date. Such a Participant may be eligible to participate in other long-term incentive plans of the Company or its Affiliates, but LTIP credits accrued under any other such plan shall not constitute “LTIP Credits” under this Plan.

 

(c)An individual actively accruing benefits under a similar long-term incentive plan of the Company shall not be eligible to accrue LTIP Credits with respect to the same period of time under this Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement.

 

Section 4.Allocation of LTIP Credits; Calculation of LTIP Share.

 

(a)Grant of Awards.  From time to time, the Committee may make awards of LTIP credits (each, an “LTIP Credit”) to Participants under the Plan (each, an “Award”) which shall be evidenced by a written award agreement (each, an “Award Agreement”). Awards may be

 

 

2

 

expressed as a right, subject to satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the Award, to receive a stipulated number of LTIP Credits or a number of LTIP Credits derivable by a formula; provided that if no such number of LTIP Credits or formula is specified in the Award Agreement, then the number of LTIP Credits issued under such Award shall be determined pursuant to Section 4(b).

 

(b)Allocation of LTIP Credits.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, each Participant shall accrue LTIP Credits as set forth in this Section 4(b).  All determinations related to the allocation of LTIP Credits shall be reasonably determined by the Committee in good faith and shall be binding and final on all Participants.

 

(i)LTIP Credits, Generally.  Each Participant will be allocated one LTIP Credit, or a fraction thereof, for each installed solar-generating power system sold by a Regional Sales Manager, District Sales Manager or Sales Manager who was recruited by such Regional Sales Manager on or between May 1, 2011 and May 1, 2014 (except to the extent such LTIP Credits are canceled pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii)), as set forth below:

 

			
	
Participant Role
	
Installation between May 1, 2011

and December 31, 2014
	
Installation between January 1, 2015

and May 1, 2015

	
Vice President
	
0.20
	
0.1

	
Regional Manager
	
0.80
	
0.4

	
Vice President and Regional Sales Manager
	
1.0
	
0.5

 

(ii)Cancelations. If any solar power purchase contract is canceled by a customer or not assigned by a customer to a new purchaser of a home (other than cancelations as a result of the purchase by the customer of the power-generating equipment provided pursuant to such contract), then any LTIP Credits originally generated by the installation for such buyer will be canceled and cease to be outstanding for purposes of making future calculations hereunder.

 

(iii)Calculating LTIP Credits. A Participant’s LTIP Credits for any Measurement Period shall be determined in good faith by the Committee for purposes of making such payment, with the Committee’s decisions binding and final on all Participants.

 

(c)Calculation of LTIP Share.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant’s share of the LTI Pool (the “LTIP Share”), as of any Determination Date, shall be a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be such Participant’s LTIP Credits accrued during all Measurement Periods through such Determination Date and (y) the denominator of which shall be the total number of LTIP Credits assigned to all Participants (excluding Terminated Participants) during all Measurement Periods through such Determination Date. All determinations related to the calculation of the LTIP Share shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and shall be binding and final on all Participants.

 

 

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Section 5.Allocation of LTIP Share; Timing and Amount of Payment.

Satisfaction of Awards shall occur as described in either sub-section (a), sub-section (b), sub- section (c), or a combination of either sub-sections (a) or (b) and (c), below.

 

(i)Public Offering.  Following the occurrence of a Public Offering of the Company (or any other similar event specified in the sole discretion of the Committee), on each Determination Date, each Participant with an outstanding Award who continues to provide Services through such Determination Date shall be issued a number of shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Stock Plan with a Fair Market Value on such Determination Date equal to such Participant’s LTIP Share of the Distributable Portion of the LTI Pool.

 

(ii)The Determination Dates following a Public Offering and the respective Distributable Portions of the LTI Pool shall be:

 

		
	
Determination Date
	
Distributable Portion of LTI Pool

	
Date that is six months following the closing of the Public Offering
	
Portion of the LTI Pool attributable to 257,353 hypothetical stock options, measured as of the applicable Determination Date

	
Date that is 18 months following the closing of the Public Offering
	
Portion of the LTI Pool attributable to 257,353 hypothetical stock options, measured as of the applicable Determination Date

	
Later of (x) the date on which the First Performance Hurdle has been satisfied and (y) the date that is six months following the closing of the Public Offering
	
Portion of the LTI Pool attributable to 514,706 hypothetical stock options, measured as of applicable Determination Date

	
Later of (x) the date on which the Second Performance Hurdle has been satisfied and (y) the date that is six months following the closing of the Public Offering
	
Portion of the LTI Pool attributable to 514,706 hypothetical stock options, measured as of the applicable Determination Date

 

(b)Change of Control.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (or any other similar event specified in the sole discretion of the Committee), each Participant with an outstanding Award shall be eligible to be paid an amount equal to the product of (1) the Participant’s LTIP Share, (2) the LTI Pool (less any amounts previously distributed under the LTI Pool) and (3) the Vested Percentage (such product, the “Change of Control Payment Amount”), which payment may be made in one of the following forms, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion: (w) cash, (x) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value, (y) shares of Common Stock or units of capital stock of Parent or one of Parent’s majority-owned Subsidiaries that beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting power of the Company’s capital stock (“Alternative Equity”) valued at Fair Market Value (measured as though all references to shares of Common Stock in such definition of “Fair Market Value” were replaced with Alternative Equity), or (z) any combination thereof. The Change of Control Payment Amount will be paid to a Participant in installments as follows:

 

(i)One-third of the Change of Control Payment Amount shall be paid within 30 days of the consummation of such Change of Control (unless the Participant ceases to

 

 

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provide Services before such consummation date, in which case the Change of Control Payment shall be forfeited);

 

(ii)One-third of the Change of Control Payment Amount shall be paid on the date that is nine (9) months after the date of the consummation of such Change of Control (unless the Participant ceases to provide Services before such date, in which case the unpaid portion of the Change of Control Payment shall be forfeited); and

 

(iii)One-third of the Change of Control Payment Amount shall be paid on the date that is 18 months after the date of the consummation of such Change of Control (unless the Participant ceases to provide Services before such date, in which case the unpaid portion of the Change of Control Payment shall be forfeited);

 

provided that if a Participant’s Services are terminated by the Participant’s employer after the consummation of a Change of Control other than for Cause (or as a result of the Participant’s death or disability (as defined in the employer’s long-term disability insurance plan)), then subject to and conditioned upon the execution and non-revocation of a General Release by such Participant, any unpaid portion of the Change of Control Payment Amount shall be paid to such Participant within 30 days of such termination of Services.

 

(c)Other Payments. The Committee may, at any time in its sole discretion, declare a payment from the LTI Pool, in which case each Participant with an outstanding Award shall be paid an amount equal to such Participant’s LTIP Share of the payment amount so declared by the Committee, which payment may be made in one of the forms described in Section 4(b); provided that any such payments, (i) together with all other payments made pursuant to this Section 4(c), shall not exceed an amount equal to the product of (A) the Vested Percentage and (B) the LTI Pool at the time of such payment; and (ii) shall reduce the payment made in respect of the LTI Pool on the Distribution Date immediately following the date such payment was made.

 

(d)Adjustment to LTI Pool. For the avoidance of doubt, any payment made pursuant to Section 5 shall constitute a payment pursuant to the LTI Pool and shall, therefore, reduce the amount of the LTI Pool available for future distributions, as described in the definition of “LTI Pool.”

 

Section 6.Administration.

 

(a)The Committee shall administer the Plan.

 

(b)Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (iv) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities (including Alternative Equity), other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, shares of Common

 

 

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Stock, other securities (including Alternative Equity), other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vi) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it.  The Committee may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or any of its Affiliates the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Committee herein, and which may be so delegated as a matter of law.

 

(d)Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons or entities, including, without limitation, the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.

 

(e)No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder (unless constituting fraud or a willful criminal act or omission). Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made under the Plan or any Award Agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, and the Company shall advance to such Indemnifiable Person any such expenses promptly upon written request (which request shall include an undertaking by the Indemnifiable Person to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined as provided below that the Indemnifiable Person is not entitled to be indemnified); provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing

 

 

6

 

right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions or determinations of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of or otherwise supersede any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, individual indemnification agreement or contract or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.

 

(f)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards.  Any such actions by the Board shall be subject to the applicable rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock is listed or quoted.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

 

Section 7.Amendment and Termination; Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events.

 

(a)The Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan and/or any Award, or any portion thereof, at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval, if such shareholder approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan; and provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination (including without limitation any change effected by amendment, restatement, modification or waiver relating to any agreement cross-referenced herein (collectively, an “Amendment”)) that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of either

(x) the affected Participant or (y) a number of Participants with a majority of the then outstanding LTIP Credits.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Committee may terminate the Plan and pay Participants the Vested Percentage of the LTI Pool pursuant to Section 4(c)(iii) without any shareholder approval or Participant consent at any time, in which case this Plan shall be terminated following such payment without any further obligation on the Company thereafter and (ii) the Committee may amend the method of calculating and allocating LTIP Credits (including, without limitation, imposition of or amendment to annual minimum performance requirements for any Participant to be allocated LTIP Credits under the Plan in respect of a Measurement Period) on a prospective basis without any shareholder approval or Participant consent at any time.

 

(b)In the event of (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property and excluding any dividend or distribution used to satisfy indebtedness of Parent and/or its Affiliates and Subsidiaries), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or other

 

 

7

 

securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change of Control) that affects the shares of Common Stock, or

(b)unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change of Control) affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law, such that in either case an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate, then the Committee shall make any such adjustments in such manner as it may deem equitable, including without limitation, any or all of the following:

 

(i)adjusting any or all of (A) the number of hypothetical Stock Options in the LTI Pool (and the kind of securities thereunder) and the number and type of securities which may be delivered in respect of Awards and (B) the Exercise Price with respect to any Award;

 

(ii)providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards (or awards of an acquiring company), accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time (which shall not be required to be more than ten (10) days) for Participants to exercise outstanding Awards prior to the occurrence of such event (and any such Award not so exercised shall terminate upon the occurrence of such event); and

 

(iii)canceling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders holding Awards the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which if applicable may be based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding or hypothetical Stock Options, the Intrinsic Value thereof (which may be zero).

 

provided, however, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor pronouncement thereto)), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring.

 

Payments to holders pursuant to clause (iii) above shall be made in cash or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in the form of such other consideration necessary for a Participant to receive property, cash, or securities (or combination thereof) as such Participant would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the Participant had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award at such time (less any applicable Exercise Price).  In addition, prior to any payment or adjustment contemplated under this Section 7(b), the Committee may require a Participant to (A) represent and warrant as to the unencumbered title to his Awards, (B) bear such Participant’s pro rata share of any post-closing indemnity obligations, and be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, and similar conditions

as the other holders of Stock, and (C) deliver customary transfer documentation as reasonably

 

 

8

 

determined by the Committee.

 

Section 8.General Provisions.

 

(a)Nontransferability.  No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

 

	
(b)
	
Tax Withholding.

 

(i)A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate in cash or its equivalent (e.g., check), and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property) of any required withholdings or taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholdings and taxes.

 

(ii)Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of shares of Common Stock or Alternative Equity (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or (B) having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock or Alternative Equity otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares of Common Stock or Alternative Equity with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability, provided that with respect to shares of Common Stock or Alternative Equity withheld pursuant to clause (B), the number of such shares of Common Stock or Alternative Equity may not have a Fair Market Value greater than the minimum required statutory withholding liability.

 

(c)No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Services; Waiver. No employee, advisor or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate or Subsidiary, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the Service of the Company or an Affiliate or Subsidiary.  The Company and any of its Affiliates and Subsidiaries may at any time dismiss a Participant from Services, free from any liability or any

 

 

9

 

claim under the Plan.  By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have waived any claim to continued exercise or vesting of an Award or to damages or severance entitlement related to non-continuation of the Award beyond the period provided under the Plan or any Award Agreement.

 

(d)Designation and Change of Beneficiary. Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his or her death.  A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee.  The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.  If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

 

(e)No Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award Agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of shares of Common Stock which are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares of Common Stock have been issued or delivered to that person.

 

(f)Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of law provisions thereof that would direct the application of the law of any other jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Plan, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought exclusively in any court of competent jurisdiction in Salt Lake City, Utah, and each of the Company and the Participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. Each of the Participant and the Company hereby irrevocably waives (i) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Plan brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in Salt Lake City, Utah, (ii) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and

(iii) any right to a jury trial.

 

(g)Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award, Award Agreement, or Amendment is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or entity or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or entity or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

10

 

(h)No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand. No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes.  Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of Services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

 

(i)Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation.  This Plan and Awards hereunder are designed to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will incur additional tax under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Committee may in its sole discretion (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, including such Department of Treasury guidance and other interpretive materials as may be issued after the Effective Date.

 

Section 9.Effectiveness. The Plan shall be effective as of July 31, 2013 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect, as amended from time to time, until terminated pursuant to Section 7.

 

 

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Appendix A Definitions

 

“Affiliate” means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company or Parent and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Committee, any person or entity in which the Company or Parent has a significant interest.

The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Board” means (i) prior to a Public Offering, the board of directors of the Parent and (ii) following (A) a Public Offering or (B) the date Parent ceases to be the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto)), directly or indirectly, of 80% or more of the total voting power of the voting equity of the Company, the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Cause”, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Participant’s then-current employment agreement, and if not so defined, or no such employment agreement exists, “Cause” shall mean (A) the Participant’s continued failure substantially to perform the Participant’s employment duties (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (B) dishonesty in the performance of the Participant’s employment duties, (C) an act or acts on the Participant’s part constituting (x) what would be classified as a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or (y) what would be classified as a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude under the law of the United States or any state thereof,

(D)use, possession, sale, or purchase of controlled substances or alcohol during working hours or on the job site or being under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol during working hours or on the job site, (E) the Participant’s willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in connection with the Participant’s employment duties or any act or omission which is or could reasonably be expected to be injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (F) the Participant’s fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement or misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company or an Affiliate or Subsidiary or (G) the occurrence of any Restrictive Covenant Violation; provided that none of the foregoing events shall constitute Cause unless Participant fails to cure such event and remedy any adverse or injurious consequences arising from such event within 10 days after the receipt of written notice from the Company of the event which constitutes Cause (except that no cure or remedy period shall be provided if the event or such consequences are not capable of being cured and remedied).

 

“Change of Control” shall mean (i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as a whole, to any Person or Group other than Parent or Sponsor (or an Affiliate of Parent or Sponsor) or (ii) any Person or Group, other than Parent or Sponsor (or an Affiliate of Parent or Sponsor), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d- 5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto)), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more

 

 

12

 

of the total voting power of the voting equity of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise and Parent and Sponsor (or an Affiliate of Parent or Sponsor) cease to directly or indirectly control the Board.

 

“Committee” shall mean either (i) the Board or (ii) any committee to which the Board delegates its authority in respect of this Plan.

 

“Common Stock” shall mean the Company’s common stock.

 

“Determination Date” shall mean, following a Public Offering, the dates specified in Section 5(a)(ii), and following a Change of Control, the date of the consummation of such Change of Control.

 

“District Sales Manager” shall mean a District Sales Manager who provides Services.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto. Reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

“Exercise Price” means the option price per share of Common Stock for each Stock Option.

 

“Fair Market Value” shall mean, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing price of the Common Stock reported on the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is listed and traded on such date, or, if there are no such sales on that date, then on the last preceding date on which such sales were reported; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any national securities exchange but is quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last-sale basis, the average between the closing bid price and ask price reported on such date, or, if there is no such sale on that date, then on the last preceding date on which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last-sale basis, the amount determined by the Board (or, after a Public Offering, the Committee) in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.

 

“First Performance Hurdle” shall mean that Sponsor shall have received cash proceeds in respect of its shares of Common Stock held from time to time by Sponsor in an amount that equals $250,000,000 more than Sponsor’s cumulative invested capital in respect of its shares of Common Stock (which amount shall be deemed to be $75,000,000, plus any amounts invested after November 16, 2012 and through such date of determination).

 

“General Release” shall mean a general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and employees, in such standard form as the Company may adopt from time to time.

 

“Group” means “group” as such term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor section thereto).

 

 

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“Intrinsic Value” shall mean, as of any Determination Date in respect of a Stock Option, the amount by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the Exercise Price under such Stock Option.

 

“LTI Pool” as of any Determination Date, shall mean an amount equal to the Intrinsic Value of 1,544,118 hypothetical Stock Options issued under the Stock Plan with an Exercise Price equal to $1.00 each (such number and such Exercise Price subject to adjustments as provided in the Stock Plan), less the amount of any payments or distributions from the LTI Pool prior to such Determination Date made pursuant to Section 5.  All determinations related to the calculation of the LTI Pool shall be reasonably determined by the Committee in good faith and shall be binding and final on all Participants.

 

“Measurement Period” shall mean the Company’s fiscal year (or such other period determined by the Committee from time to time).

 

“Parent” means 313 Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Participant” shall mean an individual providing Services as a (x) Recruiting Regional Sales Manager (or an individual providing services to a legal entity acting as a Recruiting Regional Manager) and/or (y) Vice President, who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

 

“Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

 

“Plan” shall mean this Vivint Solar, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Pool Plan for Recruiting Regional Sales Managers (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time).

 

“Public Offering” shall mean any offering by the Company of Common Stock to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

“Recruiting Regional Sales Manager” shall mean an individual providing Services (or an individual providing services to a legal entity which provides Services) and who recruits an individual to provide Services (or an individual to provide services to a legal entity which provides Services) to the Company as Regional Sales Managers, District Sales Managers, or Sales Managers to the Company to provide Services.

 

“Regional Sales Manager” shall mean a Regional Sales Manager who provides Services.

 

“Restrictive Covenant Violation” means the Participant’s breach of any provision of any agreement (including any Award Agreement) with the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary (whether currently in existence or arising in the future from time to time, and whether entered into pursuant to the Plan or otherwise) containing covenants regarding non-competition, non- solicitation, non-disparagement and/or non-disclosure obligations.

 

“Sales Manager” shall mean a Sales Manager who provides Services.

 

 

14

 

“Second Performance Hurdle” shall mean that Sponsor shall have received cash proceeds in respect of its shares of Common Stock held from time to time by Sponsor in an amount that equals $500,000,000 more than Sponsor’s cumulative invested capital in respect of its shares of Common Stock (which amount shall be deemed to be $75,000,000, plus any amounts invested after November 16, 2012 and through such date of determination).

 

“Service Recipient” with respect to a Participant shall mean the Company or one of its Affiliates (or any combination thereof) that engages the Services of such Participant at the time he or she is granted an Award hereunder (or that will prospectively engage the Services of such Participant following such grant).

 

“Services” means (i) a Participant’s employment if the Participant is an employee of the Company (or, following a Change in Control, any successor of the Company or the acquiring entity) or any of its Affiliates (or Parent or one of its Subsidiaries) or (ii) a Participant’s services as an advisor or consultant, if the Participant is an advisor or consultant to the Company (or, following a Change in Control, any successor of the Company or the acquiring entity) or any of its Affiliates (or Parent or one of its Subsidiaries).

 

“Sponsor” shall mean The Blackstone Group, L.P. and its Affiliates.

 

“Stock Option” means a Stock Option issued under the Stock Plan.

 

“Stock Plan” means the Vivint Solar, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(a)any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of such entity’s voting securities (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(b)any partnership (or any comparable foreign entity) (A) the sole general partner (or functional equivalent thereof) or the managing general partner of which is such Person or Subsidiary of such Person or (B) the only general partners (or functional equivalents thereof) of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

“Terminated Participant” shall mean any Participant holding an Award whose Services with the Service Recipient is terminated for any reason.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Participant who ceases to be a Regional Sales Manager, but continues to provide Services in another capacity shall not be a Terminated Participant.

 

“Vested Percentage” as of any Determination Date shall mean (x) if the First Performance Hurdle has not been satisfied, 33.33%, or (y) if the First Performance Hurdle has been satisfied, but the Second Performance Hurdle has not been satisfied, 66.66%, or (z) if the First Performance Hurdle and the Second Performance Hurdle have been satisfied, 100%.

 

 

15

 

“Vice President” shall mean a Vice President who provides Services.

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