Document:

gryn_ex41.htm

EXHIBIT 4.1
  
 GREEN HYGIENICS HOLDINGS INC.
 2021 Stock Incentive Plan
  
 1. Purpose. The purpose of the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan of Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. is to further align the interests of employees, directors, and non-employee Consultants with those of the stockholders by providing incentive compensation opportunities tied to the performance of the Common Stock and by promoting increased ownership of the Common Stock by such individuals. The Plan is also intended to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by attracting, retaining, and motivating key personnel upon whose judgment, initiative, and effort the successful conduct of the Company’s business is largely dependent. 
  
 2. Definitions. Wherever the following capitalized terms are used in the Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below: 
  
 “Affiliate” means (i) any entity that would be treated as an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act and (ii) any joint venture or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect beneficial ownership interest representing at least one-third (1/3) of the aggregate voting power of the equity interests of such entity or one-third (1/3) of the aggregate fair market value of the equity interests of such entity, as determined by the Committee.
  
 “Award” means an award of a Stock Option, Stock Award, or Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan. 
  
 “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted to a Participant. 
  
 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
  
 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
  
 “Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share. 
  
 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, or if no such committee exists, the Board. 
  
 “Company” means Green Hygienics Holdings Inc., a Nevada corporation. 
  
  “Consultant” means any person which is a consultant or advisor to the Company and which is a natural person and who provides bona fide services to the Company which are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction for the Company, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
  
 “Date of Grant” means the date on which an Award under the Plan is made by the Committee, or such later date as the Committee may specify to be the effective date of an Award. 
  
 “Disability” means a Participant being considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement. 
  
 “Eligible Person” means any person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate or any person to whom an offer of employment with the Company or any Affiliate is extended, as determined by the Committee, or any person who is a Non-Employee Director, or any person who is Consultant to the Company.
  
 	 
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 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 
  
 “Fair Market Value” means the mean between the highest and lowest reported sales prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape or, if not listed on such exchange, on any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed or on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if not so listed on any other national securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, then the mean between the highest and lowest reported sales prices of the Common Stock on the OTC Markets on the last trading day prior to the date with respect to which the Fair Market Value is to be determined. If the Company’s common stock is not then publicly traded, then the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the book value of the Company per share as determined on the last day of March, June, September, or December in any year closest to the date when the determination is to be made. For the purpose of determining book value hereunder, book value shall be determined by adding as of the applicable date called for herein the capital, surplus, and undivided profits of the Company, and after having deducted any reserves theretofore established; the sum of these items shall be divided by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of said date, and the quotient thus obtained shall represent the book value of each share of the Company’s common stock.
  
 “Incentive Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 
  
 “Non-Employee Director” means any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company. 
  
 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is not an Incentive Stock Option. 
  
 “Participant” means any Eligible Person who holds an outstanding Award under the Plan. 
  
 “Plan” means the 2021 Stock Incentive Plan of Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. as set forth herein, as amended from time to time. 
  
 “Restricted Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof that is issued subject to such vesting and transfer restrictions as the Committee shall determine and set forth in an Award Agreement. 
  
 “Service” means a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate or a Participant’s service as a Non-Employee Director with the Company, as applicable. 
  
 “Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 7 hereof that are issued free of transfer restrictions and forfeiture conditions. 
  
 “Stock Option” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6 hereof to purchase shares of Common Stock at such time and price, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. 
  
 	 
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 3. Administration. 
  
 3.1 Committee Members. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee comprised of one or more members of the Board, or if no such committee exists, the Board.
  
 3.2 Committee Authority. The Committee shall have such powers and authority as may be necessary or appropriate for the Committee to carry out its functions as described in the Plan. Subject to the express limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority in its discretion to determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards may be granted, the number of shares, units or other rights subject to each Award, the exercise, base or purchase price of an Award (if any), the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable, the performance goals and other conditions of an Award, the duration of the Award, and all other terms of the Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to amend the terms of an Award in any manner that is not inconsistent with the Plan, provided that no such action shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant with respect to an outstanding Award without the Participant’s consent. The Committee shall also have discretionary authority to interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations under the Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for Plan administration, including, without limitation, to correct any defect, to supply any omission or to reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement hereunder. The Committee may prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants and Eligible Persons, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. The Committee shall, in its discretion, consider such factors as it deems relevant in making its interpretations, determinations and actions under the Plan including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or employee of the Company or such attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select. All interpretations, determinations and actions by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties. 
  
 3.3 Delegation of Authority. The Committee shall have the right, from time to time, to delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority of the Committee to grant and determine the terms and conditions of Awards granted under the Plan, subject to the requirements of state law and such other limitations as the Committee shall determine. In no event shall any such delegation of authority be permitted with respect to Awards to any members of the Board or to any Eligible Person who is subject to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall also be permitted to delegate, to any appropriate officer or employee of the Company, responsibility for performing certain ministerial functions under the Plan. If the Committee’s authority is delegated to officers or employees in accordance with the foregoing, all provisions of the Plan relating to the Committee shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the foregoing by treating any such reference as a reference to such officer or employee for such purpose. Any action undertaken in accordance with the Committee’s delegation of authority hereunder shall have the same force and effect as if such action was undertaken directly by the Committee and shall be deemed for all purposes of the Plan to have been taken by the Committee. 
  
 4. Shares Subject to the Plan. 
  
 4.1 Maximum Share Limitations. Subject to adjustment in accordance with this Section 4, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued and sold under all Awards granted under the Plan shall be Five Million (5,000,000) shares. Shares of Common Stock issued and sold under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held in the Company’s treasury. To the extent that any Award involving the issuance of shares of Common Stock is forfeited, cancelled, returned to the Company for failure to satisfy vesting requirements or other conditions of the Award, or otherwise terminates without an issuance of shares of Common Stock being made thereunder, the shares of Common Stock covered thereby will no longer be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations and may again be made subject to Awards under the Plan pursuant to such limitations. Any Awards or portions thereof that are settled in cash and not in shares of Common Stock shall not be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations. 
  
 	 
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 4.2 Annual Increase. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under the Plan will automatically increase on August 1st of each year, for a period of not more than ten (10) years, commencing on August 1st of the year following the year in which the Effective Date occurs and ending on (and including) August 1, 2031, in an amount equal to eight percent (8%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on July 31st of the preceding fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may act prior to August 1st of a given year to provide that there will be no August 1st increase for such year or that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than provided herein. 
  
 4.3 Adjustments. If there shall occur any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other distribution with respect to the shares of Common Stock, or any merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off or other similar corporate change, or any other change affecting the Common Stock, the Committee may, in the manner and to the extent that it deems appropriate and equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of the Plan, cause an adjustment to be made in (i) the maximum number and kind of shares provided in Section 4.1 hereof, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock, or other rights subject to then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise or base price for each share or other right subject to then outstanding Awards, and (iv) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, any such adjustments shall, to the extent practicable, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. 
  
 5. Participation and Awards.
  
 5.1 Designations of Participants. All Eligible Persons are eligible to be designated by the Committee to receive Awards and become Participants under the Plan. The Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to determine and designate from time to time those Eligible Persons who are to be granted Awards, the types of Awards to be granted and the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to Awards granted under the Plan. In selecting Eligible Persons to be Participants and in determining the type and amount of Awards to be granted under the Plan, the Committee shall consider any and all factors that it deems relevant or appropriate. 
  
 5.2 Determination of Awards. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of all Awards granted to Participants in accordance with its authority under Section 3.2 hereof. An Award may consist of one type of right or benefit hereunder or of two or more such rights or benefits granted in tandem or in the alternative. In the case of any fractional share or unit resulting from the grant, vesting, payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents under an Award, the Committee shall have the discretionary authority to (i) disregard such fractional share or unit, (ii) round such fractional share or unit to the nearest lower or higher whole share or unit, or (iii) convert such fractional share or unit into a right to receive a cash payment. To the extent deemed necessary by the Committee, an Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement as described in Section 11.1 hereof. 
  
 6. Stock Options. 
  
 6.1 Grant of Stock Options. A Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.8 hereof and Section 422 of the Code, each Stock Option shall be designated, in the discretion of the Committee, as an Incentive Stock Option or as a Nonqualified Stock Option. 
  
 	 
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 6.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, provided that the Committee may in its discretion specify for any Stock Option an exercise price per share that is higher than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant, except that the price shall not be less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value in the case of any person who owns securities possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities of the Company.
  
 6.3 Vesting of Stock Options. The Committee shall in its discretion prescribe the time or times at which, or the conditions upon which, a Stock Option or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable, and may accelerate the vesting or exercisability of any Stock Option at any time, provided, however, that any Stock Option shall vest at the rate of at least twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Stock Option is granted, subject to reasonable conditions as may be provided for in the Award Agreement. However, in the case of a Stock Option granted to officers, Non-employee Directors, managers or Consultants of the Company, the Stock Option may become fully exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions, at anytime or during any period established by the Company. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or its Affiliates for a specified time period (or periods) or on the attainment of specified performance goals established by the Committee in its discretion. 
  
 6.4 Term of Stock Options. The Committee shall in its discretion prescribe in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Option may be exercised, provided that the maximum term of a Stock Option shall be ten years from the Date of Grant. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6 or as otherwise may be provided by the Committee, no Stock Option issued to an employee or a Non-Employee Director of the Company may be exercised at any time during the term thereof unless the employee or a Non-Employee Director Participant is then in the Service of the Company or one of its Affiliates. 
  
 6.5 Termination of Service. Subject to Section 6.8 hereof with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Stock Option of any Participant whose Service with the Company or one of its Affiliates is terminated for any reason shall terminate on the earlier of (A) the date that the Stock Option expires in accordance with its terms or (B) unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, and except for termination for cause (as described in Section 10.2 hereof), the expiration of the applicable time period following termination of Service, in accordance with the following: (1) twelve months if Service ceased due to Disability, (2) eighteen months if Service ceased at a time when the Participant is eligible to elect immediate commencement of retirement benefits at a specified retirement age under a pension plan to which the Company or any of its Affiliates had made contributions, (3) eighteen months if the Participant died while in the Service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (iv) three months if Service ceased for any other reason. During the foregoing applicable period, except as otherwise specified in the Award Agreement or in the event Service was terminated by the death of the Participant, the Stock Option may be exercised by such Participant in respect of the same number of shares of Common Stock, in the same manner, and to the same extent as if he or she had remained in the continued Service of the Company or any Affiliate during the first three months of such period; provided that no additional rights shall vest after such three months. The Committee shall have authority to determine in each case whether an authorized leave of absence shall be deemed a termination of Service for purposes hereof, as well as the effect of a leave of absence on the vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if an entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company or otherwise ceases to be qualified under the Plan or if all or substantially all of the assets of an Affiliate of the Company are conveyed (other than by encumbrance), such cessation or action, as the case may be, shall be deemed for purposes hereof to be a termination of the Service. 
  
 	 
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 6.6 Stock Option Exercise; Tax Withholding. Subject to such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an Award Agreement, a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by notice in the form required by the Company, together with payment of the aggregate exercise price therefor and applicable withholding tax. Payment of the exercise price shall be made in the manner set forth in the Award Agreement, unless otherwise provided by the Committee: (i) in cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Committee, (ii) by payment in shares of Common Stock that have been held by the Participant for at least six months (or such period as the Committee may deem appropriate, for accounting purposes or otherwise) valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise, (iii) through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price, (iv) by a combination of the methods described above or (v) by such other method as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. In addition to and at the time of payment of the exercise price, the Participant shall pay to the Company the full amount of any and all applicable income tax, employment tax and other amounts required to be withheld in connection with such exercise, payable under such of the methods described above for the payment of the exercise price as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.
  
 6.7 Limited Transferability of Nonqualified Stock Options. All Stock Options shall be nontransferable except (i) upon the Participant’s death, in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof or (ii) in the case of Nonqualified Stock Options only, for the transfer of all or part of the Stock Option to a Participant’s “family member” (as defined for purposes of the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933), as may be approved by the Committee in its discretion at the time of proposed transfer. The transfer of a Nonqualified Stock Option may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may in its discretion impose from time to time. Subsequent transfers of a Nonqualified Stock Option shall be prohibited other than in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof. 
  
 6.8 Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options. 
  
 (a) Eligibility. An Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to an Eligible Person who is considered an employee for purposes of Treasury Regulation §1.421-7(h) with respect to the Company or any Affiliate that qualifies as a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company for purposes of Section 424(f) of the Code. 
  
 (b) Termination of Employment. An Award of an Incentive Stock Option may provide that such Stock Option may be exercised not later than 3 months following termination of employment of the Participant with the Company and all Subsidiaries, or not later than one year following a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as and to the extent determined by the Committee to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. 
  
 (c) Other Terms and Conditions; Nontransferability. Any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as are deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee, which terms, together with the terms of the Plan, shall be intended and interpreted to cause such Incentive Stock Option to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. An Award Agreement for an Incentive Stock Option may provide that such Stock Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option to the extent that certain requirements applicable to “incentive stock options” under the Code shall not be satisfied. An Incentive Stock Option shall by its terms be nontransferable, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant. 
  
 	 
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 (d) Disqualifying Dispositions. If shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two years following the Date of Grant or one year following the transfer of such shares to the Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Company may reasonably require. 
  
 6.9 Repricing Prohibited. Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.2 hereof, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, evidenced by a majority of votes cast, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Option that would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such a Stock Option previously granted under the Plan, or otherwise approve any modification to such a Stock Option that would be treated as a “repricing” under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements. 
  
 7. Stock Awards. 
  
 7.1 Grant of Stock Awards. A Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. A Stock Award may be granted for past services, in lieu of bonus or other cash compensation, as directors’ compensation or for any other valid purpose as determined by the Committee. A Stock Award granted to an Eligible Person represents shares of Common Stock that are issued without restrictions on transfer and other incidents of ownership and free of forfeiture conditions, except as otherwise provided in the Plan and the Award Agreement. The deemed issuance price of shares of Common Stock subject to each Stock Award shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. In the case of any person who owns securities possessing more than ten percent of the combined voting power of all classes of securities of the issuer or its parent or subsidiaries possessing voting power, the deemed issuance price of shares of Common Stock subject to each Stock Award shall be at least 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. The Committee may, in connection with any Stock Award, require the payment of a specified purchase price. 
  
 7.2 Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 7 and the applicable Award Agreement, upon the issuance of the Common Stock under a Stock Award the Participant shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto. 
  
 8. Restricted Stock Awards. 
  
 8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. The deemed issuance price of shares of Common Stock subject to each Restricted Stock Award shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. In the case of any person who owns securities possessing more than ten percent of the combined voting power of all classes of securities of the issuer or its parent or subsidiaries possessing voting power, the deemed issuance price of shares of Common Stock subject to each Restricted Stock Award shall be at least 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. The Committee may require the payment by the Participant of a specified purchase price in connection with any Restricted Stock Award. 
  
 	 
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 8.2 Vesting Requirements. The restrictions imposed on shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse in accordance with the vesting requirements specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, provided that the Committee may accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Award at any time. Such vesting requirements may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or its Affiliates for a specified time period (or periods) or on the attainment of specified performance goals established by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award shall not be satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be returned to the Company. 
  
 8.3 Restrictions. Shares granted under any Restricted Stock Award may not be transferred, assigned or subject to any encumbrance, pledge, or charge until all applicable restrictions are removed or have expired, unless otherwise allowed by the Committee. Failure to satisfy any applicable restrictions shall result in the subject shares of the Restricted Stock Award being forfeited and returned to the Company. The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that certificates representing the shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed, and that certificates representing the shares granted or sold under a Restricted Stock Award will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or have expired. 
  
 8.4 Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares granted to the Participant under a Restricted Stock Award, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement for the payment of dividends and distributions to the Participant at such times as paid to stockholders generally or at the times of vesting or other payment of the Restricted Stock Award. 
  
 8.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall file, within 30 days following the Date of Grant, a copy of such election with the Company and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participant’s making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code. 
  
 9. Change in Control. 
  
 9.1 Effect of Change in Control. Except to the extent an Award Agreement provides for a different result (in which case the Award Agreement will govern and this Section 9 of the Plan shall not be applicable), notwithstanding anything elsewhere in the Plan or any rules adopted by the Committee pursuant to the Plan to the contrary, if a Triggering Event shall occur within the 12-month period beginning with a Change in Control of the Company, then, effective immediately prior to such Triggering Event, each outstanding Stock Option, to the extent that it shall not otherwise have become vested and exercisable, shall automatically become fully and immediately vested and exercisable, without regard to any otherwise applicable vesting requirement. 
  
 	 
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 9.2 Definitions 
  
 (a) Cause. For purposes of this Section 9, the term “Cause” shall mean a determination by the Committee that a Participant (i) has been convicted of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a crime that constitutes a felony under Federal or state law, (ii) has engaged in willful gross misconduct in the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate or (iii) has committed a material breach of any written agreement with the Company or any Affiliate with respect to confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, or similar restrictive covenant. Subject to the first sentence of Section 9.1 hereof, in the event that a Participant is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any Affiliate that defines a termination on account of “Cause” (or a term having similar meaning), such definition shall apply as the definition of a termination on account of “Cause” for purposes hereof, but only to the extent that such definition provides the Participant with greater rights. A termination on account of Cause shall be communicated by written notice to the Participant and shall be deemed to occur on the date such notice is delivered to the Participant. 
  
 (b) Change in Control. For purposes of this Section 9, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon: 
  
 (i) the occurrence of an acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a percentage of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting Securities”) (but excluding (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege of a security that was not acquired directly from the Company), (2) any acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate and (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate) (an “Acquisition”) that is thirty percent (30%) or more of the Company Voting Securities; 
  
 (ii) at any time during a period of two (2) consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board (and any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved) cease for any reason (except for death, Disability or voluntary retirement) to constitute a majority thereof;
  
 (iii) an Acquisition that is fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Voting Securities; 
  
 (iv) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not the Company is the surviving company in such transaction, other than a merger, consolidation, or reorganization that would result in the Persons who are beneficial owners of the Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same proportions, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company Voting Securities (or the voting securities of the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization; 
  
 (v) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; 
  
 (vi) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or 
  
 (vii) the occurrence of any transaction or event, or series of transactions or events, designated by the Board in a duly adopted resolution as representing a change in the effective control of the business and affairs of the Company, effective as of the date specified in any such resolution. 
  
 	 
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 (c) Constructive Termination. For purposes of this Section 9, a “Constructive Termination” shall mean a termination of employment by a Participant within sixty (60) days following the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Participant’s written consent (i) any reduction in position, title (for Vice Presidents or above), overall responsibilities, level of authority, level of reporting (for Vice Presidents or above), base compensation, annual incentive compensation opportunity, aggregate employee benefits or (ii) a request that the Participant’s location of employment be relocated by more than fifty (50) miles. Subject to the first sentence of Section 9.1 hereof, in the event that a Participant is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any Affiliate (or a successor entity) that defines a termination on account of “Constructive Termination,” “Good Reason” or “Breach of Agreement” (or a term having a similar meaning), such definition shall apply as the definition of “Constructive Termination” for purposes hereof in lieu of the foregoing, but only to the extent that such definition provides the Participant with greater rights. A Constructive Termination shall be communicated by written notice to the Committee and shall be deemed to occur on the date such notice is delivered to the Committee, unless the circumstances giving rise to the Constructive Termination are cured within five (5) days of such notice. 
  
 (d) Triggering Event. For purposes of this Section 9, a “Triggering Event” shall mean (i) the termination of Service of a Participant by the Company or an Affiliate (or any successor thereof) other than on account of death, Disability or Cause, (ii) the occurrence of a Constructive Termination or (iii) any failure by the Company (or a successor entity) to assume, replace, convert or otherwise continue any Award in connection with the Change in Control (or another corporate transaction or other change effecting the Common Stock) on the same terms and conditions as applied immediately prior to such transaction, except for equitable adjustments to reflect changes in the Common Stock pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. 
  
 9.3 Excise Tax Limit. In the event that the vesting of Awards together with all other payments and the value of any benefit received or to be received by a Participant would result in all or a portion of such payment being subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Participant’s payment shall be either (i) the full payment or (ii) such lesser amount that would result in no portion of the payment being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable Federal, state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by the Participant, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. All determinations required to be made under this Section 9 shall be made by M&K CPAs PLLC or any other accounting firm which is the Company’s outside auditor immediately prior to the event triggering the payments that are subject to the Excise Tax (the “Accounting Firm”). The Company shall cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed supporting calculations of its determinations to the Company and the Participant. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. The Accounting Firm’s determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code). For the purposes of all calculations under Section 280G of the Code and the application of this Section 9.3, all determinations as to present value shall be made using 120 percent of the applicable Federal rate (determined under Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semiannually. 
  
 	 
	Page 10 of 14
	

	 

  
 10. Forfeiture Events. 
  
 10.1 General. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement at the time of the Award that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events shall include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for cause, violation of material Company policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company. 
  
 10.2 Termination for Cause. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate shall be terminated for cause, the Company may, in its sole discretion, immediately terminate such Participant’s right to any further payments, vesting or exercisability with respect to any Award in its entirety. In the event a Participant is party to an employment (or similar) agreement with the Company or any Affiliate that defines the term “cause,” such definition shall apply for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall have the power to determine whether the Participant has been terminated for cause and the date upon which such termination for cause occurs. Any such determination shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon the Participant. In addition, if the Company shall reasonably determine that a Participant has committed or may have committed any act which could constitute the basis for a termination of such Participant’s employment for cause, the Company may suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise any option, receive any payment or vest in any right with respect to any Award pending a determination by the Company of whether an act has been committed which could constitute the basis for a termination for “cause” as provided in this Section 10.2. 
  
 11. General Provisions. 
  
 11.1 Award Agreement. To the extent deemed necessary by the Committee, an Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in a written or electronic form approved by the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to the Award, the exercise price, base price, or purchase price of the Award, the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable and the term of the Award. The Award Agreement may also set forth the effect on an Award of termination of Service under certain circumstances. The Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, all of the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may also set forth other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of the Plan. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. The grant of an Award under the Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in the Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee need not require the execution of an Award Agreement by a Participant, in which case, acceptance of the Award by the Participant shall constitute agreement by the Participant to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement as well as the administrative guidelines of the Company in effect from time to time. 
  
 11.2 No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.7 hereof, Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall not be subject in any manner to assignment, alienation, pledge, encumbrance or charge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement that the Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall be entitled to any rights, payments or other benefits specified under an Award following the Participant’s death. During the lifetime of a Participant, an Award shall be exercised only by such Participant or such Participant’s guardian or legal representative. In the event of a Participant’s death, an Award may to the extent permitted by the Award Agreement be exercised by the Participant’s beneficiary as designated by the Participant in the manner prescribed by the Committee or, in the absence of an authorized beneficiary designation, by the legatee of such Award under the Participant’s will or by the Participant’s estate in accordance with the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution, in each case in the same manner and to the same extent that such Award was exercisable by the Participant on the date of the Participant’s death. 
  
 	 
	Page 11 of 14
	

	 

  
 11.3 Deferrals of Payment. The Committee may in its discretion permit a Participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or delivery of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to the Participant by virtue of the exercise of a right or the satisfaction of vesting or other conditions with respect to an Award. If any such deferral is to be permitted by the Committee, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures relating to such deferral in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, without limitation, the time when an election to defer may be made, the time period of the deferral and the events that would result in payment of the deferred amount, the interest or other earnings attributable to the deferral and the method of funding, if any, attributable to the deferred amount. 
  
 11.4 Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to any unissued securities covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such securities. Except as provided in Section 4.2 hereof, no adjustment or other provision shall be made for dividends or other stockholder rights, except to the extent that the Award Agreement provides for dividend payments or dividend equivalent rights. 
  
 11.5 Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan, in the grant of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Person any right to continue in the Service of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment or other service relationship for any reason at any time. 
  
 11.6 Securities Laws. No shares of Common Stock will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by Federal and state securities and other laws, rules, and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any exchanges upon which the shares of Common Stock may be listed, have been fully met. As a condition precedent to the issuance of shares pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on any shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the requirements of any exchange upon which such shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such shares. The Committee may also require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of issuance or transfer that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired only for investment purposes and without any current intention to sell or distribute such shares. 
  
 11.7 Tax Withholding. The Participant shall be responsible for payment of any taxes or similar charges required by law to be withheld from an Award or an amount paid in satisfaction of an Award, which shall be paid by the Participant on or prior to the payment or other event that results in taxable income in respect of an Award. The Award Agreement may specify the manner in which the withholding obligation shall be satisfied with respect to the particular type of Award. 
    
 	 
	Page 12 of 14
	

	  

   
 11.8 Unfunded Plan. The adoption of the Plan and any reservation of shares of Common Stock or cash amounts by the Company to discharge its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust or other funded arrangement. Except upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to an Award, any rights of a Participant under the Plan shall be those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company, and neither a Participant nor the Participant’s permitted transferees or estate shall have any other interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to implement or set aside funds in a grantor trust, subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors or otherwise, to discharge its obligations under the Plan. 
  
 11.9 Other Compensation and Benefit Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other share incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of share incentive or other compensation or benefit program for employees of the Company or any Affiliate. The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not constitute includable compensation for purposes of determining the amount of benefits to which a Participant is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company or an Affiliate, including, without limitation, under any pension or severance benefits plan, except to the extent specifically provided by the terms of any such plan. 
  
 11.10 Plan Binding on Transferees. The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its transferees and assigns, and the Participant, the Participant’s executor, administrator and permitted transferees and beneficiaries. 
  
 11.11 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction. 
  
 11.12 Foreign Jurisdictions. The Committee may adopt, amend and terminate such arrangements and grant such Awards, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may deem necessary or desirable to comply with any tax, securities, regulatory or other laws of other jurisdictions with respect to Awards that may be subject to such laws. The terms and conditions of such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. Moreover, the Board may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of the Plan, not inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose. 
  
 11.13 Substitute Awards in Corporate Transactions. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Committee to grant Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or other corporate transaction, of the business or assets of any corporation or other entity. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may grant Awards under the Plan to an employee or director of another corporation who becomes an Eligible Person by reason of any such corporate transaction in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation or entity to such person. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. 
  
 11.14 Governing Law. The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be subject to and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws, and to applicable Federal securities laws. 
  
  
 	 
	Page 13 of 14
	

	 

  
 11.15 Financial Statements. All Participants shall receive the financial statements of the Company at least annually. 
  
 11.16 Performance Based Awards. For purposes of Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan that are intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, such Awards shall be granted to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. 
  
 11.17 Stockholder Approval. The Plan must be approved by the stockholders by a majority of all shares entitled to vote within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board. Any Incentive Stock Options granted before stockholder approval is obtained shall be converted into Nonqualified Stock Options if stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months before or after the Plan was adopted. 
  
 12. Effective Date; Amendment and Termination. 
  
 12.1 Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective following its adoption by the Board. The term of the Plan shall be ten (10) years from the date of adoption by the Board, subject to Section 12.3 hereof. 
  
 12.2 Amendment. The Board may at any time and from time to time and in any respect, amend or modify the Plan. The Board may seek the approval of any amendment or modification by the Company’s stockholders to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its discretion for purposes of compliance with Section 162(m) or Section 422 of the Code, or exchange or securities market or for any other purpose. No amendment or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award. 
  
 12.3 Termination. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption by the Board. The Board may, in its discretion and at any earlier date, terminate the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of the Plan shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award. 
  
 	 
	Page 14 of 14Exhibit 10.1

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

August 2, 2021

 

by and among

 

MDC STAGWELL HOLDINGS INC.

 

and

 

THE STAGWELL PARTIES

(as defined herein)

 

 

     

     

    

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS	3
	Section 1.01	Definitions	3
	Section 1.02	Other Terms	5
	ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS	6
	Section 2.01	Demand Registration	6
	Section 2.02	Piggyback Registrations	11
	Section 2.03	Holdback Agreements	12
	Section 2.04	Transfer of Registration Rights	12
	Section 2.05	Award Holder Registration Rights	12
	ARTICLE III Registration Procedures	13
	Section 3.01	General Procedures	13
	Section 3.02	Registration Expenses	15
	Section 3.03	Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure	16
	Section 3.04	Reporting Obligations	16
	Section 3.05	Preservation of Rights	17
	ARTICLE IV Indemnification	17
	Section 4.01	Indemnification	17
	ARTICLE V TERMINATION	19
	Section 5.01	Termination	19
	ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS	19
	Section 6.01	Notices	19
	Section 6.02	Authority	20
	Section 6.03	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	20
	Section 6.04	Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries	21
	Section 6.05	Expenses	22
	Section 6.06	Severability	22
	Section 6.07	Entire Agreement	22
	Section 6.08	Amendment	22
	Section 6.09	Waiver	22

  

    	 	2

     

    

  

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”), dated as of August 2, 2021, is entered into among Stagwell Media LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(“Stagwell Media”), the Holders listed on Exhibit A hereto and MDC Stagwell Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that
certain Transaction Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2020, among Stagwell Media, the Company, MDC Partners Inc., a Canadian corporation,
which domesticated to the State of Delaware and became a Delaware corporation prior to the date hereof, and Midas Merger Sub 1 LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, as amended on June 4, 2021 and July 8, 2021 (the “Transaction Agreement”), the
parties thereto have combined the Stagwell Subject Entities with OpCo and have affected the Transactions;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with
the Transactions, Stagwell Media acquired the Stagwell OpCo Units and New MDC Class C Common Stock, which, together, are exchangeable
on a 1:1 basis for New MDC Class A Common Stock; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes
to grant certain registration rights with respect to the New MDC Class A Common Stock or other Registrable Securities held by the Stagwell
Parties or any other Holder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article
I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01    Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to such terms in the Transaction Agreement. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.01:

 

“Adverse Disclosure”
means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement
or prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary
prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such
time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information
public.

 

“Affiliate”
means, (1) as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and
 “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise and (2) as to any
entity listed on Exhibit A, any limited partner of such Person.

 

    	 	 	3

     

    

 

“Award Holder”
means any Person that becomes party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.05.

 

“Excluded Registration”
means a registration under the Securities Act of securities registered on Form S-8 or any similar successor form, and securities registered
to effect the acquisition of, or combination with, another Person.

 

“Holder”
means (i) each of the Stagwell Parties and any Affiliate of any Stagwell Party, (ii) each Person listed on Exhibit A hereto and
(iii) any direct or indirect transferee of any Stagwell Party (including by in-kind distribution or otherwise) that becomes a party to
this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.04 and has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement; provided,
that for purposes of calculating the number of Holders required to make a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i), any Award
Holder shall be deemed not to be a Holder.

 

“Misstatement”
means an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement
or prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made not misleading.

 

“Person”
or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization,
limited liability company or governmental or other entity.

 

“prospectus”
means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any
and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

“register,”
 “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration
statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

 

“Registrable Securities”
means the New MDC Class A Common Stock, including any shares thereof issuable upon or issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of
other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including New MDC Class C Common Stock and Stagwell OpCo Units) (and, for
the avoidance of doubt, each Holder shall be deemed to hold the Registrable Securities so issuable in respect of such other securities
held by such Holder) and any securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to, in exchange for, upon the conversion
of or in replacement of the New MDC Class A Common Stock, whether by way of a dividend or distribution or stock split or in connection
with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other reorganization, owned by the Holders, whether
owned on the date hereof or acquired hereafter; provided, however, that securities to which registration rights no longer
apply because such rights have terminated in accordance with Section 5.01 hereunder shall not be considered Registrable Securities.

 

    	 	 	4

     

    

 

“Registration Statement”
means any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the prospectus
included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement,
and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Requesting Holders”
means any Holder(s) requesting to have its (their) Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration or Shelf Registration.

 

“Stagwell Parties”
means, collectively, Stagwell Media and the other Parties hereto set forth on Exhibit A.

 

“Underwriter”
means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s
market-making activities.

 

“Underwritten Offering”
means a registration pursuant to which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution
to the public, including for the avoidance of doubt an Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

Section 1.02    Other Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such
term.

 

	Term	Section
	Adverse Effect	Section 2.01(e)(iv)
	Agreement	Preamble
	Company	Preamble
	Demand Company Notice	Section 2.01(a)(ii)
	Demand Period	Section 2.01(a)(v)
	Demand Registration	Section 2.01(a)(i)
	Demanding Shareholders	Section 2.01(a)(i)
	Demand Registration Statement	Section 2.01(a)(iii)
	Demand Requesting Holder	Section 2.01(a)(ii)
	Demand Request	Section 2.01(a)(i)
	FINRA	Section 3.02
	OpCo	Recitals
	Transaction Agreement	Recitals
	Partner Distribution	Section 3.01(a)
	Piggyback Registration	Section 2.02(a)
	Required Filing Date	Section 2.01(a)(i)
	Shelf Demanding Shareholders	Section 2.01(d)(i)
	Shelf Registration	Section 2.01(d)(i)
	Shelf Registration Statement	Section 2.01(d)(i)
	Shelf Period	Section 2.01(d)(ii)
	Suspension	Section 3.03
	Stagwell Media	Preamble
	Underwritten Shelf Takedown	Section 2.01(d)(iii)

 

    	 	 	5

     

    

 

Article
II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.01   Demand Registration.

 

(a)           Request for Registration.

 

(i)    Demands. Commencing on the date hereof, (A) any Stagwell Party or (B) Holders (other than Award Holders) representing the
majority of the Registrable Securities at any time shall have the right to require the Company to file a registration statement on Form
S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or any other appropriate form under the Securities
Act or Exchange Act permitting registration of Registrable Securities for resale) (a “Demand Registration”), by delivering
to the Company written notice stating that such right is being exercised, naming, if applicable, the Holders whose Registrable Securities
are to be included in such registration (collectively, the “Demanding Shareholders”), specifying the number of each
such Demanding Shareholder’s Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and, subject to Section 2.01(e), and describing
the intended method of distribution thereof (a “Demand Request”).

 

(ii)   Company Notice. The Company shall, within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a Demand Request, notify, in writing,
all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand (a “Demand Company Notice”), and each Holder of Registrable
Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Demand Registration (each
such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Demand Requesting
Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the
Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Demand Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Demand Requesting
Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration.

 

(iii)  Filing. Subject to Section 2.01(e)(iv), the Company shall file the registration statement in respect of a Demand Registration
(a “Demand Registration Statement”) as soon as practicable and, in any event, within forty-five (45) days after receiving
a Demand Request (the “Required Filing Date”) and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the same to be declared
effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable after such filing; provided, however, that:

 

(A)            
the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.01(a) within 75 days after the effective
date of a previous Demand Registration, provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts
to cause the applicable Registration Statement to remain effective to the extent Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have not been sold or withdrawn;

 

    	 	 	6

     

    

 

(B)             
the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Registration unless the Demand Request is for a number of Registrable Securities
with a market value that is equal to at least $40 million as of the date of such Demand Request;

 

(C)             
the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations during any twelve (12) month period
pursuant to a Demand Registration under this Section 2.01; and

 

(D)            
Holder shall not sell any Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement prior to the date that is 91 days
after the date hereof.

 

(iv)   Underwritten Offering. If a Demanding Shareholder so requests, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand
Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering. If a Demanding Shareholder intends to sell the Registrable Securities covered
by its demand by means of an Underwritten Offering, such Demanding Shareholder shall so advise the Company as part of its Demand Request,
and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Company Notice.

 

(v)    Effective Registration. The Company shall be deemed to have effected a Demand Registration with respect to the applicable
Demanding Shareholder for purposes of this Section 2.01(a) if the Demand Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and remains
effective for not less than 180 days (or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold or withdrawn), or if such Registration Statement relates to an Underwritten Offering, such longer period as,
in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter or Underwriters, a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
of Registrable Securities by an Underwriter or dealer (the applicable period, the “Demand Period”). No Demand Registration
shall be deemed to have been effected for purposes of Section 2.01 if (i) during the Demand Period such Registration or the successful
completion of the relevant offering and sale of all Registrable Securities pursuant thereto is prevented by any stop order, injunction
or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court or (ii) the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting
agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such Registration are not satisfied other than by reason of a wrongful act, misrepresentation
or material breach of such applicable underwriting agreement by the Demanding Shareholder.

 

(b)       Deferral of Filing. The Company may defer the filing (but not the preparation) of a registration statement required by this
Section 2.01, in addition to any Suspension pursuant to Section 3.03, until a date not later than forty-five (45) days after the Required
Filing Date, if prior to receiving the Demand Request, the Company had determined to effect a registered underwritten public offering
of the Company’s securities for the Company’s account pursuant to a registration statement to be filed by the Company and
the Company has complied with Section 2.02 hereof, and the Company had taken substantial steps (including, but not limited to, selecting
a managing Underwriter for such offering) and is proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering. A deferral of the filing
of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.01(e)(iv) shall be lifted, and the requested registration statement shall be filed
forthwith, if the proposed registration for the Company’s account is abandoned. In order to defer the filing of a registration statement
pursuant to this Section 2.01(e)(iv), the Company shall promptly (but in any event within ten (10) days), upon determining to seek such
deferral, deliver to each Demanding Shareholder a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company stating that the Company is
deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 2.01(e)(iv) and a general statement of the reason for the Board’s determination to
make such deferral and an approximation of the anticipated delay. Within twenty (20) days after receiving such certificate, the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Shareholders and for which registration was previously requested may
withdraw such Demand Request by giving notice to the Company; if withdrawn, the Demand Request shall be deemed not to have been made for
all purposes of this Agreement. The Company may defer the filing of a particular registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.01(e)(iv)
only twice.

 

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(c)      Demand Withdrawal. A Demanding Shareholder may withdraw its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any time
prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement. Upon delivery of a notice by all Demanding Shareholders to
such effect, the Company may elect to cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement, and such
Registration nonetheless shall be deemed a Demand Registration with respect to such Demanding Shareholders for purposes of Section 2.01
unless (i) such Demanding Shareholders shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for its pro rata share of all reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Registration of such withdrawn Registrable Securities (based
on the number of securities the Demanding Shareholders sought to register, as compared to the total number of securities included on such
Demand Registration Statement) or (ii) the withdrawal is made because the Demanding Shareholders determined that the Registration would
require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure. In addition, any other Holder that has requested its Registrable Securities be included
in a Demand Registration may withdraw its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of
the applicable Demand Registration Statement.

 

(d)      Shelf Registration.

 

(i)    Shelf Demands. With respect to any Demand Registration, the Requesting Holders may require the Company to effect a registration
of the Registrable Securities under a registration statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act (or any successor rule) registering the resale from time to time by Holders (the “Shelf Demanding Shareholders”)
of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered thereon (a “Shelf Registration”
and, such registration statement, a “Shelf Registration Statement”).

 

(ii)   Continued Effectiveness. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(i) continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the prospectus forming a part thereof
to be usable by Shelf Demanding Shareholders until the earliest of

 

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(A)      the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or another Registration
Statement filed under the Securities Act (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities
Act and Rule 174 thereunder), and (B) such shorter period as the Shelf Demanding Shareholders with respect to such Shelf Registration
shall agree in writing (such period of effectiveness, the “Shelf Period”). Subject to Section 3.03, the Company shall
not be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the
Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Shelf Demanding Shareholders not being able to offer
and sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission
is (x) a Suspension permitted pursuant to Section 3.03 or (y) required by applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

(iii)   Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. At any time and from time to time after a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been
declared effective by the Commission, any of the Shelf Demanding Shareholders may request to sell all or any portion of the Registrable
Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (each, an “Underwritten
Shelf Takedown”); provided, however, that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown
if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting
discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $20,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by
giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the
Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Promptly upon receiving such notice (but no later than 5 days after receipt of such notice), the Company
shall notify all of the Holders of Registrable Securities of the potential Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and each Holder of Registrable
Securities included on the applicable Shelf Registration Statement who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt
by the Holder of the notice from the Company. The Company shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to
be included by any Holder within five (5) days of receipt of notice of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

(e)      Underwritten Offerings.

 

(i)     If the Demanding Shareholders or the Shelf Demanding Shareholders, as applicable, request that any offering pursuant to a Demand
Registration or Shelf Registration be consummated in the form of an Underwritten Offering (including an Underwritten Shelf Takedown),
the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall select the investment banking
firm or firms, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to manage the Underwritten Offering. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable
Securities through an Underwritten Offering (A) shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected
for such Underwritten Offering and (B) shall complete and execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney and other documents, each in
customary form, reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

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(ii)   No Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties in connection with any such registration other than representations
and warranties as to (A) such Holder’s ownership of his or its Registrable Securities to be transferred free and clear of all liens,
claims, and encumbrances, (B) such Holder’s power and authority to effect such transfer, and (C) such matters pertaining to compliance
with securities laws as may be reasonably requested.

 

(iii)  The obligation of any Holder to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several,
among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto; provided,
that such liability will be limited to the net amount received by such Holder from the sale of his or its Registrable Securities pursuant
to such registration.

 

(iv)  No securities to be sold for the account of any Person (including the Company) other than a Demanding Shareholder or Shelf Demanding
Shareholder, as applicable shall be included in an Underwritten Offering unless the managing Underwriter or Underwriters shall advise
such Demanding Shareholders that the inclusion of such securities will not adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the offering
or otherwise adversely affect its success (an “Adverse Effect”). Furthermore, if the managing Underwriter or Underwriters
shall advise such Demanding Shareholders that, even after exclusion of all securities of other Persons pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence, the amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such proposed Underwritten Offering is sufficiently large to
cause an Adverse Effect, the Registrable Securities of such Demanding Shareholders to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall
equal the number of shares that such Demanding Shareholders are so advised can be sold in such offering without an Adverse Effect and
such shares shall be allocated as follows: (i) first, 100% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten
Offering by the Stagwell Parties, (ii) second, pro rata among the remaining Holders of such Registrable Securities requested to be included
in such Underwritten Offering on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder, and (iii) third, only if
all of the securities referred to in clause (ii) have been included, any other securities requested to be included in such Underwritten
Offering on a pro rata basis among the holders of such securities.

 

(f)   Block Trades. If a Shelf Demanding Shareholder wishes to consummate an overnight block trade (on either an SEC registered
or non-registered basis), then notwithstanding the time periods and piggyback rights otherwise provided herein, such Demanding Shareholder
shall, if it would like the assistance of the Company, endeavor to give the Company sufficient advance notice in order to prepare the
appropriate documentation for such transaction. Such Demanding Holder, if requesting an SEC registered underwritten block trade, (i) shall
give the Company written notice of the transaction and the anticipated launch date of the transaction at least three (3) business days
prior to the anticipated launch date of the transaction, (ii) the Company shall be required to only notify the other Demanding Shareholders
of the transaction and none of the other Holders, (iii) the other Demanding Shareholders shall have one (1) business day prior to the
launch of the transaction to determine if they wish to participate in the block trade, and (iv) the Company shall include in the block
trade only shares held by the Demanding Shareholders.

 

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Section 2.02    Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)   Right to Piggyback. Each time the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities (other than pursuant to Article
II hereto, in which case the obligations of the Company set forth in Article II shall apply, or pursuant to an Excluded Registration)
under the Securities Act for sale to the public (whether for the account of the Company or the account of any securityholder of the Company)
(a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice to each Holder of Registrable Securities
(which notice shall be given not less than ten (10) days prior to the anticipated filing date of the Company’s registration statement),
which notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in such registration statement,
subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.02(b) hereof. Each Holder who desires to have its Registrable Securities included in
such registration statement shall so advise the Company in writing (stating the number of shares desired to be registered) within ten
(10) days after the date of such notice from the Company. Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Holder’s request for
inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) by giving written
notice to the Company of such withdrawal. Subject to Section 2.02(b), below, the Company shall include in such registration statement
all such Registrable Securities so requested to be included therein; provided, however, that the Company may at any time
withdraw or cease proceeding with any such registration if it shall at the same time withdraw or cease proceeding with the registration
of all other equity securities originally proposed to be registered.

 

(b)   Priority on Piggyback Registrations.

 

(i)     If a Piggyback Registration is in the form of an underwritten offering and was initiated by the Company, and if the managing Underwriter
advises the Company that the inclusion of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Registration Statement would cause an
Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such registration statement (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii)
second, 100% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, pro rata among the Holders of such Registrable
Securities on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder, and (iii) third, only if all of the securities
referred to in clause

 

(ii)    have been included in such registration, any other securities requested to be included in such registration on a pro rata basis
among the holders of such securities. If as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.02(b)(i) any Holder shall not be entitled to
include all Registrable Securities in a registration that such Holder has requested to be so included, such Holder may withdraw such Holder’s
request to include Registrable Securities in such registration statement.

 

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(iii)   If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and was initiated by a security holder of the Company, and if the managing
Underwriter advises the Company that the inclusion of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Registration Statement would
cause an Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such registration statement (i) first, 100% of the securities requested to be included
therein by the security holders requesting such registration and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration,
pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of securities owned by each such holder, and (ii) second, only
if all of the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included in such registration, any other securities requested to be included
in such registration (including securities to be sold for the account of the Company) on a pro rata basis among the holders of such securities.
If as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.02(b)(ii) any Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in
a registration that such Holder has requested to be so included, such Holder may withdraw such Holder’s request to include Registrable
Securities in such registration statement.

 

(iv)   No Holder may participate in any registration statement in respect of a Piggyback Registration hereunder unless it satisfies the
conditions set forth in Section 2.01(e)(i), and the provisions regarding indemnification set forth in Section 2.01(e)(iii) shall apply
to any Piggyback Registration hereunder.

 

Section 2.03   Holdback Agreements.

 

(a)    The Company shall not effect any public sale or distribution of its equity securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for such securities, during the seven days prior to and during the 75-day period beginning on the effective date of any
Demand Registration Statement (other than a Shelf Registration), or in the case of a Shelf Registration, the filing of any prospectus
relating to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities, or a Piggyback Registration, except pursuant to any Excluded Registration or
unless the Underwriters managing any offering with respect to such registration otherwise agree.

 

(b)    If any Holder of Registrable Securities notifies the Company in writing that it intends to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown
pursuant to Section 2.01(e) hereof, the Company shall not effect any public sale or distribution of its equity securities, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for its equity securities, during the seven days prior to and during the 75-day period
beginning on the pricing date for such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, except pursuant to an Excluded Registration or unless the Underwriters
managing any such offering otherwise agree.

 

Section 2.04   Transfer of Registration Rights. The rights of each Holder under this Agreement may be assigned to (i) any Affiliate of
a Holder permitted under the New MDC Certificate of Incorporation, New MDC Bylaws and Transaction Agreement who agrees in writing to be
subject to and bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) an Award Holder.

 

Section 2.05   Award Holder Registration Rights. Any Person who receives, directly or indirectly, Registrable Securities in exchange for
such Person’s Stagwell Incentive Awards (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) in connection with or as a result of the Transactions
(including pursuant to any negotiated resolution thereof) and agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by the applicable terms and
conditions of this Agreement shall be deemed an “Award Holder” for all purposes hereunder.

 

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Article
III

Registration Procedures

 

Section 3.01    General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Closing the Company is required to effect the registration of Registrable
Securities, whether pursuant to the filing of a new Registration Statement, effecting an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, or effecting an
underwritten block trade, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, including if so requested by a Holder or Holders a distribution
to, and resale by, the members or partners of a Holder (a “Partner Distribution”), and pursuant thereto the Company
shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)    prepare and file with the SEC as soon as practicable and in accordance with Article II a Registration Statement with respect to
such Registrable Securities; provided that as far in advance as practicable before filing such registration statement or any amendment
thereto, the Company will furnish to the selling Holders copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents prepared to be filed
(including exhibits), and any such Holder shall have the opportunity to object to or suggest revisions to any information with respect
to such Holders contained therein and the Company will make revisions reasonably requested by such Holder with respect to such information
prior to filing any such registration statement or amendment;

 

(b)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements
to the prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by
the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations
thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective as provided for herein;

 

(c)    prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution)
may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered
with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and
do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then otherwise so subject;

 

    	 	 	13

     

    

 

(d)     cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed;

 

(e)     provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective
date of such Registration Statement;

 

(f)      advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance
of any stop order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if
such stop order should be issued;

 

(g)     advise each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, promptly after the Company receives notice
thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective (which may be satisfied by the issuance of a press release
by the Company);

 

(h)     notify the Holders at any time when a prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in
effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.03 hereof;

 

(i)      permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriter(s), if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or
Underwriter(s) to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the
Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter(s),
attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriter(s) enter
into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of
any such information;

 

(i)      at the request of any Holder seeking to effect or considering a Partner Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendments, or include in the initial registration statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment any disclosure or language, and otherwise take any action, deemed necessary or advisable by such Holder to effect such Partner
Distribution;

 

(j)      obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an
Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters
as the managing Underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders
and such managing Underwriter;

 

(k)     on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date,
of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Underwriter(s), if any, covering such legal
matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Underwriter(s) may reasonably request
and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters; provided, however, that counsel for the Company
shall not be required to provide any opinions with respect to any Holder;

 

    	 	 	14

     

    

 

(l)      in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing Underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

(m)    make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least
twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration
Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the SEC);

 

(n)     in connection with an Underwritten Offering, cause its senior management, officers, employees and independent public accountants
(in the case of the independent public accountants, subject to any applicable accounting guidance regarding their participation in the
offering or the due diligence process) to participate in, make themselves available, supply such information as may reasonably be requested
and to otherwise facilitate and cooperate with the preparation of the Registration Statement and prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto (including participating in meetings, drafting sessions, due diligence sessions and rating agency presentations) taking into account
the Company’s reasonable business needs;

 

(o)     if a Registration relates to an Underwritten Offering with gross proceeds in excess of $20,000,000, use its reasonable efforts
to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably
requested by the Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

(p)     otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders,
in connection with such Registration.

 

Section 3.02     Registration Expenses. All reasonable, out-of-pocket fees and expenses incident to any registration hereunder, including,
without limitation, the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Article II, all registration and filing fees, all fees
and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”),
as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications
of the Registrable Securities, but not including any fees above $5000 relating to any memorandum of counsel related to “blue sky”
qualifications), printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for
deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses, if applicable), messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with any listing or quotation of the Registrable Securities, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company
and its independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required
by or incident to such performance), the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration,
and the fees and expenses of other persons retained by the Company, and reasonable fees and expenses (not to exceed $100,000) as provided
in writing to the Company of one (1) legal counsel selected by the Demanding Shareholders or the Shelf Demanding Shareholders, as applicable,
will be borne by the Company (unless paid by a security holder that is not a Holder for whose account the registration is being effected)
whether or not any registration statement becomes effective; provided, however, that any underwriting discounts, commissions,
or fees attributable to the sale of the Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of shares
so registered.

 

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Section 3.03      Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. The Company shall promptly notify each of the Holders in writing if a Registration
Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement and, upon receipt of such written notice from the Company, each of the Holders shall forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus correcting
the Misstatement; provided that the Company hereby covenants promptly to prepare and file any required supplement or amendment
correcting any Misstatement promptly after the time of such notice and, if necessary, to request the immediate effectiveness thereof.
If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement or prospectus included in any Registration Statement
at any time (a) would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement
of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment
of the Board, which judgment shall be documented in writing and provided to the Holders in the form of a written certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board, such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement would be materially detrimental
to the Company, the Company shall have the right to defer the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of any Registration Statement
pursuant to (a), (b) or (c) (each such deferral, a “Suspension”) for a period of not more than forty-five (45) days,
provided that any such suspension shall terminate at such earlier time as the reason for such suspension is no longer in effect,
and the Company shall not defer any such filing, initial effectiveness or use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3.03
more than two times (in each case counting deferrals initiated pursuant to (a), (b) and (c) in the aggregate) in any 12-month period

 

Section 3.04       Reporting Obligations. The Company will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, will, upon the
request of the Holders, make publicly available other information) and will take such further action as the Holders may reasonably request,
all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell New MDC Class A Common Stock without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder, the Company
will deliver to such parties a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and will, at its expense, forthwith
upon the request of any such Holder, deliver to such Holder a certificate, signed by the Company’s principal financial officer,
stating (i) the Company’s name, address and telephone number (including area code), (ii) the Company’s Internal Revenue Service
identification number, (iii) the Company’s SEC file number, (iv) the number of shares of each class of capital stock outstanding
as shown by the most recent report or statement published by the Company, and (v) whether the Company has filed the reports required to
be filed under the Exchange Act for a period of at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of such certificate and in addition has filed
the most recent annual report required to be filed thereunder.

 

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Section 3.05        Preservation of Rights. The Company will not (a) grant any registration rights to third parties which are more favorable
than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder or

 

(a)    enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities that violates or subordinates
the rights expressly granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

 

Article
IV

Indemnification

 

Section 4.01      Indemnification.

 

(a)    The Company agrees to indemnify and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its
officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors and each person who “controls” such Holder (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) based upon, arising
out of, related to or resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by
or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify
the Underwriter(s), their officers and directors and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s)
to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

(b)    In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish
to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration
Statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents and
advisors and each person who “controls” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) the Company against any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) based upon, arising out of or resulting
from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished
in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not
joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall
be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be liable in any such case to the extent that, prior to the filing or effectiveness
of any such registration statement or prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such Holder has furnished in writing to the
Company information expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto that
corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify
the Underwriter(s), their officers, directors and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s)
to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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(c)   Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with
respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided, however, that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s
right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in
such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist
with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made
by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying
party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more
than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment
of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with
respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment
or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying
party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement 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 to such claim or litigation.

 

(d)   The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made
by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the
transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions
as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution (pursuant to Section 4.01(e)) to such party in the event the Company’s
or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

(e)   If the indemnification provided under Section 4.01 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless
an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party,
in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party
and indemnified party 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, was made by, or relates to information
supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any
Holder under this Section 4.01(e) shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise
to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably
incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(e) 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 this Section 4.01(e). No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(e) from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

    	 	 	18

     

    

 

Article
V

TERMINATION

 

Section 5.01   Termination. The Holders may exercise the registration rights granted hereunder in such manner and proportions as they shall
agree among themselves. The registration rights hereunder shall cease to apply to any particular security and such security shall accordingly
no longer be considered a Registrable Security when: (a) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Security
shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Security shall have been disposed of in accordance with such
registration statement;

 

(a)    such Registrable Security shall have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision); (c)
such Registrable Security shall have ceased to be outstanding; (d) in the case of Registrable Securities held by a Holder that is not
a Stagwell Party, or any Affiliate thereof, such Holder holds less than five percent (5%) of the then outstanding Registrable Securities;
or (e) in the case of Registrable Securities held by a Stagwell Party, or any Affiliate thereof, such Holder holds less than one percent
(1%) of the then outstanding Registrable Securities and, in the case of (d) or (e) such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale pursuant
to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) without restriction as to volume or otherwise. The Company shall promptly
upon the request of any Holder furnish to such Holder evidence of the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding.

 

Article
VI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 6.01   Notices. Each notice, request, demand or other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly given, delivered or made as follows: (a) if delivered by hand, when delivered; (b) if sent by facsimile transmission
before 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the delivery location, when transmitted and receipt is confirmed; (c) if sent by facsimile transmission
after 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day in the delivery location or on a day other than a Business Day and receipt is confirmed, on the following
Business Day; (d) if sent via an overnight international courier service, the Business Day after being delivered to such courier; and
(e) if sent by email, when sent, provided that (i) the subject line of such email states that it is a notice delivered pursuant to this
Agreement and (ii) the sender of such email does not receive a written notification of delivery failure. All notices and other communications
hereunder shall be delivered to the address, facsimile number or email address set forth beneath the name of such party below (or to such
other address, facsimile number or email address as such party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other parties hereto):

 

    	 	 	19

     

    

 

(a)            if to any Stagwell Party:

 

Stagwell Media LP

1808 I Street, NW, 6th Floor

Washington DC 20006

Attention:Ryan Greene

E-mail:ryan@stagwellgroup.com

 

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

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

601 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention:Paul M. Tiger

                    Andrea Basham

Email:paul.tiger@freshfields.com

            andrea.basham@freshfields.com

 

(b)              
if to the Company:

 

MDC Stagwell Holdings Inc.

One World Trade Center, Floor 65

New York, NY 10007

Attention:Frank Lanuto

E-mail:flanuto@mdc-partners.com

 

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

 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
LLP

1 Liberty Pl

New York, NY 10006

Attention:Kimberly R. Spoerri

E-mail:kspoerri@cgsh.com

 

If to any other Holder, the
address indicated for such Holder in the Company’s stock transfer records with copies, so long as the Stagwell Parties own any Registrable
Securities, to the Stagwell Parties as provided above.

 

Failure to mail a notice or
communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication
is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

    	 	 	20

     

    

 

Section 6.02      Authority. Each of the parties hereto represents to the other that (a) it has the requisite entity power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the counterparties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).

 

Section 6.03      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

 

(a)     This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York without giving effect
to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the state of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application
of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of New York.

 

(b)     Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York or
(to the extent subject matter jurisdiction exists therefor) the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York with respect
to any dispute arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court,
(iii) agrees that it will not bring any action arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the courts of the State of New York, as described above, and (iv) WAIVES ANY RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the respective
addresses set forth in Section 6.01 shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement
or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(c)     The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Each party agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened
breach by any other party of any covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement, the non-breaching party shall be entitled (in addition
to any other remedy that may be available to it whether in law or equity, including monetary damages) to (i) a decree or order of specific
performance to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant or obligation, and (ii) an injunction restraining such breach or
threatened breach. Counterparts; Electronic Transmission of Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, and delivered by means of electronic mail transmission or otherwise, each of
which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.

 

Section 6.04       Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

    	 	 	21

     

    

 

(a)       Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and benefit the Company, each Holder, and their
respective successors and assigns.

 

(b)       Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as giving any Person, other than the parties hereto and their heirs, successors, legal
representatives and permitted assigns, any right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

(c)       Any Person that is or becomes a Holder and is not already a party hereto or that is assigned rights hereunder pursuant to Section
2.04 shall execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement and upon such execution and delivery shall become a party hereto having
the rights of a Holder hereunder.

 

Section 6.05     Expenses. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each party hereto shall bear its own expenses in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 6.06    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any applicable
Law, then such contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire Agreement. Such provision shall be deemed to be modified to
the extent necessary to render it legal, valid and enforceable, and if no such modification shall render it legal, valid and enforceable,
then this Agreement shall be construed as if not containing the provision held to be invalid, and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereto shall be construed and enforced accordingly.

 

Section 6.07     Entire Agreement. This Agreement and, as applicable, the other Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Transaction Agreement),
constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements
and understandings (both written and oral) among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, but not
limited to, such agreements and understandings provided for in Article V of the Securities Purchase Agreement by and between MDC Partners
Inc. and Stagwell Agency Holdings LLC dated as of March 14, 2019.

 

Section 6.08     Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.

 

Section 6.09     Waiver. Any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation, representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or
condition herein may be waived at any time by any of the parties entitled to the benefit thereof only by a written instrument signed by
each such party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, representation,
warranty, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally
left blank; the next page is the signature page.]

 

 

    	 	 	22

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

	 	MDC STAGWELL HOLDINGS INC.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Frank Lanuto
	 	Name: Frank Lanuto
	 	Title:   Chief Financial Officer
	 	 
	 	STAGWELL MEDIA LP
	 	 
	 	By:	 /s/ Mark Penn
	 	Name:  Mark Penn
	 	Title:    Manager
	 	 
	 	STAGWELL AGENCY HOLDINGS LLC
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Ryan J. Greene
	 	Name:  Ryan J. Greene
	 	Title:    Chief Financial Officer
	 	 
	 	THE STAGWELL GROUP LLC
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Mark Penn
	 	Name: Mark Penn
	 	Title: Manager
	 	 
	 	MARK J. PENN
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Mark Penn
	 	Name: Mark Penn
	 	Title: Managing Partner

 

 

    	 	 	23

     

    

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Holders

 

Stagwell Agency Holdings LLC

The Stagwell Group LLC

Mark J. Penn

 

 

    	 	 	24

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