Document:

bldr-ex1033_303.htm

Exhibit 10.33

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

Employment Agreement

 

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of January 1, 2021, by and between Builders FirstSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and David E. Rush (“Executive”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Executive dated November 29, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2020, the Company, BMC Stock Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“BMC”), and Boston Merger Sub I Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into BMC (the “Merger”) on the date of the Merger (the “Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) desires to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety to appoint Executive as Executive Vice President – Integration of the Company and to set forth the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company, effective as of, and subject to the occurrence of, the Effective Date; 

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date; provided that the consummation of the Merger shall be a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement, and, in the event the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the consummation of the Merger, this Agreement shall be null and void, ab initio, and of no force or effect; and

 

WHEREAS, as of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety, and this Agreement shall set forth the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment with the Company from and after the Effective Date.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, the Company and Executive hereby agreement as follows:

AGREEMENT:

1.Employment.  The Company hereby employs Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

2.Term.  The term of employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and terminate on the second anniversary thereof (the “Second Anniversary”); provided, however, after the Second Anniversary, the Term shall automatically renew on a month-to-month basis for up to one (1) year (such period beyond the Second Anniversary is the “Extended Term”). During the Extended Term, either party may give thirty (30) days prior written notice of 

 

 

its intent to end the Term at the next monthly renewal date, and the delivery of such notice shall constitute a termination pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(l).

3.Position.  During the Term, Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President – Integration of the Company, supervising the integration of the business and operations of the Company and BMC and performing such other duties reasonably related thereto as the Board shall determine. 

4.Duties.  During the Term, Executive shall devote his full time and attention during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company, except vacations in accordance with the Company’s policies and for illness or incapacity, in accordance with Section 6 hereof.

5.Salary and Bonus.

(a)Base Salary.  During the Term, the Company shall pay to Executive a base salary at the rate of $525,000 per year (the “Base Salary”), subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms of Section 5(b) hereof.

(b)Base Salary Adjustment.  The Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) shall annually review the Base Salary and may, in its sole discretion, increase the Base Salary based upon performance and merit. Executive’s Base Salary shall not be decreased below the amount set forth in Section 5(a) hereof. The Base Salary shall be payable to Executive in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but in no event less often than semi-monthly.

(c)Cash Bonus.  During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive a target cash bonus in the amount of $1,500,000 (the “Conversion Bonus”), which amount shall be increased or decreased based on the achievement of run rate synergies in accordance with the scale set forth on Exhibit A hereto.  Promptly following the first anniversary of the Effective Date (the “First Anniversary”), the Company shall determine the run rate synergies achieved on the First Anniversary and shall pay Executive the corresponding Conversion Bonus (the “First Anniversary Bonus Payment”).  Promptly following the Second Anniversary, the Company shall determine the run rate synergies achieved on the Second Anniversary and shall pay Executive an amount equal to the corresponding Conversion Bonus less the amount of the First Anniversary Bonus Payment (the “Second Anniversary Bonus Payment”).  If the Term extends beyond the Second Anniversary pursuant to Section 2 hereof, upon termination of the Extended Term, the Company shall determine the run rate synergies achieved on the termination date of such Extended Term and shall pay an amount equal to the corresponding Conversion Bonus less the amount of the First Anniversary Bonus Payment and the Second Anniversary Payment.  Any such payments shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the determination of the amount owed.  For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum cash bonus that Executive may be entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of this Section 5(c) is $1,800,000.  The Conversion Bonuses shall be fully earned and not subject to any contingency on the First Anniversary Date, Second Anniversary Date, or the date of the termination of the Extended Term, as applicable, regardless of the date the final calculation of such bonus amount is determined.

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(d)Equity Grant.  On the Effective Date, Executive shall be granted a restricted stock unit award having a grant date fair value of approximately $3,000,000 (the “RSUs”).  Such RSUs shall be (i) convertible into the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis on the vesting date (subject the following conditions), (ii) issued pursuant to and consistent with the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2014 Incentive Plan, and (iii) be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the form restricted stock unit award certificate adopted by the Compensation Committee as modified by the provisions hereof.  Subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company on the vesting date, (i) one-half of the RSUs shall vest in two equal installments on the First Anniversary and the Second Anniversary (the “Time-Based RSUs”), and (ii) one-half of the RSUs shall vest on the Second Anniversary based on the Company’s achievement of the run rate synergies as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Performance-Based RSUs”). Executive may earn between 0% and 120% of the Performance-Based RSUs.

(e)Other Cash Bonuses or Equity Compensation.  For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall not be eligible to receive any other cash bonus or new equity grant from the Company during the Term; provided, however, that:

(i)Executive shall be entitled to receive his cash bonus pursuant to the Company’s annual cash incentive plan (“Annual Incentive Plan”) for 2020 previously approved by the Compensation Committee.

(ii)If the Effective Date has not occurred on or before January 31, 2021, Executive shall be entitled to receive a cash bonus for fiscal year 2021 prorated for the period from January 1, 2021 to the Effective Date.  Such bonus shall have an annual target payout equal to 100% of Executive’s Base Salary and otherwise be in form consistent with the bonuses provided to the Company’s other executive officers for 2021.

(iii)If the Company’s executive team members receive bonuses for completion of the Merger, Executive will be entitled to receive a bonus comparable to the Merger completion bonuses received by the Company’s other executives with similar levels of responsibility (the “Deal Bonus”) in addition to any other compensation he receives hereunder.

6.Vacation, Holidays and Sick Leave.  During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation, paid holidays and sick leave in accordance with the Company’s standard policies for its senior executive officers.

7.Business Expenses.  During the Term, Executive shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by him in connection with his employment, including, without limitation, expenses for travel and entertainment incurred in conducting or promoting business for the Company upon timely submission by Executive of receipts and other documentation as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and in accordance with the Company’s normal expense reimbursement policies.  With respect to Executive’s rights under this Section 7, (i) the amount reimbursable in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount reimbursable in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible business expense must be made no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the business expense was incurred, and (iii) such rights shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange 

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for another benefit.

8.Health, Welfare and Related Benefits.  During the Term, Executive and eligible members of his family shall be eligible to participate fully in all (a) health and dental benefits and insurance programs; (b) life and short- and long-term disability benefits and insurance programs; and (c) defined contribution and equity compensation programs, all as available to senior executive officers of the Company generally.

9.Confidentiality, Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation.

(a)Executive acknowledges that:  (i) the Executive has, and his employment hereunder will require that Executive continue to have, access to and knowledge of Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined); (ii) the direct and indirect disclosure of any such Confidential Information to existing or potential competitors of the Company or its subsidiaries would place the Company at a competitive disadvantage and would do damage, monetary or otherwise, to the Company’s businesses; and (iii) the engaging by Executive in any of the activities prohibited by this Section 9 may constitute improper appropriation and/or use of such Confidential Information.  Executive expressly acknowledges that the Confidential Information constitutes a protectable business interest of the Company.  

As used herein, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean information of any kind, nature or description which is disclosed to or otherwise known to the Executive as a direct or indirect consequence of his association with the Company and its subsidiaries, which information is not generally known to the public or in the businesses in which such entities are engaged or which information relates to specific investment opportunities within the scope of their business which were considered by the Company or its subsidiaries during the Term.  Assuming the foregoing criteria are met, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information (including without limitation compilations) concerning the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ financial plans and performance, potential acquisitions, business plans and strategies, personnel information, information technology processes, research, development, and manufacturing of Company or its subsidiaries’ products, existing or prospective customers, proposals made to existing or prospective customers or other information contained in bids or offers to such customers, the terms of any arrangements or agreements with customers, including the amounts paid for services or how pricing was developed by the Company or its subsidiaries, the layout, design and implementation of customer specific projects, the identity of suppliers or subcontractors, information regarding supplier or subcontractor pricing or contract terms, the composition or description of future services that are or may be provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ financial, marketing and sales information, and technical expertise, formulas, source codes and know how developed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including the unique manner in which the Company or any if its subsidiaries conducts its business.  Confidential Information also includes information disclosed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries by a third party that the Company or such subsidiary is required to treat as confidential.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” shall not be deemed to include information which (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Executive, (ii) becomes available to the Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries, provided that such source is not bound by any contractual, legal or fiduciary 

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obligation with respect to such information or (iii) was in the Executive’s possession prior to being furnished by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(b)During the Term of this Agreement and for a period of one year after the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (upon expiration of the Term or otherwise), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether individually, as a director, stockholder, owner, manager, member, partner, employee, consultant, principal or agent of any business, or in any other capacity, use for his own account, utilize or make known, disclose, furnish or make available to any person, firm or corporation any of the Confidential Information, other than to authorized officers, directors and employees of the Company or its subsidiaries in the proper performance of the duties contemplated herein, or as required by a court of competent jurisdiction or other administrative or legislative body; provided that, prior to disclosing any of the Confidential Information to a court or other administrative or legislative body, Executive shall promptly notify the Company so that the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy.  Executive agrees to return all Confidential Information, including all photocopies, extracts and summaries thereof, and any such information stored electronically on tapes, computer disks or in any other manner to the Company at any time upon request by the Company and upon the termination of his employment for any reason.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit Executive’s right to: (i) make disclosures to, or participate in communications with, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other government agency regarding possible violations of law, without prior notice to the Company; (ii) disclose a trade secret (as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1839) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, in either event solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (iii) disclose a trade secret (as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1839) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

(c)During the Term of this Agreement and for a period of one year after termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (upon expiration of the Term or otherwise), Executive shall not engage in competition (or assist any other Person in engaging in competition) with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly (either individually, by any form of ownership, or as a director, manager, member, officer, principal, agent, employee, employer, advisor, consultant, lender, member, shareholder, partner, or other representative in a Competing Business), in the Business of the Company in a Prohibited Location by either (i)  performing services that are the same as or substantially similar to those services Executive performed for the Company or its subsidiaries at any time during the last two years of Executive’s employment with the Company or its subsidiaries or (ii) serving as the chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, or regional vice president (or similar role) in charge of any operational region of any entity engaged in competition in the Business of the Company in a Prohibited Location.  “Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.  “Competing Business” means any business, regardless of form, that is directly engaged, in whole or in relevant part, in any business or enterprise that is the same as, or substantially the same as, the Business of the Company.  The “Business of the Company” means the business of supplying, manufacturing, designing, constructing or installing structural and related building products, including without limitation roof and floor trusses, wall panels, stairs, windows, doors, engineered wood products, lumber and lumber sheet goods, millwork, kitchen 

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cabinets, gypsum, siding, roofing, insulation, hardware and other building products.  A “Prohibited Location” means any location within fifty (50) miles of any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ physical locations over which Executive had management responsibility or about which Executive had access to Confidential Information.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the parties agree that homebuilders and any vendors supplying building products or services to the Company shall be deemed to be Competing Businesses.

(d)During the Term of this Agreement and for a period of two years after termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (upon expiration of the Term or otherwise), Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or divert, or attempt to solicit or divert, (either on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) any person employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries with whom Executive had contact in the course of his employment with the Company or its subsidiaries (each, a “Company Employee“) to leave or reduce their employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to work for Executive or any other Person, including, without limitation, a Competing Business.  During the Term of this Agreement and for a period of two years after termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (upon expiration of the Term or otherwise), Executive shall not directly or indirectly (either on behalf of the Executive or any other Person) hire any Company Employee or respond to inquiries seeking employment from any Company Employee.  This paragraph only applies to persons who are actively employed as Company Employees or were Company Employees within one (1) year of the time of any such actual or attempted solicitation, hiring or inquiry.

(e)Executive acknowledges that (A) in connection with rendering the services to be rendered by Executive hereunder, Executive will have access to and knowledge of Confidential Information, the disclosure of which would place the Company or its subsidiaries at a competitive disadvantage, causing irreparable injury, and (B) the services to be rendered by Executive hereunder are of a special and unique character, which gives this Agreement a peculiar value to the Company, the loss of which may not be reasonably or adequately compensated for by damages in an action at law, and that a material breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions contained in this Section 9 will cause the Company irreparable injury.  Executive, therefore, agrees that the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other right or remedy, to a temporary, preliminary and permanent injunction, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of monetary damages or the posting of any bond or security, enjoining or restraining Executive from any such violation or threatened violations.

(f)Executive further acknowledges and agrees that due to the uniqueness of his services and confidential nature of the information he will possess, the covenants set forth herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the business and goodwill of the Company; and it is the intent of the parties hereto that if, in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction, any provision set forth in this Section 9 is not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority to modify any and all such provisions in such a manner as to such court shall appear not unreasonable and to enforce the remainder of this Section 9 as so modified.

10.Termination of Agreement.  The employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall not be terminated prior to the end of the Term, except as set forth in this Section 10.

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(a)By Mutual Consent.

(i)The employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the mutual written agreement of the Company and Executive.

(ii)In the event that (i) Executive’s employment is terminated by mutual consent pursuant to this Section 10(a), and (ii) Executive and the Company determine at that time that it is in their mutual best interest for Executive to continue to be bound after his termination by the provisions of Section 9 of this Agreement for the periods set forth therein, then the parties may enter into an agreement to that effect, in exchange for which Executive would be entitled to the compensation provided for in Section 10(e) hereof.

(b)Death.  The employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be terminated upon the death of Executive, in which event Executive’s spouse or heirs shall receive Executive’s Base Salary and benefits to be paid or provided to Executive under this Agreement through the Date of Termination (“Accrued Obligations”), payable no later than thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination.

(c)Disability.  The employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by written notice to Executive at the option of the Company in the event that as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness (which physical or mental illness shall be confirmed in writing by a physician or other medical expert acceptable to both parties), the Executive is unable to perform his duties, services and responsibilities hereunder or shall have been absent from his duties hereunder on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for an aggregate of ninety (90) days or more in any six (6) month period, and within thirty (30) days after notice is given by the Company (which notice may be delivered no earlier than thirty days prior to the expiration of such ninety (90) consecutive days or six month period, as the case may be), the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis.  In the event the employment by the Company of Executive is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(c), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations, payable no later than thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination.

(d)By the Company for Cause.  The employment of Executive pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by the Company by written notice to Executive (“Notice of Termination”) for Cause (as hereafter defined).  In the event the employment by the Company of Executive is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(d), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations through the Date of Termination, payable no later than thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, and no more.

(e)By the Company Without Cause.  The employment by the Company of Executive pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time without Cause by delivery of a Notice of Termination to Executive.  In the event the employment by the Company of Executive is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(e), Executive shall be entitled to receive the following, subject to Section 24 hereof, but only if, with respect to the payments and benefits described in clauses (ii) through (vii), within 45 days after the Date of Termination, Executive shall have executed and not revoked a full release of claims in a form satisfactory to the 

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Company (the “Release”): (i) the Accrued Obligations, payable no later than thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, (ii) continuation of his Base Salary for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, (iii) continuation of the health benefits provided for pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof at active employee rates for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, (iv) continuation of welfare benefits provided for pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof (the “Welfare Benefits”) for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, (v) an amount equal to his Average Bonus Compensation (as hereafter defined), payable in accordance with Section 10(j), (vi) Executive shall become fully vested in the Time-Based RSUs, and (vii) Executive shall become fully vested in 100% of the Performance-Based RSUs (i.e. payout at target performance).

(f)By Executive.  The employment of Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated by Executive by written notice to the Company of his resignation (a “Notice of Resignation”) at any time.  

(i)In the event the employment by the Company of Executive is terminated pursuant to this Section 10(f) (except as set forth in Sections 10(f)(ii) and (iii) below), Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations, payable no later than thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, and no more.

(ii)If Executive terminates his employment due to (x) a material adverse diminution (a “Material Diminution”) of Executive’s job title or responsibilities from those currently in effect (for the sake of clarity, (A) a change in reporting structure by itself does not constitute a Material Diminution, (B) a change to a different position that is of comparable status within the Company does not constitute a Material Diminution, (C) any changes generally implemented with regard to a broad group of senior executives does not constitute a Material Diminution, and (D) any change consented to by Executive is not a Material Diminution) or (y) a relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment more than 100 miles from its current location without his consent, then Executive shall instead be entitled to the compensation provided for in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 10(e) hereof, subject to (A) the requirement set forth therein to execute and not revoke the Release and (B) Executive using reasonable efforts to insure an orderly transition of his duties.

(iii)If Executive terminates his employment due to Executive’s reasonable determination that he has irreconcilable differences with the Company’s executive management, subject to the determination by the Compensation Committee that Executive put in a good faith effort to do his job, then, subject to (A) the requirement to execute and not revoke the Release, (B) Executive giving the Company written notice of such issue and thirty (30) days within which to remedy such situation before terminating, and (C) Executive using reasonable efforts to insure an orderly transition of his duties, Executive shall instead be entitled to the following compensation:

(1)If Executive terminates his employment prior to the First Anniversary, Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in clauses (i) through (iv) and (vi) of Section 10(e) hereof, and no more.

(2)If Executive terminates his employment on or after the First 

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Anniversary, Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 10(e) hereof, and no more.

(g)Upon Termination of Merger Agreement.  In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the consummation of the Merger, (i) this Agreement shall be null and void, ab initio, and of no force or effect, (ii) the Prior Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and (iii) Executive shall continue as Chief Operating Officer – East of the Company.

(h)Previously Earned Bonus.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 10, in the event that Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement is terminated at a time when Executive shall have earned a bonus under the Annual Incentive Plan for performance during the prior fiscal year which has not yet been paid, Executive shall be paid such bonus in addition to the amounts otherwise provided for in this Section 10.  Such bonus shall be paid in the fiscal year following the fiscal year for which it is earned, and not later than March 15 of such year, in accordance with the Company’s normal practices.  For the sake of clarity, any bonus of Executive under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan shall deemed to have been earned on December 31 of the year upon whose performance such bonus is based if Executive has been continuously employed by the Company through December 31 of such year.

(i)Date of Termination.  Executive’s Date of Termination shall be: (i) if the parties hereto mutually agree to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof, the date designated by the parties in such agreement; (ii) if Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b), the date of Executive’s death; (iii) if Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated pursuant to Section 10(c), the last day of the applicable period referred to in Section 10(c) hereof; (iv) if Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated pursuant to Section 10(d), the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; and (v) if Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated pursuant to Sections 10(e), 10(f) or 10(g), the date the Notice of Termination or Notice of Resignation, as the case may be, is given.

(j)Payment of Post-Termination Compensation.  After Executive’s Date of Termination, all payments of Base Salary and Average Bonus Compensation to Executive pursuant to this Section 10 shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but in no event less often than semi-monthly.  In the event of a breach by Executive of Section 9 of this Agreement during the applicable period following his Date of Termination, Executive agrees (i) that the Company shall have no further obligation to make any payments to Executive under Section 10 of the Agreement and (ii) that any payments of Base Salary or Average Bonus Compensation previously made to Executive after his Date of Termination shall be returned to the Company.

(k)Continuation of Welfare Benefits.  With respect to Executive’s rights to continuation of Welfare Benefits provided for in Sections 10 (e) and (g), (i) the benefits provided in any one calendar year shall not affect the benefits provided in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the business expense was incurred, and (iii) such rights shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in lieu of providing continuation of any Welfare Benefit to Executive 

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following his Date of Termination, the Company may elect to pay directly to Executive cash payments in an aggregate amount equal to the cost of providing such Welfare Benefit, payable in equal installments for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination.

(l)Role Upon Conclusion of Term.  If the Company does not offer Executive a position with the Company upon the conclusion of the Term that is substantially equivalent in level of authority, responsibilities, and compensation to the positions of Chief Operating Officer – East or Executive Vice President – Integration, Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 10(e) hereof, subject to the requirement set forth therein to execute and not revoke the Release.

(m)No Right to Acceleration.  As provided by resolution of the Compensation Committee, all equity awards under the Company’s 2014 Equity Plan (the “2014 Plan”) that were outstanding on December 15, 2020, shall be deemed, as a result of the Merger, to have been subject to a “Change in Control” (as such term is defined in Section 2.1(g) of the Plan) for a period of eighteen (18) months after the closing of the Merger.  As a result, and as provided under the terms of the 2014 Plan, all outstanding equity awards under the 2014 plan, including restricted stock units held by Executive (“Executive’s Pre-Existing Awards”), as of December 15, 2020 will be subject to accelerated vesting (the “Equity Acceleration”) on the termination of an award recipient’s employment with the Company without Cause (as defined in the 2014 Plan) by the Company or for Good Reason (as defined in the 2014 Plan) by the award recipient during the eighteen (18) months after the closing of the Merger.  The parties to this Agreement have agreed to the consideration provided for herein with the understanding that Executive will not be entitled to any Equity Acceleration of his Pre-Existing Awards upon termination of his employment.  Accordingly, Executive hereby waives any right to the Equity Acceleration with regard to Executive’s Pre-Existing Awards; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall limit the vesting of Executive’s Pre-Existing Awards other than in connection with an Equity Acceleration.

11.Representations.

(a)The Company represents and warrants that this Agreement has been authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

(b)Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to any agreement or instrument which would prevent him from entering into or performing his duties in any way under this Agreement and that this Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable against Executive in accordance with its terms.

12.Successors.  This Agreement is a personal contract and the rights and interests of Executive hereunder may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him, except as otherwise expressly permitted by the provisions of this Agreement.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and his personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If Executive should die while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder had Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to his devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such 

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designee, to his estate.

13.Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains all the understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the matters referred to herein, and supersedes any other undertakings and agreements (other than any written stock option or restricted stock agreements between Executive and the Company), whether oral or in writing, previously entered into by them with respect thereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-competition, non-solicitation, and/or confidentiality obligations that Executive has previously entered into with the Company or its subsidiaries or predecessors shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms and the Company and its subsidiaries shall be entitled to enforce, at the Company’s election, such provisions in this Agreement and/or any such prior agreement so that it is afforded the maximum level of protection.  Executive represents that, in executing this Agreement, he does not rely and has not relied upon any representation or statement made by the Company not set forth herein with regard to the subject matter or effect of this Agreement or otherwise.

14.Termination; Amendment or Modification; Waiver.

(a)This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written consent of the Company and Executive.

(b)No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is agreed to in writing, signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  No waiver by any party hereto of any breach by another party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same time, any prior time or any subsequent time.

15.Notices.  All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be (i) delivered by hand, (ii) delivered by a nationally recognized commercial overnight delivery service, (iii) mailed postage prepaid by certified first class mail, return receipt requested, or (iv) transmitted by facsimile transmitted to the party concerned at the address or telecopier number set forth below:

To Executive at:

9809 Riva Ridge Lane

Waxhaw, NC  28173

To the Company at:

Builders FirstSource, Inc.
2001 Bryan Street, Suite 1600
Dallas, Texas  75201
Attention:  General Counsel

Such notices shall be effective: (i) in the case of hand deliveries when received; (ii) in the case of an overnight delivery service, on the next business day after being placed in the possession of such delivery service, with delivery charges prepaid; (iii) in the case of mail, seven (7) days 

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after deposit in the postal system, certified first class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested; and (iv) in the case of facsimile notices, when electronic confirmation of receipt is received by the sender.  Any party may change its address and telecopy number by written notice to the other given in accordance with this Section 15; provided, however, that such change shall be effective when received.

16.Severability.  If any provision or clause of this Agreement or the application of any such provision or clause to any party or circumstances shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such provision or clause to such person or circumstances other than those to which it is so determined to be invalid and unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision or clause hereof shall be validated and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

17.Survivorship.  The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

18.Governing Law.  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

19.Headings.  All descriptive headings of sections and paragraphs in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience, and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the heading of any section or paragraph.

20.Withholding.  All payments to Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced by all applicable withholding required by federal, state or local law.

21.Specific Performance.  Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would be both incalculable and an insufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by such party and that any such breach would cause the other parties, irreparable harm.  Accordingly, each party hereto also agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement by such party, the other parties shall be entitled to equitable relief without the requirement of posting a bond or other security, including in the form of injunctions and orders for specific performance, in addition to all other remedies available to such other parties at law or in equity.

22.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

23.Definitions.

(a)“Cause” means the determination, in good faith, by the Board, after notice to Executive, that one or more of the following events has occurred: (i) any act of gross negligence, fraud, willful misconduct or moral turpitude by Executive materially injuring the interest, business or reputation of the Company, or any of its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates; (ii)  Executive’s commission or conviction of any felony; (iii) Executive’s violation of the Company’s drug policy or material violation of its Code of Conduct; (iv) any misappropriation or embezzlement of the 

12

 

property of the Company, or any of its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates; or (v) any material breach by Executive of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a material breach of Section 9 hereof, which breach, to the extent it is capable of being cured, remains uncorrected for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt by Executive of written notice from the Company setting forth such breach.

(b)“Average Bonus Compensation” shall mean an amount equal to the average of the two most recent full-year annual bonus amounts earned by Executive (i.e. excluding any partial year bonuses), whether under the Annual Incentive Plan or as a Conversion Bonus (but excluding any Deal Bonus).

24.Code Section 409A.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of the occurrence of Executive’s separation from service, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to Executive by reason of such separation from service unless (i) the circumstances giving rise to such separation from service meet any description or definition of “separation from service” in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition), or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise.  This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any amount upon a separation from service, however defined.  If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the date, if any, on which an event occurs that constitutes a Section 409A-compliant “separation from service.”  

 

(b)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any amount or benefit specified herein as “subject to Section 24 hereof,” or any other amount or benefit that would otherwise constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Agreement by reason of the Executive’s separation from service during a period in which he is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Company under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes): 

 

(i)  if the payment or distribution is payable in a lump sum, Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such non-exempt deferred compensation will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the first day of the seventh month following Executive’s separation from service (the “Delay Period”); and

 

(ii)  if the payment or distribution is payable over time, the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following Executive’s separation from service will be accumulated and Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such accumulated amount will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the end of the Delay Period, whereupon the accumulated amount 

13

 

will be paid or distributed to Executive and the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume; and 

 

(iii)  to the extent that this Section 24(b) applies to the provision of Welfare Benefits, Executive shall be entitled to pay the full cost of premiums to maintain the Welfare Benefits during the Delay Period, and the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to the amount of such premiums promptly following the end of the Delay Period. 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder.

 

25.Forum Selection; Consent to Jurisdiction. The exclusive forum for any action to enforce this Agreement, as well as any action relating to or arising out of this Agreement, shall be the state or federal courts of the State of Texas.  With respect to any such court action, Executive and the Company hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b) consent to service of process; (c) consent to venue; and (d) waive any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction, service of process, or venue.  Executive and the Company further agree that the state and federal courts of the State of Texas are convenient forums for any dispute that may arise from this Agreement and that neither party shall raise as a defense that such courts are not convenient forums.

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

14

Exhibit 10.33

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
Builders FirstSource, Inc.

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ M. Chad Crow

	
Name
	
M. Chad Crow

	
Title
	
Chief Executive Officer

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
Executive

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
/s/ David E. Rush

	
David E. Rush

 

 

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement

Exhibit 10.33

 

EXHIBIT A

 

CASH BONUS AND PRSU PAYOUT LEVELS

 

					
	
Annual
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
Run Rate
	
% of Target
	
% of Target
	
 
	
 

	
Synergies
	
Cash Bonus
	
PRSUs
	
Total Cash
	
 

	
Achieved
	
Earned1
	
Earned1
	
Bonus Payment
	
 

	
Less than $30,000,000
	
0%
	
0%
	
--
	
 

	
$30,000,000 - $99,999,999
	
Sliding Scale2
	
Sliding Scale3
	
$210,000 - $700,000
	
 

	
$100,000,000 
	
60%
	
 60%
	
$900,000 
	
 

	
$110,000,000 
	
70%
	
70%
	
$1,050,000 
	
 

	
$120,000,000 
	
80%
	
80%
	
$1,200,000 
	
 

	
$130,000,000 
	
90%
	
90%
	
$1,350,000 
	
 

	
$140,000,000 
	
100%
	
100%
	
$1,500,000 
	
 

	
$150,000,000 
	
105%
	
105%
	
$1,575,000 
	
 

	
$160,000,000 
	
110%
	
110%
	
$1,650,000 
	
 

	
$170,000,000 
	
115%
	
115%
	
$1,725,000 
	
 

	
$180,000,000 
	
120%
	
120%
	
$1,800,000 
	
 

	
(1)  Payout for run rate synergies above $100,000,000 is linear between levels.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
(2)  The cash bonus payout equals the Annual Run Rate Synergy Achieved x 0.7% (e.g. the cash bonus for achieving $30,000,000 in synergies is $30,000,000 x 0.007 = $210,000).

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
(3)  The PRSU vesting percentage equals the Annual Run Rate Synergy Achieved x 0.7%/$1,500,000 (e.g. the percentage PRSU payout for achieving $30,000,000 in synergies is $30,000,000 x 0.007/$1,500,000 = 14.0%).seas-ex41_616.htm

Exhibit 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

The following is a brief description of the securities of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”), registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This description of the terms of our stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the full text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended by our certificate of amendment of amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as so amended, our “Certificate of Incorporation”), and our amended and restated bylaws.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors. The holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The common stock is not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock). Unless required by law or by the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders. Our Board of Directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation:

	
 
	
•
	
the designation of the series;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the number of shares of the series, which our Board of Directors may, except where otherwise provided in the preferred stock designation, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares then outstanding);

 

	
 
	
•
	
whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or non-cumulative and the dividend rate of the series;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the dates at which dividends, if any, will be payable;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the terms and amounts of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

Exhibit 4.1

	
 
	
•
	
the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the Company;

 

	
 
	
•
	
whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of the other class or series or other security, the conversion price or prices or rate or rates, any rate adjustments, the date or dates as of which the shares will be convertible and all other terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;

 

	
 
	
•
	
restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series; and

 

	
 
	
•
	
the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.

We could issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of our common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which the holders of our common stock might receive a premium for their common stock over the market price of the common stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our common stock by restricting dividends on the common stock, diluting the voting power of the common stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock.

Dividends

The DGCL permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of “surplus” or, if there is no “surplus,” out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. “Surplus” is defined as the excess of the net assets of the corporation over the amount determined to be the capital of the corporation by the Board of Directors. The capital of the corporation is typically calculated to be (and cannot be less than) the aggregate par value of all issued shares of capital stock. Net assets equals the fair value of the total assets minus total liabilities. The DGCL also provides that dividends may not be paid out of net profits if, after the payment of the dividend, remaining capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.

We currently do not pay a dividend. Declaration and payment of any future dividend is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon our financial condition, operations, cash requirements and availability, level of indebtedness, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions and restrictions in our debt instruments and in any preferred stock, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of distributions to stockholders and any other factors our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

Annual Stockholder Meetings

Our Certificate of Incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by our Board of Directors. To the extent permitted under applicable law, we may conduct meetings by remote communications, including by webcast.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Certain Provisions of Delaware Law

Our Certificate of Incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the DGCL contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board of Directors. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our Board of Directors to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those 

 

Exhibit 4.1

attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

Delaware law does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which would apply if and so long as our common stock remains listed on the NYSE, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock. Additional shares that may be used in the future may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.

Our Board of Directors may generally issue preferred shares on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of the Company or the removal of our management. Moreover, our authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock will be available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate acquisitions and employee benefit plans.

One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our Board of Directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Business Combinations

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL; however, our Certificate of Incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

	
 
	
•
	
prior to such time, our Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

	
 
	
•
	
upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or

 

	
 
	
•
	
at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our Board of Directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. For purposes of this section only, “voting stock” has the meaning given to it in Section 203 of the DGCL.

Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with the Company for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate in advance with our Board of Directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our Board of Directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

 

Exhibit 4.1

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that any direct or indirect transferees of our former controlling stockholder and its affiliates and any group as to which such persons are a party, do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.

Removal of Directors; Vacancies

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a 66 2/3% in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director.

No Cumulative Voting

Under Delaware law, the right to vote cumulatively does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting. Therefore, stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of our stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be able to elect all our directors.

Special Stockholder Meetings

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the chairman of the Board of Directors. Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of the Company.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of the Company.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of preferred stock.

Supermajority Provisions

 

Exhibit 4.1

Our Certificate of Incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, our bylaws without a stockholder vote in any matter not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware and our Certificate of Incorporation. Any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our stockholders will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage.

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the following provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class:

	
 
	
•
	
the provision requiring a 66 2/3% supermajority vote for stockholders to amend our amended and restated bylaws;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding resignation and removal of directors;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding competition and corporate opportunities;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding entering into business combinations with interested stockholders;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding stockholder action by written consent;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding calling special meetings of stockholders;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions regarding filling vacancies on our Board of Directors and newly created directorships;

 

	
 
	
•
	
the provisions eliminating monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty by a director; and

 

	
 
	
•
	
the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 66 2/3% supermajority vote.

The combination of the lack of cumulative voting and the supermajority voting requirements will make it more difficult for our existing stockholders to replace our Board of Directors as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our Board of Directors. Because our Board of Directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing stockholders or another party to effect a change in management.

These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management or the Company, such as a merger, reorganization or tender offer. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our Board of Directors and its policies and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of the Company. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. These provisions are also intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of us. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in 

 

Exhibit 4.1

connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.

Exclusive Forum

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf, to the fullest extent permitted by law, of the Company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Certificate of Incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (iv) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation.

However, this exclusive forum provision would not apply to actions asserting claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. To the extent these exclusive forum provisions restrict the venue in which holders of our common stock may bring claims arising under the federal securities laws, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions. Our exclusive forum provision shall not relieve the company of its duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.

Conflicts of Interest

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to our officers, directors or stockholders or their respective affiliates, other than those officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates who are our or our subsidiaries’ employees. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to a non-employee director solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no business opportunity will be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for us unless we would be permitted, to undertake the opportunity under our Certificate of Incorporation, we have sufficient financial resources to undertake the opportunity and the opportunity would be in line with our business.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation does not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated 

 

Exhibit 4.1

the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions/repurchases or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We also are expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

We currently are party to indemnification agreements with certain of our directors and officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “SEAS.”

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