Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY
AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

BETWEEN

 

New
Mountain Guardian III BDC, L.L.C.

 

AND

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE
ADVISERS BDC, L.L.C.

 

This
Agreement (this "Agreement") is made this 11th day of April, 2022, by and between NEW
MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN III BDC, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the "Fund"), and NEW MOUNTAIN
FINANCE ADVISERS BDC, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the "Adviser").

 

WHEREAS,
the Fund is a closed-end management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company ("BDC")
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act");

 

WHEREAS,
the Adviser is an investment adviser that is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act"); and

 

WHEREAS, the
Fund desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
and the Adviser wishes to be retained to provide such services;

 

NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.            Duties
of the Adviser.

 

(a)            The
Fund hereby employs the Adviser to act as the investment adviser to the Fund and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets
of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board"), for the period and
upon the terms herein set forth. In the performance of its duties, the Adviser shall at all times conform to, and act in accordance with,
any requirements imposed by (i) the provisions of the Investment Company Act, and of any rules or regulations in force thereunder,
subject to the terms of any exemptive order applicable to the Fund; (ii) any other applicable provision of law; (iii) the provisions
of the limited liability company agreement of the Fund, as amended and/or restated from time to time (the "LLC Agreement");
(iv) the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Fund, as they may be amended from time to time by the
Board upon written notice to the Adviser; and (v) any other policies and determinations of the Board provided in writing to the Adviser.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
(i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the Fund, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing
such changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Fund; (iii) execute, monitor
and service the Fund’s investments; (iv) determine the securities and other assets that the Fund will purchase, retain, or
sell; (v) perform due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; (vi) vote, exercise consents and exercise all other rights
appertaining to such securities and other assets on behalf of the Fund; and (vii) provide the Fund with such other investment advisory,
research and related services as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds. Subject to the supervision
of the Board, the Adviser shall have the power and authority on behalf of the Fund to effectuate its investment decisions for the Fund,
including the execution and delivery of all documents relating to the Fund’s investments and the placing of orders for other purchase
or sale transactions on behalf of the Fund. In the event that the Fund determines to acquire debt financing, the Adviser will arrange
for such financing on the Fund’s behalf. If it is necessary for the Adviser to make investments on behalf of the Fund through a
special purpose vehicle, the Adviser shall have authority to create or arrange for the creation of such special purpose vehicle and to
make such investments through such special purpose vehicle (in accordance with the Investment Company Act).

 

     

     

    

 

(b)            The
Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees during the term hereof to render the services described herein for the compensation
provided herein.

 

(c)            The
Adviser shall for all purposes herein provided be deemed to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized
herein, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

 

(d)            The
Adviser shall keep and preserve for the period required by the Investment Company Act any books and records relevant to the provision
of its investment advisory services to the Fund and shall specifically maintain all books and records in accordance with Section 31(a) of
the Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund’s portfolio transactions and shall render to the Board such periodic and special
reports as the Board may reasonably request. The Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the
Fund and will surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the Fund’s request, provided that the Adviser may retain a copy
of such records.

 

2.            Fund’s
Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Fund.

 

All investment professionals
of the Adviser and their respective staffs, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services hereunder,
and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, will be provided and paid for by the
Adviser and not by the Fund, including salaries of the Adviser’s employees and senior advisors (excluding salary, benefits, directors’
fees, stock options and other compensation received by senior advisors for serving on board of directors, serving in executive management
roles or performing the functional equivalent of such roles) and other expenses incurred in maintaining the Adviser’s place of business.

 

The Fund will bear all legal
and other expenses costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Fund’s formation and organization and the offering of the
units of limited liability company interests of the Fund (“Units”), including (other than any placement fees,
which will be borne by the Adviser directly or pursuant to waivers of the management fee) all out-of-pocket legal, tax (including U.S.
federal, state, local and foreign taxes), accounting, printing, data room, consultation, administrative, travel, meal, accommodation and
U.S. and non-U.S. filing fees and expenses of the Fund or the Adviser (including with respect to any registration or licensing of the
Fund or the Adviser for marketing under any national private placement or similar regime outside of the United States including those
in member states of the European Union).

 

In addition to the Base Management
Fee and Incentive Fee, except as noted above, the Fund will bear all other costs, expenses and liabilities that in the good faith judgment
of the Adviser are incurred by or arise out of the operation and activities of the Fund, subject to the above cap, as described further
in the LLC Agreement.

 

3.            Compensation
of the Adviser.

 

(a)            The
Fund agrees to pay, and the Adviser agrees to accept, as compensation for the services provided by the Adviser hereunder, a base management
fee (“Base Management Fee”) and an incentive fee (“Incentive Fee”) as hereinafter
set forth. The Fund shall make any payments due hereunder to the Adviser or to the Adviser’s designee as the Adviser may otherwise
direct. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Adviser may elect, or the Fund may adopt a deferred compensation plan pursuant
to which the Adviser may elect, to defer all or a portion of its fees hereunder for a specified period of time.

 

(b)            The
Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund’s Managed Capital (as defined below) as of the last
day of the applicable quarter. For the period beginning June 15, 2019 through June 30, 2020, the Base Management Fee was reduced
by 50% (for the avoidance of doubt, this resulted in a Base Management Fee of 0.575% of the Fund’s Managed Capital through June 30,
2020). For services rendered under this Agreement, the Base Management Fee will be payable quarterly in arrears. “Managed
Capital” means the aggregate Contributed Capital from all the holders of the Units (the “Unitholders”)
(including any outstanding borrowings under any subscription line drawn in lieu of capital calls) less any return of capital distributions
and less any cumulative realized losses since inception (calculated net of any subsequently reversed realized losses and net of any realized
gains). “Contributed Capital” means, with respect to an investor holding capital commitments, the aggregate
amount of capital contributions from such investor’s capital commitments that have been funded by such investor to purchase Units.
For the avoidance of doubt, Contributed Capital will not take into account distributions of the Fund’s investment income (i.e.,
proceeds received in respect of interest payments, dividends or fees, net of expenses) to the investors. Base Management Fees for any
partial month or quarter will be appropriately prorated.

 

    	 	- 2 -	 

     

    

 

(c)            The
Incentive Fee shall consist of two parts as follows:

 

(i)            One
part of the Incentive Fee (the “Income Incentive Fee”) will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based
on the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other
than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees
that the Fund receives from Portfolio Companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Fund’s operating expenses for the
quarter (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable under the Fund’s administration agreement, and any interest expense
and distributions paid on any issued and outstanding preferred units, but excluding the Incentive Fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment
Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK
interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Fund has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Fund’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding
calendar quarter, will be compared to a “hurdle rate” of 1.75% per quarter (7.0% annualized), subject to a “catch-up”
provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. The Fund will pay the Adviser an Incentive Fee with respect to the Fund’s
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in each calendar quarter as follows: (1) no Incentive Fee in any calendar quarter in which
the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.75% (the “preferred return”
or “hurdle”); (2) 100% of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.059% in any calendar quarter
(8.235% annualized); this portion of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal
to 2.059%) is referred to herein as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” is meant to provide the Adviser
with an incentive fee of 15% on all of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when
the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 2.059% in any calendar quarter; and (3) 15% of the amount of
the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.059% in any calendar quarter (8.235% annualized) payable
to the Adviser once the hurdle is reached and the catch-up is achieved, (15% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income thereafter
is allocated to the Adviser). These calculations will be appropriately prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted
for any equity capital raises or repurchases during the relevant calendar quarter.

 

(ii)            The
second part of the Incentive Fee (“Incentive Fee on Capital Gains”) will be determined and payable in arrears
as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of this Agreement as set forth below), The Fund will pay the Adviser an Incentive
Fee with respect to the Fund’s cumulative realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital
depreciation since inception (“Cumulative Net Realized Gains”) based on the waterfall below:

 

(A) First,
no Incentive Fee is payable to the Adviser on Cumulative Net Realized Gains until total return of capital distributions, distributions
of net investment income and distributions of net realized capital gains to Unitholders is equal to total Contributed Capital;

 

(B) Second,
no incentive is payable to the Adviser on Cumulative Net Realized Gains until the Fund has paid cumulative distributions equal to an annualized,
cumulative internal rate of return of 7% on the total contributed capital to the Fund calculated from the date that each such amount was
due to be contributed to the Fund until the date each such distribution is paid;

 

    	 	- 3 -	 

     

    

 

(C) Third,
upon a distribution that results in cumulative distributions exceeding the amounts in clause (A) and (B) above, an Incentive
Fee on Capital Gains payable to the Adviser equal to 100% of the amount of Cumulative Net Realized Gains until the Adviser has received
(together with amounts the Adviser has received under Income Incentive Fees) an amount equal to 15% of the sum of (x) the cumulative
distributions to Unitholders made pursuant to clause (B) above, (y) Income Incentive Fee paid to the Adviser and (z) amounts
paid to the Adviser pursuant to this clause (C); and

 

(D) Thereafter,
an Incentive Fee on Capital Gains equal to 15% of additional undistributed Cumulative Net Realized Gains;

 

provided
that, in no event will the Incentive Fee on Capital Gains paid to the Adviser exceed the amount permitted by Section 205(b)(3) of
the Advisers Act.

 

(d)            Upon
termination of the Fund, the Adviser shall be required to return an amount of the Incentive Fee to the Fund (the “Clawback
Amount”) to the extent that: (i) the Adviser has received a cumulative Incentive Fee in excess of 15% of the sum of
(A) the Fund’s cumulative distributions other than return of capital contributions and (B) the cumulative Incentive Fee
paid to the Adviser; or (ii) the Unitholders have not received a 7% cumulative internal rate of return, in both instances, determined
on an aggregate basis covering all transactions of the Fund; provided that in no event shall the Clawback Amount be more than the Incentive
Fee received by the Adviser less taxes paid or payable by the Adviser and its direct and indirect owners with respect to such Incentive
Fee determined using the Assumed Tax Rate.

 

The
“Assumed Tax Rate” will mean the highest combined effective marginal U.S. federal (including Medicare tax),
state and local tax rates applicable to individuals that are resident in New York, New York and taking into account deductibility of state
and local taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the character of such income and the rate applicable to the imposition of any
entity-level taxes.

 

(e)            The
Adviser or its Affiliates (as defined in the LLC Agreement) may from time to time receive compensation from a company in which the Fund
holds an investment, including monitoring fees, financial arranging services, loan administration or servicing, break-up fees, directors’
fees and/or other similar advisory fees (collectively, “Transaction Fees”). To the extent the Adviser or its Affiliates receive
any Transaction Fees, the Base Management Fee (and, if necessary, the Incentive Fee) shall be reduced by the allocable portion of such
fees attributable to the Fund, as determined pro rata based on the amount of capital committed to the relevant investment by the Fund,
any other funds or accounts managed by the Adviser and its Affiliates and/or any account owned or controlled by the Adviser or an Affiliate.

 

4.            Covenants
of the Adviser.

 

(a)            The
Adviser represents and warrants that it is duly registered and authorized as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and the Adviser
agrees to maintain effective all material requisite registrations, authorizations and licenses, as the case may be, until the termination
of this Agreement.

 

(b)            The
Adviser agrees that its activities will at all times be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
governing its operations and investments.

 

5.            Excess
Brokerage Commissions.

 

The
Adviser is hereby authorized, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, to cause the Fund to pay a member of a national
securities exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission
another member of such exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good
faith, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty
of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firm's risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities, that such amount
of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer,
viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund’s portfolio.

 

    	 	- 4 -	 

     

    

 

6.            Limitations
on the Employment of the Adviser.

 

The
services of the Adviser to the Fund are not exclusive, and the Adviser may engage in any other business or render similar or different
services to others including, without limitation, the direct or indirect sponsorship or management of other investment based accounts
or commingled pools of capital, however structured, having investment objectives similar to those of the Fund, so long as its services
to the Fund hereunder are not impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager, partner,
officer or employee of the Adviser to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to any other business,
whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith (including fees for serving
as a director of, or providing consulting services to, one or more of the Fund’s portfolio companies, subject to applicable law).
So long as this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment remains in effect, the Adviser shall be the only investment adviser for
the Fund. The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder. It is understood
that directors, officers, employees and Unitholders of the Fund are or may become interested in the Adviser and its affiliates, as directors,
officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that the Adviser and directors, officers, employees,
partners, stockholders, members and managers of the Adviser and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund as Unitholders
or otherwise.

 

7.            Responsibility
of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees.

 

If
any person who is a manager, partner, officer, senior advisor or employee of the Adviser or the Administrator is or becomes a director,
officer and/or employee of the Fund and acts as such in any business of the Fund, then such manager, partner, officer, senior advisor
and/or employee of the Adviser or the Administrator shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Fund, and not as a manager,
partner, officer, senior advisor or employee of the Adviser or the Administrator or under the control or direction of the Adviser or the
Administrator, even if paid by the Adviser or the Administrator.

 

8.            Limitation
of Liability of the Adviser; Indemnification.

 

The
Adviser and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members (or their owners) and any other person or entity affiliated
with it, shall not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any action taken or omitted to be taken by
the Adviser or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations
under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the
Investment Company Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings)
with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and the Fund shall indemnify, defend and protect the Adviser (and its officers,
managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) (collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties") and hold them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason
of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right
of the Fund or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations
under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Section 8
to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be deemed
to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, (a) any liability or losses arising solely from a claim between
or among Indemnified Parties or (b) any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise
be subject by reason of (i) breach of the LLC Agreement or this Agreement, (ii) willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross
negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations
under this Agreement (as the same shall be determined in accordance with the Investment Company Act and any interpretations or guidance
by the SEC or its staff thereunder), or (iii) violation of any law, including, but not limited to, violation of any federal or state
securities law, that has a material adverse effect on the Fund (collectively, “Disabling Conduct”). The Adviser
shall not be liable under this Agreement or otherwise for any loss due to the mistake, action, inaction, negligence, dishonesty, fraud
or bad faith of any broker or other agent; provided that such broker or other agent shall have been selected, engaged or retained and
monitored by the Adviser in good faith, unless such action or inaction was made by reason of Disabling Conduct, or in the case of a criminal
action or proceeding, where the Adviser had reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful.

 

    	 	- 5 -	 

     

    

 

9.            Effectiveness,
Duration and Termination of Agreement.

 

(a)            This
Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual
periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (A) the vote of the Board, or by the vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (B) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s directors who are
not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment
Company Act) of any such party, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement may be terminated (i) by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon giving the Adviser 60 days’
written notice (which notice may be waived by the Adviser), provided that such termination by the Fund shall be directed or approved by
the vote of a majority of the directors of the Fund in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the Units at
the time outstanding and entitled to vote, or (ii) by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund (which notice may
be waived by the Fund).

 

(b)            This
Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 15(a)(4) of
the Investment Company Act).

 

10.            Notices.

 

Any
notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at its principal
office.

 

11.            Amendments.

 

This
Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent, but the consent of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of
the Investment Company Act.

 

12.            Entire
Agreement; Governing Law.

 

This
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect
to the subject matter hereof, except as it relates to any fee waivers or expense limitation arrangements agreed to by the Adviser that
are and remain in effect as of the date of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable
laws of the State of New York or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter
shall control.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

    	 	- 6 -	 

     

    

 

*           *           *

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date above written.

 

	 	NEW MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN III BDC, L.L.C.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Adam B. Weinstein
	 	 	Name: Adam Weinstein
	 	 	Title: Director and Executive Vice President
	 	 	 
	 	NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE ADVISERS BDC, L.L.C.
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Adam B. Weinstein
	 	 	Name: Adam Weinstein
	 	 	Title: Authorized Person

 

    	 	- 7 -Exhibit 10.8
INCENTIVE UNITS AGREEMENT
This Incentive Units Agreement (this “Agreement”) is effective as of September 28, 2018 (the “Grant Date”) by and between Authentic Brands LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Evan Hafer (“Recipient”). Capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings set forth in Article 4 below.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Authentic Brands LLC 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company desires to award Recipient Forty Thousand (40,000) Incentive Units in the Company (the “Incentive Units”), subject to Recipient entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Recipient desires to accept the Incentive Units, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants of the parties hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
ISSUANCE OF UNITS; TERMS
Section 1.1Issuance of Units.
(a)Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company will issue the Incentive Units to Recipient and admit Recipient as a Member of the Company. Recipient acknowledges that the Incentive Units are subject to the terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement, including that (i) Recipient has waived any claim or cause of action against the Board, employees, agents and representatives for any breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or its Members, including as may result from a conflict of interest, (ii) except as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, Recipient has no right to obtain access to, or copies of, the books and records of the Company and or its Subsidiaries and waives any right to inspect any books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and (iii) that the Incentive Units are subject to repurchase pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, in addition to the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Recipient and the Company hereby agree that Recipient shall be determined to be a Key Service Member for purposes of the LLC Agreement and subject to all of the terms and conditions of being a Key Service Member in the LLC Agreement.
(b)The Participation Threshold for the Units shall initially be set at $35,000,000 (“Initial Participation Threshold Amount”), which is an amount equal to or above the fair market value of the Company as of the Grant Date, and shall be increased by any Capital Contributions made after the Grant Date; provided that, in the event that, after the Grant Date, additional capital is contributed to the Company, in the Board’s sole discretion, the Participation Threshold may be increased to reflect the terms upon which such additional capital was raised by the Company (including any rights to a preferred return, any senior rights or any other terms and provisions of such additional capital).
Section 1.2Incentive Units’ Percentage Ownership in the Company.  Following the Grant Date, the Incentive Units’ ownership percentage of the Company’s common equity determined on a fully-diluted basis shall be subject to dilution by subsequent issuances, exercises or conversions of the Company’s securities in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement.
Section 1.3Vesting. The Incentive Units are fully and immediately vested upon issuance thereof pursuant to this Agreement.
​

Section 1.4Forfeiture and/or Repurchase of Covered Units.  All Covered Units held by Recipient or any Affiliate of Recipient, including, without limitation any transferee of such Covered Units approved in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, shall be subject to forfeiture and/or repurchase by the Company upon the following terms and conditions:
(a)Incentive Units and Investor Units.
(i)In the event of termination of Recipient’s engagement with the Company for any reason other than by the Company for Cause, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, pursuant to the procedures described in Section 1.5 below, to purchase all or any portion of Recipient’s Covered Units at such Units’ Fair Market Value as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of such termination of service.
(ii)In the event of termination of Recipient’s engagement with the Company by the Company for Cause, then (1) Recipient shall forfeit automatically all Incentive Units effective as of the date of such termination of service, and (2) the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, in accordance with Section 1.5 below, to repurchase all or any portion of the Investor Units at the lower of (x) Cost or (y) Fair Market Value as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of such termination of service.
(b)Recipient’s Breach of Restrictive Covenants. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Board determines in good faith that that Recipient has breached any provision of the Restrictive Covenants, whether during Recipient’s service or at any time thereafter, then:
(i)the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, in accordance with Section 1.5 below, to repurchase all or any portion of the Incentive Units at their Fair Market Value as of the date the Company discovers such breach by Recipient; and
(ii)the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, in accordance with Section 1.5 below, to repurchase all or any portion of the Investor Units at the lower of such Investor Units’ (x) Cost or (y) Fair Market Value as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date the Company discovers such breach by Recipient.
(c)Board Determined Cause Event. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that, after the expiration of the Restrictive Covenants, there is a Board Determined Cause Event or Recipient directly or indirectly, engages in, participates in, represents in any way or is connected with, as officer, director, partner, owner, employee, agent, sales representative, distributor, independent contractor, consultant, advisor, proprietor, stockholder (except for the ownership of a less than 1% stock interest in a publicly traded company) or otherwise, competition with the Business in the United States, then the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, in accordance with Section 1.5 below, to repurchase any Covered Units at their Fair Market Value as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date the Company discovers the event giving rise to such Board Determined Cause Event or such competition by Recipient.
(d)Each of the foregoing rights and options of the Company to repurchase any Covered Units (as set forth in this Section 1.4) shall be referred to herein as a “Repurchase Option” and any such Covered Units so repurchased, shall be referred to herein as “Repurchased Units”.
Section 1.5Company Repurchase Option.
(a)Repurchase Notice. The Company may elect to purchase all or any portion of the Covered Units subject to repurchase pursuant to Section 1.4 above by sending written notice (a “Repurchase Notice”) to Recipient (or the holder of such Units) within one hundred eighty (180) days of (i) if Section 1.4(a) applies, the date of the termination of Recipient’s service on the Board, (ii) if Section 1.4(b) applies, the discovery by the Company of Recipients’ breach of any Restrictive Covenants, or (iii) if Section 1.4(c) applies, the discovery by the Company of Recipient’s competition with the Company or of the event giving rise to the Board Determined Cause Event. Such a Repurchase Notice shall specify the closing date for the repurchase by the Company of the Covered

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Units being repurchased by the Company, which date shall be not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the determination of Fair Market Value of such Covered Units (to the extent Cost is not the applicable purchase price). In the event the Company repurchases any Covered Units in accordance with this Agreement, Recipient (or other holder of such Covered Units) shall not have the right to receive any distributions from the Company or allocations of Company income or loss for any period after the effective date of termination of service on the Board (if Section 1.5(b) applies) or the date on which the Company discovers a breach of covenants, competition with the Company or event giving rise to the Board Determined Cause Event, as applicable, if Section 1.5(b) or Section 1.5(c) applies.
(b)Payment. The purchase price for the Repurchased Units shall be paid by the Company to Recipient (or other holder of such Repurchased Units), at the Board’s election, (i) in cash at closing, or (ii) by delivery of an unsecured promissory note  (the “Subordinated Note”) subordinated and junior in right of payment to all other indebtedness of the Company, with customary terms and conditions, payable in four (4) equal annual installments, with the first installment due on the first anniversary of the closing and the subsequent annual installments due on the successive anniversary dates of the closing, or (iii) in any combination thereof. Interest on any unpaid principal balance of the Subordinated Note shall accrue from the date of the closing at an annual interest rate equal to the “applicable federal rate” provided in Section 1274(d) of the Code (defined below) at the time of the execution of the Subordinated Note and shall be payable, together with equal installments of principal, on an annual basis, in arrears. The Subordinated Note shall mature and any remaining outstanding amounts of principal and interest due thereunder shall be payable in full on the earlier of a Change in Control and the fourth anniversary of the closing. All or part of the Subordinated Note may be prepaid at any time without penalty or premium. As a condition to the issuance of the Subordinated Note the payee thereunder shall agree to promptly execute, verify, deliver and file any (A) subordination, inter-creditor or similar agreement requested by any holder of other indebtedness of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, and (B) any other agreement, document or instrument thereafter requested by any holder of other indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time in connection with such subordination. In the event that Recipient breaches any of the Restrictive Covenants while any payments under the Subordinated Note remain outstanding, Recipient (and/or any other holder of the Subordinated Note) shall forfeit the right to receive any such remaining payments.
(c)Closing Deliveries. Upon repurchase of any Covered Units, each holder of Repurchased Units shall deliver to the Company, (i) if such Repurchased Units are certificated, certificates representing such Repurchased Units, duly endorsed in blank, free and clear of all claims, liens or encumbrances from any third party, and (ii) such other agreements, instruments and other documents reasonably requested by the Company. The Company shall be entitled to receive customary representations and warranties from Recipient regarding the Repurchased Units (including representations and warranties regarding good title to all such Repurchased Units to and the absence of liens thereon) and to require that all sellers’ signatures be guaranteed.
(d)Assignability. The right to purchase the Repurchased Units pursuant to this Section 1.5 provided to the Company shall be freely assignable to any Person in the Board’s sole and absolute discretion. To the extent such right is assigned, such Person shall have the same rights, and to the fullest extent of such rights that the Company had under this Section 1.5. If the Company assigns the right to purchase Repurchased Units pursuant to this Section 1.5, any subsequent right to purchase Repurchased Units pursuant to this Section 1.5, may be retained by the Company, assigned to another Person or assigned to the same Person.
Section 1.6Public Offering. The right to purchase the Repurchased Units pursuant to Section 1.5 shall terminate upon consummation of any sale of equity securities of the Company pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering (or series of related offerings) by the Company (or any successor entity) to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, which is underwritten by a nationally recognized investment bank.
Section 1.7General Provisions.
(a)Profits Interest. It is the intention and understanding of the Company and Recipient that the Incentive Units shall constitute “profits interests” in the Company within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedure 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343, and IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191.
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(b)Transfers in Violation of Agreement. Recipient shall not Transfer any Covered Units, or any interest therein, except pursuant to (a) the provisions hereof, and (b) the provisions of the LLC Agreement restricting Transfers, which provisions are incorporated herein by reference. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Covered Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement or the LLC Agreement shall be void ab initio, and the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Covered Units as the owner of such equity for any purpose.
(c)Adjustments of Numbers. All numbers set forth herein that refer to unit prices or amounts will be appropriately adjusted to reflect the effects of any unit splits, unit dividends, combinations of units and other recapitalizations affecting the subject class of equity.
(d)Deemed Transfer of Units. If the Company shall make available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Covered Units to be repurchased in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, then from and after such time, the Person from whom such Repurchased Units are to be repurchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Repurchased Units (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement), and such Repurchased Units shall be deemed purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof and the Company shall be deemed the owner and holder of such Repurchased Units, whether or not the certificates therefor (if any) have been delivered.
Section 1.8Required Pledge of Units.  If any lender providing financing to the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries requires the Covered Units held by Recipient (or any of Recipient’s Affiliates) to be pledged as collateral in connection with such financing in favor of such lender, then Recipient (and Recipient’s affiliates) shall do all things necessary to pledge such Covered Units in accordance with the terms and conditions of such financing and such lender may exercise all of its rights and remedies under such financing with respect to such Covered Units. To the extent that Recipient (or any of Recipient’s affiliates) does not take any actions when requested by the Board pursuant to this Section 1.8, Recipient (and each of such affiliates) hereby constitutes and appoints the Board as Recipient’s (and such affiliate’s) true and lawful Attorney-in-Fact and authorizes the Attorney-in-Fact to execute on behalf of Recipient (and such affiliate) any and all documents and instruments which the Attorney-in- Fact deems necessary and appropriate in connection with such pledge of Covered Units. The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and is coupled with an interest.
Section 1.9Repurchase through Offset or Redemption. In the event the Company exercises its repurchase right with respect to any Covered Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company may set off all or a portion of the purchase price for the Repurchased Units against amounts payable under any outstanding note issued by Recipient to the Company, such set-off right to be applied first against accrued but unpaid interest and then against outstanding principal, and that any remaining portion of any outstanding note issued by Recipient to the Company that remains outstanding following such set-off shall be payable in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 1.10Election. Within thirty (30) days after the Grant Date, Recipient shall make an effective election (the “Election”) with the Internal Revenue Service under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Recipient shall promptly provide the Company with a copy of the Election.
ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RECIPIENT
In connection with the execution of this Agreement and the LLC Agreement, and the issuance of the Incentive Units acquired by Recipient, Recipient hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
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Section 2.1This Agreement and the LLC Agreement constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of Recipient, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the LLC Agreement by Recipient, the performance of Recipient’s obligations under this Agreement and the LLC Agreement and the performance and consummation by Recipient of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will not result in the breach of any of the terms or conditions of, or constitute a default under any agreement or arrangement Recipient has entered into with any or any judgment, order or decree to which Recipient is subject.
Section 2.2Recipient is not a party to or bound by  any  employment  agreement,  non-compete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any Person that would violate this Agreement. Except as may otherwise be acknowledged or permitted under this Agreement, Recipient owes no fiduciary or other similar duties to any of Recipient’s former employers or partners that may be breached by entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 2.3The Incentive Units to be acquired by Recipient pursuant to this Agreement will be acquired for Recipient’s individual account and not with a view to, or an intention of, distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, and such Incentive Units will not be disposed of in contravention of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws.
Section 2.4Any Transfer of Covered Units by Recipient is subject to the restrictions imposed by this Agreement and the LLC Agreement and it may not be possible for Recipient to Transfer any Covered Units. The Covered Units may also be subject to resale restrictions imposed by the securities laws of various states and may not be sold without compliance with such laws.
Section 2.5Recipient is sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of investing in the Covered Units.
Section 2.6Recipient has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Incentive Units and has had full access to such other information concerning the Company as Recipient has requested.
Section 2.7Recipient is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission.
Section 2.8Recipient has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding Recipient’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein. Recipient has obtained advice from persons other than the Company and its counsel regarding the tax effects of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 2.9Recipient acknowledges that, if Recipient’s service on the Board is terminated at any time for any reason, the Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase some or all of the Covered Units on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the LLC Agreement.
Section 2.10As an inducement to the Company to issue the Incentive Units to Recipient, and as a condition thereto, Recipient acknowledges and agrees that none of the issuance of such Incentive Units to Recipient, or any provision contained herein, shall entitle Recipient to remain on the Board of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate Recipient’s service on the Board at any time for any reason (subject to the LLC Agreement).
Recipient shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless for any costs, damages or harm resulting from any breach of the representations and warranties set forth in this Article 2, including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of suit.
ARTICLE 3
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
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Section 3.1Definitions. For purposes of this Article 3:
(a)The term “Business” means (a) sourcing, processing, manufacturing, packaging, distributing and selling coffee and related merchandise and apparel and designing, owning, operating, licensing and franchising coffee-based retail establishments, and (b) unless otherwise specifically provided in any other agreement between the Company and Recipient, any other businesses in which the Company or a Subsidiary is engaged in, or planned business for which the Company or a Subsidiary has taken affirmative steps to implement or launch, as of the time of the termination of the Service Term.
(b)The term “Company” shall be deemed to include the Company and any of its Subsidiaries.
(c)The term “Confidential Information” shall mean any non-public information, in whatever form or medium, concerning the operations or affairs of the Business, including, but not limited to, (A) sales, sales volume, sales methods, sales proposals, business plans, advertising and marketing plans, strategic and long-range plans, and any information related to any of the foregoing, (B) customers, customer lists, prospective customers and customer records, (C) general price lists and prices charged to specific customers, (D) trade secrets, (E) financial statements, budgets and projections, (F) software owned or developed (or being developed) for use in or relating to the conduct of the Business, (G) the names, addresses and other contact information of all vendors and suppliers and prospective vendors and suppliers of the Business, and (H) all other confidential or proprietary information belonging to the Company or relating to the Business; provided, however, that Confidential Information shall not include (1) knowledge, data and information that is generally known or becomes known in the trade or industry of the Company (other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement or other agreement or instrument to which Recipient is bound), and (2) knowledge, data and information gained without a breach of this Agreement on a non-confidential basis from a person who is not legally prohibited from transmitting the information to Recipient.
(d)The term “Confidentiality Period” shall mean, (A) with respect to Confidential Information (other than trade secrets), during the term of the Service Term and for a period of one (1) year after termination of the Service Term, and (B) with respect to trade secrets, during the term of the Service Term and for such period thereafter as the information in question falls within the definition of trade secrets under prevailing law.
(e)The term “Prior Inventions” shall mean all inventions, original works of authorship, developments and improvements which were made by Recipient, alone or jointly with others, prior to Recipient’s employment, association or other engagement with the Company or any affiliate thereof. To preclude any possibility of uncertainty, Recipient has set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto a complete list of all Prior Inventions which Recipient considers to be Recipient’s property or the property of third parties and which Recipient wishes to have excluded from the scope of this Agreement. If disclosure of any such Prior Invention on Exhibit B would cause Recipient to violate any prior confidentiality agreement, Recipient understands that Recipient is not to list such Prior Invention in Exhibit B but is to inform the Company that all Prior Inventions have not been listed for that reason.
(f)The term “Restricted Period” shall mean the period beginning on the Effective Date, and ending on the date which is twenty-four (24) months after the end of the Service Term.
(g)The term “Restricted Territory” shall mean the geographic area consisting of the continental United States.
(h)The term “Service Term” shall mean the period during which Recipient is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or otherwise provides services to the Company.
Section 3.2Acknowledgement. Recipient agrees and acknowledges that, to ensure that the Company retains its value and goodwill and customer and other business relationships, Recipient must not use any Confidential Information, special knowledge of the Business or the Company, or the Company’s relationships with its customers and employees, all of which Recipient will receive or gain access to through Recipient’s association
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with the Company, other than in furtherance of Recipient’s legitimate duties as a member of the Board of the Company. Recipient further acknowledges that:
(a)the Company is currently engaged in the Business;
(b)the Business is highly competitive and the services to be performed by Recipient for the Company are unique and national in nature;
(c)Recipient will occupy a position of trust and confidence with the Company and will acquire an intimate knowledge of Confidential Information and the Company’s relationships with its customers and employees;
(d)the agreements and covenants contained in this Article 3 are essential to protect the Company, the Confidential Information, the Company’s relationship with its customers and employees and the goodwill of the Business and are being entered into in consideration for the various rights being granted to Recipient under this Agreement;
(e)the Company would be irreparably damaged if Recipient were to disclose the Confidential Information or provide services to any person or entity in violation of the provisions of this Agreement;
(f)the scope and duration of the covenants set forth in this Article 3 are reasonably designed to protect a protectable interest of the Company and are not excessive in light of the circumstances; and
(g)Recipient has the means to support Recipient and Recipient’s dependents other than by engaging in activities prohibited by this Article 3.
(h)Except as otherwise set forth in this Article 3, the restrictive covenants in this Article 3 are supplemental to, and not in lieu of, the restrictive covenants contained in any other agreements between Recipient and the Company.
Section 3.3Confidential Information.
(a)Recipient acknowledges that Recipient will be entrusted with Confidential Information.
(b)During the Confidentiality Period, Recipient: (A) shall hold the Confidential Information in strictest confidence, take all reasonable precautions to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of the Confidential Information to any unauthorized person, and follow all the  Company’s policies protecting the Confidential Information; (B) shall not use, copy, divulge or otherwise disseminate or disclose any Confidential Information, or any portion thereof, to any unauthorized person; (C) shall not make, or permit or cause to be made, copies of the Confidential Information, except as necessary to carry out Recipient’s authorized duties for the Company; and (D) shall promptly and fully advise the Company of all facts known to Recipient concerning any actual or threatened unauthorized use or disclosure of which Recipient becomes aware.
(c)Recipient hereby assigns to the Company any rights Recipient may have or acquire in the Confidential Information, and recognizes that the Company shall be the sole owner of all copyrights, trade secret rights, and all other rights throughout the world (collectively, “Proprietary Rights”) in connection with such rights.
(d)If Recipient receives any subpoena or becomes subject to any legal obligation that might require Recipient to disclose Confidential Information, Recipient will provide prompt written notice of that fact to the Company unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law, enclosing a copy of the subpoena and any other documents describing the legal obligation. In the event that the Company objects to the disclosure of Confidential Information, by way of a motion to quash or otherwise, Recipient agrees to not disclose any Confidential Information while any such objection is pending.
(e)Recipient understands that the Company and its affiliates have and will receive from third parties  confidential  or  proprietary  information  (“Third  Party  Information”)  under  a  duty  to  maintain  the
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confidentiality of such Third Party Information and to use it only for limited purposes. During the term of Recipient’s association with the Company and at all times after the termination of such association for any reason, Recipient will hold Third Party Information in strict confidence and will not disclose or use any Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by the Company in advance or as may be strictly necessary to perform Recipient’s obligations with the Company, subject to any agreements binding on the Company with respect to such Third Party Information.
(f)Recipient will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any person to whom Recipient has an obligation of confidentiality.
(g)Recipient is hereby notified that, pursuant to 18 USC § 1833(b), an individual may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for disclosure of a trade secret made: (i) in confidence to a government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; and/or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Additionally, an individual suing an employer for retaliation based on the reporting of a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to his or her attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, so long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the individual does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.
Section 3.4Ownership of Inventions.
(a)Recipient hereby agrees that any and all inventions (whether or not an application for protection has been filed under patent laws), works of authorship, information fixed in any tangible medium of expression (whether or not protected under copyright laws), Moral Rights (defined as any right to claim authorship of a work, any right to object to any distortion or other modification of a work, and any similar right, existing under the law of any country, or under any treaty), mask works, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, trade secrets, publicity rights, know-how, ideas (whether or not protected under trade secret laws), and all other subject matter protected under patent, copyright, Moral Right, mask work, trademark, trade secret, or other laws, that have been or are developed, generated or produced by Recipient, solely or jointly with others, at any time during the Service Term, shall be the exclusive property of the Company, subject to the obligations of this Article 3 with respect to Confidential Information, and Recipient hereby forever waives and agrees never to assert against the Company, its successors or licensees any and all ownership, interest, Moral Rights or similar rights with respect thereto. Recipient hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest to the foregoing inventions, concepts, ideas and materials. This Section 3.4 does not apply to any invention of Recipient for which no equipment, supplies, facility or Confidential Information of the Company was used and that was developed entirely on Recipient’s own time, unless the invention (A) relates to (x) the Business or (y) the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (B) results from any work performed by Recipient for or on behalf of the Company. Recipient shall keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all inventions, concepts, ideas and materials made by Recipient (jointly or with others) during the Service Term. Such records shall remain the property of the Company at all times. Recipient shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company the nature and particulars of any inventions or research projects undertaken on the Company’s behalf.
(b)Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, Recipient is under no obligation to incorporate any Prior Inventions in any of Company’s products or processes or other Company Invention. If, in the course of Recipient’s performance Recipient chooses to incorporate into any such Company product or process or other Company Invention any Prior Invention owned by Recipient or in which Recipient otherwise has an interest, Recipient grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, perpetual, world-wide license to copy, reproduce, make and have made, modify and create derivative works of, use, sell and license such Prior Inventions and derivative works as part of or in connection with any such Company product or process or other Company Invention.
(c)During or subsequent to the Service Term, Recipient shall execute all papers, and otherwise provide assistance, at the Company’s request and expense, to enable the Company or its nominees to obtain and enforce all proprietary rights with respect to the Company Inventions (as defined below) in any and all countries. To that end, Recipient will execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining,
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perfecting, defending, evidencing and enforcing any such proprietary rights, and the assignment of any or all of such proprietary rights. In addition, Recipient will execute, verify and deliver assignments of such rights to the Company or its designee. Recipient’s obligation to assist the Company with respect to such rights shall continue beyond the termination of Recipient’s association with the Company.
(d)If, after reasonable effort, the Company cannot secure Recipient’s signature on any document needed in connection with the actions specified in the preceding paragraph, Recipient irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Recipient’s agent and attorney- in-fact, to act for and in Recipient’s behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of the preceding paragraph with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Recipient.  The power of attorney set forth in this Section  3.4 is coupled with an interest, is irrevocable, and shall survive Recipient’s death, incompetence or incapacity and the termination of the Service Term. Recipient waives and quitclaims to the Company all claims of any nature whatsoever which Recipient now has or may in the future obtain for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned under this Agreement or otherwise to the Company.
(e)Recipient acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made by Recipient (solely or jointly with others) during the course of the association with or performance of services for the Company and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and any successor statutes. Inventions assigned to the Company or as directed by the Company under this Agreement or otherwise are referred to as “Company Inventions”.
(f)Upon termination of the Service Term for any reason, or upon receipt of written request from the Company, Recipient shall immediately deliver to the Company all tangible and intangible property (including without limitation computers, computing devices, cell phones, memory devices and any other tangible item), drawings, notes, memoranda, specification, devices, notebooks, formulas and documents, together with all copies of any of the foregoing, and any other material containing, summarizing, referencing, or incorporating in any way or otherwise disclosing any Company Inventions, Third Party Information or Confidential Information of the Company or any of its affiliates.
Section 3.5Non-Competition; Investment Opportunities.
(a)During the Restricted Period, Recipient shall not, directly or indirectly, alone or in combination with any other individual or entity, engage in the Business or own (other than through the passive ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the publicly traded shares of any entity), operate, manage, control, or participate in an executive, managerial, strategic, or sales role, in any individual or entity (other than the Company) that engages in or proposes to engage in the Business in the United States or any other country in which Company conducts Business.
(b)During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of (x) the date of termination of the Service Term for any reason, and (y) the date on which Recipient (or any of his transferees) no longer owns, directly or indirectly, any equity interest in the Company, if Recipient learns of any investment opportunity in a business or any entity engaged the Business, Recipient shall present such investment opportunity to the Company.
(c)During the Restricted Period, Recipient shall not, directly or indirectly, alone or in combination with any other individual or entity, seek to acquire any interest, whether in the form of debt, equity or any convertible interest, and whether controlling, minority or otherwise, in any business or entity conducting or proposing to conduct the Business or other similar or related asset or business that is identified on any acquisition pipeline list which was made available to Recipient during the Service Term.
Section 3.6Non-Solicitation.
(a)During the Restricted Period, Recipient shall not (other than in furtherance of Recipient’s legitimate duties on behalf of the Company), directly or indirectly, on Recipient’s own behalf or for any other person or entity:
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(i)solicit for employment or hire, or attempt to solicit for employment or hire, any person who is or was employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates at any time within six (6) months prior to the solicitation or hire (the “Restricted Personnel”);
(ii)employ or hire any Restricted Personnel;
(iii)otherwise interfere with the relationship between any Restricted Personnel and the Company.
(b)During the Restricted Period, Recipient shall not (other than in furtherance of Recipient’s legitimate duties on behalf of the Company), directly or indirectly, on Recipient’s own behalf or for any other person or entity:
(i)solicit any customer of the Company with whom Recipient interacted during the last two (2) years of the Service Term in an effort to further a business relationship with the Company (“Restricted Customer”); or
(ii)otherwise interfere with the relationship between any Restricted Customer and the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Recipient shall not be prohibited from soliciting any person or entity for the purpose of selling such person or entity products or services wholly unrelated to the Business so long as Recipient complies in all respects with Sections 3.3 and 3.5(a) of this Agreement.
Section 3.7Non-Disparagement. Recipient agrees not to make any oral or written statement that disparages or places the Company or any of its respective officers, employees, products or services, in a false or negative light; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent Recipient from truthfully responding to a lawful subpoena or complying with any other legal obligation, making good faith reports to governing regulatory bodies or authorities, or communicating inside the Company consistent with legitimate business needs.
Section 3.8Change in Control. Recipient hereby acknowledges and agrees that if a Change in Control is consummated during the Service Term by the Company, and in connection with such Change in Control the acquirer requires, prior to or at the time of the closing of such transaction, that Recipient becomes bound by any non-competition, non-solicitation or similar restrictive covenants, Recipient shall agree to become bound by such restrictive covenants, provided that the duration of such restrictive covenants shall not exceed four (4) years following the date of such Change in Control, and the territory covered by any non-compete covenant shall not include any territory outside North America.
Section 3.9Blue Pencil. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall deem any provision in this Article 3 too restrictive, the other provisions shall stand, and the court shall modify the unduly restrictive provision to the point of greatest restriction permissible by law.
Section 3.10Survival of Restrictive Covenants. If this Agreement is terminated for any reason, Recipient acknowledges and agrees that the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article 3 or in any other agreement between the Company or any subsidiary thereof and Recipient containing restrictive covenants against Recipient in favor of the Company or any subsidiary thereof (the “Restrictive Covenants”) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Recipient shall continue to be bound by the terms of this Article 3 as if this Agreement was still in effect.
Section 3.11Equitable Relief. The Company and Recipient agree that damages will accrue to the Company by reason of Recipient’s failure to observe any of the Restrictive Covenants. Therefore, if the Company shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce such provisions, Recipient waives the claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law and agrees in any such action or proceeding not to (i) interpose the claim or defense that such remedy exists at law, or (ii) require the Company to show that monetary damages cannot be measured or to post any bond. Without limiting any other remedies that may be available to the Company, Recipient hereby specifically affirms the appropriateness of injunctive or other equitable relief in any such action. Recipient also acknowledges that the remedies afforded the Company pursuant to this Section 3.11 are not exclusive, nor shall

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they preclude the Company from seeking or receiving any other relief, including without limitation, any form of monetary or other equitable relief. Upon the reasonable request by the Company, Recipient shall provide reasonable assurances and evidence of compliance with the Restrictive Covenants.
ARTICLE 4
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the LLC Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Board Determined Cause Event” has the meaning as set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Cause” means any item or action that would constitute “Cause” under either the definition of “Cause” in the Plan or the definition of Cause in the LLC Agreement.
“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in the Plan.
“Cost” means, with respect to any Investor Unit, the actual consideration, if any, paid by Recipient to the Company in exchange for the issuance of such Investor Unit.
“Covered Units” means all Incentive Units and all Investor Units.
“Fair Market Value” has the meaning as set forth in the LLC Agreement.
“Investor Unit” means any Units issued to Recipient (or Recipient’s Affiliates) by the Company in exchange for cash or other assets (but not services) contributed by Recipient (or Recipient’s Affiliates) to the Company. Investor Units shall not include any Incentive Units.
“LLC Agreement” means that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, effective as of July 19, 2018, and as such agreement may be subsequently amended in accordance with its terms.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Transfer” means, when used as a noun, any voluntary sale, hypothecation, pledge, assignment, attachment, or other transfer, and, when used as a verb, means, voluntarily to sell, hypothecate, pledge, assign, or otherwise transfer.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1Notices. Any notices, consents or other communications required to be sent or given hereunder by any of the parties hereto shall in every case be in writing and shall be deemed properly served if and when (a) delivered by hand, (b) transmitted by facsimile or other means of electronic delivery, with confirmation of transmission, or (c) delivered by Federal Express or other express overnight delivery service, or registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the parties at the addresses as set forth below or at such other addresses as may be furnished in writing:
To the Company:
Authentic Brands LLC
1144 South 500 West
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Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Attention: Evan Hafer
Telephone: 206.850.0873
Facsimile:
E-mail: evan@blackriflecoffee.com
with copies to:
New Coffee Holdings, LLC
c/o Sterling Partners
401 N. Michigan Avenue, 33rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60601-1003
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
Telephone: 312.465.7064
E-mail: aepstein@sterlingpartners.com
and:
Baker Hostetler LLP
191 North Wacker Drive
Suite 3100 Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Adam Skilken
Telephone: 312.416.6232
E-mail: askilken@bakerlaw.com
To Recipient: to the address listed on the signature page.
or to such other person or address as any party shall specify by notice in writing to the other party. The date of service of such notice shall be deemed to be: (x) the date such notice is delivered by hand, facsimile or other electronic means, (y) one business day following the delivery by express overnight delivery service, or (z) three business days after the date of mailing if sent by certified or registered mail.
Section 5.2Counterparts; Electronic Signatures.  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, any and all agreements and instruments executed and delivered in accordance herewith, along with any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or other means of electronic transmission, shall be treated in all manner and respects and for all purposes as an original signature, agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.
Section 5.3Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by Recipient without the prior written consent of the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder.
Section 5.4No Strict Construction.  The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. The section and caption headings of this Agreement are included for reference purposes only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 5.5Amendment, Modification and Waiver; Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  the exhibits, schedules and other documents referred to herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, supersede all prior discussions, understandings, agreements and

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representations and shall not be modified or affected by any offer, proposal, statement or representation, oral or written, made by or for any party in connection with the negotiation of the terms hereof. This Agreement may be modified only by subsequent instruments signed by the parties hereto. Any failure of the Company to comply with any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived in writing by Recipient, and any failure of Recipient to comply with any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived in writing by the Company, but such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure to comply with any term or provision of this Agreement.
Section 5.6Governing Law; Jurisdiction of Courts; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a)Governing Law. All matters relating to the interpretation, construction, validity and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with (i) with respect to Articles 1 and 2, and Articles 4 and 5 to the extent related to Articles 1 and 2, the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, and (ii) with respect to Article 3, and Articles 4 and 5 to the extent related to Article 3, the domestic laws of the State of Utah without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Utah or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Utah.
(b)Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6. The provisions of this Section 5.6 shall control over the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any arbitration will be conducted in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arbitrator(s)’ decision shall be final, binding and enforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be treated as confidential by all parties thereto, except as otherwise provided by law or as otherwise necessary to enforce any judgment or order issued by the arbitrator(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Agreement shall not preclude any party from seeking, or a court of competent jurisdiction from granting, a temporary restraining order, temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any breach of this Agreement.
(c)WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER, RELATED TO, BASED ON OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 5.6 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 5.7Tax Matters.  Recipient acknowledges that no representative or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has provided Recipient with any tax advice of any nature, and Recipient has consulted with Recipient’s own legal, tax and financial advisor(s) as to tax and related matters concerning this Agreement and the LLC Agreement.
Section 5.8LLC Agreement; The Plan. The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that certain provisions of the LLC Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, or by their terms otherwise apply hereto, and further agree that such provisions shall be given full effect in interpreting and enforcing this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the LLC Agreement, this Agreement shall control. The Incentive Units are granted pursuant to the Plan, and the Incentive Units and this Agreement are in all respects governed by the Plan and subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof, whether such terms and provisions are incorporated in this Agreement by reference or are expressly cited.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Incentive Units Agreement effective as of the Grant Date.
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	AUTHENTIC BRANDS LLC

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	/s/ Michael Singleton

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	By:
	Michael Singleton

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	Its:
	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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	PARTICIPANT:

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	Evan Hafer

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	Address:

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	840 Canterbury Hill

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	San Antonio, TX 78209

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	Phone:
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	Email:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Incentive Units Agreement effective as of the Grant Date.
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	AUTHENTIC BRANDS LLC

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	By:
	Michael Singleton

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	Its:
	Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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	PARTICIPANT:

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	/s/ Evan Hafer

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	Evan Hafer

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	Address:

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	840 Canterbury Hill

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	San Antonio, TX 78209

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	Phone:
	206-850-0873

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	Email:
	evan@blackriflecoffee.com

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EXHIBIT A
ELECTION TO INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP
INTEREST IN GROSS INCOME PURSUANT TO
SECTION 83(b) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
On                             , 2018, the undersigned acquired 40,000 Incentive Units (the “Units”) in Authentic Brands LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”).  The Units are subject to certain restrictions pursuant to that certain Incentive Units Agreement by and between the undersigned and the Company, dated as of                             , 2018, and that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, effective as of July 19, 2018 (the “LLC Agreement”).
Pursuant to Code §83(b) and Treasury Regulation §1.83-2 promulgated thereunder, the undersigned hereby makes an election, with respect to the Units, to report as taxable income for the calendar year 2017 the excess (if any) of the value of the Units on                             , 2018, over the purchase price thereof.
The following information is supplied in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.83-2(e):
1.The name, address and social security number of the undersigned:
Name:  Mat Best
Address: 577 Guadalupe Bend, Boerne, Texas 78006
SSN: 000-00-0000
2.A description of the property with respect to which the election is being made: 40,000 Units.
3.The date on which the Units were transferred:                             , 2018
4.The taxable year for which such election is made: 2018.
5.The restrictions to which the property is subject: in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Units Agreement, the Units are subject to time-vesting and transfer restrictions. Each of the Units is subject to forfeiture in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Units Agreement and the LLC Agreement. All of the Units are subject to the repurchase provisions in the Incentive Units Agreement and the LLC Agreement.
6.The fair market value on                             , 2018 of the property with respect to which the election is being made, determined without regard to any lapse restrictions: $0.
7.The amount paid for such property: $0.
A copy of this election is being furnished to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.83-2(e)(7).
[signature page follows]
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1

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	Dated:                             , 2018
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	Evan Hafer

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EXHIBIT B
Prior Inventions
None.

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