Description of Transactions with the Selling Stockholders
The Exchanges
On June 30, 2021, we entered into a Share Redemption and Exchange Agreement (the “Holdings Redemption Agreement”) with M&N Group Holdings, LLC (“Group Holdings”) and Group, whereby Group Holdings exchanged Class A Units held by Group Holdings in exchange for us issuing shares of Class A common stock. Concurrently with entering into the Holdings Redemption Agreement, Group Holdings entered into a Share Redemption and Exchange Agreement (the “MNA Redemption Agreement”) with MNA Advisors, Inc. (f/k/a Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc.) (“MNA”) whereby Group Holdings exchanged, in a redemption, shares of Class A common stock, in exchange for MNA exchanging units of Group Holdings which correspond to ownership of the Class A Units. MNA allocated the shares of Class A common stock among its stockholders, who comprise a portion of the selling stockholders, concurrently with entering into the MNA Redemption Agreement (the “MNA Share Allocation”). We refer to the exchange effected by the Holdings Redemption Agreement, the MNA Redemption Agreement and the MNA Share Allocation as the “Holdings Exchange.”
Additionally, on June 30, 2021, we entered into a Share Redemption and Exchange Agreement (the “MNCC Redemption Agreement”) with Group and Manning & Napier Capital Company, LLC (“MNCC”) whereby MNCC exchanged Class A Units in exchange for us issuing shares of Class A common stock. Concurrently with entering into the MNCC Redemption Agreement, MNCC entered into Share Redemption and Exchange Agreements (the “MNCC Unitholders Redemption Agreements”) with unitholders of MNCC, who comprise a portion of the selling stockholders, whereby MNCC exchanged, in a redemption, shares of Class A common stock in exchange for the unitholders of MNCC exchanging their units of MNCC, which correspond to ownership of the Class A Units. We refer to the exchange effected by the MNCC Redemption Agreement and the MNCC Unitholders Redemption Agreements as the “MNCC Exchange,” and together with the Holdings Exchange, the “Exchanges.”
The Exchanges occurred as part of the existing exchange process established during our initial public offering, which provided our founder, management team and certain other employees the opportunity to exchange on an annual basis a portion of their interests in Group for either cash or shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement (as described in greater detail below).
Exchange Agreement
On November 23, 2011, we entered into an Exchange Agreement with Group Holdings, MNCC and certain holders of the Class A Units of Group (the “Exchange Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the Class A Units may be tendered for exchange or redemption. For any Class A Units exchanged, we may: (i) pay an amount of cash equal to the number of tendered units multiplied by the value of one share of Class A common stock less a market discount and expected expenses; or, at our election, (ii) issue shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments. As we receive Class A Units of Group that are exchanged, or as Class A Units are redeemed and retired, our ownership of Group will increase. For example, as a result of the Exchanges, our ownership interest in Group increased from approximately 89.0% to 97.7%.
None of the selling stockholders has held any position or office with, or has otherwise had a material relationship with, us or any of our subsidiaries within the past three years, except that the selling stockholders indicated above have been employed by us.
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