Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION VERSION
TRANSACTION AGREEMENT
by and among:
SKYDANCE MEDIA, LLC,
PARAMOUNT GLOBAL,
NEW PLUTO GLOBAL, INC.,
PLUTO MERGER SUB, INC.,
PLUTO MERGER SUB II, INC.,
SPARROW MERGER SUB, LLC
and
THE UPSTREAM BLOCKER HOLDERS
Dated as of July 7, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Article I |
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CONTRIBUTION OF BLOCKER SECURITIES; THE MERGERS | 4 | |||||
Section 1.1 | Contribution of Blocker Securities; The Mergers | 4 | ||||
Section 1.2 | Closing | 5 | ||||
Section 1.3 | Effective Time | 5 | ||||
Section 1.4 | Effects of the Mergers | 6 | ||||
Section 1.5 | Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entities | 7 | ||||
Section 1.6 | Certain Governance Matters | 8 | ||||
Section 1.7 | Withholding | 8 | ||||
Article II |
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CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES AND MEMBERSHIP UNITS | 9 | |||||
Section 2.1 | Effect on Capital Stock of Paramount and Membership Units of Skydance | 9 | ||||
Section 2.2 | Proration; Election Mechanics | 13 | ||||
Section 2.3 | Exchange of Certificates and Book-Entry Shares or Units | 16 | ||||
Section 2.4 | Treatment of Paramount Equity Awards | 20 | ||||
Article III |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARAMOUNT | 23 | |||||
Section 3.1 | Due Organization; Subsidiaries | 23 | ||||
Section 3.2 | Capitalization | 24 | ||||
Section 3.3 | Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement | 27 | ||||
Section 3.4 | Non-Contravention; Consents | 28 | ||||
Section 3.5 | Vote Required | 29 | ||||
Section 3.6 | Section 203 of the DGCL | 29 | ||||
Section 3.7 | Financial Statements; Internal Controls | 29 | ||||
Section 3.8 | Absence of Changes | 31 | ||||
Section 3.9 | Title to Assets | 32 | ||||
Section 3.10 | Real Property | 32 | ||||
Section 3.11 | Intellectual Property | 33 | ||||
Section 3.12 | Data Privacy and Security | 34 | ||||
Section 3.13 | Paramount Contracts | 35 | ||||
Section 3.14 | Liabilities | 39 | ||||
Section 3.15 | Compliance with Laws | 39 | ||||
Section 3.16 | Certain Business Practices | 39 | ||||
Section 3.17 | Governmental Authorizations | 40 | ||||
Section 3.18 | Tax Matters | 42 | ||||
Section 3.19 | Employee Matters; Employee Plans | 43 | ||||
Section 3.20 | Environmental Matters | 48 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(cont’d)
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Section 3.21 | Insurance | 48 | ||||
Section 3.22 | Legal Proceedings; Orders | 49 | ||||
Section 3.23 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | 49 | ||||
Section 3.24 | Financial Advisor | 49 | ||||
Section 3.25 | Related Party Transactions | 49 | ||||
Section 3.26 | Information Supplied | 50 | ||||
Section 3.27 | No Other Representation | 50 | ||||
Article IV |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SKYDANCE | 51 | |||||
Section 4.1 | Due Organization; Subsidiaries | 51 | ||||
Section 4.2 | Capitalization | 52 | ||||
Section 4.3 | Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement | 53 | ||||
Section 4.4 | Non-Contravention; Consents | 54 | ||||
Section 4.5 | Vote Required | 54 | ||||
Section 4.6 | Financial Statements; Internal Controls | 55 | ||||
Section 4.7 | Absence of Changes | 56 | ||||
Section 4.8 | Title to Assets | 56 | ||||
Section 4.9 | Real Property | 56 | ||||
Section 4.10 | Intellectual Property | 57 | ||||
Section 4.11 | Data Privacy and Security | 58 | ||||
Section 4.12 | Skydance Contracts | 59 | ||||
Section 4.13 | Liabilities | 63 | ||||
Section 4.14 | Compliance with Laws | 63 | ||||
Section 4.15 | Certain Business Practices | 63 | ||||
Section 4.16 | Governmental Authorizations | 64 | ||||
Section 4.17 | Qualifications | 64 | ||||
Section 4.18 | Tax Matters | 64 | ||||
Section 4.19 | Employee Matters; Employee Plans | 66 | ||||
Section 4.20 | Environmental Matters | 70 | ||||
Section 4.21 | Insurance | 70 | ||||
Section 4.22 | Legal Proceedings; Orders | 70 | ||||
Section 4.23 | Financing | 70 | ||||
Section 4.24 | Financial Advisor | 71 | ||||
Section 4.25 | Related Party Transactions | 71 | ||||
Section 4.26 | Information Supplied | 71 | ||||
Section 4.27 | No Other Representation | 71 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(cont’d)
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Article V |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BLOCKER HOLDERS | 72 | |||||
Section 5.1 | Due Organization | 72 | ||||
Section 5.2 | Ownership | 72 | ||||
Section 5.3 | Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement | 73 | ||||
Section 5.4 | Non-Contravention; Consents | 73 | ||||
Section 5.5 | Blockers | 74 | ||||
Section 5.6 | Tax Matters | 74 | ||||
Section 5.7 | Legal Proceedings; Orders | 76 | ||||
Section 5.8 | Financial Advisor | 76 | ||||
Section 5.9 | No Other Representation | 76 | ||||
Article VI |
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CERTAIN COVENANTS | 77 | |||||
Section 6.1 | Access to Information | 77 | ||||
Section 6.2 | Operation of Paramount’s Business | 79 | ||||
Section 6.3 | Operation of Skydance’s Business | 85 | ||||
Section 6.4 | Go-Shop; No Solicitation | 90 | ||||
Section 6.5 | Delivery of Paramount Written Consent | 93 | ||||
Section 6.6 | Paramount Board Recommendation | 93 | ||||
Section 6.7 | Payoff of Certain Indebtedness | 94 | ||||
Article VII |
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ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES | 95 | |||||
Section 7.1 | Preparation of Information Statement/Registration Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting | 95 | ||||
Section 7.2 | Filings, Consents, and Approvals | 97 | ||||
Section 7.3 | Employee Benefits | 100 | ||||
Section 7.4 | Indemnification of Officers and Directors | 103 | ||||
Section 7.5 | Securityholder Litigation | 107 | ||||
Section 7.6 | Disclosure | 107 | ||||
Section 7.7 | Takeover Laws | 108 | ||||
Section 7.8 | Section 16 Matters | 108 | ||||
Section 7.9 | Stock Exchange Listing | 108 | ||||
Section 7.10 | Tax Matters | 108 | ||||
Section 7.11 | Financing Matters | 111 | ||||
Section 7.12 | Ancillary Agreements | 115 | ||||
Section 7.13 | Withholding Tax Certificates | 115 | ||||
Section 7.14 | Skydance and Skydance Sports Phantom Units | 115 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section 7.15 | Integration Committee | 116 | ||||
Section 7.16 | Uncured Breach | 116 | ||||
Section 7.17 | Restructuring | 116 | ||||
Section 7.18 | Exclusion Rights | 117 | ||||
Article VIII |
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING | 118 | |||||
Section 8.1 | Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the Closing | 118 | ||||
Section 8.2 | Conditions to Obligations of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs to Effect the Closing | 119 | ||||
Section 8.3 | Conditions to Obligations of Skydance and the Blocker Holders to Effect the Closing | 120 | ||||
Article IX |
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TERMINATION | 121 | |||||
Section 9.1 | Termination and Abandonment | 121 | ||||
Section 9.2 | Effect of Termination | 122 | ||||
Section 9.3 | Termination Fee | 123 | ||||
Article X |
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MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 124 | |||||
Section 10.1 | Amendment | 124 | ||||
Section 10.2 | Waiver | 125 | ||||
Section 10.3 | No Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants | 125 | ||||
Section 10.4 | Entire Agreement; Counterparts | 125 | ||||
Section 10.5 | Applicable Laws; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; Remedies | 125 | ||||
Section 10.6 | Assignability | 127 | ||||
Section 10.7 | No Third-Party Beneficiary | 127 | ||||
Section 10.8 | Notices | 127 | ||||
Section 10.9 | Severability | 129 | ||||
Section 10.10 | Expenses | 129 | ||||
Section 10.11 | Obligations of the Parties | 129 | ||||
Section 10.12 | Disclosure Letters | 129 | ||||
Section 10.13 | Construction | 130 | ||||
Section 10.14 | Non-Recourse | 132 |
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EXHIBIT | ||||
Exhibit A | Certain Definitions | A | ||
Exhibit B-1 | Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Paramount Entity | B-1 | ||
Exhibit B-2 | Form of Bylaws of Surviving Paramount Entity | B-2 | ||
Exhibit C | Form of Operating Agreement of Surviving Skydance Entity | C | ||
Exhibit D | Registration Rights Term Sheet | D | ||
Exhibit E | Form of Paramount Written Consent | E | ||
Exhibit F | Form of Voting Agreement | F | ||
Exhibit G | Governance Term Sheet | G | ||
SCHEDULE | ||||
Schedule 1.1 | Blocker Securities |
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TRANSACTION AGREEMENT
THIS TRANSACTION AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of July 7, 2024, by and among: Skydance Media, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Skydance”); Paramount Global, a Delaware corporation (“Paramount”); New Pluto Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of Paramount (“New Paramount”); Pluto Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of New Paramount (“Paramount Merger Sub”); Pluto Merger Sub II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of New Paramount (“Paramount Merger Sub II”); Skydance Merger Sub, LLC, a California limited liability company and a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of New Paramount (“Skydance Merger Sub” and, together with Paramount Merger Sub and Paramount Merger Sub II, the “Merger Subs”); and the Upstream Blocker Holders signatory hereto (the “Upstream Blocker Holders”) (solely with respect to Sections 1.1(a), 1.1(c), 1.1(d), 1.2, 2.1(c), 2.1(d), 2.1(f), 2.1(g), 2.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 7.6, 7.10, 7.13, 7.16, 7.17, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 9.2, 9.3(c), 9.3(d) and Articles III, IV, V and X). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Exhibit A.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Paramount has organized New Paramount, and New Paramount has organized Paramount Merger Sub, Paramount Merger Sub II and Skydance Merger Sub, for the purpose of facilitating the strategic combination of Paramount and Skydance;
WHEREAS, the Upstream Blocker Holders collectively hold 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Upstream Blockers (collectively, the “Upstream Blocker Securities”);
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Paramount Merger Sub shall merge with and into Paramount (the “Pre-Closing Paramount Merger”), with Paramount surviving the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger (the “Surviving Paramount Entity”) and becoming a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of New Paramount;
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, (a) in accordance with the DGCL, Paramount Merger Sub II shall merge with and into New Paramount (the “New Paramount Merger”), with New Paramount surviving the New Paramount Merger (the “Surviving New Paramount Entity”), (b) following the New Paramount Merger, each Upstream Blocker Holder shall transfer all of the Upstream Blocker Securities held by such Upstream Blocker Holder to New Paramount, and New Paramount shall acquire all of the Upstream Blocker Securities held by such Upstream Blocker Holder in exchange for New Paramount Class B Common Stock (the “Blocker Contribution and Exchange”, each such Upstream Blocker Holder, a “Blocker Holder” (provided, for the avoidance of doubt, “Blocker Holder” shall not include any Non-Participating Blocker Holder), the Upstream Blocker with respect to any Blocker Holder, a “Blocker”, and the Upstream Blocker Securities with respect to such Blocker and Blocker Holder, the “Blocker Securities”), and (c) following the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, in accordance with the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability
Company Act (the “CLLCA”), Skydance Merger Sub shall merge with and into Skydance (the “Skydance Merger” and, together with the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and the New Paramount Merger, the “Mergers”), with Skydance surviving the Skydance Merger (the “Surviving Skydance Entity” and, together with the Surviving Paramount Entity and the Surviving New Paramount Entity, the “Surviving Entities”) and becoming, directly or indirectly, a wholly owned Subsidiary of New Paramount;
WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange and the Skydance Merger, (i) New Paramount will hold 100% of the Blocker Securities and (ii) New Paramount and the Blockers will collectively hold 100% of the membership interests of the Surviving Skydance Entity;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Paramount and the Specified Stockholders have entered into a Voting and Support Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Specified Stockholders are agreeing to vote the Paramount Shares owned by them in favor of certain matters as set forth in the Voting Agreement;
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain investors (collectively, the “Equity Investors”) have entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) providing for a private placement investment in New Paramount Class B Common Stock in an aggregate amount of up to $6,000,000,000 and warrants to subscribe for shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock, to be consummated immediately prior to the consummation of the New Paramount Merger (the “PIPE Transaction”);
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain of the Equity Investors have entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the “NAI Stock Purchase Agreement”) with NAI and the NAI Shareholders to purchase all of the outstanding equity interests of NAI from the NAI Shareholders (the “NAI Transaction”);
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (and, as applicable, state and local income Tax purposes), it is intended that (a) the Skydance Merger shall be treated as the acquisition by New Paramount of partnership interests of Skydance in exchange for New Paramount interests and (b) the Mergers, the PIPE Transaction and the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, taken together, qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code (collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Paramount (the “Paramount Board”) established a special committee of the Paramount Board consisting of independent and disinterested directors (the “Paramount Special Committee”) to, among other things, review, evaluate and negotiate this Agreement and the Transactions and, if the Paramount Special Committee deems appropriate, recommend that the Paramount Board approves the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Paramount;
WHEREAS, the Paramount Special Committee has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are advisable and in the best interests of Paramount and its Public Stockholders and (b)
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recommended that the Paramount Board (i) approve this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, and (ii) recommend adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, to the stockholders of Paramount (such recommendation, the “Paramount Special Committee Recommendation”);
WHEREAS, the Paramount Board has, acting upon the Paramount Special Committee Recommendation, (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Paramount and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, (c) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by Paramount of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and (d) recommended the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of Paramount (the “Paramount Board Recommendation”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of each of New Paramount (the “New Paramount Board”), Paramount Merger Sub (the “Paramount Merger Sub Board”) and Paramount Merger Sub II (the “Paramount Merger Sub II Board”) has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of such Person and its sole stockholder, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, (c) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by such Person of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and (d) recommended the adoption of this Agreement by such Person’s sole stockholder;
WHEREAS, the sole member of Skydance Merger Sub has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Skydance Merger Sub and its member, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Skydance Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the executive board of directors of Skydance (the “Skydance Board”) has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Skydance and its members (each, a “Skydance Member”), (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Skydance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the requisite Skydance Members have, in accordance with the terms of the Skydance LLC Agreement, (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Skydance and the Skydance Members, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Skydance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the board of managers or general partner, as applicable, of each Blocker Holder has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of such Person and its members or partners, as applicable, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) authorized and approved the execution,
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delivery and performance by such Person of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements specified in this Agreement in connection with this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CONTRIBUTION OF BLOCKER SECURITIES; THE MERGERS
Section 1.1 Contribution of Blocker Securities; The Mergers.
(a) Contribution of Blocker Securities.
(i) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, following the New Paramount Merger Effective Time and immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, each Blocker Holder shall convey, assign, transfer and deliver, severally and not jointly, to New Paramount, and New Paramount shall acquire and accept from each Blocker Holder, the number or percent, as applicable, of equity interests of each Blocker set forth across from such Blocker Holder’s name on Schedule 1.1 of this Agreement, which collectively constitute all of the outstanding Blocker Securities and 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Blockers, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than any restrictions on transfer imposed under applicable securities Laws or Encumbrances created by or resulting from actions of New Paramount).
(ii) At the Closing and prior to the Skydance Merger, each Blocker Holder shall deliver to New Paramount stock certificates, to the extent such Blocker Securities are certificated, endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed assignment documents, or affidavit(s) of loss in lieu thereof or evidence of book entry delivery reasonably satisfactory to New Paramount, representing all of the Blocker Securities held by such Blocker Holder. In exchange for the conveyance, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Blocker Securities to New Paramount at the Closing, each Blocker Holder shall be entitled to receive its respective portion of the Skydance Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.3, determined in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement. The aggregate number of shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock that each Blocker Holder shall be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 1.1(a)(ii) shall be set forth in the Allocation Statement.
(b) The Mergers. At the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Paramount Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Paramount in accordance with the DGCL, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Paramount Merger Sub shall cease and Paramount shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger. At the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Paramount Merger Sub II shall be merged with and into New Paramount in accordance with the DGCL,
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whereupon the separate corporate existence of Paramount Merger Sub II shall cease and New Paramount shall continue as the surviving corporation in the New Paramount Merger. At the Skydance Merger Effective Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Skydance Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Skydance in accordance with the CLLCA, whereupon the separate existence of Skydance Merger Sub shall cease and Skydance shall continue as the surviving entity in the Skydance Merger. As a result of the Mergers, (i) at the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Paramount Entity shall become a wholly owned, direct Subsidiary of New Paramount, and (ii) at the Skydance Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Skydance Entity shall become, directly or indirectly, a wholly owned Subsidiary of New Paramount.
(c) Skydance Consideration. The aggregate consideration to which the Blocker Holders, the Skydance Members, the holders of awards of Skydance Profits Interest Units, Skydance Phantom Units and Skydance Sports Phantom Units and any other holders of equity interests of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement shall be, taking all such Persons together, equal to the Skydance Merger Consideration, which consideration shall be allocated in accordance with this Agreement and the Skydance LLC Agreement as set forth in the Allocation Statement.
(d) Closing Sequencing. The Blocker Contribution and Exchange and each Merger shall each constitute a separate transaction hereunder (except for purposes of the Intended Tax Treatment). Paramount and Paramount Merger Sub shall consummate the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date. At the Closing, the Parties shall consummate (i) the New Paramount Merger immediately following the consummation of the PIPE Transaction and the NAI Transaction and immediately prior to the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, and the Blocker Contribution and Exchange shall not be consummated unless and until the New Paramount Merger is consummated, (ii) the Blocker Contribution and Exchange immediately prior to the Skydance Merger, and the Skydance Merger shall not be consummated unless and until the Blocker Contribution and Exchange has been consummated, and (iii) the Skydance Merger immediately following the consummation of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange. The NAI Transaction shall occur substantially contemporaneously with the PIPE Transaction.
Section 1.2 Closing. The closing of the New Paramount Merger, the Blocker Contribution and Exchange and the Skydance Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place (a) remotely by electronic exchange of executed documents, commencing at 8:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date that is five (5) Business Days after the date on which all conditions set forth in Article VIII shall have been satisfied or, to the extent permitted by Law, waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions to be taken at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver thereof at or prior to the Closing) or (b) at such other place, time and date as Paramount and Skydance may agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to as the “Closing Date”.
Section 1.3 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement:
(a) On the day immediately prior to the Closing Date, Paramount and Paramount Merger Sub shall file a certificate of merger relating to the Pre-Closing Paramount
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Merger (the “Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL and make all other filings or recordings required by the DGCL (if any). The Pre-Closing Paramount Merger shall become effective at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date or at such other time as may be agreed by Paramount and Skydance and specified in the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL; provided that such other time shall in any event be prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time (the effective time of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger being referred to as the “Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time”).
(b) At the Closing, New Paramount and Paramount Merger Sub II shall file a certificate of merger relating to the New Paramount Merger (the “New Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL and make all other filings or recordings required by the DGCL (if any). The New Paramount Merger shall become effective at such time as the New Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such other time as may be agreed by Paramount and Skydance and specified in the New Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL; provided that such other time shall in any event be after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time and the consummation of the PIPE Transaction and prior to the consummation of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange (the effective time of the New Paramount Merger being referred to as the “New Paramount Merger Effective Time”).
(c) At the Closing, Skydance and Skydance Merger Sub shall file a certificate of merger relating to the Skydance Merger (the “Skydance Merger Certificate of Merger” and, together with the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger and the New Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger, the “Certificates of Merger”) with the California Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the CLLCA and make all other filings or recordings required by the CLLCA (if any). The Skydance Merger shall become effective at such time as the Skydance Merger Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the California Secretary of State or at such other time as may be agreed by Paramount and Skydance and specified in the Skydance Merger Certificate of Merger in accordance with the CLLCA; provided that such other time shall in any event be after the consummation of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange (the effective time of the Skydance Merger being referred to as the “Skydance Merger Effective Time”).
Section 1.4 Effects of the Mergers. The Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and the New Paramount Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. The Skydance Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the CLLCA. From and after the applicable Effective Time, (a) the Surviving Paramount Entity shall possess all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises and be subject to all of the obligations, liabilities and duties of Paramount and Paramount Merger Sub, as provided under the DGCL, (b) the Surviving New Paramount Entity shall possess all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises and be subject to all of the obligations, liabilities and duties of New Paramount and Paramount Merger Sub II, as provided under the DGCL, and (c) the Surviving Skydance Entity shall possess all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises and be subject to all
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of the obligations, liabilities and duties of Skydance and Skydance Merger Sub, as provided under the CLLCA.
Section 1.5 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entities.
(a) Surviving Paramount Entity Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Parties shall take all necessary action such that at the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (i) the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Paramount Entity shall be amended and restated in its entirety to be in the form of the certificate of incorporation of Paramount Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (except that references to the name of Paramount Merger Sub shall be replaced by references to the name of the Surviving Paramount Entity) until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and such certificate of incorporation, and (ii) the bylaws of the Surviving Paramount Entity shall be amended and restated in their entirety to be in the form of the bylaws of Paramount Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (except that references to the name of Paramount Merger Sub shall be replaced by references to the name of the Surviving Paramount Entity) until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and such bylaws.
(b) Surviving New Paramount Entity Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Parties shall take all necessary action such that at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving New Paramount Entity shall be amended and restated to conform to Exhibit B-1 and, as so amended and restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving New Paramount Entity, until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL and such certificate of incorporation (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time following the Closing, the “Surviving New Paramount Entity Charter”). The Parties shall take all necessary action such that at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time the bylaws of the Surviving New Paramount Entity shall be amended and restated to conform to Exhibit B-2 and such bylaws shall be the bylaws of the Surviving New Paramount Entity until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, the Surviving New Paramount Entity Charter and such bylaws (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time following the Closing, the “Surviving New Paramount Entity Bylaws”, and, together with the Surviving New Paramount Entity Charter, the “Surviving New Paramount Entity Organizational Documents”).
(c) Surviving Skydance Entity Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement. The Parties shall take all necessary action such that at the Skydance Merger Effective Time the articles of organization of Skydance as in effect immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall be the articles of organization of the Surviving Skydance Entity, and such articles of organization shall be the articles of organization of the Surviving Skydance Entity until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the CLLCA and such articles of organization. At the Skydance Merger Effective Time, the operating agreement of the Surviving Skydance Entity shall be amended and restated to conform to Exhibit C and, as so amended and restated, shall be the operating agreement of the Surviving Skydance Entity until, subject to Section 7.4, thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the CLLCA and such operating agreement.
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Section 1.6 Certain Governance Matters.
(a) Directors and Officers of the Surviving Paramount Entity. The Parties shall take all necessary action such that (i) the directors of Paramount Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall become the only directors of the Surviving Paramount Entity as of immediately after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time and (ii) the officers of Paramount Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Paramount Entity as of immediately after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, and such directors and officers shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal, as applicable, in accordance with the organizational documents of the Surviving Paramount Entity and applicable Law.
(b) Managers and Officers of the Surviving Skydance Entity. The Parties shall take all necessary action such that (i) the managers of Skydance as of immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall become the only managers of the Surviving Skydance Entity as of immediately after the Skydance Merger Effective Time and (ii) the officers of Skydance as of immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Skydance Entity as of immediately after the Skydance Merger Effective Time, and such managers and officers shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal, as applicable, in accordance with the organizational documents of the Surviving Skydance Entity and applicable Law.
(c) Governance Term Sheet. Prior to the Closing, the Parties shall take all necessary action to implement the terms set forth in the Governance Term Sheet attached hereto as Exhibit G. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall take all necessary action to (i) terminate that certain Governance Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2019, by and among Paramount, NAI and the other parties thereto, effective as of immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, and (ii) cause, effective as of immediately following the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, (A) the board of directors of the Surviving New Paramount Entity (the “Surviving New Paramount Entity Board”) to consist of up to thirteen (13) members, as designated by Skydance in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing; (B) David Ellison to be elected as the chair of the Surviving New Paramount Entity Board and the individual identified by Skydance in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing to be elected as the vice chair of the Surviving New Paramount Entity Board; and (C) the initial officers of the Surviving New Paramount Entity to be those individuals designated by Skydance in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing (who shall include David Ellison as Chief Executive Officer), in the case of each of clauses (A)-(C), until otherwise determined in accordance with the Surviving New Paramount Entity Organizational Documents.
Section 1.7 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Paramount, Skydance, New Paramount and each of their Affiliates, Representatives and any other Person making payments on behalf of any of them shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration or other amounts otherwise payable or deliverable in connection with this Agreement any amounts that are required to be deducted or withheld and paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority under the Code, or any other applicable Law. Subject to applicable Law, and without limiting the foregoing, an applicable payor may retain a portion of the New
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Paramount Merger Consideration or the Skydance Merger Consideration (as applicable) otherwise payable to any payee pursuant to this Agreement and sell such retained consideration on behalf of such payee in order to make any deduction or withholding that is required to be made under applicable Law with respect to amounts payable to such payee; provided that, in the case of a payee entitled to New Paramount Merger Consideration, the applicable payor shall only do so to the extent any required deduction or withholding cannot be satisfied by deducting or withholding from the cash portion (if any) of the New Paramount Merger Consideration payable to such payee. To the extent that amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the applicable Taxing Authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of whom such deduction and withholding was made. Paramount, Skydance, New Paramount and each of their Affiliates, Representatives and any other Person making payments on behalf of any of them, as the case may be, shall use reasonable best efforts to provide or cause to be provided notice to any Person with respect to which such withholding obligation applies (excluding any payments properly treated as compensation for applicable Tax purposes), and shall reasonably cooperate with such Person to obtain any available reduction of or relief from such deduction or withholding.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES AND MEMBERSHIP UNITS
Section 2.1 Effect on Capital Stock of Paramount and Membership Units of Skydance.
(a) Conversion of Paramount Common Stock. At the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Paramount Merger and without any action on the part of New Paramount, Paramount, Paramount Merger Sub or the holders of any shares of Paramount Class A Common Stock or shares of Paramount Class B Common Stock:
(i) Subject to Section 2.1(a)(iii), each share of Paramount Class A Common Stock (each, a “Paramount Class A Share”) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be converted automatically into the right to receive one (1) share of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of New Paramount (such shares, collectively, the “New Paramount Class A Common Stock”, and each, a “New Paramount Class A Share”).
(ii) Subject to Section 2.1(a)(iii), each share of Paramount Class B Common Stock (each, a “Paramount Class B Share” and, collectively with the Paramount Class A Shares, the “Paramount Shares”) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be converted automatically into the right to receive one (1) share of Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of New Paramount (such shares, collectively, the “New Paramount Class B Common Stock”, and each, a “New Paramount Class B Share” and, collectively with the New Paramount Class A Shares, the “New Paramount Shares”).
(iii) Each (A) Paramount Share that is owned by Paramount as treasury stock or otherwise (excluding for the avoidance of doubt any Paramount Class B Share held by any Paramount Employee Plan or trust related thereto) or (B) New Paramount Share that is held directly by Paramount immediately prior to the Pre-Closing
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Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor (clauses (A) and (B), collectively, the “Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Cancelled Shares”).
(iv) Each share of capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be canceled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(v) All such Paramount Shares when so converted to New Paramount Shares as provided in this Section 2.1(a) shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no longer be outstanding as Paramount Shares.
(b) Conversion of New Paramount Common Stock. At the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the New Paramount Merger and without any action on the part of New Paramount, the Surviving Paramount Entity, Paramount Merger Sub II or the holders of any shares of New Paramount Class A Common Stock or shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock:
(i) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii), each New Paramount Class A Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time and held by a Specified Stockholder shall remain issued and outstanding as a New Paramount Class A Share (the “Specified Stockholder Class A Merger Consideration”).
(ii) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii), each New Paramount Class A Share (A) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, (B) that is not held by a Specified Stockholder and (C) with respect to which an election to receive cash (a “Class A Cash Election”) has been properly made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to Section 2.2(c) shall be converted automatically into the right to receive an amount of cash, without interest, equal to the Class A Cash Consideration.
(iii) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii), each New Paramount Class A Share (A) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, (B) that is not held by a Specified Stockholder and (C) with respect to which (x) an election to receive New Paramount Class B Shares (a “Class A Stock Election”) has been properly made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or (y) neither a Class A Cash Election nor a Class A Stock Election has been made (a “Class A Non-Election Share”) shall be converted automatically into the right to receive 1.5333 New Paramount Class B Shares (the “Class A Stock Consideration” and, together with the Specified Stockholder Class A Merger Consideration and the Class A Cash Consideration, the “New Paramount Class A Merger Consideration”).
(iv) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii), each New Paramount Class B Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time and held by a Specified Stockholder or an Equity Investor shall remain
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issued and outstanding as a New Paramount Class B Share (the “Specified Stockholder Class B Merger Consideration”).
(v) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii) and Section 2.2(b), each New Paramount Class B Share (A) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, (B) that is not held by a Specified Stockholder or an Equity Investor and (C) with respect to which an election to receive cash (a “Class B Cash Election”) has been properly made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to Section 2.2(c) (a “Class B Cash Election Share”), shall be converted automatically into the right to receive an amount of cash, without interest, equal to the Class B Cash Consideration.
(vi) Subject to Section 2.1(b)(vii), each New Paramount Class B Share (A) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, (B) that is not held by a Specified Stockholder or an Equity Investor and (C) with respect to which (x) an election to receive a New Paramount Class B Share (a “Class B Stock Election”) has been properly made and not revoked or deemed revoked pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or (y) neither a Class B Cash Election nor a Class B Stock Election has been made (a “Class B Non-Election Share” and, together with the Class A Non-Election Shares, the “Non-Election Shares”) shall remain issued and outstanding as a New Paramount Class B Share (the “Class B Stock Consideration” and, together with the Specified Stockholder Class B Merger Consideration and the Class B Cash Consideration, the “New Paramount Class B Merger Consideration” and, collectively with the New Paramount Class A Merger Consideration, the “New Paramount Merger Consideration”).
(vii) Each New Paramount Share that is held directly or indirectly by Skydance or any wholly owned Subsidiary of Skydance (collectively, the “New Paramount Merger Cancelled Shares” and, together with the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Cancelled Shares, the “Cancelled Shares”) shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(viii) All New Paramount Shares that have been converted into the right to receive the New Paramount Merger Consideration as provided in this Section 2.1 (other than, subject to Section 2.2, pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i), Section 2.1(b)(iv) or Section 2.1(b)(vi)) shall cease to exist and no longer be outstanding. Each holder of a certificate (a “Certificate”) formerly representing any Paramount Shares converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration pursuant to the New Paramount Merger, and each book-entry account formerly representing any uncertificated Paramount Shares converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration pursuant to the New Paramount Merger (“Book-Entry Shares”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, in accordance with this Section 2.1, the New Paramount Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.3, together with the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f).
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(ix) Each share of capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub II outstanding immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Skydance Membership Units and Skydance Merger Sub Limited Liability Company Interests. At the Skydance Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Skydance Merger and without any action on the part of New Paramount, Skydance, Skydance Merger Sub or the holders of any Skydance Membership Units:
(i) Each Skydance Membership Unit that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time (other than any Skydance Membership Unit that is held, directly or indirectly, by New Paramount or Skydance) shall be converted automatically into the right to receive the applicable portion of the Skydance Merger Consideration as determined in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement, and shall cease to exist and no longer be outstanding, and each holder of Skydance Membership Units (other than Blockers that are wholly owned by New Paramount) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the applicable portion of the Skydance Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.3. The aggregate number of shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock that each Skydance Member shall be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.1(c)(i) shall be determined in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement as set forth in the Allocation Statement.
(ii) Each Skydance Membership Unit that is held, directly or indirectly, by New Paramount or Skydance immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall remain as outstanding limited liability company interests in the Surviving Skydance Entity.
(iii) All of the limited liability company interests of Skydance Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall be converted into an equivalent number of limited liability company interests of the Surviving Skydance Entity with the same rights, powers and privileges as the limited liability company interests so converted.
(d) Allocation Statement. Not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Skydance shall deliver to Paramount and New Paramount (i) a spreadsheet prepared in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement (the “Allocation Statement”), together with reasonable supporting documentation, setting forth the allocation, without duplication, of the Skydance Merger Consideration among the Blocker Holders, the Skydance Members (other than the Blockers) and the holders of awards of Skydance Profits Interest Units, Skydance Phantom Units and Skydance Sports Phantom Units and (ii) a certificate, signed by an executive officer of Skydance, certifying that the Allocation Statement (and each of the calculations and determinations set forth therein) has been prepared in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (A) the Allocation Statement shall be conclusive and binding on the Blocker Holders, the Skydance Members, the holders of awards of Skydance Profits Interest Units and any other holders of equity interests of
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Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) the Paramount Parties and, following the Closing, New Paramount and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the Allocation Statement (and each of the calculations and determinations set forth therein) for all purposes under this Agreement, without any obligation to investigate or verify the accuracy thereof, and (C) none of the Paramount Parties and, following the Closing, New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) based on or arising out of the preparation of the Allocation Statement (including the calculations and determinations set forth therein).
(e) No Appraisal Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the Transactions pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, Article 11 of the CLLCA or any other applicable Law.
(f) Certain Adjustments. If, during the Pre-Closing Period, the outstanding Paramount Shares, New Paramount Shares or Skydance Membership Units shall have been changed into a different number of Paramount Shares, New Paramount Shares or Skydance Membership Units, respectively, or a different class of shares or limited liability company interests by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, combination, or exchange of Paramount Shares, New Paramount Shares or Skydance Membership Units, the New Paramount Merger Consideration and the Skydance Merger Consideration, as applicable, shall be equitably adjusted, without duplication, to proportionally reflect such change; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not be construed to permit Paramount or Skydance or any of their respective Subsidiaries to take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(g) Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, no fractional shares of New Paramount Class A Common Stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the New Paramount Merger or the Skydance Merger, but in lieu thereof each former holder of Paramount Class A Shares and Paramount Class B Shares otherwise entitled to a fractional share of New Paramount Class A Common Stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock, respectively (after aggregating all Paramount Shares of the applicable class represented by the Certificates and Book-Entry Shares held by such holder), shall receive from the Exchange Agent, in lieu thereof and upon surrender thereof, cash (without interest) in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the last reported sale price of the applicable class of Paramount Shares on Nasdaq (as reported by Bloomberg L.P.) on the last complete trading day prior to the Closing Date by (ii) the fraction of a share of New Paramount Class A Common Stock or New Paramount Class B Common Stock, as applicable (after taking into account all New Paramount Shares of the applicable class held by such holder at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time and rounded to four decimal places), to which such holder would otherwise be entitled (such amount, the “Fractional Share Cash Amount”). No such holder shall be entitled to dividends, voting rights or any other rights in respect of any fractional share of New Paramount Common Stock that would otherwise have been issuable as part of the New Paramount Merger Consideration.
Section 2.2 Proration; Election Mechanics.
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(a) Proration. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the total number of New Paramount Class B Shares to be converted at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time into the right to receive the Class B Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(v) shall not exceed an amount equal to the quotient (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of (x) the Class B Cash Cap divided by (y) the Class B Cash Consideration (the “Maximum Class B Cash Share Number”). Once the Maximum Class B Cash Share Number is met, all other New Paramount Class B Shares (other than Cancelled Shares) shall, subject to Section 2.2, remain issued and outstanding as New Paramount Class B Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no proration with respect to Class A Cash Elections.
(b) Promptly (and in any event no later than five (5) Business Days) after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, New Paramount shall cause the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation among holders of New Paramount Class B Shares of rights to receive the Class B Cash Consideration as follows:
(i) If the aggregate number of New Paramount Class B Shares with respect to which Class B Cash Elections shall have been made (the “Class B Cash Election Number”) exceeds the Maximum Class B Cash Share Number, then Class B Cash Election Shares of each holder will be converted automatically into the right to receive the Class B Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Class B Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Class B Cash Election Shares held by such holder by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Maximum Class B Cash Share Number and the denominator of which is the Class B Cash Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 2.1(g), whether fractions of Class B Cash Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such holder’s Class B Cash Election Shares (if any) being converted automatically into the right to receive the Class B Stock Consideration; and
(ii) If the Class B Cash Election Number is less than or equal to the Maximum Class B Cash Share Number, then all Class B Cash Election Shares shall be converted automatically into the right to receive the Class B Cash Consideration.
(c) Election Procedures. Each holder of record of Paramount Shares (other than a Specified Stockholder or an Equity Investor) to be converted into the right to receive the New Paramount Merger Consideration in accordance with, and subject to, Section 2.1(a), Section 2.1(b) and this Section 2.2 (an “Electing Holder”) shall have the right, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 2.2, to submit an election in accordance with the following procedures:
(i) Each Electing Holder may specify in a request made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2 (herein called an “Election”) (A) the number of Paramount Class A Shares and the number of Paramount Class B Shares owned by such Electing Holder (which in each case shall be converted into New Paramount Class A Shares or New Paramount Class B Shares, as applicable, pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger) with respect to which such Electing Holder desires to make a Class A Stock Election and a Class B Stock Election, respectively, and (B) the number of Paramount Class A Shares and Paramount Class B Shares owned by such Electing Holder
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(which in each case shall be converted into New Paramount Class A Shares or New Paramount Class B Shares, as applicable, pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger) with respect to which such Electing Holder desires to make a Class A Cash Election and a Class B Cash Election, respectively.
(ii) Paramount shall prepare a form of election reasonably acceptable to Skydance (including appropriate and customary transmittal materials in such form as prepared by Paramount and reasonably acceptable to Skydance) (the “Form of Election”), so as to permit Electing Holders to exercise their right to make an Election. Any Electing Holder that holds any Paramount Shares as nominee, as trustee or in other representative capacity (which in each case shall be converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger) may, through proper instructions and documentation, submit a separate Form of Election prior to the Election Deadline with respect to each beneficial owner for whom such nominee, trustee or representative holds such Paramount Shares.
(iii) Paramount and Skydance (A) shall initially make available and mail the Form of Election not less than 20 Business Days prior to the anticipated Election Deadline to Electing Holders of record as of the fifth Business Day prior to such mailing date, and (B) following such mailing date, shall use reasonable best efforts to make available as promptly as practicable a Form of Election to any holder of Paramount Shares (other than the Specified Stockholders and the Equity Investors) who requests such Form of Election prior to the Election Deadline. The time period between such mailing date and the Election Deadline is referred to herein as the “Election Period”.
(iv) Any Election shall have been made properly only if the Exchange Agent shall have received, during the Election Period, a Form of Election properly completed and executed (including duly executed transmittal materials included in the Form of Election) and accompanied, as applicable, by Certificates representing all certificated shares (if any) to which such Form of Election relates or by an appropriate customary guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, as set forth in such Form of Election, from a member of any registered national securities exchange or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States. As used herein, unless otherwise agreed in advance by Skydance and Paramount, “Election Deadline” means 5:00 p.m. local time (in the city in which the principal office of the Exchange Agent is located) on the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Parties’ good faith estimate of the Closing Date or such other date as may be mutually agreed to by the Parties. Skydance and Paramount shall cooperate to issue a press release reasonably satisfactory to each of them announcing the date of the Election Deadline at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Election Deadline. If the Closing Date is delayed to a subsequent date, the Election Deadline shall be similarly delayed to a subsequent date, and Skydance and Paramount shall promptly announce any such delay and, when determined, the rescheduled Election Deadline.
(v) Any Electing Holder may, at any time during the Election Period, change their Election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline accompanied by a properly completed and executed revised Form of Election. If any Election is not properly made with respect to any Paramount Shares (which
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in each case shall be converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger) (none of Paramount, New Paramount, Skydance or the Exchange Agent being under any duty to notify any Electing Holder of any such defect), such Election shall be deemed to be not in effect, and the Paramount Shares (which in each case shall be converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger) covered by such Election shall, for purposes hereof, be deemed to be Non-Election Shares, unless a properly completed and executed Election is thereafter received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline.
(vi) Any Electing Holder may, at any time during the Election Period, revoke their Election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline or by withdrawal prior to the Election Deadline of their Certificates, or of the guarantee of delivery of such Certificates, previously deposited with the Exchange Agent. All Elections shall be automatically deemed revoked upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of written notification from Skydance and Paramount that this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with the terms hereof.
(vii) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Form of Election, New Paramount, in the exercise of its reasonable, good faith discretion, shall have the right to make all determinations, not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, governing the validity of any Form of Election and compliance by any Electing Holder with the Election procedures set forth herein.
Section 2.3 Exchange of Certificates and Book-Entry Shares or Units.
(a) Prior to the Closing, Paramount and Skydance shall appoint a nationally recognized financial institution or trust company to act as exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the payment and delivery of the New Paramount Merger Consideration and the Skydance Merger Consideration. At or prior to the Closing, New Paramount shall (and Paramount and Skydance shall cause New Paramount to) deposit, or cause to be deposited, in trust for the benefit of the holders of New Paramount Common Stock, the Blocker Holders, the holders of Skydance Membership Units (other than the Blockers) and the holders of awards of Skydance Phantom Units and Skydance Sports Phantom Units, with the Exchange Agent for exchange in accordance with this Article II, (i) cash in immediately available funds in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Class A Cash Consideration and the aggregate Class B Cash Consideration payable in the New Paramount Merger (the “Aggregate Cash Consideration”) and the aggregate Fractional Share Cash Amounts (to the extent determinable) payable in the New Paramount Merger and (ii) a number of shares of New Paramount Class A Common Stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock equal to the total number of shares of New Paramount Class A Common Stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock, respectively, issuable in the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, the New Paramount Merger and the Skydance Merger (including, for certainty, pursuant to Section 7.14) (such cash and shares, the “Exchange Fund”). In the event that the cash portion of the Exchange Fund shall be insufficient to pay the Aggregate Cash Consideration and the aggregate Fractional Share Cash Amounts (including as a result of any investment of the Exchange Fund), New Paramount shall promptly deposit, or cause to be deposited, additional funds with the Exchange Agent in an amount that is equal to the amount of the shortfall that is required to make such payment. New Paramount shall cause the Exchange
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Agent to make, and the Exchange Agent shall make, delivery of the Aggregate Cash Consideration and the aggregate Fractional Share Cash Amounts out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any purpose that is not expressly provided for in this Agreement. The cash included in the Exchange Fund shall be invested by the Exchange Agent as reasonably directed by New Paramount; provided, however, that any investment of the Exchange Fund shall in all events be limited to direct short-term obligations of, or short-term obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the U.S. government, in commercial paper rated P-1 or A-1 or better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation, respectively, or in certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or banker’s acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding $50 billion (based on the most recent financial statements of such bank that are then publicly available), and that no such investment or loss thereon shall affect the amounts payable to holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares pursuant to this Article II. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to New Paramount. The Exchange Agent shall, upon receipt of irrevocable instructions from New Paramount, deliver whole shares of New Paramount Common Stock to holders of New Paramount Shares, Blocker Holders and holders of Skydance Membership Units (other than the Blockers) in accordance with this Article II.
(b) Exchange Procedures.
(i) As promptly as practicable after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time (but in no event later than three (3) Business Days thereafter), New Paramount shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate representing Paramount Shares that were converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration pursuant to the New Paramount Merger: (A) a letter of transmittal, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and shall otherwise be in such form and have such other provisions as Skydance, Paramount and the Exchange Agent may reasonably agree, and (B) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f). Upon surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Paramount and Skydance, and upon delivery of a letter of transmittal, duly executed and in proper form with all required enclosures and attachments, with respect to such Certificates, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the New Paramount Merger Consideration pursuant to the provisions of this Article II for each Paramount Share formerly represented by such Certificates which was converted into a New Paramount Share pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted pursuant to the New Paramount Merger into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, together with the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f). Any Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. If payment of the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration is to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name any surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition precedent to payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form
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for transfer, and the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other similar Taxes required by reason of the delivery of the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate so surrendered and shall have established to the satisfaction of New Paramount that such Taxes either have been paid or are not required to be paid. Until surrendered as contemplated in this Section 2.3, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the New Paramount Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f) in accordance with this Agreement.
(ii) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time (but in no event later than three (3) Business Days thereafter), New Paramount shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of Book-Entry Shares not held through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) representing Paramount Shares that were converted into New Paramount Shares pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted pursuant to the New Paramount Merger into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, together with the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f), at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time pursuant to this Agreement: (A) appropriate transmittal materials, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to such Book-Entry Shares shall pass, only upon the surrender of such Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent (which shall be deemed to have been effected upon the delivery of a customary “agent’s message” with respect to such Book-Entry Shares or such other reasonable evidence, if any, of such surrender as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), and which shall otherwise be in such form and have such other provisions as Skydance, Paramount and the Exchange Agent may reasonably agree, and (B) instructions for effecting the surrender of such Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f). Upon surrender of Book-Entry Shares not held through DTC, by book-receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Exchange Agent in connection with the surrender of Book-Entry Shares (or such other reasonable evidence, if any, of surrender with respect to such Book-Entry Shares as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), the holder of such Book-Entry Shares shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the New Paramount Merger Consideration pursuant to the provisions of this Article II for each Paramount Share formerly represented by such Book-Entry Shares that was converted into a New Paramount Share pursuant to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and thereafter converted pursuant to the New Paramount Merger into the right to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, together with the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f). With respect to Book-Entry Shares held through DTC, the Parties shall cooperate to establish procedures with the Exchange Agent and DTC to ensure that the Exchange Agent will transmit to DTC or its nominees as soon as reasonably practicable after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, upon surrender of Book-Entry Shares held of record by DTC or its nominees in accordance with DTC’s customary surrender procedures, the New Paramount Merger Consideration, together with the Fractional Share Cash Amount (if any) and any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3(f). Delivery of the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration with
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respect to Book-Entry Shares shall only be made to the Person in whose name such shares are registered on the records of Paramount as of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time.
(iii) The Persons who were, at the Skydance Merger Effective Time, holders of Skydance Membership Units or holders of awards of Skydance Phantom Units or Skydance Sports Phantom Units shall not be required to take any action with respect to the exchange of their Skydance Membership Units or awards of Skydance Phantom Units or Skydance Sports Phantom Units, as applicable, for the Skydance Merger Consideration. As promptly as reasonably practicable after the Skydance Merger Effective Time, New Paramount shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of such Skydance Membership Units and each holder of Skydance Phantom Units and Skydance Sports Phantom Units a statement reflecting the number of whole shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to the Skydance Merger (including, for certainty, pursuant to Section 7.14), as set forth in the Allocation Statement. Delivery of the applicable Skydance Merger Consideration with respect to Skydance Membership Units shall only be made to the Person in whose name such units are registered on the records of Skydance as of the Skydance Merger Effective Time.
(c) Transfer Books. At the applicable Effective Time, the transfer books of Paramount and Skydance shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Paramount Common Stock on the records of Paramount or transfers of units of Skydance Membership Units on the records of Skydance. From and after the applicable Effective Time, the holders of Certificates and Book-Entry Shares and the holders of Skydance Membership Units outstanding immediately prior to the applicable Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares or units except as otherwise provided for herein or by applicable Law. If, after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, Certificates representing shares of Paramount Common Stock are presented to the Surviving New Paramount Entity for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the whole shares of New Paramount Common Stock that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2.1, subject to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws.
(d) Termination of Fund; Abandoned Property. At any time following the date that is twelve months after the Closing Date, New Paramount shall be entitled to require the Exchange Agent to deliver to it any shares of New Paramount Common Stock remaining in the Exchange Fund made available to the Exchange Agent and not delivered to holders of Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Skydance Membership Units and thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look only to New Paramount (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar Laws) only as general creditors thereof with respect to the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration or Skydance Merger Consideration, as applicable, payable in accordance with the procedures in this Section 2.3. If, prior to the date that is six years after the Closing Date (or otherwise immediately prior to such time on which any payment in respect hereof would escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Body pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws), any holder of Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Skydance Membership Units has not complied with the procedures in this Section 2.3 to receive the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration or Skydance Merger Consideration to which
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such holder would otherwise be entitled, the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration or Skydance Merger Consideration to which such holder would otherwise be entitled in respect of such Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Skydance Membership Units shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of New Paramount, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Paramount, New Paramount, Skydance, the Surviving Paramount Entity, the Surviving New Paramount Entity, the Surviving Skydance Entity or the Exchange Agent, or any Representative or Affiliate thereof, shall be liable to any holder of a Certificate, Book-Entry Share or Skydance Membership Unit for New Paramount Merger Consideration or Skydance Merger Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event that any Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.1; provided, however, that New Paramount or the Exchange Agent may, in its reasonable discretion and as a condition precedent to the payment of the applicable New Paramount Merger Consideration, require the owners of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to (i) post a bond in such reasonable amount as New Paramount may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against New Paramount, the Surviving New Paramount Entity or the Exchange Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or (ii) deliver any documentation (including an indemnity in customary form) reasonably requested by New Paramount or the Exchange Agent.
(f) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged New Paramount Common Stock. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time with respect to New Paramount Common Stock with a record date after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to any shares of New Paramount Common Stock represented thereby or any Book-Entry Shares held by such holder, unless and until the holder of such Certificate shall surrender such Certificate in accordance with this Section 2.3. Subject to the effect of escheat, Tax or other applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate in accordance with this Section 2.3, there shall be paid by New Paramount to the holder of the certificates representing whole shares of New Paramount Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of New Paramount Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions, with a record date after the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date occurring after surrender, payable with respect to such whole shares of New Paramount Common Stock.
Section 2.4 Treatment of Paramount Equity Awards.
(a) As of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger and without any further action on the part of the holders thereof, Paramount, New Paramount or the Merger Subs:
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(i) Each Paramount Option that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be assumed by New Paramount and automatically converted into an option (a “New Paramount Option”) to purchase a number of New Paramount Class B Shares equal to the number of Paramount Class B Shares subject to such Paramount Option immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, with an exercise price per New Paramount Class B Share equal to the exercise price per share of such Paramount Option immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (provided, that the number of New Paramount Class B Shares subject to the New Paramount Option and the exercise price thereof shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and, in the case of Paramount Options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, consistent with the requirements of Section 424 of the Code). Each such New Paramount Option as so assumed and converted shall continue to have, and shall be subject to, the same vesting and other terms and conditions (including any applicable terms relating to accelerated vesting upon qualifying terminations of employment) as applied to the corresponding Paramount Option immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time.
(ii) Each Paramount RSU Award that is outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be assumed by New Paramount and automatically converted into a restricted stock unit award (a “New Paramount RSU Award”) covering a number of New Paramount Class B Shares equal to the number of Paramount Class B Shares subject to such Paramount RSU Award immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time. Each such New Paramount RSU Award as so assumed and converted shall continue to have, and shall be subject to, the same vesting, settlement and other terms and conditions (including any applicable terms relating to accelerated vesting upon qualifying terminations of employment and timing and form of payment) as applied to the corresponding Paramount RSU Award immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time.
(iii) Each Paramount PSU Award that is outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be assumed by New Paramount and automatically converted into a restricted stock unit award (a “New Paramount PSU Award”) covering a number of New Paramount Class B Shares equal to the number of Paramount Class B Shares subject to such Paramount PSU Award immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (after taking into account the treatment of the applicable performance-vesting conditions in accordance with the last sentence of this Section 2.4(a)(iii)). Each such New Paramount PSU Award as so assumed and converted shall continue to have, and shall be subject to, the same vesting, settlement and other terms and conditions (including any applicable terms relating to accelerated vesting upon qualifying terminations of employment and except that such New Paramount PSU Award shall no longer be subject to performance-based vesting conditions) as applied to the corresponding Paramount PSU Award immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time. The performance-based vesting conditions applicable to any Paramount PSU Award (i) for which the applicable performance period has been completed prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be
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determined based on actual performance and (ii) for which the applicable performance period has not been completed prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be deemed to have been achieved at target performance, in each case, for purposes of the conversion set forth in this Section 2.4(a)(iii).
(iv) Each Paramount Notional Unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time shall be automatically converted into a number of notional units with respect to New Paramount Class B Shares (“New Paramount Notional Units”) equal to the number of Paramount Class B Shares subject to such Paramount Notional Unit immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time. Each such New Paramount Notional Unit as so assumed and converted shall continue to have, and shall be subject to, the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding Paramount Notional Unit immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time (including with respect to timing and form of payment), as set forth in the applicable Paramount DC Plan.
(v) For the avoidance of doubt, any amounts relating to dividend equivalent rights granted with respect to each Paramount RSU Award and each Paramount PSU Award, in each case, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time that are accrued but unpaid as of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time will carry over to the corresponding New Paramount RSU Award or New Paramount PSU Award, as applicable, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Paramount RSU Award or Paramount PSU Award, as applicable, as of immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time.
(vi) Prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, the Paramount Board (or, if appropriate, any appropriate committee thereof) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other necessary actions to effect the treatment described in this Section 2.4(a).
(b) As of the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, New Paramount shall (i) assume the Paramount Equity Plans, and the number and kind of shares available for issuance and the applicable share limits under each such plan shall be adjusted to reflect shares of New Paramount Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable plan, and (ii) assume the award agreements evidencing the as-converted New Paramount Options, New Paramount RSU Awards and New Paramount PSU Awards, taking into account the conversion of such awards pursuant to this Section 2.4, and, in each case, references to Paramount therein shall thereupon be deemed references to New Paramount and references to Paramount Class B Common Stock therein shall be deemed references to New Paramount Class B Common Stock with appropriate equitable adjustments to reflect the Transactions.
(c) Not later than the Closing Date, New Paramount shall file with the SEC an effective registration statement on Form S-8 (or other applicable form(s)) registering the New Paramount Class B Shares subject to the New Paramount Options, New Paramount RSU Awards and New Paramount PSU Awards, and New Paramount shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement(s) (and maintain the current
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status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such New Paramount Options, New Paramount RSU Awards, and New Paramount PSU Awards remain outstanding.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARAMOUNT
Paramount hereby represents and warrants to Skydance as follows (it being understood that each representation and warranty in this Article III is subject to (a) the exceptions and disclosures set forth in the Paramount Disclosure Letter (subject to Section 10.12) and (b) the disclosures set forth in the Paramount SEC Documents filed or furnished on or after January 1, 2022 and prior to the date of this Agreement, other than any cautionary or forward-looking information in the “Risk Factors” or “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of such Paramount SEC Documents):
Section 3.1 Due Organization; Subsidiaries.
(a) Paramount is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Delaware Law”) and has all necessary power and authority to (i) conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) own and use its assets in the manner in which its assets are currently owned and used and (iii) perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Paramount is qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign Entity, and is in good standing (to the extent a concept of “good standing” is recognized), in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires such qualification or licensing, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed, or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 3.1(c) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter identifies each significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of Paramount (each, a “Paramount Subsidiary”, and collectively, the “Paramount Subsidiaries”) and indicates its jurisdiction of organization. Each Paramount Subsidiary is a corporation or other business Entity duly incorporated or organized (as applicable), validly existing, and in good standing (to the extent a concept of “good standing” is recognized) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has full corporate or other organizational power and authority required to own, lease, or operate, as appropriate, the assets and properties that it purports to own, lease, and operate and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except, in each case, where any failure thereof would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. All outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities of, or other equity interests in, each Paramount Subsidiary, which are held, directly or indirectly, by Paramount, have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and are owned by Paramount, by another Subsidiary of Paramount, or by Paramount and another Subsidiary of Paramount, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than restrictions imposed by applicable securities laws or the organizational documents of any such Subsidiary or any Permitted Encumbrances.
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(d) Paramount has made available to Skydance or Skydance’s Representatives accurate and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation, articles of organization, bylaws or operating agreement, as applicable, of each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub, including all amendments thereto, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. None of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub is in violation of any provision of its organizational documents, except for violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect or be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers by the End Date.
(e) Section 3.1(e) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Paramount) in which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries holds capital stock or other equity interests (x) representing at least 20% of the outstanding equity of such Person and (y) involved annual revenue in excess of $50,000,000 in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for which Paramount and its Subsidiaries have made or are committed to make capital contributions in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate (each such person, a “Paramount Material Joint Venture”).
Section 3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Paramount consists of (i) 55,000,000 Paramount Class A Shares, of which 40,702,775 Paramount Class A Shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on July 2, 2024 (the “Reference Date”), (ii) 5,000,000,000 Paramount Class B Shares, of which 625,998,351 Paramount Class B Shares are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date, and (iii) 25,000,000 shares of Paramount Preferred Stock, none of which have been issued or are outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date. As of the close of business on the Reference Date, (i) 21,697 Paramount Class A Shares and 455,433,523.551 Paramount Class B Shares were held in treasury. All outstanding Paramount Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were created in accordance with applicable Law, Paramount’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and any agreement to which it is a party. The Paramount Shares have been issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal securities laws and all applicable foreign and state securities or “blue sky” laws.
(b) As of the Reference Date, except as set forth in any of the organizational documents of Paramount or in the Paramount SEC Documents: (i) no outstanding Paramount Share is entitled or subject to any preemptive right, right of repurchase or forfeiture, right of participation, right of maintenance, or any similar right; (ii) no outstanding Paramount Share is subject to any right of first refusal in favor of Paramount; (iii) no outstanding bond, debenture, note, or other Indebtedness of Paramount has a right to vote on any matter on which Paramount stockholders have a right to vote; and (iv) no Paramount Contract restricts any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging, or otherwise disposing of (or from granting any option or similar right with respect to), any Paramount Share. As of the Reference Date, except as set forth in the organizational documents of Paramount or in the Paramount SEC Documents, Paramount is not under any obligation, nor is it bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any outstanding Paramount Share. The issued and outstanding Paramount Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
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Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “PARA” and “PARAA”, as applicable. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened against Paramount by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Paramount Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of the Paramount Shares on Nasdaq. The Paramount Class A Common Stock and the Paramount Class B Common Stock constitute the only outstanding classes of securities of Paramount registered under the Exchange Act.
(c) As of the close of business on the Reference Date, (i) 22,878,380.73 Paramount Class B Shares are subject to issuance upon settlement of outstanding Paramount RSU Awards; (ii) 5,706,245 Paramount Class B Shares (assuming target level of performance) or 7,721,031 Paramount Class B Shares (assuming maximum level of performance) are subject to issuance upon settlement of outstanding Paramount PSU Awards; (iii) 3,185,171 Paramount Class B Shares are subject to issuance upon the exercise of outstanding Paramount Options; and (iv) 76,433 Paramount Notional Units representing 76,433 Paramount Class A Shares and 1,836,684.39 Paramount Notional Units representing an equivalent of 400,987.86 Paramount Class B Shares are outstanding under the Paramount DC Plans. Paramount has made available to Skydance or Skydance’s Representatives copies of (A) the Paramount Equity Plans covering Paramount RSU Awards, Paramount PSU Awards and Paramount Options that are outstanding as of the date hereof and the forms of all award agreements evidencing such Paramount RSU Awards, Paramount PSU Awards and Paramount Options and (B) the Paramount DC Plans. Each Paramount Option, each Paramount RSU Award and each Paramount PSU Award was issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law. Other than as set forth in this Section 3.2(c), as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no issued, reserved for issuance, outstanding or authorized stock option, restricted stock unit award, restricted stock award, stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, or similar right, or compensatory equity or equity-linked award with respect to Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount to which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is a party or by which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is bound.
(d) Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no: (i) outstanding share of capital stock or other equity interest in Paramount; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any share of capital stock or other securities of Paramount, in each case, issued by Paramount or to which Paramount is bound, except as set forth in the organizational documents of Paramount; (iii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any share of the capital stock or other securities of Paramount; or (iv) stockholder rights plan (or similar plan commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Contract under which Paramount is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any share of its capital stock or any other security.
(e) The authorized capital stock of New Paramount consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date. All of the outstanding capital stock of New Paramount is, and prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time will be, owned by Paramount,
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free and clear of all Encumbrances and have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no (i) outstanding share of capital stock or other equity interest in New Paramount; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any share of capital stock or other securities of New Paramount, in each case, issued by New Paramount or to which New Paramount is bound; or (iii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any share of the capital stock or other securities of New Paramount. New Paramount has not conducted any business prior to the date of this Agreement and has no, and prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those necessary for its incorporation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
(f) The authorized capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub are, and prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time will be, owned by Paramount, free and clear of all Encumbrances and have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no (i) outstanding share of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, Paramount Merger Sub; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any membership interest or other securities of Paramount Merger Sub, in each case, issued by Paramount Merger Sub or to which Paramount Merger Sub is bound; or (iii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any membership interest or other securities of Paramount Merger Sub. Paramount Merger Sub has not conducted any business prior to the date of this Agreement and has no, and prior to the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those necessary for its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
(g) The authorized capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub II consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Paramount Merger Sub II are, and prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time will be, owned by New Paramount, free and clear of all Encumbrances and have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no (i) outstanding share of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, Paramount Merger Sub II; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any membership interest or other securities of Paramount Merger Sub II, in each case, issued by Paramount Merger Sub II or to which Paramount Merger Sub II is bound; or (iii) outstanding security, instrument,
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bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any membership interest or other securities of Paramount Merger Sub II. Paramount Merger Sub II has not conducted any business prior to the date of this Agreement and has no, and prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those necessary for its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
(h) The authorized equity interests of Skydance Merger Sub consist of 1 limited liability company unit, which is issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Reference Date. The outstanding limited liability company unit of Skydance Merger Sub is, and prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time will be, owned by New Paramount, free and clear of all Encumbrances and has been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no (i) outstanding limited liability company unit or other equity interest in Skydance Merger Sub; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any membership interest or other securities of Skydance Merger Sub, in each case, issued by Skydance Merger Sub or to which Skydance Merger Sub is bound; or (iii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any membership interest or other securities of Skydance Merger Sub. Skydance Merger Sub has not conducted any business prior to the date of this Agreement and has no, and prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those necessary for its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
Section 3.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. Each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub has the necessary corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions, subject, in the case of the consummation of the Mergers, only to the adoption of this Agreement by the Paramount Stockholder Vote. Except for obtaining the Paramount Stockholder Vote in connection with the consummation of the Mergers, no other corporate action on the part of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs of this Agreement and the consummation by them of the Transactions. The Paramount Special Committee, at a meeting duly called and held on or prior to the date of this Agreement, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are advisable and in the best interests of Paramount and its Public Stockholders and (ii) made the Paramount Special Committee Recommendation. The Paramount Board, at a meeting duly called and held on or prior to the date of this Agreement, acting upon the Paramount Special Committee Recommendation, has: (w) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Paramount and its stockholders, (x) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, (y) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by Paramount of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and (z) made the Paramount Board Recommendation, which authorizations, approvals and recommendations have not been amended or modified as of the date of this Agreement. The New Paramount Board, the Paramount Merger Sub Board, the Paramount Merger Sub II Board and the
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sole member of Skydance Merger Sub have each (A) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of such Person and its stockholders or member (as applicable), (B) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (C) approved the execution, delivery and performance by such Person of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub and, assuming due execution and delivery by the other Parties, constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Paramount, New Paramount and such Merger Sub, enforceable against Paramount, New Paramount and such Merger Sub, respectively, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and except as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount to consummate the Mergers by the End Date.
Section 3.4 Non-Contravention; Consents.
(a) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Skydance in Section 4.15(b), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs and the consummation by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs of the Mergers will not, (i) conflict with or violate any of the certificate of incorporation, articles of organization, bylaws or operating agreement of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs, or any similar organizational documents of any Subsidiary of Paramount, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, and other authorizations described in Section 3.4(b) have been obtained and that all filings and other actions described in Section 3.4(b) have been made or taken and the Paramount Stockholder Vote has been obtained, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Paramount, New Paramount, any Merger Sub or any other Subsidiary of Paramount or by which any property or asset of Paramount, New Paramount, any Merger Sub or any other Subsidiary of Paramount is bound or (iii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) by Paramount, New Paramount, any Merger Sub or any other Subsidiary of Paramount under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the loss of any benefit under, or the creation of any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on the properties or assets of Paramount pursuant to, any Paramount Material Contract, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflict, violation, breach, default, or other occurrence that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers.
(b) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Skydance in Section 4.15(b), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs and the consummation by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs of the Mergers will not, require any consent, approval, authorization, or permit of, filing or registration with, notification or report to, or expiration of waiting periods from, any Governmental Body except for (i) applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of the Information Statement and Registration Statement, (iii) any filing required under the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, (iv) the filing of the Certificates of Merger
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with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the California Secretary of State pursuant to the DGCL and CLLCA, (v) the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act, (vi) the FCC Consent, (vii) any consent, approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration, or filing set forth in Section 3.4(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, and (viii) any other consent, approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration, or filing, which, in each case, if not obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers.
Section 3.5 Vote Required. The affirmative vote or approval of the holders of a majority of the Paramount Class A Shares outstanding as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to act on the Paramount Written Consent in favor of adopting this Agreement (the “Paramount Stockholder Vote”) is the only vote or approval of the holders of any class or series of Paramount’s capital stock, or any holder of any other security of Paramount, required in connection with the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the consummation of the Transactions, and will be sufficient to approve this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, in accordance with the DGCL and Paramount’s organizational documents. The execution and delivery by the Specified NAI Entities, following their receipt of the final form of this Agreement, of a written consent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Paramount Written Consent”) approving and adopting this Agreement in accordance with Sections 228 and 251(c) of the DGCL (which Paramount Written Consent by its terms shall become effective immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement), when effective, will satisfy the Paramount Stockholder Vote. As of the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution hereof, Paramount has made available to Skydance an accurate and complete copy of the executed Paramount Written Consent.
Section 3.6 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Paramount Board, or the Paramount Special Committee, as applicable, has taken all actions so that the restrictions applicable to business combinations in Section 203 of the DGCL and any other similar applicable “anti-takeover” Law shall be inapplicable to the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement, the NAI Letter, the Voting Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and the NAI Stock Purchase Agreement and to the consummation of the Mergers, the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction or the other Transactions. No other “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation or any anti-takeover provision in the organizational documents of Paramount is, or at the applicable Effective Time will be, applicable to the Mergers, the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction or the other Transactions.
Section 3.7 Financial Statements; Internal Controls.
(a) Since January 1, 2021, Paramount has filed or furnished on a timely basis all reports, schedules, forms, statements, and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated therein, amendments and supplements thereto) required to be filed or furnished by Paramount with or to the SEC (the “Paramount SEC Documents”). As of their filing or furnished date (or (x) if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of such amended or superseding filing, or (y) in the case of a registration
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statement, on the effective date of such filing), the Paramount SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder and applicable to such Paramount SEC Documents or Paramount and, except to the extent that information in such Paramount SEC Document has been revised, amended, modified, or superseded (prior to the date of this Agreement) by a later-filed or furnished Paramount SEC Document, none of the Paramount SEC Documents as of such filing or furnished dates contained (or with respect to Paramount SEC Documents filed or furnished after the date of this Agreement, will contain) any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, in each case, that no representation is made as to the accuracy of any financial projection or forward-looking statement or the completeness of any information filed or furnished by Paramount with or to the SEC solely for the purposes of complying with Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act. No Subsidiary of Paramount, including New Paramount or any Merger Sub, is required to file or furnish any report, statement, schedule, form, registration statement, Information Statement, certification, or other document with, or make any other filing with, or furnish any other material to, the SEC.
(b) The consolidated financial statements (including related notes and schedules) contained or incorporated by reference in the Paramount SEC Documents as of their filing or furnished date with the SEC (or (x) if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, the date of such amended or superseding filing, with respect to the consolidated financial statements that are amended or restated therein, or (y) in the case of a registration statement, on the effective date of such filing, with respect to the consolidated financial statements that are included therein): (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or as permitted by Regulation S-X, or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, or any successor form under the Exchange Act); and (iii) fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Paramount and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Paramount and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to be material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole).
(c) Paramount maintains, and at all times since January 1, 2021 has maintained, a system of internal controls over financial reporting (within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Paramount; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
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with GAAP and executed only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Paramount; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the assets of Paramount that could have a material effect on Paramount’s consolidated financial statements. Since January 1, 2021, none of Paramount, the Paramount Board, its audit committee or, to the knowledge of Paramount, Paramount’s independent registered accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of any: (A) significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting utilized by Paramount; (B) illegal act or fraud, whether or not material, that involves the management of Paramount who have a significant role in Paramount’s internal controls over financial reporting; or (C) claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(d) Paramount maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act that are reasonably designed to ensure that all information required to be disclosed in Paramount’s reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that all such information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to Paramount’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to enable each of the principal executive officer of Paramount and the principal financial officer of Paramount to make the certifications required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports.
(e) Neither Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or has any obligation or other commitment to become a party to any securitization transaction, off-balance sheet partnership, or any similar Contract (including any Contract arising out of or relating to any transaction or relationship between or among Paramount and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose, or limited purpose Entity, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangement” (within the meaning of Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act)) where the result, purpose, or intended effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in Paramount’s published financial statements or other Paramount SEC Documents.
(f) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding or unresolved comment in any comment letter received from the SEC with respect to Paramount SEC Documents. To the knowledge of Paramount, none of the Paramount SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC review and there is no material inquiry or investigation by the SEC of which it has been notified, or any material internal investigation pending or threatened, in each case, regarding any accounting practice of Paramount.
Section 3.8 Absence of Changes.
(a) Since December 31, 2023 and through the date of this Agreement, there has not occurred any Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as contemplated by this Agreement, from December 31, 2023 through the date of this Agreement, Paramount and its Subsidiaries have operated their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business (except for
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discussions, negotiations, and transactions related to this Agreement or other potential strategic transactions).
Section 3.9 Title to Assets. Paramount and each Subsidiary of Paramount has good and valid title to all material assets (excluding, to the extent relevant, any Intellectual Property Rights, which are covered under Section 3.11) owned by it as of the date of this Agreement, or valid leasehold interests in or valid right to use all other material assets of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, and including all material assets reflected on Paramount’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 in Paramount’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended on December 31, 2023 (the “Paramount Balance Sheet”), subject to Permitted Encumbrances, except (a) for assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business since January 1, 2024 or (b) where such failure would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.10 Real Property.
(a) Paramount or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole owner of each parcel of material real property owned by Paramount or one of its Subsidiaries, and Section 3.10(a) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each such material owned real property (the “Paramount Owned Real Property”). Paramount or one of its Subsidiaries has good and valid title and, to the knowledge of Paramount, insurable title to the Paramount Owned Real Property, and the Paramount Owned Real Property is free and clear of any Encumbrance, except for Permitted Encumbrances. Except for third-party licenses arrangements pursuant to ordinary course production operations, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has entered into a material lease, license or otherwise granted any Person the right to use or occupy any Paramount Owned Real Property or any material portion thereof. There are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal for the benefit of any third parties to purchase any Paramount Owned Real Property or any material portion thereof.
(b) Paramount or one of its Subsidiaries holds a valid and existing leasehold interest in the material real property that is leased, subleased, licensed, used, or otherwise occupied by Paramount or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from another Person (the “Paramount Leased Real Property”), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances, and Section 3.10(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each such Paramount Leased Real Property. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has received any written notice regarding any violation, breach or default under any Paramount Lease for Paramount Leased Real Property that has not since been cured, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. Neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has entered into a material sublease, license or otherwise granted any Person the right to use or occupy any Paramount Leased Real Property or any material portion thereof.
(c) No casualty event has occurred with respect to any Paramount Owned Real Property or, to the knowledge of Paramount, any Paramount Leased Real Property that has not been remedied, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, no condemnation
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event is pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened, with respect to any Paramount Owned Real Property or, to the knowledge of Paramount, Paramount Leased Real Property.
Section 3.11 Intellectual Property.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect:
(i) All Paramount Registered IP is subsisting, valid, enforceable, and in full force and effect.
(ii) Paramount and its Subsidiaries own (in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances) all material Paramount IP and own or otherwise have the right to use, pursuant to a valid Contract or other right, all other Intellectual Property Rights necessary for the conduct of the business as presently conducted by Paramount and its Subsidiaries. Each current and former employee, consultant and contractor who has created or developed any material Intellectual Property Rights for or on behalf of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed pursuant to a valid written agreement that their contribution of such Intellectual Property Rights is a work-made-for-hire owned by Paramount or its relevant Subsidiary or has assigned to Paramount or its relevant Subsidiary all of their right, title and interest in any such Intellectual Property Rights, to the extent such Intellectual Property Rights do not initially vest in Paramount or its Subsidiaries by operation of law.
(iii) The operation of the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted is not infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, and as conducted since January 1, 2021 has not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any Person. To the knowledge of Paramount, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Paramount IP, except for individual acts of piracy of Paramount IP that occur in the ordinary course of business. There is currently no, and there has not been during the twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of this Agreement any, Legal Proceeding pending (or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened in writing) against Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries alleging (i) that the operation of the business of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property Right of any Person or (ii) that Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries has defamed any Person.
(iv) Paramount and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable measures to protect and maintain each item of material Paramount Registered IP and the confidentiality of the Trade Secrets included in the Paramount IP.
(v) None of Paramount or its Subsidiaries is party to any pending or outstanding Order that adversely restricts the use of any Paramount IP.
(vi) No Paramount IT Assets contain any Malicious Code. Paramount and its Subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable disaster recovery and backup plans and procedures for the Paramount IT Assets and have taken
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commercially reasonable steps designed to (i) protect against loss and unauthorized access or use of the Paramount IT Assets and (ii) detect for and prevent the introduction of any Malicious Code into such Paramount IT Assets. In the twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any material incident of unauthorized access or other material security breach of the Paramount IT Assets. None of the Software owned by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries that is licensed, distributed or made available to any third party incorporates or is derived from any Copyleft Software.
(vii) Paramount and its Subsidiaries have duly performed (consistent with industry standard practices) their obligations in respect of the Paramount Properties that were due, owing, or matured, including having paid all sums due, owing or matured for the development, production, distribution, exhibition or other Exploitation of the Paramount Properties.
(viii) During the period between January 1, 2021 and the Closing Date, neither Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has received a Notice of Termination under any of Sections 203, 304(c) or 304(d) of the Copyright Act (an “NoT”) or (ii) has received any written communication threatening, advising or indicating that anyone is in the process of, or otherwise intending, to serve a NoT on Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case with respect to the Paramount Franchise Property.
(b) The information in any databases maintained by Paramount or its Subsidiaries to track licensing of Paramount Properties for Exploitation has been maintained by Paramount and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, is derived from the books and records and the Exploitation agreements of Paramount and its Subsidiaries and is relied on by Paramount and its Subsidiaries in conducting its business, except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Section 3.11(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the term (i.e., duration) of each of the Contracts set forth therein.
(c) Section 3.11(c) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Properties that Paramount or its Subsidiaries have greenlit or otherwise committed to produce, acquire or finance and that, as of the date hereof, reflect the terms set forth on Section 3.11(c) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter.
Section 3.12 Data Privacy and Security.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021: (a) Paramount and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Paramount, all vendors, processors or other third parties Processing Personal Information for or on behalf of Paramount or any Subsidiaries of Paramount or otherwise sharing Personal Information with Paramount or any Subsidiaries of Paramount (each a “Paramount Data Partner”) have complied with (i) all applicable Privacy Laws and (ii) all published privacy and data security policies, notices and statements to which Paramount and its Subsidiaries are subject.
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(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, Paramount and its Subsidiaries have, and have required any Paramount Data Partner to have, adopted and implemented at least commercially reasonable industry standard physical, technical, organizational, and administrative security measures and policies to (i) protect all Personal Information stored or processed by or on behalf of Paramount and its Subsidiaries against any accidental, unlawful or unauthorized access, use, loss, disclosure, alteration, destruction, compromise or other Processing (a “Security Incident”) and (ii) identify and address internal and external risks to the privacy and security of Personal Information processed by or on behalf of Paramount and its Subsidiaries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, Paramount, Subsidiaries of Paramount (and, to the knowledge of Paramount, Paramount Data Partners with respect to Personal Information of Paramount and its Subsidiaries) have not experienced a Security Incident.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, in relation to any Security Incident, none of Paramount or any of the Subsidiaries of Paramount has been the subject of any formal complaint, claim or investigation or been required to notify any Person.
Section 3.13 Paramount Contracts.
(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter identifies each of the following Paramount Contracts to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound as of the date of this Agreement other than any Paramount Contract that is or constitutes (1) a nondisclosure agreement entered into (x) in the ordinary course of business or (y) in connection with discussions, negotiations, and transactions related to this Agreement, other Acquisition Proposals, or other potential strategic transactions or (2) a Paramount Employee Plan or, Paramount Equity Plan, which shall be governed by Section 3.19 (the Paramount Contracts required to be set forth on such schedule, the “Paramount Material Contracts”):
(i) any Paramount Contract that limits the right of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to sell, distribute, produce or manufacture any product, project or service either by (A) limiting the right of Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount from engaging in any line of business or to compete with any other Person in any location or line of business (other than exclusive or co-exclusive licenses of or holdbacks affecting Paramount Properties entered into in the ordinary course of business) or (B) providing “most favored nation” rights (including with respect to pricing, but excluding (i) with respect to credits, profit participations, perquisites or other rights in favor of a party providing financing or services in connection with a Paramount Property in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Affiliation Agreements), in favor of a party other than Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount, in each case under clause (A) or (B) in a manner that is material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) any Paramount Contract that required or requires annual payments or delivery of cash or other consideration by or to Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount having a value or expected value in excess of $50,000,000 in the
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fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, other than any Contracts entered into in connection with Content Activities;
(iii) other than any Contracts entered into in connection with Content Activities, any Paramount Contract under which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries (A) licenses or sublicenses material Intellectual Property Rights to any third party, (B) licenses or sublicenses material Intellectual Property Rights from any third party or (C) has entered into any material covenant not to sue or assert or immunity from suit with respect to material Intellectual Property Rights, including any material coexistence agreements and material settlement agreements (in each case, other than (v) non-disclosure agreements, (w) non-exclusive licenses granted by Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount in the ordinary course of business or to end users in connection with the provision or sale of any product or service, (x) non-exclusive licenses granted to Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount by any customer, employee, consultant, or independent contractor of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount in the ordinary course of business, (y) non-exclusive licenses of commercially available Software granted to Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount or (z) licenses to open source, public, or freeware Software, or other materials), in each case of clauses (A)-(C), which Paramount Contract is material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iv) any Paramount Contract relating to debt for borrowed money in excess of $50,000,000 (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed, or secured by any asset) of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, other than guarantees of obligations of Paramount or any wholly owned Subsidiary of Paramount;
(v) any Paramount Contract related to the formation, creation, governance or control of any Paramount Material Joint Venture;
(vi) any Paramount Contract that prohibits the payment of dividends or distributions in respect of the capital stock of Paramount, the pledging of the capital stock or other equity interests of Paramount, or prohibits the issuance of any guaranty by Paramount of the obligations of a Person other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, other than Paramount Contracts relating to Permitted Paramount Indebtedness;
(vii) any Paramount Contract that contains a put, call or similar right pursuant to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries would be required to purchase or sell, as applicable, any equity interests of any Person or assets (excluding Intellectual Property Rights) at a purchase price which would reasonably be likely to exceed $25,000,000;
(viii) any Paramount Contract relating to a Paramount Related Party Transaction (other than any such transactions entered into on an arm’s-length basis);
(ix) any Paramount Contract since January 1, 2021, that relates to the acquisition or disposition by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of any Person or other business organization, division, or business of any Person (whether by merger or
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consolidation, by the purchase of a controlling equity interest in or substantially all of the assets of such Person, or by any other manner), in each case, pursuant to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries has continuing guarantee, “earn-out” or similar contingent payment obligations (excluding confidentiality obligations and indemnification obligations in respect of representations and warrants or covenants);
(x) any Paramount Contract with any Governmental Body under which payments in excess of $15,000,000 were received by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, other than any Contract entered into in connection with Content Activities;
(xi) (A) except for such Paramount Contracts with third-parties under licenses arrangements pursuant to ordinary course production operations, any Paramount Contract for the license, lease or sublease of any Paramount Owned Real Property and (B) any Paramount Lease for any Paramount Leased Real Property;
(xii) any Paramount Contract since January 1, 2021, the primary purpose of which is to provide for indemnification or guarantee of the obligations of any Person other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries that would be material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any such Paramount Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xiii) any Paramount Contract that is material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and contains a so-called “key person” or “essential element” provision with respect to any Paramount Associate;
(xiv) (i) any Contract that is material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and grants a change of control right or remedy, right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase or option to exclusively license, or (ii) any Contract that includes a provision that would require a material payment in excess of $10,000,000 to the other party or parties thereto, in each case, which right or payment is triggered by or would materially impair, the consummation of the Mergers or the other Transactions;
(xv) any Material Affiliation Agreement;
(xvi) any “term deals”, “housekeeping deals”, “overall deals”, and “first look deals” as commonly understood in the entertainment industry that involved or are reasonably expected to involve fixed or guaranteed annual payments by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of $15,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;
(xvii) any Contract which provides a party, other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, with a right to co-finance or co-own in excess of 10% of a Paramount Franchise Property, or otherwise exercise material control or co-control over or materially restrict the development, production or Exploitation of any Paramount Franchise Property;
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(xviii) any Contract for the licensing to or Exploitation by any party other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of any Property owned or controlled by Paramount or its Subsidiaries that involved annual revenue of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of $50,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, excluding amounts paid by any third party to Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to fund or reimburse development and production costs;
(xix) any Contract for the licensing to or Exploitation by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of any Property owned or controlled by any party other than Paramount or its Subsidiaries that involved (or would reasonably be expected to involve) annual payments by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of $50,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or 2024;
(xx) any Contract for the distribution, licensing or other Exploitation of Paramount+ or Pluto TV by a party other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to (i) any Material Affiliation Agreement or (ii) a Contract with over-the-top platforms, which, in the case of clause (ii), involved (or would reasonably be expected to involve) annual revenues to Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of $100,000,000 in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or 2024;
(xxi) any Collective Bargaining Agreement, excluding any Collective Bargaining Agreement with a Guild and/or that applies on a national, area-wide, industry-wide or mandatory basis; and
(xxii) any settlement, conciliation or similar agreement (A) pursuant to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated after the date of this Agreement to pay consideration, in each case, in excess of $15,000,000 or (B) that would otherwise materially limit the operation of the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently operated.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, Paramount has made available to Skydance or Skydance’s Representatives an accurate and complete copy of each Paramount Material Contract (except with such redactions as may be clearly marked on such copies). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) as of the date hereof neither Paramount (or its applicable Subsidiary) nor, to the knowledge of Paramount, any other party is in breach of or default under any Paramount Material Contract and neither Paramount (or its applicable Subsidiary) nor, to the knowledge of Paramount, any other party has taken or failed to take any action, and no event has occurred, that with or without notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of or default under any Paramount Material Contract, (ii) as of the date hereof each Paramount Material Contract is, with respect to Paramount (or its applicable Subsidiary) and, to the knowledge of Paramount, as of the date hereof, each other party, a valid agreement, binding, and in full force and effect, (iii) to the knowledge of Paramount, as of the date hereof, each Paramount Material Contract is enforceable by Paramount (or its applicable Subsidiary) in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and (iv) since January 1, 2023 through the day prior to the date of this Agreement, (x) Paramount has not received any written notice regarding any violation or breach or default under any Paramount Material Contract that has not since been cured, (y) no
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counterparty to any Paramount Material Contract has canceled or otherwise terminated, or threatened in writing to cancel or otherwise to terminate, its relationship with Paramount (or its applicable Subsidiary) and (z) no counterparty to any Paramount Material Contract has decreased materially or threatened to decrease materially or limit materially, the amount of business that any such counterparty presently engages in or presently conducts with Paramount and its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.14 Liabilities. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has any liability of the type required to be disclosed as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (a) liabilities disclosed on the Paramount Balance Sheet; (b) liabilities or obligations incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (c) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since January 1, 2024; (d) liabilities for performance of obligations under Paramount Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice (other than as a result of the breach or acceleration thereof); and (e) liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.15 Compliance with Laws. Paramount and each Subsidiary of Paramount has been, since January 1, 2021, in compliance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Paramount, since January 1, 2021, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has been given written notice of, or been charged with, any violation of any Law, except, in each case, for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Paramount, no investigation or review by any Governmental Body with respect to Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is pending or, as of the date of this Agreement, threatened, except for such investigations or reviews the outcome of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.16 Certain Business Practices.
(a) Since January 1, 2021, none of Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount, or any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the knowledge of Paramount, any employee or agent, in each case, acting on behalf of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, has (i) been a Sanctioned Person or (ii) violated any applicable Trade Laws or Sanctions, applicable Anti-Corruption Law or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, applicable anti-money laundering Law and any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder or (iii) has, in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law: (a) directly or indirectly paid, offered, or promised to make or offer any contribution, gift, entertainment, or other expense, (b) made, offered, or promised to make or offer any payment, loan, or transfer of anything of value, including any reward, advantage, or benefit of any kind to or for the benefit of foreign or domestic governmental officials or employees, or to foreign or domestic political parties, candidates thereof, or campaigns, (c) paid, offered, or promised to make or offer any bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, rebate, or other similar payment of any nature or (d) created or caused the creation of any false or inaccurate books and records of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount related to any of the foregoing, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. Paramount has established and maintains policies and
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procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with any Anti-Corruption Laws, anti-money laundering Laws, Sanctions, and Trade Laws applicable to Paramount and its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Paramount, there are no Anti-Corruption Law-related, anti-money laundering-related, Sanctions-related or Trade Laws-related Legal Proceedings pending or threatened against Paramount or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Paramount, any officer or director thereof by or before (or, in the case of a threatened matter, that would come before) any Governmental Body, except, in each case, as would not be material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Neither Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate, or develop any “critical technologies,” as that term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215; (ii) perform any of the functions as set forth in column 2 of Appendix A to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 with respect to “covered investment critical infrastructure,” as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.212; or (iii) maintain or collect, directly or indirectly, “sensitive personal data,” as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.241, of U.S. citizens; and, therefore, in turn, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount is a “TID U.S. business” within the meaning of that term in 31 C.F.R. § 800.248.
Section 3.17 Governmental Authorizations.
(a) Paramount and its Subsidiaries hold all Governmental Authorizations necessary to enable Paramount and its Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses in the manner in which their businesses are currently being conducted, except where the failure to hold such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. The material Governmental Authorizations held by Paramount and its Subsidiaries are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity or failure of such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. Paramount and its Subsidiaries are each in compliance with the terms and requirements of such Governmental Authorizations, to the extent applicable to them, except where failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Section 3.17(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list of the Stations (including the associated Governmental Authorization issued under the Communications Laws for each Station) and each of the FCC Licenses held by Paramount and its Subsidiaries currently in effect (the “Material Communications Licenses”). Each of the FCC Licenses is in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, rescinded, terminated, or expired without the filing of a still-pending, timely-filed license renewal application. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, the construction of all facilities or changes contemplated by any of the FCC Licenses or construction permits issued to modify any FCC License have been completed to the extent required to be completed as of the date hereof. The FCC Licenses have been issued for the terms expiring as indicated on Section 3.17(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, it being acknowledged that certain of the FCC Licenses are subject to pending license renewal applications in which no basic qualification issues have been raised. The FCC Licenses have been issued for the full terms customarily issued by the FCC for each class of Station, or if subject to a pending
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renewal application, there are no facts, events or conditions known to Paramount based upon which the FCC would reasonably be expected to not grant the renewal for a full term.
(c) None of the FCC Licenses are subject to any restrictions or conditions other than those appearing on the face of the FCC Licenses or generally affecting such type of FCC License. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, Paramount and its Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, notifications, and filings with the FCC necessary to maintain all FCC Licenses in full force and effect, and have timely paid all FCC regulatory fees with respect thereto. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, Paramount and its Subsidiaries hold all FCC authorizations necessary to operate the Stations as they are currently being operated, and such operation is in compliance with such authorizations in all material respects.
(d) Except for actions or proceedings affecting such type of FCC License or Material Communications License generally, no application or proceeding or decision is pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened that is reasonably likely to result in (i) the denial of an application for renewal of any FCC License or any Material Communications License, (ii) the revocation, materially adverse modification, non-renewal or suspension of any of the FCC Licenses or Material Communications Licenses, (iii) the issuance of a material cease-and-desist order, or (iv) the imposition of any material forfeiture with respect to any of the Stations. There is not now issued, outstanding, pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened, by or before the FCC, any order to show cause, notice of violation, notice of apparent liability, or notice of forfeiture reasonably expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect with respect to any of the FCC Licenses or the Stations. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount, nor any Station, has entered into a tolling agreement or otherwise waived any statute of limitations relating to the Stations during which the FCC may assess any fine or forfeiture or take any other action or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any FCC investigation or proceeding as to which the statute of limitations time period so waived or tolled or the time period so extended remains open.
(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Station is currently broadcasting for the required minimum schedule under the Communications Laws and has not been silent nor operating on less than the required minimum schedule for a period of time of more than thirty (30) days during the current license term without FCC authority or application therefor, (ii) the Stations, their respective physical facilities, electrical and mechanical systems and transmitting and studio equipment are being operated in compliance with the applicable FCC Licenses and the requirements of the Communications Laws, and (iii) Paramount, the Subsidiaries of Paramount and the Stations are in compliance with all requirements of the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to the construction or alteration of the antenna structures owned by Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount or any Station.
(f) Paramount is in compliance with Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act and associated provisions of the FCC Rules, without need for a declaratory ruling from the FCC permitting foreign investment at levels greater than twenty-five percent (25%) of total equity or voting interests.
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Section 3.18 Tax Matters.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) each of the Tax Returns required to be filed by Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount has been filed on or before the applicable due date (taking into account any extension of such due date), and all such Tax Returns are true, accurate, and complete in all respects, (ii) all Taxes due and payable by or required to have been paid by Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount (whether or not shown as due and owing on any Tax Returns) have been timely paid by Paramount or such Subsidiary of Paramount and (iii) Paramount and each Subsidiary of Paramount has withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Governmental Body all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid over by it in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any Paramount Associate, employee, former employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other Person.
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) no deficiency or proposed adjustment for any Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Taxing Authority against Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, which deficiency has not been paid, settled, or withdrawn, (ii) no examination or audit of, or other Legal Proceeding with respect to, any Tax Return of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is currently in progress or pending, or, to Paramount’s or any of its Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened, (iii) there is no Encumbrance for Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any asset of Paramount or of any Subsidiary of Paramount, (iv) no written claim has been made by any Governmental Body in a jurisdiction in which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, as applicable, does not file Tax Returns (or pay a specified type of Tax) that it is or may be required to file Tax Returns in, or is subject to such type of Tax by, that jurisdiction, (v) there is not in effect any waiver, modification or extension by Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount of any statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes (or the assessment or collection of any Taxes) of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount (except for automatic extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business) and (vi) none of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount has agreed to any modification, waiver or extension of time for filing any Tax Return that has not been filed and no request for any waiver, modification or extension described in this sentence is currently pending.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount is a party to any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnity agreement, or similar agreement with respect to Taxes that would have a continuing effect after the Closing Date or which would bind New Paramount or any Subsidiary of New Paramount after the Closing Date (other than customary commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes), and (ii) neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount (a) has been a member of an “affiliated group” (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is or was Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount) or (b) has any liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount) pursuant to applicable Law (including under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of any state, local, or non-U.S. Law)), as a transferee or successor, or by Contract (other than customary
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commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes).
(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of: (i) any change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date made prior to the Closing, (ii) the use of an incorrect method of accounting prior to the Closing Date, (iii) any “closing agreement” executed prior to the Closing or any agreement with any Taxing Authority entered into or any ruling received or requested from any Taxing Authority on or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code entered into or existing prior to the Closing, (v) any prepaid amount received, or paid, on or prior to the Closing or any deferred revenue accrued or existing on or before the Closing Date, or (vi) any installment sale or open transaction disposition occurring on or before the Closing Date. Neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has made an election pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.
(e) In the prior two years, neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has been either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to be governed in whole or in part under Section 355 of the Code (or under so much of Section 356 of the Code as it relates to Section 355 of the Code).
(f) Neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount is or has entered into any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Sections 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(g) Neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement, nor is Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, after due inquiry, aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment or Paramount Tax Counsel from providing the Tax Opinion.
(h) This Section 3.18 and Section 3.19 set forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Paramount with respect to Tax matters.
Section 3.19 Employee Matters; Employee Plans.
(a) Neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount (i) is party to or bound by a Collective Bargaining Agreement; (ii) is currently negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement or (iii) has an obligation to bargain with any union, works council, employee association or other similar labor organization, in each case, excluding Collective Bargaining Agreements with a Guild and/or that apply on a national, area-wide, industry-wide or mandatory basis. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Mergers (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) will require the consent of, or advance notification to or consultation with, any works councils, unions or similar labor organizations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Guilds) with respect to employees of
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Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) since January 1, 2021, there has not been any unfair labor practice charge, labor arbitration, grievance, strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, picketing, labor dispute, question concerning labor representation, union organizing activity, or any threat thereof, or any similar activity or dispute, affecting Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount or any of their respective employees; and (ii) there is not now pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened unfair labor practice charge, labor arbitration, grievance, strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, picketing, labor dispute, question regarding labor representation or union organizing activity, or any similar activity or dispute.
(b) There is no (and, since January 1, 2021, has been no) Legal Proceeding ongoing, pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened, arising out of or relating to the employment or engagement of any Paramount Associate by Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount or any labor or employment practice of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, including arising out of or relating to any Paramount Employee Plan, other than any Legal Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect. Paramount and each Subsidiary of Paramount has at all times since January 1, 2021 complied with the WARN Act, as applicable.
(c) Paramount and each Subsidiary of Paramount is in compliance and, since January 1, 2021, has complied with all applicable Laws related to labor or employment (which for the avoidance of doubt includes all Contracts for labor or employment, including all Collective Bargaining Agreements by which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is bound), including all Laws regarding any term or condition of employment, employment practices, pensions obligations, hiring, payment of wages and hours of work, collective bargaining, worker classification (including the proper classification of workers as independent contractors and of employees as exempt or non-exempt), background checks, leaves of absence, plant closing and mass layoff notification, privacy rights, labor disputes, workplace safety, retaliation, immigration, accommodations, harassment and discrimination matters, and termination of employment, except any lack of compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Section 3.19(d) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a complete list of each material Paramount Employee Plan (which, for the avoidance of doubt for the purposes of this Agreement, includes the Paramount U.K. DB Plans) (other than (i) Employee Plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild and (ii) employment agreements or offer letters that both (x) do not provide for change in control payments or benefits and (y) either do not provide for annual base salary in excess of $1,000,000 or do not materially deviate from Paramount’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s standard forms set forth on Section 3.19(d) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter). Paramount has made available to Skydance or Skydance’s Representatives with respect to each material Paramount Employee Plan (other than Employee Plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild and excluding for this purpose all employment agreements and offer letters that both (i) do not provide for change in control payments or benefits and (ii) either do not provide for annual base salary in excess of $1,000,000 or do not otherwise materially deviate from Paramount’s or its applicable Subsidiary’s standard forms) accurate and complete copies of the following, as relevant: (i) all plan documents
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and all material amendments thereto, and all related trust or other funding documents (including any guarantee, letter of credit or other form of security in respect of either Paramount U.K. DB Plan); (ii) any currently effective determination letter or opinion letter received from the IRS (or comparable ruling or letter from any non-U.S. Governmental Body); (iii) the most recent actuarial valuation report and any subsequent funding update, and the most recent Form 5500 and all schedules thereto; and (iv) all material, non-routine written communications with the Department of Labor, IRS or any other Governmental Body relating to any audit, investigation or similar proceeding with respect to such Paramount Employee Plan sent or received since January 1, 2021.
(e) Section 3.19(e) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter sets forth (other than plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild to which the “entertainment industry” exception set forth in Section 4203(c) of ERISA applies) (i) the Paramount U.K. DB Plans and each other plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or any other defined benefit plan with respect to which Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates contributes, or has or could reasonably be expected to have any direct or indirect liability (contingent or otherwise) (each, a “Paramount Pension Plan”) and (ii) each “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA with respect to which Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates contributes, or has or could reasonably be expected to have any direct or indirect liability (contingent or otherwise) (each, a “Paramount Multiemployer Plan”). Except for the Paramount Pension Plans and Paramount Multiemployer Plans and, except for plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild to which the “entertainment industry” exception set forth in Section 4203(c) of ERISA applies, none of Paramount, any Subsidiary of Paramount or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates sponsors, maintains, contributes to or otherwise has liability, whether actual or contingent, with respect to (i) a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, including any “single employer” defined benefit plan or any “multiemployer plan,” each within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA, (ii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA, or (iv) any U.K. defined benefit pension arrangement.
(f) With respect to each Paramount Pension Plan, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) no such Paramount Pension Plan has failed to meet minimum funding standards set forth in Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA, (ii) no such Paramount Pension Plan has been determined to be in “at-risk” status, within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 or Title IV of ERISA, (iii) no unsatisfied liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) has been incurred (other than for non-delinquent premiums), (iv) there has been no “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which Paramount has failed to timely report to the PBGC; (v) no notice of intent to terminate such Paramount Pension Plan has been filed with the PBGC and no amendment terminating such Paramount Pension Plan has been adopted and no proceedings to terminate such Paramount Pension Plan instituted by the PBGC are pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened; (vi) no event or condition has occurred which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, such Paramount Pension Plan; and (vii) no lien has arisen or would reasonably be expected to arise
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under ERISA or the Code on the assets of Paramount or its Subsidiaries in connection with any Paramount Pension Plan.
(g) With respect to each Paramount Multiemployer Plan, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (i) to the knowledge of Paramount, no such Paramount Multiemployer Plan is insolvent, within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA; (ii) no withdrawal liability, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been or is reasonably expected to be incurred by Paramount, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, and, to the knowledge of Paramount, no event has occurred that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence by Paramount, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from, or termination of, any Paramount Multiemployer Plan; (iii) none of Paramount, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred or expects to incur any liability (including any indirect, contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of such Paramount Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 436(f) of the Code or Sections 515, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA; (iv) Paramount, its Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates have timely made all required contributions (including installments) in full, and are not delinquent in any contributions, to such Paramount Multiemployer Plan; (v) to the knowledge of Paramount, no proceeding has been initiated by the PBGC to terminate such Paramount Multiemployer Plan or is threatened; (vi) to the knowledge of Paramount, no Paramount Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered or critical” status, within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; and (vii) no lien has arisen or would reasonably be expected to arise under ERISA or the Code on the assets of Paramount or its Subsidiaries in connection with any Paramount Multiemployer Plan.
(h) (i) Each of the Paramount Employee Plans that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has obtained a favorable determination letter (or is entitled to rely upon a favorable opinion letter, if applicable) as to its qualified status under the Code, (ii) to the knowledge of Paramount, there are no facts or circumstances that would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the qualified status for any such Paramount Employee Plan and (iii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, each of the Paramount Employee Plans is now, and has since January 1, 2021, been established, funded and operated in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code.
(i) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each Paramount Employee Plan that is subject to Laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States or provides compensation or benefits to or for the benefit of any Paramount Associates that primarily reside outside of the United States: (i) if such Paramount Employee Plan is intended to qualify for special tax treatment, such Paramount Employee Plan meets (and at all times has met) all the requirements for such treatment, and no facts or circumstances exist that could adversely affect such qualified treatment; and (ii) each such Paramount Employee Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.
(j) Except pursuant to the Paramount Employee Plans set forth on Section 3.19(j) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or to the extent required under Section 601 et
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seq. of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code (or any other similar non-U.S., state or local Law), no Paramount Employee Plan provides and none of Paramount, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any present or future obligation to provide post-employment or post-retirement medical, life insurance or other welfare benefits to any Paramount Associate (or spouse, dependent or beneficiary thereof).
(k) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as set forth on Section 3.19(k) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the Transactions (either alone or in combination with any other event) will not (i) result in any compensatory payment or benefit becoming due, or increase the amount of any such payment or benefit, to any Paramount Associate or under any Paramount Employee Plan, excluding (for clarity) any severance payment or benefit that would be due without regard to the occurrence of the consummation of the Transactions; (ii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, funding, or vesting of any payment or benefit to any Paramount Associate or under any Paramount Employee Plan; (iii) limit Paramount’s or any Subsidiary of Paramount’s right to amend, modify or terminate any Paramount Employee Plan or related trust; or (iv) result in the payment of any amount that could, individually or in combination with any other payment or benefit, constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or result in the payment of an excise Tax by any Person under Section 4999 of the Code.
(l) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Paramount Employee Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in material operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all IRS guidance promulgated thereunder, to the extent such section and such guidance have been applicable to such Paramount Employee Plan; and (ii) no amounts paid or payable by Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount to or for the benefit of any Paramount Associate have been or are reasonably expected to be subject to any Tax or penalty imposed under Section 457A of the Code. There is no agreement, plan, Contract or other arrangement to which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is a party or by which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is otherwise bound to compensate any Paramount Associate in respect of Taxes pursuant to Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.
(m) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, no Legal Proceeding (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) is (or, since January 1, 2021, has been) ongoing, pending, or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened against or in respect of any Paramount Employee Plan, the assets of any of the trusts under any Paramount Employee Plan or the plan sponsor, administrator, trustee or any fiduciary of any Paramount Employee Plan with respect to the operation thereof.
(n) To the knowledge of Paramount, (i) save in relation to the Paramount U.K. DB Plans, neither Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has ever been an “employer” nor (except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect) is, or has in the last six years been, an “associate of” or “connected with” an “employer” (as those terms in quotation marks are used in the U.K. Pensions Act 2004) of any U.K. defined benefit pension arrangement and (ii) except as would not,
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individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, each Paramount U.K. DB Plan has been properly and validly established, amended, operated, administered, funded and actuarially valued at all times in all material respects in accordance with its governing terms and applicable Law.
(o) Since January 1, 2021, (i) no material allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been made by any current or former employee of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount against any current or former executive or officer of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, (ii) neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by an executive or officer of Paramount or any Paramount Subsidiary, and (iii) Paramount and the Paramount Subsidiaries have promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigated all material allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct of which they are or were aware and have taken all reasonable and necessary corrective actions with respect to such allegations that is reasonably calculated to prevent further harassment and misconduct with respect to each allegation with potential merit. No allegation of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct would reasonably be expected to result in any material loss to Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and no such allegations have been made, that if known to the public, would reasonably be expected to bring Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries into material disrepute.
Section 3.20 Environmental Matters. Except for those matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (a) Paramount and each of the Subsidiaries of Paramount is, and since January 1, 2021, has been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining or complying with all Governmental Authorizations required under Environmental Laws for the operation of their respective businesses; (b) as of the date of this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding or Order arising under any Environmental Law that is pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened in writing against Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount; (c) to the knowledge of Paramount, there is and has been no Hazardous Material present or Released on, at, under, or from any property or facility, including the Paramount Owned Real Property and the Paramount Leased Real Property, in a manner and concentration that would reasonably be expected to result in any claim against or liability of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount under any Environmental Law; and (d) neither Paramount nor any Subsidiary of Paramount has assumed, undertaken, or otherwise become subject to any known liability of another Person arising under Environmental Laws other than any indemnity in Paramount Material Contracts or other licenses, leases, or sub-leases for real property. This Section 3.20 sets forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Paramount with respect to matters arising under Environmental Laws.
Section 3.21 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, (a) Paramount and its Subsidiaries maintain or are otherwise covered by insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is sufficient to comply with applicable Law and Contracts to which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is a party or is bound; and (b) as of the date of this Agreement, all insurance policies with respect to the business and assets of Paramount and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect (except for any expiration thereof in accordance with their terms), all premiums due thereon have been paid in full, no written notice of cancellation or modification has been received, and there is
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no existing default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by any insured thereunder.
Section 3.22 Legal Proceedings; Orders.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Paramount, threatened in writing, against Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, or any property or asset of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount, other than any Legal Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount to consummate the Mergers by the End Date.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Order to which Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount is subject that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.23 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Paramount Special Committee has received the opinion of Centerview Partners LLC (the “Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor”), as the financial advisor to the Paramount Special Committee, on or prior to the date of this Agreement, that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the matters set forth therein, including the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations set forth therein, the New Paramount Merger Consideration to be paid to the holders of Paramount Shares (other than Excluded Shares), taken in the aggregate, pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Paramount shall provide a copy of such written opinion to Skydance solely for informational purposes and on a non-reliance basis as promptly as practicable following the execution of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, the foregoing opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified in any respect.
Section 3.24 Financial Advisor. Except for the Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor pursuant to the Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor Engagement Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker, financial advisor, or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the Mergers based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount. Paramount has, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, made available to Skydance a true, correct, and complete copy of Paramount’s engagement letter with the Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor relating to the Mergers as in effect on the date of this Agreement (the “Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor Engagement Letter”).
Section 3.25 Related Party Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, other than any Paramount Employee Plan, neither Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to any transaction or arrangement or series of related transactions or arrangements between Paramount or a Subsidiary of Paramount, on the one hand, and any (a) present or former executive officer (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) or director of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of the equity securities of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries whose status as a 5% holder
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is known to Paramount as of the date of this Agreement or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) (but only, with respect to the Persons in clause (b), to the knowledge of Paramount), on the other hand, in each case as would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act (each of the foregoing, a “Paramount Related Party Transaction”).
Section 3.26 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing by or on behalf of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount expressly for inclusion in (a) the Information Statement to be filed by Paramount with the SEC will, on the date the Information Statement is first mailed to stockholders of Paramount and (b) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, no representation or warranty is made by Paramount with respect to any information or statement made or incorporated by reference in the Information Statement or Registration Statement that was not supplied by or on behalf of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount for use therein.
Section 3.27 No Other Representation.
(a) Except for the express written representations and warranties made by Paramount in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in the Subscription Agreements, none of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Paramount or any Paramount Affiliate or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, or condition (financial or otherwise). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub hereby acknowledges and agrees that except for the express written representations and warranties made by Skydance, the Blocker Holders and the Equity Investors in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document, none of Skydance, the Blocker Holders or any other Person has made or makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Skydance, any Skydance Affiliate, the Blocker Holders, any Affiliate of any Blocker Holder or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub hereby acknowledges and agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of the Paramount Parties) that: (i) except for the representations and warranties of Skydance expressly set forth in Article IV, the representations and warranties of each Blocker Holder expressly set forth in Article V, the representations and warranties of Skydance or any Blocker Holder in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and the representations and warranties of Skydance, the Blocker Holders or the Equity Investors expressly set forth in any other Transaction Document, (x) none of the Skydance Parties or the Blocker Holders makes, or has made, any representation or warranty and (y) none of the Paramount Parties is relying on, or has relied on, any representation or warranty made, or information provided, by or on behalf of any Skydance Party or the Blocker Holders, in each case, regarding any Skydance Party, any Blocker Holder or their respective businesses, this Agreement, the
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Mergers, or any other related matter; and (ii) each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review, and analysis regarding Skydance, the Skydance Subsidiaries, the Blockers and the Mergers, which investigation, review, and analysis were conducted by Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that they have engaged for such purpose.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SKYDANCE
Skydance hereby represents and warrants to Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub as follows (it being understood that each representation and warranty in this Article IV is subject to the exceptions and disclosures set forth in the Skydance Disclosure Letter (subject to Section 10.12)):
Section 4.1 Due Organization; Subsidiaries.
(a) Skydance is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of California (“California Law”) and has all necessary power and authority to (i) conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) own and use its assets in the manner in which its assets are currently owned and used and (iii) perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Skydance is qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign Entity, and is in good standing (to the extent a concept of “good standing” is recognized), in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires such qualification or licensing, except where the failure to be so qualified, licensed, or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Section 4.1(c) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter identifies each Subsidiary of Skydance (each, a “Skydance Subsidiary”, and collectively, the “Skydance Subsidiaries”) and indicates its jurisdiction of organization. Each Skydance Subsidiary is a corporation or other business Entity duly incorporated or organized (as applicable), validly existing, and in good standing (to the extent a concept of “good standing” is recognized) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has full corporate or other organizational power and authority required to own, lease, or operate, as appropriate, the assets and properties that it purports to own, lease, and operate and to carry on its business as now conducted, and is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except, in each case, where any failure thereof would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. All outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities of, or other equity interests in, each Skydance Subsidiary, which are held, directly or indirectly, by Skydance, have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and are owned by Skydance, by another Skydance Subsidiary, or by Skydance and another Skydance Subsidiary, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than
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restrictions imposed by applicable securities laws or the organizational documents of any such Subsidiary or any Permitted Encumbrances.
(d) Skydance has made available to Paramount or Paramount’s Representatives accurate and complete copies of the articles of organization, operating agreement and other organizational documents of Skydance and each of the Skydance Subsidiaries, including all amendments thereto, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. None of Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries is in violation of any provision of its articles of organization, operating agreement and other organizational documents, except for violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect or be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger or the other Transactions to which it is party.
(e) Section 4.1(e) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Skydance) in which Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries holds capital stock or other equity interests (x) representing at least 20% of the outstanding equity of such Person and (y) involved annual revenue in excess of $50,000,000 in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for which Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have made or are committed to make capital contributions in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate (each such person, a “Skydance Material Joint Venture”).
Section 4.2 Capitalization.
(a) The issued and outstanding equity interests of Skydance as of the Reference Date are as set forth on Section 4.2(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, which sets forth the number and class of Skydance Membership Units outstanding as of close of business on the Reference Date, including the name of the record owner thereof and the number of Skydance Membership Units held thereby, and for each Skydance Profits Interest Unit, including the number of vested and unvested Skydance Profits Interest Units subject thereto (as defined in the Skydance LLC Agreement). All outstanding Skydance Membership Units have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and were created in accordance with applicable Law and the Skydance LLC Agreement. The Skydance Membership Units have been granted or issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal securities laws and all applicable foreign and state securities or “blue sky” laws. The Allocation Statement delivered to Paramount was prepared in accordance with the Skydance LLC Agreement (including with respect to the calculations and determinations set forth therein).
(b) As of the Reference Date, (i) no Skydance Membership Unit is entitled or subject to any preemptive right, right of repurchase or forfeiture, right of participation, right of maintenance, or any similar right (other than, with respect to Skydance Profits Interest Units, as set forth in the Skydance LLC Agreement, the applicable Skydance Equity Plan or the award agreement evidencing such Skydance Profits Interest Units); (ii) no outstanding Skydance Membership Unit is subject to any right of first refusal in favor of Skydance; (iii) no outstanding bond, debenture, note, or other Indebtedness of Skydance has a right to vote on any matter on which Skydance Members have a right to vote; and (iv) no Skydance Contract restricts any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging, or otherwise disposing of (or from granting any option or similar right with respect to), any Skydance Membership Unit. Skydance is not under any
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obligation, nor is it bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any outstanding Skydance Membership Unit (other than, with respect to Skydance Profits Interest Units, as set forth in the Skydance LLC Agreement, the applicable Skydance Equity Plan or the award agreement evidencing such Skydance Profits Interest Units).
(c) Skydance has made available to Paramount or Paramount’s Representatives copies of the Skydance Equity Plans covering Skydance Profits Interest Units that are outstanding as of the date hereof and the forms of all award agreements evidencing such Skydance Profits Interest Units. All Skydance Profits Interest Units have been issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law. Other than pursuant to the Skydance Equity Plans or as set forth in this Section 4.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no issued, reserved for issuance, outstanding, or authorized option, restricted unit award, equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation, or similar right, or compensatory equity or equity-linked award with respect to Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is a party or by which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is bound.
(d) Except as set forth in this Section 4.2, as of the close of business on the Reference Date, there is no: (i) outstanding equity or other ownership interest in Skydance; (ii) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any membership interest or other equity or ownership interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any share of membership or other equity or ownership interests or other securities of Skydance, in each case, issued by Skydance or to which Skydance is bound; (iii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any membership or other equity or ownership interests or other securities of Skydance; or (iv) rights plan (or similar plan commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Contract under which Skydance is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any membership interests or any other equity or ownership interest.
Section 4.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. Skydance has the necessary limited liability company power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The Skydance Board has, at a meeting duly called and held on or prior to the date of this Agreement, (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of Skydance and the Skydance Members, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Skydance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. No other action on the part of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Skydance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Skydance and, assuming due execution and delivery by the other Parties, constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Skydance, enforceable against Skydance in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and except as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger or the Transactions to which it is party.
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Section 4.4 Non-Contravention; Consents.
(a) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Paramount in Section 3.16(b), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Skydance does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Skydance and the consummation by Skydance of the Transactions will not, (i) conflict with or violate any of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational documents of Skydance, or any similar organizational documents of any Skydance Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, and other authorizations described in Section 4.4(b) have been obtained and that all filings and other actions described in Section 4.4(b) have been made or taken, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Skydance or by which any property or asset of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is bound or (iii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the loss of any benefit under, or the creation of any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on the properties or assets of Skydance pursuant to, any Skydance Material Contract, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflict, violation, breach, default, or other occurrence that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger or the Transactions to which it is party.
(b) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Paramount in Section 3.16(b), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Skydance does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Skydance and the consummation by Skydance of the Transactions will not, require any consent, approval, authorization, or permit of, filing or registration with, notification or report to, or expiration of waiting periods from, any Governmental Body except for (i) the filing of the Skydance Certificate of Merger with the California Secretary of State pursuant to the CLLCA, (ii) the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act, (iii) the FCC Consent, (iv) any consent, approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration, or filing set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter and (v) any other consent, approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration, or filing, which, in each case, if not obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger or the Transactions to which it is party.
Section 4.5 Vote Required. The affirmative vote or approval of (i) the holders of a majority of each class of the Skydance Membership Units outstanding and (ii) each of the Skydance Members listed on Section 4.5 to the Skydance Disclosure Letter (collectively, the “Skydance Member Approval”) are the only votes or approvals of the holders of any class or series of Skydance’s equity interests, or any holder of any other security of Skydance, required in connection with the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the consummation of the Mergers, and will be sufficient to approve this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Mergers, in accordance with the CLLCA and Skydance’s organizational documents. Skydance has obtained the Skydance Member Approval pursuant to a written consent executed by the requisite Skydance Members (the “Skydance Written Consent”). As of the date of this Agreement,
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Skydance has made available to Paramount or Paramount’s Representatives an accurate and complete copy of the Skydance Written Consent.
Section 4.6 Financial Statements; Internal Controls.
(a) Section 4.6(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter contains true, complete and accurate copies of the audited consolidated financial statements consisting of the balance sheets of Skydance as of December 31, 2021, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023 (the balance sheet of Skydance as of December 31, 2023, the “Skydance Balance Sheet”), and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income and retained earnings for each of the years then ended (collectively the “Skydance Financial Statements”). True, correct and complete copies of the Skydance Financial Statements have been provided to Paramount. The Skydance Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements); (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Skydance and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of Skydance and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby; and (iii) were prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries (which books and records are correct and complete in all material respects). Except as required by applicable Law, since January 1, 2021, there has been no change in any accounting principles, policies, methods or practices, including any change with respect to reserves (whether for bad debt, contingent liabilities or otherwise), of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries.
(b) Skydance maintains, and at all times since January 1, 2021 has maintained, a system of internal controls over financial reporting that has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Skydance; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and executed only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Skydance; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the assets of Skydance that could have a material effect on Skydance’s consolidated financial statements. Since January 1, 2021, none of Skydance, the Skydance Board, its audit committee or, to the knowledge of Skydance, Skydance’s independent registered accounting firm, has identified or been made aware of any: (A) significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting utilized by Skydance; (B) illegal act or fraud, whether or not material, that involves the management or other employees of Skydance who have a significant role in Skydance’s internal controls over financial reporting; or (C) claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(c) Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary is a party to or has any obligation or other commitment to become a party to any securitization transaction, off-balance sheet partnership, or any similar Contract (including any Contract arising out of or relating to any transaction or relationship between or among Skydance and any Skydance Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose,
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or limited purpose Entity, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangement”) where the result, purpose, or intended effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary in the Skydance Financial Statements.
Section 4.7 Absence of Changes.
(a) Since December 31, 2023 and through the date of this Agreement, there has not occurred any Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as contemplated by this Agreement, from December 31, 2023 through the date of this Agreement, Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have operated their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business (except for discussions, negotiations, and transactions related to this Agreement or other potential strategic transactions).
Section 4.8 Title to Assets. Skydance and each Skydance Subsidiary has good and valid title to all material assets (excluding, to the extent relevant, any Intellectual Property Rights, which are covered under Section 4.10) owned by it as of the date of this Agreement, or valid leasehold interests in or valid right to use all other material assets of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, and including all material assets reflected on the Skydance Financial Statements, subject to Permitted Encumbrances, except (a) for assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business since January 1, 2024 or (b) where such failure would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.9 Real Property.
(a) Skydance or one of the Skydance Subsidiaries is the sole owner of each parcel of material real property owned by Skydance or its Subsidiaries, and Section 4.9(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each such material owned real property (the “Skydance Owned Real Property”). Skydance or one of the Skydance Subsidiaries has good and valid title and, to the knowledge of Skydance, insurable title to the Skydance Owned Real Property, and the Skydance Owned Real Property is free and clear of any Encumbrance, except for Permitted Encumbrances. Except for third-party licenses arrangements pursuant to ordinary course production operations, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has entered into a material lease, license or otherwise granted any Person the right to use or occupy the Skydance Owned Real Property or any material portion thereof. There are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal for the benefit of any third parties to purchase any Skydance Owned Real Property or any material portion thereof.
(b) Skydance or one of the Skydance Subsidiaries holds a valid and existing leasehold interest in the material real property that is leased, subleased, licensed, used, or otherwise occupied by Skydance or such Subsidiary, as applicable, from another Person (the “Skydance Leased Real Property”), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances, and Section 4.9(b) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each such Skydance Leased Real Property. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has received any written notice regarding any violation, breach or default
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under any Skydance Lease for Skydance Leased Real Property that has not since been cured, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has entered into a material sublease, license or otherwise granted any Person the right to use or occupy any Skydance Leased Real Property or any material portion thereof.
(c) No casualty event has occurred with respect to any Skydance Owned Real Property or, to the knowledge of Skydance, any Skydance Leased Real Property that has not been remedied, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, no condemnation event is pending or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened, with respect to any Skydance Owned Real Property or, to the knowledge of Skydance, Skydance Leased Real Property.
Section 4.10 Intellectual Property.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect:
(i) All Skydance Registered IP is subsisting, valid, enforceable, and in full force and effect.
(ii) Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, as the case may be, owns (in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances) all material Skydance IP and owns or otherwise has the right to use, pursuant to a valid Contract or other right, all other Intellectual Property Rights necessary for the conduct of the business as presently conducted by Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries. Each current and former employee, consultant and contractor who has created or developed any material Intellectual Property Rights for or on behalf of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has agreed pursuant to a valid written agreement that their contribution of such Intellectual Property Rights is a work-made-for-hire owned by Skydance or the relevant Skydance Subsidiary or has assigned to Skydance or the relevant Skydance Subsidiary all of their right, title and interest in any such Intellectual Property Rights, to the extent such Intellectual Property Rights do not initially vest in Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary by operation of law.
(iii) The operation of the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries as currently conducted is not infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, and as conducted since January 1, 2021 has not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any Person. To the knowledge of Skydance, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Skydance IP, except for individual acts of piracy of Skydance IP that occur in the ordinary course of business. There is currently no, and there has not been during the twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of this Agreement any, Legal Proceeding pending (or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened in writing) against Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary alleging (i) that the operation of the business of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual
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Property Right of any Person or (ii) that Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has defamed any Person.
(iv) Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable measures to protect and maintain each item of material Skydance Registered IP and the confidentiality of the Trade Secrets included in the Skydance IP.
(v) None of Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries is party to any pending or outstanding Order that adversely restricts the use of any Skydance IP.
(vi) No Skydance IT Assets contain any Malicious Code. Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable disaster recovery and backup plans and procedures for the Skydance IT Assets and have taken commercially reasonable steps designed to (i) protect against loss and unauthorized access or use of the Skydance IT Assets and (ii) detect for and prevent the introduction of any Malicious Code into such Skydance IT Assets. In the twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any material incident of unauthorized access or other material security breach of the Skydance IT Assets. None of the Software owned by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary that is licensed, distributed or made available to any third party incorporates or is derived from any Copyleft Software.
(vii) Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have duly performed (consistent with industry standard practices) their obligations in respect of the Skydance Properties that were due, owing, or matured, including having paid all sums due, owing or matured for the development, production, distribution, exhibition or other Exploitation of the Skydance Properties.
(viii) During the period between January 1, 2021 and the Closing Date, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary (i) has received a NoT or (ii) has received any written communication threatening, advising or indicating that anyone is in the process of, or otherwise intending, to serve a NoT on Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, in each case with respect to the Skydance Franchise Property.
(b) The information in any databases maintained by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to track licensing of Skydance Properties for Exploitation has been maintained by Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, is derived from the books and records and the Exploitation agreements of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries and is relied on by Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries in conducting its business, except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) Section 4.10(c) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Properties that Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has greenlit or otherwise committed to produce, acquire or finance and that, as of the date hereof, reflect the terms set forth on Section 4.10(c) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter.
Section 4.11 Data Privacy and Security.
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(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021: (a) Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Skydance, all vendors, processors or other third parties Processing Personal Information on or on behalf of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiaries or otherwise sharing Personal Information with Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiaries (each a “Skydance Data Partner”) have complied with (i) all applicable Privacy Laws and (ii) all published privacy and data security policies, notices and statements to which Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries are subject.
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries have, and have required any Skydance Data Partner to have, adopted and implemented at least commercially reasonable industry standard physical, technical, organizational, and administrative security measures and policies to (i) protect all Personal Information stored or processed by or on behalf of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries against any Security Incident and (ii) identify and address internal and external risks to the privacy and security of Personal Information stored or processed by or on behalf of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, Skydance, Skydance Subsidiaries (and, to the knowledge of Skydance, Skydance Data Partners with respect to Personal Information of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries) have not experienced a Security Incident.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2021, in relation to any Security Incident, none of Skydance or any of the Subsidiaries of Skydance has been the subject of any formal complaint, claim or investigation or been required to notify any Person.
Section 4.12 Skydance Contracts.
(a) Section 4.12(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter identifies each of the following Skydance Contracts to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound as of the date of this Agreement other than any Skydance Contract that is or constitutes (1) a nondisclosure agreement entered into (x) in the ordinary course of business or (y) in connection with discussions, negotiations, and transactions related to this Agreement, other Acquisition Proposals, or other potential strategic transactions or (2) a Skydance Employee Plan, or Skydance Equity Plan, which shall be governed by Section 4.19 (the Skydance Contracts required to be set forth on such schedule, the “Skydance Material Contracts”):
(i) any Skydance Contract that limits the right of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to sell, distribute, produce or manufacture any product, project or service either by (A) limiting the right of Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary from engaging in any line of business or to compete with any other Person in any location or line of business (other than exclusive or co-exclusive licenses of or holdbacks affecting Skydance Properties entered into in the ordinary course of business) or (B) providing “most favored nation” rights (including with respect to pricing, but excluding with respect to credits, profit participations, perquisites or other rights in favor of a party providing financing or services in connection with a Skydance Property in the ordinary course of
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business) in favor of a party other than Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, in each case under clause (A) or (B) in a manner that is material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) any Skydance Contract that required or requires annual payments or delivery of cash or other consideration by or to Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount having a value or expected value in excess of $20,000,000 in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, other than any Contracts entered into in connection with Content Activities;
(iii) other than any Contracts entered into in connection with Content Activities, any Skydance Contract under which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary (A) licenses or sublicenses material Intellectual Property Rights to any third party, (B) licenses or sublicenses material Intellectual Property Rights from any third party or (C) has entered into any material covenant not to sue or assert or immunity from suit with respect to material Intellectual Property Rights, including any material coexistence agreements and material settlement agreements (in each case, other than (v) non-disclosure agreements, (w) non-exclusive licenses granted by Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or to end users in connection with the provision or sale of any product or service, (x) non-exclusive licenses granted to Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary by any customer, employee, consultant, or independent contractor of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (y) non-exclusive licenses of commercially available Software granted to Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, or (z) licenses to open source, public, or freeware Software, or other materials), in each case of clauses (A)-(C), which Skydance Contract is material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iv) any Skydance Contract relating to debt for borrowed money in excess of $25,000,000 (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed, or secured by any asset) of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, other than guarantees of obligations of Skydance or any wholly owned Skydance Subsidiary;
(v) any Skydance Contract related to the formation, creation, governance or control of any Skydance Material Joint Venture;
(vi) any Skydance Contract that prohibits the payment of dividends or distributions in respect of the Skydance Membership Units, the pledging of the capital stock or other equity interests of Skydance, or prohibits the issuance of any guaranty by Skydance of the obligations of a Person other than Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, in each case, other than Skydance Contracts relating to Permitted Skydance Indebtedness;
(vii) any Skydance Contract that contains a put, call or similar right pursuant to which Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries would be required to purchase or sell, as applicable, any equity interests of any Person or assets (excluding Intellectual Property Rights) at a purchase price which would be reasonably likely to exceed $10,000,000;
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(viii) any Skydance Contract relating to a Skydance Related Party Transaction (other than any such transactions entered into on an arm’s-length basis);
(ix) any Skydance Contract since January 1, 2021, that relates to the acquisition or disposition by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of any Person or other business organization, division, or business of any Person (whether by merger or consolidation, by the purchase of a controlling equity interest in or substantially all of the assets of such Person, or by any other manner), in each case, pursuant to which Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries has continuing guarantee, “earn-out” or similar contingent payment obligations (excluding confidentiality obligations and indemnification obligations in respect of representations and warrants or covenants);
(x) any Skydance Contract with any Governmental Body under which payments in excess of $15,000,000 were received by Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, other than any Contract entered into in connection with Content Activities;
(xi) (A) except for such Skydance Contracts with third-parties under licenses arrangements pursuant to ordinary course production operations, any Skydance Contract for the license, lease or sublease of any Skydance Owned Real Property and (B) any Skydance Lease for any Skydance Leased Real Property;
(xii) any Skydance Contract since January 1, 2021, the primary purpose of which is to provide for indemnification or guarantee of the obligations of any Person other than Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary that would be material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any such Skydance Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xiii) any Skydance Contract that is material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and contains a so-called “key person” or “essential element” provision with respect to any Skydance Associate;
(xiv) any Contract that is material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and includes a change of control right or remedy, right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase, option to exclusively license, or any other similar right, or any Contract that includes a provision that would require a material payment in excess of $10,000,000 to the other party or parties thereto, is triggered by or would materially impair, the consummation of the Mergers or the other Transactions;
(xv) any “term deals”, “housekeeping deals”, “overall deals”, and “first look deals” as commonly understood in the entertainment industry that involved or are reasonably expected to involve fixed or guaranteed annual payments by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of $10,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;
(xvi) any Contract which provides a party, other than Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, with a right to co-finance or co-own in excess of 10% of a
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Skydance Franchise Property, or otherwise exercise material control or co-control over or materially restrict the development, production or Exploitation of any Skydance Franchise Property;
(xvii) any Contract for the licensing to or Exploitation by any party other than Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of any Property owned or controlled by Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries that involved annual revenues of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of $50,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, excluding amounts paid by any third party to Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to fund or reimburse development and production costs;
(xviii) any Contract for the licensing to or Exploitation by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of any Property owned or controlled by any party other than Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries that involved (or would reasonably be expected to involve) annual payments by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of $25,000,000 or more in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or 2024;
(xix) any Collective Bargaining Agreement, excluding any Collective Bargaining Agreement with a Guild and/or that applies on a national, area-wide, industry-wide or mandatory basis;
(xx) any settlement, conciliation or similar agreement (A) pursuant to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is obligated after the date of this Agreement to pay consideration, in each case, in excess of $15,000,000 or (B) that would otherwise materially limit the operation of the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as currently operated; and
(xxi) any Contract not otherwise required to be disclosed by this Section 4.12(a) that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act (assuming that such Item 601(b)(10) were to apply to Skydance).
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, Skydance has made available to Paramount or Paramount’s Representatives an accurate and complete copy of each Skydance Material Contract (except with such redactions as may be clearly marked on such copies). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (i) as of the date hereof, neither Skydance (or its applicable Subsidiary) nor, to the knowledge of Skydance, any other party is in breach of or default under any Skydance Material Contract and neither Skydance (or its applicable Subsidiary) nor, to the knowledge of Skydance, any other party has taken or failed to take any action, and no event has occurred, that with or without notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of or default under any Skydance Material Contract, (ii) as of the date hereof, each Skydance Material Contract is, with respect to Skydance (or its applicable Subsidiary) and, to the knowledge of Skydance, each other party, a valid agreement, binding, and in full force and effect, (iii) to the knowledge of Skydance, as of the date hereof, each Skydance Material Contract is enforceable by Skydance (or its applicable Subsidiary) in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and (iv) since January 1, 2023 through the day prior to the date of this Agreement, (x) Skydance has not received
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any written notice regarding any violation or breach or default under any Skydance Material Contract that has not since been cured, (y) no counterparty to any Skydance Material Contract has canceled or otherwise terminated, or threatened in writing to cancel or otherwise to terminate, its relationship with Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary and (z) no counterparty to any Skydance Material Contract has decreased materially or threatened to decrease materially or limit materially, the amount of business that any such counterparty presently engages in or presently conducts with Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries.
Section 4.13 Liabilities. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has any liability of the type required to be disclosed as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (a) liabilities disclosed on the Skydance Balance Sheet; (b) liabilities or obligations incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (c) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since January 1, 2024; (d) liabilities for performance of obligations under Skydance Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice (other than as a result of the breach or acceleration thereof); and (e) liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14 Compliance with Laws. Skydance and each Skydance Subsidiary has been, since January 1, 2021, in compliance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, be or reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Skydance, since January 1, 2021, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has been given written notice of, or been charged with, any violation of any Law, except, in each case, for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be or reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Skydance, no investigation or review by any Governmental Body with respect to Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is pending or, as of the date of this Agreement, threatened, except for such investigations or reviews the outcome of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.15 Certain Business Practices.
(a) Since January 1, 2021, none of Skydance, any Skydance Subsidiary or any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the knowledge of Skydance, any employee or agent, in each case, acting on behalf of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has (i) been a Sanctioned Person or (ii) violated any applicable Trade Laws or Sanctions, applicable Anti-Corruption Law or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, applicable anti-money laundering Law and any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, or (iii) has, in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law: (a) directly or indirectly paid, offered, or promised to make or offer any contribution, gift, entertainment, or other expense, (b) made, offered, or promised to make or offer any payment, loan, or transfer of anything of value, including any reward, advantage, or benefit of any kind to or for the benefit of foreign or domestic governmental officials or employees, or to foreign or domestic political parties, candidates thereof, or campaigns, (c) paid, offered, or promised to make or offer any bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, rebate, or other similar payment of any nature or (d) created or caused the creation of any false or inaccurate books and records of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary related to any of the foregoing, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
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Skydance Material Adverse Effect. Skydance has established and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with any Anti-Corruption Laws, anti-money laundering Laws, Sanctions, and Trade Laws applicable to Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Skydance, there are no Anti-Corruption Law-related, anti-money laundering-related, Sanctions-related or Trade Laws-related Legal Proceedings pending or threatened against Skydance or Skydance Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Skydance, any officer or director thereof by or before (or, in the case of a threatened matter, that would come before) any Governmental Body except, in each case, as would not be material to the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Neither Skydance nor any of the Skydance Subsidiaries: (i) produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate, or develop any “critical technologies,” as that term is defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215; (ii) perform any of the functions as set forth in column 2 of Appendix A to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 with respect to “covered investment critical infrastructure,” as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.212; or (iii) maintain or collect, directly or indirectly, “sensitive personal data,” as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.241, of U.S. citizens; and, therefore, in turn, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary is a “TID U.S. business” within the meaning of that term in 31 C.F.R. § 800.248.
Section 4.16 Governmental Authorizations. Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries hold all Governmental Authorizations necessary to enable Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses in the manner in which their businesses are currently being conducted, except where the failure to hold such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. The material Governmental Authorizations held by Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity or failure of such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries are each in compliance with the terms and requirements of such Governmental Authorizations, to the extent applicable to them, except where failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.17 Qualifications. Skydance, the Skydance Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Skydance, each of Skydance’s other Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) are legally, financially and otherwise qualified to be the licensee of, acquire, and own and operate each of the Stations under the Communications Laws, including the provisions relating to media ownership, attribution and character qualifications. Assuming the accuracy of the representation in Section 3.17(f), consummation of the Transactions will not require any declaratory ruling or similar relief under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act or FCC Rules adopted pursuant thereto. There are no facts or circumstances with respect to Skydance, the Skydance Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Skydance, Skydance’s other Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) that would reasonably be expected to result in the FCC’s refusal to grant the FCC Consent pursuant to the Communications Laws.
Section 4.18 Tax Matters.
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(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (i) each of the Tax Returns required to be filed by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has been filed on or before the applicable due date (taking into account any extension of such due date), and all such Tax Returns are true, accurate, and complete in all respects, (ii) all Taxes due and payable by or required to have been paid by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary (whether or not shown as due and owing on any Tax Returns) have been timely paid by Skydance or such Skydance Subsidiary and (iii) Skydance and each Skydance Subsidiary has withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Governmental Body all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid over by it in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any Skydance Associate, employee, former employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other Person.
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (i) no deficiency or proposed adjustment for any Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Taxing Authority against Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, which deficiency has not been paid, settled, or withdrawn, (ii) no examination or audit of, or other Legal Proceeding with respect to, any Tax Return of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is currently in progress or pending, or, to Skydance’s or any Skydance Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened, (iii) there is no Encumbrance for Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any asset of Skydance or of any Skydance Subsidiary, (iv) no written claim has been made by any Governmental Body in a jurisdiction in which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, as applicable, does not file Tax Returns (or pay a specified type of Tax) that it is or may be required to file Tax Returns in, or is subject to such type of Tax by, that jurisdiction, (v) there is not in effect any waiver, modification or extension by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of any statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes (or the assessment or collection of any Taxes) of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary (except for automatic extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business) and (vi) none of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has agreed to any modification, waiver or extension of time for filing any Tax Return that has not been filed and no request for any waiver, modification or extension described in this sentence is currently pending.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (i) neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary is a party to any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnity agreement, or similar agreement with respect to Taxes that would have a continuing effect after the Closing Date or which would bind New Paramount or any Subsidiary of New Paramount after the Closing Date (other than customary commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes), and (ii) neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary (a) has been a member of an “affiliated group” (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is or was Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary) or (b) has any liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary) pursuant to applicable Law (including under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of any state, local, or non-U.S. Law)), as a transferee or successor, or by Contract (other than customary commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes).
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(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of: (i) any change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date made prior to the Closing, (ii) the use of an incorrect method of accounting prior to the Closing Date, (iii) any “closing agreement” executed prior to the Closing or any agreement with any Taxing Authority entered into or any ruling received or requested from any Taxing Authority on or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) any intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code entered into or existing prior to the Closing, (v) any prepaid amount received, or paid, on or prior to the Closing or any deferred revenue accrued or existing on or before the Closing Date, or (vi) any installment sale or open transaction disposition occurring on or before the Closing Date. Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has made an election pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.
(e) In the prior two years, neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has been either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to be governed in whole or in part under Section 355 of the Code (or under so much of Section 356 of the Code as it relates to Section 355 of the Code).
(f) Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary is or has entered into any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Sections 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(g) The entity classification for U.S. federal income Tax purposes of Skydance and each Skydance Subsidiary, and any entity classification election made by any such entity, is set forth on Section 4.18(g) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter.
(h) Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement, nor is Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, after due inquiry, aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment or Paramount Tax Counsel from providing the Tax Opinion.
(i) This Section 4.18 and Section 4.19 set forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Skydance with respect to Tax matters.
Section 4.19 Employee Matters; Employee Plans.
(a) Neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary (i) is party to or bound by a Collective Bargaining Agreement; (ii) is currently negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement or (iii) has an obligation to bargain with any union, works council, employee association or other similar labor organization, in each case, excluding Collective Bargaining Agreements with a Guild and/or that apply on a national, area-wide, industry-wide or mandatory basis. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Mergers (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) will require the consent of, or advance notification to or consultation with, any works councils, unions or similar labor organizations
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(including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Guilds) with respect to employees of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiaries. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (i) since January 1, 2021, there has not been any unfair labor practice charge, labor arbitration, grievance, strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, picketing, labor dispute, question concerning labor representation, union organizing activity, or any threat thereof, or any similar activity or dispute, affecting Skydance, any Skydance Subsidiary or any of their respective employees; and (ii) there is not now pending or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened unfair labor practice charge, labor arbitration, grievance, strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, picketing, labor dispute, question regarding labor representation or union organizing activity, or any similar activity or dispute.
(b) There is no (and, since January 1, 2021, has been no) Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened, arising out of or relating to the employment or engagement of any Skydance Associate by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary or any labor or employment practice of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, including arising out of or relating to any Skydance Employee Plan, other than any Legal Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect. Skydance and each of the Skydance Subsidiaries have at all times since January 1, 2021 complied with the WARN Act, as applicable.
(c) Skydance and each Skydance Subsidiary is in compliance and, since January 1, 2021, has complied with all applicable Laws related to labor or employment (which for the avoidance of doubt includes all Contracts for labor or employment, including all Collective Bargaining Agreements by which Skydance or any Subsidiary of Skydance is bound), including all Laws regarding any term or condition of employment, employment practices, pensions obligations, hiring, payment of wages and hours of work, collective bargaining, worker classification (including the proper classification of workers as independent contractors and of employees as exempt or non-exempt), background checks, leaves of absence, plant closing and mass layoff notification, privacy rights, labor disputes, workplace safety, retaliation, immigration, accommodations, harassment and discrimination matters, and termination of employment, except any lack of compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Section 4.19(d) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a complete list of each material Skydance Employee Plan (other than (i) Employee Plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild and (ii) employment agreements or offer letters that both (x) do not provide for change in control payments or benefits and (y) either do not provide for annual base salary in excess of $1,000,000 or do not materially deviate from Skydance’s or the applicable Skydance Subsidiary’s standard forms set forth on Section 4.19(d) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter). Skydance has made available to Paramount or Paramount’s Representatives with respect to each material Skydance Employee Plan (other than Employee Plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild and excluding for this purpose all employment agreements and offer letters that both (i) do not provide for change in control payments or benefits and (ii) either do not provide for annual base salary in excess of $1,000,000 or do not otherwise materially deviate from Skydance’s or the applicable Skydance Subsidiary’s standard forms) accurate and complete copies of the following, as relevant: (i) all plan documents and all material amendments thereto, and all related trust or other funding
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documents; (ii) any currently effective determination letter or opinion letter received from the IRS (or comparable ruling or letter from any non-U.S. Governmental Body); (iii) the most recent actuarial valuation report and any subsequent funding update, and the most recent Form 5500 and all schedules thereto; and (iv) all material, non-routine written communications with the Department of Labor, IRS or any other Governmental Body relating to any audit, investigation or similar proceeding with respect to such Skydance Employee Plan sent or received since January 1, 2021.
(e) Except for plans sponsored or maintained by or provided through any Guild to which the “entertainment industry” exception set forth in Section 4203(c) of ERISA applies, none of Skydance, any Skydance Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates sponsors, maintains, contributes to or otherwise has liability, whether actual or contingent, with respect to (i) a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, including any “single employer” defined benefit plan or any “multiemployer plan,” each within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA, (ii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, or (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA.
(f) (i) Each of the Skydance Employee Plans that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has obtained a favorable determination letter (or is entitled to rely upon a favorable opinion letter, if applicable) as to its qualified status under the Code, (ii) to the knowledge of Skydance, there are no facts or circumstances that would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the qualified status for any such Skydance Employee Plan and (iii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, each of the Skydance Employee Plans is now, and has since January 1, 2021, been established, funded and operated in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code.
(g) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, with respect to each Skydance Employee Plan that is subject to Laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States or provides compensation or benefits to or for the benefit of any Skydance Associates that primarily reside outside of the United States: (i) if such Skydance Employee Plan is intended to qualify for special tax treatment, such Skydance Employee Plan meets (and at all times has met) all the requirements for such treatment, and no facts or circumstances exist that could adversely affect such qualified treatment and (ii) each such Skydance Employee Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.
(h) Except to the extent required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code (or any other similar non-U.S., state or local Law), no Skydance Employee Plan provides and none of Skydance, the Skydance Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any present or future obligation to provide post-employment or post-retirement medical, life insurance or other welfare benefits to any Skydance Associate (or spouse, dependent or beneficiary thereof).
(i) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as set forth on Section 4.19(i) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the Transactions (either
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alone or in combination with any other event) will not (i) result in any compensatory payment or benefit becoming due, or increase the amount of any such payment or benefit, to any Skydance Associate or under any Skydance Employee Plan, excluding (for clarity) any severance payment or benefit that would be due without regard to the occurrence of the consummation of the Transactions; (ii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, funding, or vesting of any payment or benefit to any Skydance Associate or under any Skydance Employee Plan; (iii) limit Skydance’s or any Skydance Subsidiary’s right to amend, modify or terminate any Skydance Employee Plan or related trust; or (iv) result in the payment of any amount that could, individually or in combination with any other payment or benefit, constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or result in the payment of an excise Tax by any Person under Section 4999 of the Code.
(j) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Skydance Employee Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in material operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all IRS guidance promulgated thereunder, to the extent such section and such guidance have been applicable to such Skydance Employee Plan; and (ii) no amounts paid or payable by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any Skydance Associate have been or are reasonably expected to be subject to any Tax or penalty imposed under Section 457A of the Code. There is no agreement, plan, Contract or other arrangement to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is a party or by which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is otherwise bound to compensate any Skydance Associate in respect of Taxes pursuant to Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.
(k) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, no Legal Proceeding (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) is (or, since January 1, 2021, has been) ongoing, pending, or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened against or in respect of any Skydance Employee Plan, the assets of any of the trusts under any Skydance Employee Plan or the plan sponsor, administrator, trustee or any fiduciary of any Skydance Employee Plan with respect to the operation thereof.
(l) Since January 1, 2021, (i) no material allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been made by any current or former employee of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, against any current or former executive or officer of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, (ii) neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by an executive or officer of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, and (iii) Skydance has promptly, thoroughly, and impartially investigated all material allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct of which they are or were aware and have taken all reasonable and necessary corrective actions with respect to such allegations that is reasonably calculated to prevent further harassment and misconduct with respect to each allegation with potential merit. No allegation of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct would reasonably be expected to result in any material loss to Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and no such allegations have been made, that if known to the public, would reasonably be expected to bring Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries into material disrepute.
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Section 4.20 Environmental Matters. Except for those matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (a) Skydance and each of the Skydance Subsidiaries is, and since January 1, 2021 has been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining or complying with all Governmental Authorizations required under Environmental Laws for the operation of their respective businesses; (b) as of the date of this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding or Order arising under any Environmental Law that is pending or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened in writing against Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary; (c) to the knowledge of Skydance, there is and has been no Hazardous Material present or Released on, at, under, or from any property or facility, including the Skydance Owned Real Property and the Skydance Leased Real Property, in a manner and concentration that would reasonably be expected to result in any claim against or liability of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary under any Environmental Law; and (d) neither Skydance nor any Skydance Subsidiary has assumed, undertaken, or otherwise become subject to any known liability of another Person arising under Environmental Laws other than any indemnity in Skydance Material Contracts or other licenses, leases, or sub-leases for real property. This Section 4.20 sets forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Skydance with respect to matters arising under Environmental Laws.
Section 4.21 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, (a) Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries maintain or are otherwise covered by insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is sufficient to comply with applicable Law and Contracts to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is a party or is bound; and (b) as of the date of this Agreement, all insurance policies with respect to the business and assets of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries are in full force and effect (except for any expiration thereof in accordance with their terms), all premiums due thereon have been paid in full, no written notice of cancellation or modification has been received, and there is no existing default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by any insured thereunder.
Section 4.22 Legal Proceedings; Orders.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Skydance, threatened in writing, against Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, or any property or asset of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary other than any Legal Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger and the other Transactions to which it is party.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Order to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary is subject that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance to consummate the Skydance Merger and the other Transactions to which it is party.
Section 4.23 Financing. On the Closing Date, Skydance and its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) will have sufficient cash, available lines of credit or other sources of immediately
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available funds, including the proceeds of the Transaction Financing, to enable Skydance and its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) to pay any amounts required to be paid by Skydance or any of its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) at or prior to the consummation of the Transactions or the NAI Transaction and any fees, costs and expenses of or payable by Skydance or any of its Affiliates in connection with the Mergers, the PIPE Transaction, the NAI Transaction, the other Transactions and any other transaction undertaken in connection therewith.
Section 4.24 Financial Advisor. Except for the those advisors set forth on Section 4.24 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter (the “Skydance Financial Advisors”) pursuant to the Skydance Advisor Engagement Letters, no broker, finder, investment banker, financial advisor, or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the Mergers based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary. Skydance has, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, made available to Paramount a true, correct, and complete copy of Skydance’s engagement letters with the Skydance Financial Advisors relating to the Mergers as in effect on the date of this Agreement (the “Skydance Advisor Engagement Letters”).
Section 4.25 Related Party Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, other than any Skydance Employee Plan, neither Skydance nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to any transaction or arrangement or series of related transactions or arrangements between Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any (a) present or former executive officer (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) or director of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of any class of the equity securities of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries whose status as a 5% holder is known to Skydance as of the date of this Agreement or (c) Affiliate, “associate” or member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing Persons described in clauses (a) or (b) (but only, with respect to the Persons in clause (b), to the knowledge of Skydance), on the other hand, in each case as would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act (assuming that such Item 404 were to apply to Skydance) (each of the foregoing, a “Skydance Related Party Transaction”).
Section 4.26 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing by or on behalf of Skydance or Skydance Subsidiaries expressly for inclusion in (a) the Information Statement to be filed by Paramount with the SEC will, on the date the Information Statement is first mailed to stockholders of Paramount and (b) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, no representation or warranty is made by Skydance with respect to any information or statement made or incorporated by reference in the Information Statement or Registration Statement that was not supplied by or on behalf of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary for use therein.
Section 4.27 No Other Representation.
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(a) Except for the express written representations and warranties made by Skydance in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement, Skydance does not make any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Skydance or any Skydance Affiliates or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Skydance hereby acknowledges and agrees that except for the express written representations and warranties made by each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document, none of Paramount, New Paramount, any Merger Sub or any other Person has made or makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Paramount or any Paramount Affiliate or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Skydance hereby acknowledges and agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of the Skydance Parties) that: (i) except for the representations and warranties of Paramount expressly set forth in Article III or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document, (x) none of the Paramount Parties makes, or has made, any representation or warranty and (y) none of the Skydance Parties is relying on, or has relied on, any representation or warranty made, or information provided, by or on behalf of any Paramount Party, in each case, regarding any Paramount Party, its or their business, this Agreement, the Mergers, or any other related matter; and (ii) Skydance is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review, and analysis regarding Paramount, its Subsidiaries and the Mergers, which investigation, review, and analysis were conducted by Skydance together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that it has engaged for such purpose.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BLOCKER HOLDERS
Each Blocker Holder, solely with respect to such Blocker Holder and not with respect to any other Blocker Holder, hereby represents and warrants to Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub, severally and not jointly, as follows:
Section 5.1 Due Organization.
(a) Such Blocker Holder is duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is recognized, in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization.
(b) With regard to the Blocker owned by such Blocker Holder, such Blocker is duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is recognized, in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization.
Section 5.2 Ownership. Such Blocker Holder holds of record and owns beneficially those Blocker Securities set forth opposite such Blocker Holder’s name on Schedule 1.1 to this Agreement, free and clear of any Encumbrances and any other restrictions on transfer (other than
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such Encumbrances or restrictions that shall be released, waived or otherwise terminated in connection with the Closing and other than any restrictions under applicable securities Laws).
Section 5.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. Such Blocker Holder has the necessary power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange. The board of managers or general partner, as applicable, of such Blocker Holder has (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of such Blocker Holder and its members or partners, as applicable, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions and (c) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by such Blocker Holder of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. No other organizational action on the part of such Blocker Holder or the Blocker owned by such Blocker Holder is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by such Blocker Holder of this Agreement and the consummation by such Blocker Holder of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Blocker Holder and, assuming due execution and delivery by the other Parties, constitutes the valid and binding agreement of such Blocker Holder, enforceable against such Blocker Holder, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions and except as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of such Blocker Holder to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange.
Section 5.4 Non-Contravention; Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Blocker Holder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by such Blocker Holder and the consummation by such Blocker Holder of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange will not, (i) conflict with or violate any of the organizational documents of such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, and other authorizations described in Section 5.4(b) have been obtained and that all filings and other actions described in Section 5.4(b) have been made or taken, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns or by which any property or asset of such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns is bound or (iii) result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) by such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the loss of any benefit under, or the creation of any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on the properties or assets of such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns pursuant to, any Contract to which such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns is a party, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflict, violation, breach, default, or other occurrence that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of such Blocker Holder to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Blocker Holder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by such Blocker Holder and the consummation by such Blocker Holder of the Blocker Contribution and Exchange will not, require any consent, approval, authorization, or permit of, filing or registration with, notification or report
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to, or expiration of waiting periods from, any Governmental Body, except for any consent, approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration, or filing, which, in each case, if not obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of such Blocker Holder to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange.
Section 5.5 Blockers.
(a) All of the outstanding equity interests of each Blocker at the Closing will be owned by the applicable Blocker Holder, free and clear of all Encumbrances and have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. There is no (i) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or agreement to acquire any share of capital stock or other equity interest, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit, or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is based on or derived from the value of any share of capital stock or other securities of any Blocker, in each case, issued by such Blocker or to which such Blocker is bound or (ii) outstanding security, instrument, bond, debenture, note, or obligation that in each case is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any share of the capital stock or other securities of any Blocker.
(b) Except for matters related to its formation and to activities as a holding company such as opening and maintaining bank accounts and filing Tax Returns, none of the Blockers have conducted any business prior to the date of this Agreement and has no, and prior to the Closing will have no, assets other than the Blocker Membership Units held by the Blockers and any distributions related to the Blocker Membership Units held by the Blockers. No Blocker has had any operations, liabilities, debt or obligations (other than indebtedness owed to the Blocker Holder (which will be repaid in full prior to the Closing, with no further obligations of Blocker) and for the payment of such Blocker’s Taxes (which, with respect to Taxes accrued for any pre-Closing period (including the Closing Date), will be paid prior to the Closing)) prior to the date of this Agreement, and prior to the Closing no Blocker will have any operations, liabilities, debt or obligations (other than indebtedness owed to the Blocker Holder (which will be repaid in full prior to the Closing, with no further obligations of Blocker) and for the payment of such Blocker’s Taxes (which, with respect to Taxes accrued for any pre-Closing period (including the Closing Date), will be paid prior to the Closing)), whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due. No Blocker has, or has ever had, any employees. As of immediately prior to the Closing, the Blockers shall not own, lease or use any asset other than the Blocker Membership Units. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of such Blocker Holder or the Blocker such Blocker Holder owns, threatened against such Blocker Holder or such Blocker, at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Body.
Section 5.6 Tax Matters.
(a) Each of the material Tax Returns required to be filed by any Blocker has been filed on or before the applicable due date (taking into account any extension of such due date), and all such Tax Returns are true, accurate, and complete in all respects. All material Taxes due and payable by or required to have been paid by any Blocker (whether or not shown as due and owing on any Tax Returns) have been timely paid by the Blocker. Each Blocker has withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate Governmental Body all material Taxes required to have
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been withheld and paid over by it in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, former employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other Person.
(b) (i) No deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Taxing Authority against any Blocker, which deficiency has not been paid, settled, or withdrawn, (ii) no examination or audit of, or other Legal Proceeding with respect to, any material Tax Return of any Blocker is currently in progress or pending, or, to any Blocker Holder’s knowledge, threatened, (iii) there is no Encumbrance for Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any asset of any Blocker, (iv) no written claim has been made by any Governmental Body in a jurisdiction in which any Blocker, as applicable, does not file Tax Returns (or pay a specified type of Tax) that it is or may be required to file Tax Returns in, or is subject to such type of Tax by, that jurisdiction, (v) there is not in effect any waiver, modification or extension by any Blocker of any statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes (or the assessment or collection of any Taxes) of any Blocker (except for automatic extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business), and (vi) no Blocker has agreed to any modification, waiver or extension of time for filing any Tax Return that has not been filed and no request for any waiver, modification or extension described in this sentence is currently pending.
(c) (i) No Blocker is a party to any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnity agreement, or similar agreement with respect to Taxes that would have a continuing effect after the Closing Date or which would bind New Paramount or any Subsidiary of New Paramount after the Closing Date (other than customary commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes), and (ii) no Blocker (a) has been a member of an “affiliated group” (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is or was such Blocker) or (b) has any liability for the Taxes of another Person pursuant to applicable Law (including under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of any state, local or non-U.S. Law)), as a transferee or successor, or by Contract (other than customary commercial agreements or arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business no primary purpose of which relates to Taxes).
(d) In the prior two years, no Blocker has been either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to be governed in whole or in part under Section 355 of the Code (or under so much of Section 356 of the Code as it relates to Section 355 of the Code).
(e) Any debt previously issued by any Blocker has been properly characterized as debt for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.
(f) No Blocker Holder has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement, nor is any Blocker Holder, after due inquiry, aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment or Paramount Tax Counsel from providing the Tax Opinion.
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(g) Each Blocker will, immediately prior to the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, directly hold interests in Skydance.
(h) Section 5.5 and this Section 5.6 set forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Blocker Holders with respect to Tax matters. Nothing in this Agreement (including this Section 5.6) shall be construed as providing a representation or warranty with respect to the existence, amount, expiration date or limitations on (or availability of) any Tax attribute (including amounts related to losses, basis, credits or any other similar item) with respect to any Blocker.
Section 5.7 Legal Proceedings; Orders.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of such Blocker Holder, threatened in writing, against such Blocker Holder, or any property or asset of such Blocker Holder other than any Legal Proceeding that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of such Blocker Holder to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Order to which Blocker Holder is subject that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of such Blocker Holder to consummate the Blocker Contribution and Exchange.
Section 5.8 Financial Advisor. No broker, finder, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses in connection therewith, in connection with the Blocker Contribution and Exchange based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Blocker Holder.
Section 5.9 No Other Representation.
(a) Except for the express written representations and warranties made by such Blocker Holder in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Blocker Holder does not make any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to such Blocker Holder, any of its Affiliates, or its or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, such Blocker Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that except for the express written representations and warranties made by each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub in this Agreement or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in any other Transaction Document, none of Paramount, New Paramount, any Merger Sub or any other Person has made or makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Paramount or any Paramount Affiliate or their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Blocker Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates) that: (i) except for the representations and warranties of Paramount expressly set forth in Article III or in any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in any other
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Transaction Document, (x) none of the Paramount Parties makes, or has made, any representation or warranty and (y) neither such Blocker Holder nor any of its Affiliates is relying on, or has relied on, any representation or warranty made, or information provided, by or on behalf of any Paramount Party, in each case, regarding any Paramount Party, its or their business, this Agreement, the Transactions, or any other related matter; and (ii) such Blocker Holder is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review, and analysis regarding Paramount, its Subsidiaries and the Transactions, which investigation, review, and analysis were conducted by such Blocker Holder together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that it has engaged for such purpose.
ARTICLE VI
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 6.1 Access to Information.
(a) Subject to applicable Law, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.1 (the “Pre-Closing Period”), solely for purposes of furthering the Transactions and integration planning relating thereto, on reasonable advance notice to Paramount, New Paramount or Skydance, as applicable:
(i) Paramount and New Paramount shall, and shall cause their Representatives to, provide Skydance and Skydance’s Representatives with reasonable access during Paramount’s and New Paramount’s normal business hours to Paramount’s and New Paramount’s Representatives (which, for purposes of this Section 6.1, includes any Trustee), personnel, and books and records; provided that any such access shall be conducted at Skydance’s expense, at a reasonable time, under the supervision of appropriate personnel of Paramount and New Paramount and in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of the business of Paramount or New Paramount or any of their respective Subsidiaries or create material risk of damage or destruction to any material asset or property of Paramount or New Paramount or any of their respective Subsidiaries; and
(ii) Skydance shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, provide Paramount and Paramount’s Representatives with reasonable access during Skydance’s normal business hours to Skydance’s Representatives, personnel, and books and records; provided that any such access shall be conducted at Paramount’s expense, at a reasonable time, under the supervision of appropriate personnel of Skydance and in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of the business of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary or create material risk of damage or destruction to any material asset or property of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary.
Any such access shall be subject to Paramount’s and Skydance’s reasonable security measures and insurance requirements, as applicable, and shall not include invasive testing or sampling of soil, sediment, groundwater, building material, vapor, air, or any other environmental media. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Paramount or Skydance to disclose or provide access to any information to the extent that such Party determines in its reasonable discretion that
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such disclosure would (A) jeopardize any attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege, (B) contravene any applicable Law, fiduciary duty, or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement (including any confidentiality agreement to which Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Affiliates is a party) or (C) increase the risk of facing any Regulatory Hurdle; provided, however, Paramount, New Paramount, or Skydance, as applicable, shall, to the extent possible without loss of privilege or violating an agreement, inform the other Party as to the general nature of what is being withheld and Paramount and Skydance shall reasonably cooperate to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure that does not suffer from any of the foregoing impediments, including through the use of reasonable best efforts to (1) if reasonably requested by the Party requesting the relevant information, obtain the required Consent or waiver of any third party required to provide such information if appropriate in the reasonable judgment of the Party receiving the request and (2) implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the objection, including by arrangement of appropriate clean room procedures, redaction or entry into a customary joint defense agreement with respect to any information to be so provided, if the Parties determine that doing so would reasonably permit the disclosure of such information without violating applicable Law or jeopardizing such privilege. Nothing in this Section 6.1(a) shall be construed to require the Paramount Parties or any of their respective Representatives, or the Skydance Parties or any of their respective Representatives, as the case may be, to provide (I) any of the foregoing information to the extent related to the negotiation and execution of this Agreement or, except as expressly set forth in Section 6.4, any Acquisition Proposal or any deliberation of the Paramount Board or the Paramount Special Committee regarding any Acquisition Proposal or (II) any opinion to the other Parties or to prepare any reports, analyses or appraisals to the extent such report, analysis or appraisal is not otherwise already available to a Party or its Representatives. No investigation by a Party or its Representatives pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall affect or be deemed to modify or waive the representations and warranties of any other Party set forth in this Agreement.
(b) With respect to the information disclosed pursuant to this Section 6.1, each of Skydance and Paramount shall comply with, and shall instruct each of their respective Affiliates and Representatives to comply with, all of its obligations under (1) the Confidentiality Agreement, dated January 26, 2024, between Paramount and Skydance, as amended by that certain Amendment to Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 7, 2024 (as may be further amended, the “Confidentiality Agreement”) and (2) if applicable, the Outside Advisers Clean Team Confidentiality Agreement, dated April 19, 2024, between Paramount and Skydance, as amended by that certain Amendment to Outside Advisors Clean Team Confidentiality Agreement, dated June 9, 2024 (as may be further amended, the “Clean Team Agreement”). As of the date of this Agreement, Paramount agrees that the Confidentiality Agreement is hereby amended to permit the inclusion, in each case, upon written notice to Paramount, of all prospective debt or equity investors, financing sources and other advisors of Skydance and the Equity Investors in the term “Representative” as such term is defined therein. All requests for information made by a Party pursuant to this Section 6.1 will be made to, and be processed by, the members of the Integration Committee that were not designated by such Party.
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Section 6.2 Operation of Paramount’s Business.
(a) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (x) as and to the extent required under this Agreement or by applicable Law, (y) with the written consent of Skydance, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, or (z) as set forth in Section 6.2 of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, Paramount and New Paramount shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to conduct its and their business in all material respects in the ordinary course; provided that (i) with respect to the matters specifically addressed by any provision of Section 6.2(b) such specific provisions shall govern over the more general provision of Section 6.2(a) (it being agreed, however, that (x) any consent granted by Skydance with respect to any specific action under Section 6.2(b) shall apply to (and be deemed granted for) any other applicable limitation under Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b), subject to any express limitations or qualifications imposed in connection with the granting of such consent, and (y) nothing herein shall imply that being permitted to take any specific action under Section 6.2(b) relieves Paramount, New Paramount or any of their respective Subsidiaries from compliance with Section 6.2(a)) and (ii) this Section 6.2(a) shall not prohibit Paramount, New Paramount or any of their respective Subsidiaries from taking commercially reasonable actions consistent with prudent industry practices that would otherwise be prohibited pursuant to this Section 6.2(a) in order to prevent the occurrence of, or mitigate the existence of, an emergency situation involving endangerment of life, human health, safety or the environment or the protection of vital equipment or other assets; provided, however, that Paramount (or, following the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Paramount Entity) shall provide Skydance with notice of such emergency situation as soon as reasonably practicable and consult with Skydance before taking any such actions (to the extent practicable under the circumstances).
(b) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (x) to the extent required under this Agreement or by applicable Law, (y) with the written consent of Skydance, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, or (z) as set forth in Section 6.2 of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, neither Paramount nor New Paramount shall, and each of them shall cause their respective Subsidiaries not to:
(i) establish a record date for, declare, accrue, set aside, or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any share of its capital stock, other than (A) mandatory dividends or distributions required pursuant to its organizational documents as in effect on the date of this Agreement and (B) quarterly cash dividends by Paramount consistent with past practice, each in an amount no greater than $0.05 per share;
(ii) split, combine, subdivide, or reclassify any share of its capital stock (including the Paramount Shares) or other equity interests;
(iii) sell, issue, grant, deliver, transfer, pledge or encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrances), or authorize the sale, issuance, grant, delivery, pledge, transfer or encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) of, (A) any capital stock, equity-linked interest or other security, (B) any option, call, warrant, restricted securities, or right to acquire any capital stock, equity-linked interest, or other security or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, equity-linked interest, or other security (except, in each case of clauses (A)-(C), (x) on the vesting, forfeiture,
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settlement or exercise of Paramount Equity Awards, in each case, (1) outstanding as of the date hereof or granted after the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.2(b)(iii) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter and (2) in accordance with their terms as in effect on the date hereof and, as applicable, the Paramount Equity Plans as in effect on the date hereof, or (y) from a wholly owned Subsidiary of Paramount to another Subsidiary of Paramount);
(iv) except for actions expressly permitted by either Section 6.2(b)(viii) or Section 6.2(b)(x), adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, or other reorganization, other than in the ordinary course of business (including with respect to single purpose Subsidiaries engaged in Content Activities) or in connection with any internal restructuring with respect to another Subsidiary of Paramount or New Paramount;
(v) except as required under the terms of any Paramount Employee Plan in existence as of the date hereof: (A) establish, adopt, terminate, or materially amend any material Paramount Employee Plan, except for (x) amendments to defined contribution retirement, health and welfare Paramount Employee Plans made in the ordinary course of business that do not materially increase the expense of maintaining such Paramount Employee Plan and (y) entrances into employment agreements or separation agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not provide for severance (other than severance that is materially consistent with the severance provided to other similarly-situated Paramount Associates), change in control or retention payments or benefits; (B) accelerate the payment, vesting or funding of, or take any action to fund or secure the payment of, any compensation or benefits under any of the Paramount Employee Plans, or, except as required by GAAP, amend the funding obligation or contribution rate to, or change the underlying assumptions to calculate benefits payable under, any Paramount Employee Plan; (C) grant or pay to any Paramount Associate any new or increased cash incentive or other compensation or benefits, other than increases to base salaries or hourly wage rates, target bonus opportunities or target long-term incentive opportunities with respect to Paramount Associates approved in connection with either (x) Paramount’s established semi-annual compensation processes for annual merit increases, market adjustments and promotions or (y) an employment contract renewal, in either case, to the extent such approval occurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (D) grant or increase any change in control or transaction-related retention compensation; (E) grant or increase any severance or similar compensation and/or benefits to any Paramount Associate with an annual base salary in excess of $1,500,000; (F) hire or terminate (other than for cause or due to death) any Paramount Associate with an annual base salary in excess of $1,500,000; or (G) unless Paramount or New Paramount (as applicable) has first provided prior written notice thereof to Skydance, implement or announce any mass employee layoffs, plant closings, or other similar actions that trigger notice obligations under the WARN Act;
(vi) enter into (procure or authorize the entry into of) any material agreement or arrangement with any Trustee or their Representatives (and/or, solely in relation to any Buy-Out, any Insurer or its Representatives) about the Transactions and/or any Buy-Out in connection with either Paramount U.K. DB Plan, without (i) consulting in advance with Skydance to the extent the Trustee allows such consultation and
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(ii) giving Skydance and its Representatives the reasonable opportunity to engage in any such consultation and any related discussions with any Trustee or Insurer to the extent the Trustee allows such engagement (with Skydance, Paramount and each of their Representatives, in each case, acting reasonably and in good faith at all times);
(vii) amend or permit the adoption of any material amendment of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational document of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries;
(viii) (A) make any new commitment to make any material capital contribution or advance to, or investments in, any Person (other than between Paramount and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) (a “Paramount JV Commitment”), (B) acquire any equity interest or equity-linked interest in any other Entity (other than securities in a publicly traded company held for investment by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries and consisting of less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of such Entity), (C) enter into any joint venture or similar equity arrangement, collectively with respect to clauses (A) through (C), in an aggregate amount in excess of the amount set forth in Section 6.2(b)(viii) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or (D) enter into any joint venture, similar equity arrangement or omnibus content licensing and/or subscriber acquisition / migration arrangement involving Paramount+ (and Paramount and its Subsidiaries shall also consult with Skydance in good faith with respect to any material developments relating to the negotiation of any arrangement that is subject to approval pursuant to this clause (D));
(ix) (A) make or authorize aggregate capital expenditures in excess of 115% of Paramount’s capital expense budget as set forth in Section 6.2(b)(ix) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, which expenditures shall be in accordance with such budget (it being understood and agreed that development, production or acquisition costs in connection with Content Activities do not constitute capital expenditures for purposes hereof) or (B) incur or agree to incur costs in connection with the development, production and/or acquisition of Properties (excluding amounts paid by any third party to Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to fund or reimburse development and production costs) that in the aggregate are less than 70% or in excess of 110% of Paramount’s and its Subsidiaries’ aggregate budget set forth on Section 6.2(b)(ix) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter;
(x) (I) except as otherwise permitted under this Section 6.2(b), acquire, lease, license, sublicense, pledge, sell, or otherwise dispose of, abandon, waive or relinquish, transfer, assign, or subject to any material Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) any material right or other material asset or property, including any material Intellectual Property Right or material Paramount IT Asset, except, in the case of any of the foregoing, (A) in the ordinary course of business (including pursuant to non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business to end users in connection with the provision or sale of any product or service), (B) pursuant to dispositions of obsolete, surplus, or worn-out assets that are no longer useful for the conduct of the business of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) any sale, disposition, abandonment, waiver, failure to renew, permission to lapse, or other failure to maintain any Intellectual Property Right, Paramount Contract or other right (i) pursuant to a natural statutory expiration, or (ii) that Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, in the exercise of its reasonable
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business judgement, has determined not to maintain, (D) Content Activities, including any distribution of content or programming via MVPDs, or (E) any transactions among Paramount and any of its Subsidiaries or (II) materially amend, renew, permit to be automatically renewed (e.g., by failing to exercise a notice of expiration within the required notice period), or terminate any Contract set forth on Section 6.2(b)(x) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or enter into any replacement Contract providing for goods or services currently included in such Contracts with any party;
(xi) other than in the ordinary course of business, (A) enter into, amend, renew (or fail to exercise a renewal option under), or modify any Paramount Lease for Paramount Leased Real Property if such amendment, renewal or modifications would increase the aggregate amount of payments, or create a payment obligation, under such Paramount Lease (as amended, renewed, or modified, as the case may be) in excess of 10% on an annual basis or (B) terminate any Paramount Lease except any termination that shall occur at the end of the term of such Paramount Lease;
(xii) incur or guarantee any debt for borrowed money (except for (A) advances to employees and consultants for travel and other business-related expenses in the ordinary course of business, (B) guarantees of obligations of Paramount or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries or (C) any replacement, renewal, extension, refinancing or similar transaction involving any existing debt for borrowed money of Paramount or its Subsidiaries on terms and conditions that are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to Paramount and its Subsidiaries than the terms and conditions of the replaced, renewed, extended or refinanced debt (this clause (C), a “Permitted Paramount Refinancing”)), in each case, involving amounts, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $500,000,000; provided, that draw-downs or other borrowings under the existing credit facilities (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries or any replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the foregoing within the foregoing $500,000,000 threshold shall only be permitted if the same is determined by Paramount to be reasonably necessary to avoid a material and adverse impact on the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries and advance notice is provided to Skydance as early as reasonably practicable (and in any event no less than forty-eight (48) hours in advance);
(xiii) (A) amend, modify or waive, in each case, in a material and adverse respect, or terminate any Paramount Material Contract (other than in the ordinary course with respect to clauses (iii), (x), (xi) and (xxi) of Section 3.13(a)) or (B) enter into any Contract that if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement would have been a Paramount Material Contract of the kind described in clauses (vi), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xvi), (xvii) (provided, that for purposes of this clause the references therein to “10%” shall be deemed deleted), (xix) (provided, that, for purposes of this clause, the references therein to “$50,000,000” shall be replaced with “$125,000,000”) and (xx) of Section 3.13(a) (provided, that, for purposes of this clause, the references therein to “(i) any Material Affiliation Agreement or” should be deleted), in each case, for purposes of this clause, with any references to any particular fiscal year deemed to be replaced with “any fiscal year following December 31, 2023”; provided, that this clause (xiii) shall not prohibit or restrict any Paramount Employee Plan or the entry into any Contract as required by a pre-existing Contract as of the Effective Date;
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(xiv) commence any Legal Proceeding that could reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Paramount, New Paramount or Skydance Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers or the PIPE Transaction;
(xv) settle, release, waive, or compromise any Legal Proceeding (or threatened Legal Proceeding), other than (A) any actual or threatened Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or arising out of or related to the Transactions or (B) pursuant to a settlement that does not relate to any of the Transactions and, in the case of this clause (B), (I) that results solely in a monetary obligation involving only the payment of monies by Paramount of not more than $50,000,000 individually or $150,000,000 in the aggregate, in each case in excess of the reserves taken therefor as reflected in Paramount’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended on December 31, 2023; (II) that results solely in a monetary obligation that is funded by an indemnity obligation to, or an insurance policy of, Paramount and the payment of monies by Paramount; (III) that results solely in a monetary obligation involving payment by Paramount of an amount not greater than the amount specifically reserved in accordance with GAAP with respect to such Legal Proceeding on the Paramount Balance Sheet; or (IV) that does not result in any monetary obligation of Paramount, New Paramount or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, that this Section 6.2(b)(xv) shall not apply to any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to any matter set forth in Section 7.2 or Section 7.5 or otherwise arising out of or related to this Agreement;
(xvi) (A) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, (B) adopt or change any material Tax accounting method, (C) change any annual Tax accounting period, (D) enter into any closing agreement or similar agreement with respect to material Taxes, (E) settle, compromise, surrender or abandon, file a claim in respect of or prepare any substantive response related to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (F) request or consent to any extension, modification or waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes or Tax Returns, (G) surrender any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, (H) amend any material Tax Return or (I) apply for or request any Tax ruling, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business; provided that for purposes of this Section 6.2(b)(xvi), the threshold for materiality shall be $75,000,000;
(xvii) enter into any Contract that would, following the Closing, limit the right of Paramount or any Subsidiary of Paramount to sell, distribute, or manufacture any product or service by limiting the right to engage in any line of business or to compete with any other Person in any location or line of business (other than any exclusive or co-exclusive licenses of or holdbacks affecting Paramount Properties entered into in the ordinary course of business), in each case, in a manner that is material to any material business segment of Paramount and its Subsidiaries;
(xviii) change in any material respect their material financial accounting principles, practices or methods, except as required by GAAP or applicable Law;
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(xix) enter into (i) any new Contract that grants a change of control right or remedy, right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase or option to exclusively license or (ii) any new Contract that includes a provision that would require a material payment in excess of the amounts set forth in Section 6.2(b)(xix) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, to the other party or parties thereto, in each case under (i) or (ii), which right or payment is triggered by or would materially impair the consummation of the Mergers; provided, that this clause (xix) shall not prohibit or restrict any Paramount Employee Plan;
(xx) commence any material new lines of business in which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries are not engaged as of the date of this Agreement (or actively preparing to engage as of the date of this Agreement) or discontinue or shut down any lines of business in which they are engaged as of the date of this Agreement and which are material to any material business segment of Paramount and its Subsidiaries;
(xxi) except as set forth in Section 6.2(b)(xxi) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, take or fail to take any action that would result in the reversion, expiration or termination of any material rights held by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in any Paramount Franchise Property that is not wholly owned by Paramount or its Subsidiaries;
(xxii) take the action set forth in Section 6.2(b)(xxii) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter;
(xxiii) enter into or amend any Multi-Property Agreement that involves or is reasonably expected to involve annual payments to or by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000 in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 or any fiscal year thereafter;
(xxiv) “greenlighting” the production, acquisition or financing of any Property or committing to produce, acquire or finance any Property on the terms set forth on Section 6.2(b)(xxiv) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter;
(xxv) (A) enter into any new Contract with respect to the bundling of Paramount+ (i) outside the ordinary course of business or (ii) with any of the top seven (7) third-party streaming services (by number of U.S. subscribers) or (B) amend or extend any such existing Contract, if any such amendment or extension (1) would be on terms that are materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to Paramount and its Subsidiaries than the existing terms thereof or (2) would extend the term of such Contract by more than one (1) year;
(xxvi) violate the terms of Section 6.2(b)(xxvi) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter;
(xxvii) enter into any Contract that includes, or amend any Contract to include, any provision that, following the consummation of the Transactions, would, or would reasonably be expected to, bind or purport to bind any Affiliate of Paramount (including Skydance and its Affiliates, from and after the earlier Effective Time) other than
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Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries or apply to the assets or business thereof in a manner that would be materially adverse to the applicable Affiliate’s business that such Contract binds or purports to bind; or
(xxviii) enter into or authorize, agree, or commit to take any action described in clauses (i) through (xxvii) of this Section 6.2(b).
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall give to Skydance, directly or indirectly, any right to control or direct the operations of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time. Prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, each of Skydance and Paramount shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, complete control and supervision of its respective operations and those of its Subsidiaries.
Section 6.3 Operation of Skydance’s Business.
(a) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (x) as and to the extent required under this Agreement or by applicable Law, (y) with the written consent of Paramount, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, or (z) as set forth in Section 6.3 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, Skydance shall, and shall cause the Skydance Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to conduct its and their business in all material respects in the ordinary course; provided that (i) with respect to the matters specifically addressed by any provision of Section 6.3(b) such specific provisions shall govern over the more general provision of Section 6.3(a) (it being agreed, however, that (x) any consent granted by Skydance with respect to any specific action under Section 6.3(b) shall apply to (and be deemed granted for) any other applicable limitation under Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b), subject to any express limitations or qualifications imposed in connection with the granting of such consent and (y) nothing herein shall imply that being permitted to take any specific action under Section 6.3(b) relieves Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary from compliance with Section 6.3(a)) and (ii) this Section 6.3(a) shall not prohibit Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary from taking commercially reasonable actions consistent with prudent industry practices that would otherwise be prohibited pursuant to this Section 6.3(a) in order to prevent the occurrence of, or mitigate the existence of, an emergency situation involving endangerment of life, human health, safety or the environment or the protection of vital equipment or other assets; provided, however, that Skydance shall provide Paramount with notice of such emergency situation as soon as reasonably practicable and consult with Paramount before taking any such actions (to the extent practicable under the circumstances).
(b) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (x) to the extent required under this Agreement or by applicable Law, (y) with the written consent of Paramount, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, or (z) as set forth in Section 6.3 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, Skydance shall not, and Skydance shall cause each Skydance Subsidiary not to:
(i) establish a record date for, declare, accrue, set aside, or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any share of its capital stock, other than mandatory dividends or distributions required pursuant to its organizational documents as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
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(ii) split, combine, subdivide, or reclassify any limited liability company interests (including the Skydance Membership Units) or other equity interests;
(iii) sell, issue, grant, deliver, transfer, pledge or encumber (other than Permitted Encumbrances), or authorize the sale, issuance, grant, delivery, transfer, pledge or encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) of, (A) any limited liability company interest, equity-linked interest or other security, (B) any option, call, warrant, restricted securities, or right to acquire any limited liability company interest, equity-linked interest or other security, (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any limited liability company interest, equity-linked interest or other security (except, in each case of clauses (A)-(C), by, from or a wholly owned Skydance Subsidiary to another Skydance Subsidiary), or (D) any Skydance Profits Interest Unit or Skydance Phantom Unit (except as granted after the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.3(b)(iii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter);
(iv) except for actions expressly permitted by either Section 6.3(b)(vii) or Section 6.3(b)(ix), adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, or other reorganization, other than in the ordinary course of business (including with respect to single purpose Subsidiaries engaged in Content Activities) or in connection with any internal restructuring with respect to another Subsidiary of Skydance;
(v) except as required under the terms of any Skydance Employee Plan in existence as of the date hereof: (A) establish, adopt, terminate, or materially amend any material Skydance Employee Plan, except for (x) amendments to defined contribution retirement, health and welfare Skydance Employee Plans made in the ordinary course of business that do not materially increase the expense of maintaining such Skydance Employee Plan and (y) entrances into employment agreements or separation agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not provide for severance (other than severance that is materially consistent with the severance provided to other similarly-situated Skydance Associates), change in control or retention payments or benefits; (B) accelerate the payment, vesting or funding of, or take any action to fund or secure the payment of, any compensation or benefits under any of the Skydance Employee Plans, or, except as required by GAAP, amend the funding obligation or contribution rate to, or change the underlying assumptions to calculate benefits payable under, any Skydance Employee Plan; (C) grant or pay to any Skydance Associate any new or increased cash incentive or other compensation or benefits, other than increases to base salaries or hourly wage rates (and corresponding target bonus opportunities) or target long-term incentive opportunities with respect to Skydance Associates approved in connection with either (x) Skydance’s compensation processes for annual merit increases, market adjustments and promotions or (y) an employment contract renewal, in either case, to the extent such approval occurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (D) grant or increase any change in control or transaction-related retention compensation; (E) grant or increase any severance or similar compensation and/or benefits to any Skydance Associate with an annual base salary in excess of $1,500,000; (F) hire or terminate (other than for cause or due to death) any Skydance Associate with an annual base salary in excess of $1,500,000; or (G) unless Skydance has first provided prior written
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notice thereof to Paramount or New Paramount (as applicable), implement or announce any mass employee layoffs, plant closings, or other similar actions that trigger notice obligations under the WARN Act;
(vi) amend or permit the adoption of any material amendment of the articles of organization, operating agreement or other organizational document;
(vii) (A) make any new commitment to make any material capital contribution or advance to, or investments in, any Person (other than between Skydance and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) (a “Skydance JV Commitment”), (B) acquire any equity interest or equity-linked interest in any other Entity (other than securities in a publicly traded company held for investment by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary and consisting of less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of such Entity) or (C) enter into any joint venture or similar equity arrangement, collectively with respect to clauses (A) through (C), in an aggregate amount in excess of the amount set forth in Section 6.3(b)(vii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter;
(viii) (A) make or authorize aggregate capital expenditures in excess of 115% of Skydance’s capital expense budget as set forth in Section 6.3(b)(viii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, which expenditures shall be in accordance with such budget (it being understood and agreed that development, production or acquisition costs in connection with Content Activities do not constitute capital expenditures for purposes hereof) or (B) incur or agree to incur costs in connection with the development, production and/or acquisition of Properties (excluding amounts paid by any third party to Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries to fund or reimburse development and production costs) that in the aggregate are less than 70% or in excess of 110% of Skydance’s and its Subsidiaries’ aggregate budget set forth on Section 6.3(b)(viii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter;
(ix) except as otherwise permitted under this Section 6.3, acquire, lease, license, sublicense, pledge, sell, or otherwise dispose of, abandon, waive or relinquish, transfer, assign, or subject to any material Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) any material right or other material asset or property, including any material Intellectual Property Right or material Skydance IT Asset, except, in the case of any of the foregoing, (A) in the ordinary course of business (including pursuant to non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business or to end users in connection with the provision or sale of any product or service), (B) pursuant to dispositions of obsolete, surplus, or worn-out assets that are no longer useful for the conduct of the business of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, (C) any sale, disposition, abandonment, waiver, failure to renew, permission to lapse, or other failure to maintain any Intellectual Property Right, Skydance Contract or other right (i) pursuant to a natural statutory expiration, or (ii) that Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, in the exercise of its reasonable business judgement, has determined not to maintain, (D) Content Activities or (E) any transactions among Skydance and any of the Skydance Subsidiaries;
(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, (A) enter into, amend, renew (or fail to exercise a renewal option under), or modify the Skydance Leases for Skydance Leased Real Property if such amendments, renewals or modifications would
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increase the aggregate amount of payments, or create a payment obligation, under the Skydance Lease (as amended, renewed, or modified, as the case may be) in excess of 10% on an annual basis in the aggregate or (B) terminate any Skydance Lease except any termination that shall occur at the end of the term of such Skydance Lease;
(xi) incur or guarantee any debt for borrowed money (except for (A) advances to employees and consultants for travel and other business-related expenses in the ordinary course of business, (B) guarantees of obligations of Skydance or any wholly owned Skydance Subsidiary) or (C) any replacement, renewal, extension, refinancing or similar transaction involving any existing debt for borrowed money of Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries on terms and conditions that are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries than the terms and conditions of the replaced, renewed, extended or refinanced debt (this clause (C), a “Permitted Skydance Refinancing”)), in each case, involving amounts, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000,000;
(xii) (A) amend, modify or waive, in each case, in a material and adverse respect or terminate any Skydance Material Contract (other than in the ordinary course with respect to clauses (iii), (x), (xi) and (xix) of Section 4.12(a)) or (B) enter into any Contract that, if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been a Skydance Material Contract of the kind described in clauses (vi), (vii), (viii), (xii), (xiii), (xv), (xvi) (provided, that for purposes of this clause, the references therein to “10%” shall be deemed deleted) and (xviii) (provided, that for purposes of this clause, the references therein to “$25,000,000” shall be replaced by “$125,000,000”) of Section 4.12(a), in each case, for purposes of this clause, with any references to any particular fiscal year deemed to be replaced with “any fiscal year”; provided that this clause (xii) shall not prohibit or restrict any Skydance Employee Plan or the entry into any Contract as required by a pre-existing Contract as of the Effective Date;
(xiii) commence any Legal Proceeding that could reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impair the ability of Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary to consummate the Mergers or the Transactions;
(xiv) settle, release, waive, or compromise any Legal Proceeding (or threatened Legal Proceeding), other than (A) any actual or threatened Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or arising out of or related to the Transactions or (B) pursuant to a settlement that does not relate to any of the Transactions and, in the case of this clause (B), (I) that results solely in a monetary obligation involving only the payment of monies by Skydance of not more than $25,000,000 individually or $75,000,000 in the aggregate, in each case in excess of the reserves taken therefor in the Skydance Financial Statements; (II) that results solely in a monetary obligation that is funded by an indemnity obligation to, or an insurance policy of, Skydance and the payment of monies by Skydance; (III) that results solely in a monetary obligation involving payment by Skydance of an amount not greater than the amount specifically reserved in accordance with GAAP with respect to such Legal Proceeding on the Skydance Balance Sheet; or (IV) that does not result in any monetary obligation of Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary; provided that this
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Section 6.3(b)(xiv) shall not apply to any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to any matter set forth in Section 7.2 or Section 7.5 or otherwise arising out of or related to this Agreement;
(xv) (A) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, (B) adopt or change any material Tax accounting method, (C) change any annual Tax accounting period, (D) enter into any closing agreement or similar agreement with respect to material Taxes, (E) settle, compromise, surrender or abandon, file a claim in respect of or prepare any substantive response related to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (F) request or consent to any extension, modification or waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes or Tax Returns, (G) surrender any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, (H) amend any material Tax Return or (I) apply for or request any Tax ruling, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business; provided that for purposes of this Section 6.3(b)(xv), the threshold for materiality shall be $75,000,000;
(xvi) enter into any Contract that would, following the Closing, limit the right of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary to sell, distribute, or manufacture any product or service by limiting the right to engage in any line of business or to compete with any other Person in any location or line of business (other than any exclusive or co-exclusive licenses of or holdbacks affecting Skydance Properties entered into in the ordinary course of business), in each case, in a manner that is material to any material business segment of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries;
(xvii) change in any material respect their material financial accounting principles, practices or methods, except as required by GAAP or applicable Law;
(xviii) enter into (i) any new Contract that grants a change of control right or remedy, right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase or option to exclusively license, or (ii) any new Contract that includes a provision that would require a material payment in excess of the amounts set forth in Section 6.3(b)(xviii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter to the other party or parties thereto, in each case under (i) or (ii), which right or payment is triggered by or would materially impair, the consummation of the Mergers; provided, that this clause (xviii) shall not prohibit or restrict any Skydance Employee Plan;
(xix) commence any material new lines of business in which Skydance or the Skydance Subsidiaries are not engaged as of the date of this Agreement (or actively preparing to engage as of the date of this Agreement) or discontinue or shut down any lines of business in which they are engaged as of the date of this Agreement and which are material to any material business segment of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries;
(xx) except as set forth in Section 6.3(b)(xx) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, take or fail to take any action that would result in the reversion, expiration or termination of any material rights held by Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries
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in any Skydance Franchise Property that is not wholly owned by Skydance or its Subsidiaries;
(xxi) enter into or amend any Multi-Property Agreement that involves or is reasonably expected to involve annual payments to or by Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000 in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 or any fiscal year thereafter;
(xxii) “greenlighting” the production, acquisition or financing of any Property or committing to produce, acquire or finance any Property on the terms set forth on Section 6.3(b)(xxii) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter; or
(xxiii) enter into or authorize, agree, or commit to take any action described in clauses (i) through (xxii) of this Section 6.3(b).
(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall give to Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, any right to control or direct the operations of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time. Prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, each of Paramount and Skydance shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, complete control and supervision of its respective operations and those of its Subsidiaries.
Section 6.4 Go-Shop; No Solicitation.
(a) During the period (the “Go-Shop Period”) beginning on the date hereof and, except as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with this Section 6.4(a), continuing until 11:59 p.m., New York City Time on August 21, 2024 (the “No-Shop Period Start Date”), the Paramount Special Committee and its Representatives (or Paramount and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives, if acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) shall have the right to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, propose or induce the making, submission or announcement of, or encourage, facilitate or assist, any Acquisition Proposal and any proposal, inquiry or offer that could be reasonably expected to lead to, result in or constitute an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) subject to the entry into, and solely in accordance with, an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, provide information (including non-public information and data) relating to Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries and afford access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information, or to any personnel, of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person and its Representatives, in any such case with the intent to induce the making, submission or announcement of an Acquisition Proposal (or inquiries, proposals or offers or other efforts that could lead to any Acquisition Proposals); provided, however that (1) the Paramount Special Committee (or Paramount, acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) also provides Skydance, prior to or substantially concurrently with the time such non-public information is provided or made available to such Person or its Representatives, any non-public information furnished to such other Person or its Representatives that was not previously furnished or made available to Skydance or its Representatives and (2) any competitively sensitive non-public information provided to any Person who is or who has one or more Affiliates that is a competitor of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the actions permitted by this Section 6.4(a) shall be provided in accordance
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with customary “clean room” or other similar procedures as reasonably determined by the Paramount Special Committee (or Paramount, acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) and (iii) engage in, enter into, continue or otherwise participate in, any discussions or negotiations with any Persons and their respective Representatives with respect to any Acquisition Proposals (or inquiries, proposals or offers or other efforts that could lead to any Acquisition Proposals), and cooperate with or assist or participate in or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, offers, discussions or negotiations or any effort or attempt to make any Acquisition Proposals, including granting a waiver, amendment or release under (A) any pre-existing standstill or similar provision to allow for a confidential Acquisition Proposal to be made to Paramount, the Paramount Special Committee or the Paramount Board or (B) any Takeover Laws to enable discussions and negotiations with the Paramount Special Committee and its Representatives (or Paramount and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives, if acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) and with NAI and its Representatives. In the event that the Paramount Special Committee and its Representatives (or Paramount and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives, if acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) are engaged in substantive negotiations under an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement with an Excluded Party, then the Paramount Special Committee may, by written notice to Skydance (which notice shall include the identity of any such Excluded Party) on or before August 21, 2024, extend the Go-Shop Period and the No-Shop Period Start Date with respect to any such Excluded Party (and only an Excluded Party) until September 5, 2024 in order to continue to engage in the activities described in this Section 6.4(a) with any such Excluded Party solely during such extended Go-Shop Period. The Paramount Special Committee shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notify Skydance in writing if any Excluded Party ceases to be an Excluded Party during the extended Go-Shop Period.
(b) On the No-Shop Period Start Date (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)), each of Paramount and Skydance shall, shall cause its respective Subsidiaries and shall direct its and their respective Affiliates and Representatives to (i) immediately terminate (or cause to be terminated) any discussions or negotiations with any Person and its Affiliates and Representatives with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) promptly (and in any case within twenty-four (24) hours after the beginning of the No-Shop Period Start Date) terminate (or cause to be terminated) such Person’s and its Affiliates’ and Representatives’ access to any data room or other depository of information maintained by or on behalf of such Party and its Subsidiaries for purposes of facilitating an Acquisition Proposal and (iii) promptly cease any direct or indirect solicitation, knowing encouragement, discussion, or negotiation with any such Person that may be ongoing relating to an Acquisition Proposal. Additionally, from the No-Shop Period Start Date (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)) until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX and the Skydance Merger Effective Time, each of Paramount and Skydance shall not, shall cause its respective Subsidiaries not to and shall direct its and their respective Affiliates and Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate, or knowingly facilitate, or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information), or otherwise propose or knowingly induce the making, submission, or announcement of, any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to constitute or lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (B) engage in, continue, or otherwise participate in any discussion or negotiation regarding, or furnish to any other Person (other than (1) Skydance and its Affiliates, NAI and its Affiliates, and any Representatives of the foregoing Persons, in the case of Paramount, and (2) Paramount and its
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Affiliates, NAI and its Affiliates, and any Representatives of the foregoing Persons, in the case of Skydance), any non-public information and data relating to such Party or any of its Subsidiaries or afford to any Person (other than (1) Skydance and its Affiliates, NAI and its Affiliates, and any Representatives of the foregoing Persons, in the case of Paramount, and (2) Paramount and its Affiliates, NAI and its Affiliates, and any Representatives of the foregoing Persons, in the case of Skydance) access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other information, or to any personnel, of such Party or any of its Subsidiaries (except pursuant to Section 220 of the DGCL, with respect to Paramount), in each case, in connection with, or for the purpose of knowingly encouraging or knowingly facilitating, an Acquisition Proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (C) approve, adopt, endorse or recommend an Acquisition Proposal or any offer or proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (D) terminate, amend, release, modify or fail to enforce any provision (including any standstill or similar provision) of, or grant any permission, waiver or request under, any confidentiality, standstill or similar agreement, in each case, in furtherance of an Acquisition Proposal, (E) grant any waiver, amendment or release under any Takeover Laws, (F) authorize or enter into any letter of intent, acquisition agreement, agreement in principle, or other Contract (other than, in the case of Paramount, an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) (an “Acquisition Agreement”) relating to an Acquisition Proposal or (G) resolve, agree or propose to do any of the foregoing.
(c) Each of Skydance and Paramount shall, promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours) after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal by it or any of its Affiliates or Representatives, notify the other Party of the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal and the identity of the Person or “group” making such Acquisition Proposal and shall provide the other Party with copies of any written requests, proposals or offers, including proposed agreements, and the material terms and conditions of any proposals or offers (or where no such copies are available, a reasonably detailed written description thereof). In addition, each of Paramount and Skydance shall, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates to, keep the other Party reasonably informed, on a prompt basis, of the status and terms of, and material changes in, any such Acquisition Proposal. Paramount agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, enter into any agreement with any Person which directly or indirectly prohibits Paramount from providing any information to Skydance in accordance with, or otherwise complying with, this Section 6.4(c). Paramount shall promptly (and, in any event, within 24 hours), following a determination by the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee that an Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal, to the extent the Paramount Board or the Paramount Special Committee is permitted to make such a determination pursuant to Section 6.6, notify Skydance of such determination in writing.
(d) Promptly after the No-Shop Period Start Date (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)), each of Paramount and Skydance shall deliver a written notice to each Person that entered into a confidentiality agreement with such Party relating to an Acquisition Proposal within the 180 days preceding the date of this Agreement requesting the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to any Person pursuant to such confidentiality agreement within such 180-day period.
(e) Without limiting the foregoing, each of Skydance and Paramount agrees that if any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Representatives takes (or omits to take) any action that
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if taken (or not taken) by such Party would constitute a breach of this Section 6.4, then such action (or inaction) shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Section 6.4 by such Party.
Section 6.5 Delivery of Paramount Written Consent. Paramount acknowledges that the Specified NAI Entities have executed and delivered the Paramount Written Consent, which by its terms becomes effective immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
Section 6.6 Paramount Board Recommendation.
(a) The Paramount Board and each committee of the Paramount Board (including the Paramount Special Committee) shall not, and shall not authorize or publicly propose to: (i) (A) withhold, withdraw or adversely qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Skydance Parties) the Paramount Board Recommendation or the Paramount Special Committee Recommendation; (B) authorize, approve, adopt or recommend, or declare the advisability of, any Acquisition Proposal; or (C) make any recommendation in connection with any Acquisition Proposal that is a tender offer or exchange offer other than a recommendation against such offer within ten (10) Business Days of commencement thereof pursuant to Rule 14d-2 of the Exchange Act or a temporary “stop, look and listen” communication by the Paramount Board or the Paramount Special Committee pursuant to, or similar communication of the type contemplated by, Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act (any of the foregoing actions, an “Adverse Recommendation Change”) or (ii) cause or permit Paramount or any of Paramount’s Subsidiaries to enter into any Acquisition Agreement or otherwise resolve or agree to do so.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.6(a) or elsewhere in this Agreement, until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX and the No-Shop Period Start Date, if (but only if), in response to an Acquisition Proposal made after the date of this Agreement that has not been withdrawn and that did not result from a material breach of Section 6.6, the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee determines in good faith (in each case, after consultation with its respective outside legal counsel and financial advisors) that (x) such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal and (y) the failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the applicable directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, then, subject to the remainder of this Section 6.6(b), the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee may terminate this Agreement during the Go-Shop Period (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)) in accordance with Section 9.1(f) in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Superior Proposal (a “Superior Proposal Termination”). Before the Paramount Board or the Paramount Special Committee may effect a Superior Proposal Termination in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence: (A) Paramount shall provide Skydance at least four Business Days’ prior written notice of its intention to effect a Superior Proposal Termination; (B) Paramount shall provide Skydance a summary of the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (including the consideration offered therein and the identity of the person or “group” making the Superior Proposal) and an unredacted copy of any written materials received from or on behalf of the Person or Persons making such Acquisition Proposal; (C) if requested to do so by Skydance, for a period of four Business Days following delivery of such notice, Paramount shall discuss and negotiate in good faith, and shall make its Representatives available to discuss and negotiate, with
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the Skydance Parties and their Representatives, any proposed modifications to the terms and conditions of this Agreement in such a manner that would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal; and (D) no earlier than the end of such four Business Day period, the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee shall determine in good faith, after considering the terms of any proposed amendment or modification to this Agreement proposed by the Skydance Parties during such four Business Day period and in consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that (1) such Superior Proposal still constitutes a Superior Proposal and (2) the failure to effect a Superior Proposal Termination would continue to be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the applicable directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law (it being understood and agreed that, with respect to each time that any material changes are made to the financial or other material terms of a proposal that was previously the subject of a notice hereunder, Paramount shall be required to provide an additional notice to Skydance as provided above, but with respect to such additional notice, references herein to a “four Business Day period” shall be deemed references to a “two Business Day period”).
(c) Nothing in this Section 6.6 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit Paramount or the Paramount Board of Directors (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee from (i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of Paramount a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the stockholders of Paramount that is required by applicable Law; provided that, in each case, any such disclosure does not constitute an Adverse Recommendation Change. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.6(c) shall not be construed to permit the Paramount Board of Directors or the Paramount Special Committee to make an Adverse Recommendation Change.
Section 6.7 Payoff of Certain Indebtedness.
(a) To the extent requested in writing by Skydance at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Paramount shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered to Skydance at or prior to the Closing a copy of (i) an executed payoff letter, in customary form, from the administrative agent for the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility, which payoff letter shall (A) indicate the aggregate amount required to be paid to such administrative agent on the Closing Date and (B) provide that upon receipt of the applicable payoff amount, the applicable agreements evidencing the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated (other than any provisions that by their terms survive the termination thereof) and all guarantees by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries of the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility shall be released and terminated and (ii) all applicable guarantee release and related termination documentation.
(b) Skydance shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered to Paramount at or prior to the Closing a copy of (i) an executed payoff letter, in customary form, from the administrative agent for the Existing Skydance Revolving Credit Facility, which payoff letter shall (A) indicate the aggregate amount required to be paid to such agent on the Closing Date (such amount, the “Skydance Debt Payoff Amount”) and (B) provide that upon receipt of the Skydance Debt Payoff Amount, the applicable agreements evidencing the Existing Skydance Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated (other than any
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provisions that by their terms survive the termination thereof) and all Encumbrances on the assets and properties of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries securing any such Indebtedness and all guarantees by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary of the Existing Skydance Revolving Credit Facility shall be released and terminated (with authority provided to file any applicable lien releases and related termination documentation) and (ii) all applicable lien release, guarantee release and related termination documentation.
(c) Paramount shall use reasonable best efforts to submit a borrowing notice under the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility in advance of the Closing for such amounts available thereunder that are requested by Skydance in writing at least four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
Section 7.1 Preparation of Information Statement/Registration Statement; Stockholders’ Meeting.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Paramount and Skydance shall jointly cause to be prepared and Paramount shall file with the SEC (i) an information statement of the type contemplated by Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act containing the information specified in Schedule 14C under the Exchange Act concerning the Paramount Written Consent and the Transactions and a prospectus to be sent to the stockholders of Paramount (the “Information Statement”) and (ii) New Paramount’s registration statement on Form S-4 pursuant to which shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock issuable in connection with the Transactions will be registered with the SEC (the “Registration Statement,” with the Information Statement constituting a part thereof). Paramount and New Paramount, as applicable, shall promptly notify Skydance upon the receipt of any oral or written comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Information Statement or the Registration Statement and shall provide Skydance with copies of all written correspondence and a summary of all oral communications between it, on the one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand, relating to the Information Statement or the Registration Statement and shall provide Skydance and its legal counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate in any discussions or meetings with the SEC relating to the Information Statement or the Registration Statement. Skydance (on the one hand) and Paramount and New Paramount (on the other hand), as applicable, shall cooperate, and shall cause their respective Representatives and Affiliates to cooperate, and provide each other Party with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on each of the Information Statement and the Registration Statement and any substantive correspondence (including responses to SEC comments) regarding, or amendments or supplements to, the Information Statement or the Registration Statement prior to filing with the SEC or mailing to stockholders, and shall provide to such other Parties a copy of all such filings made with the SEC.
(b) Each of Paramount and Skydance shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act and the Information Statement to be cleared by the SEC and its staff under the Exchange Act, in each case, as promptly as practicable after such filing and (ii) keep the Registration Statement effective as
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long as necessary to consummate the Mergers and the other Transactions. Without limiting any other provision herein, the Registration Statement and the Information Statement will contain such information and disclosure with respect to the Skydance Parties as is reasonably requested by Paramount so that the Registration Statement conforms in form and substance to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Information Statement conforms in form and substance to the requirements of the Exchange Act. Paramount shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Information Statement to be mailed to holders of Paramount Common Stock as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective. In the event any tax opinion is required to be provided in connection with the Registration Statement, Paramount Tax Counsel shall provide such tax opinion, subject to customary modifications and limitations. In providing a tax opinion pursuant to the preceding sentence, Paramount Tax Counsel shall be entitled to rely upon Tax Representation Letters provided by the Parties (and, as necessary, their Affiliates), in accordance with Section 7.10(a).
(c) If at any time prior to the applicable Effective Time there shall occur any event with respect to Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or with respect to information supplied by Paramount or Skydance for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement, which event is required to be described in an amendment of or a supplement to the Registration Statement or Information Statement, the Party that discovers such information shall as promptly as practicable following such discovery notify the other Party or Parties (as the case may be) and after such notification, as and to the extent required by applicable Law, (i) Paramount shall promptly prepare an amendment or supplement to the Information Statement and (ii) Paramount shall cause the Information Statement as so amended or supplemented to be filed with the SEC and disseminated to the stockholders of Paramount, in each case with the assistance of Skydance as provided for in this Section 7.1.
(d) Skydance and each Merger Sub shall provide such assistance and cooperation as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Information Statement and the Registration Statement. Skydance and each Merger Sub shall provide Paramount with such information concerning themselves and their Affiliates as is customarily included in a registration statement or Information Statement prepared in connection with a transaction of the type contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable Laws, requested by the SEC or its staff, or as Paramount may reasonably request, in each case, sufficiently in advance of the mailing of the Registration Statement or Information Statement to be included therein. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Paramount and its Subsidiaries assume no responsibility with respect to information supplied in writing by or on behalf of Skydance or its Affiliates or its or their respective Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Information Statement.
(e) In connection with the filing of the Information Statement, the Registration Statement and any other SEC filings requiring such information, Skydance shall (i) cooperate with Paramount to prepare financial statements (including audited, unaudited and pro forma financial statements as required by the SEC and applicable Law) that comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the requirements of Regulation S-X, and any applicable SEC interpretative guidance in respect thereof, and (ii) provide and make reasonably available upon reasonable notice the senior management employees of Skydance to discuss the materials prepared and delivered pursuant to this Section 7.1(e).
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Section 7.2 Filings, Consents, and Approvals.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including Section 7.2(b), each of the Parties shall, and Paramount and New Paramount shall cause their respective Affiliates to, and Skydance shall cause the Equity Investors and the Blocker Holders to, use their respective reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, to file, or cause to be filed, all documents, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties in doing, all things necessary, proper, or advisable under applicable Antitrust Laws, Foreign Direct Investment Laws or Communications Laws (including the FCC Consent) to consummate and make effective the Transactions as soon as reasonably practicable, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents, clearances, decisions, declarations, approvals, reporting, authorizations and expirations or terminations of waiting periods from Governmental Bodies and the making of all necessary registrations and filings and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to obtain any such consent, decision, declaration, approval, clearance, or waiver, or expiration or termination of a waiting period by or from, or to avoid a Legal Proceeding by, any Governmental Body in connection with any Antitrust Law, Foreign Direct Investment Law or Communication Law, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, or waivers from third parties, (iii) the execution and delivery of any additional instrument reasonably necessary to consummate the Transactions and (iv) refraining from taking any action that would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Mergers; provided, however, that in no event shall Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries be required to pay any fee, penalty, or other consideration or otherwise make any accommodation, commitment, or incur any liability or obligation to any third party or commence or participate in any Legal Proceeding (except as described in Section 7.2(b)), to obtain any consent or approval required for the consummation of the Transactions under any Contract.
(b) Without limiting the obligations imposed under Section 7.2(a), the Parties shall promptly take, and Paramount and New Paramount shall cause their respective Affiliates to take, and Skydance shall cause its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) and the Blocker Holders to take, all actions and steps requested or required by any Governmental Body as a condition to granting any consent, permit, authorization, waiver, clearance, decision, declaration, reporting and approval, and to cause the prompt expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period and to resolve objections, if any, of any Governmental Body for which any consent, permit, authorization, waiver, clearance, decision, declaration, reporting or approval, or expiration or termination of any waiting period is sought with respect to the Transactions, so as to obtain such consent, permit, authorization, waiver, clearance, decision, declaration, reporting, or approval, or expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, other Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws or any Law regulating foreign investment screening, national security or trade regulation (“Foreign Direct Investment Laws”), and to avoid the commencement of a Legal Proceeding by any Governmental Body, or any other Person under Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws or Foreign Direct Investment Laws, and to avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order in any Legal Proceeding that would otherwise have the effect of preventing the Closing, delaying the Closing, or delaying the Closing beyond the End Date (collectively, “Regulatory Approvals”). In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, if any lawsuit or other proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, is brought or threatened to be brought challenging or seeking to restrain
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or prohibit the consummation of the Transactions under the Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws or Foreign Direct Investment Laws, each of New Paramount, Skydance and Paramount shall in good faith contest and resist any such lawsuit or proceeding to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction, or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that results from such lawsuit or proceeding and that prohibits, prevents restrains, interferes with, hinders or delays in any material respect the consummation of the Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Party or its Affiliates shall be required to (i) commit to and effectuate by consent decree, hold separate order, or otherwise, the sale, lease, license, divestiture, or disposition of any material asset, right, product line, or business of Paramount, Skydance, or any of their respective Affiliates, (ii) terminate any existing relationship, contractual right, or obligation of Paramount, Skydance, or any of their respective Affiliates, (iii) terminate any venture or other arrangement, (iv) create any relationship, contractual right or obligation of Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Affiliates, (v) effectuate any other change or restructuring of Paramount, Skydance, or any of their respective Affiliates, (vi) undertake or agree to any requirement or obligation to provide prior notice to, or obtain prior approval from, any Governmental Body with respect to any transaction or (vii) otherwise take or commit to take any action with respect to the businesses, product lines or assets of Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with any Regulatory Approval (each of the foregoing, a “Remedy”); provided that each of Skydance and Paramount shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, effect, or agree to effect, any Remedy or Remedies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not, or would not reasonably be expected to have, a Burdensome Effect; provided, further, that each Party shall be required to accept or commit to a Remedy only if the effectiveness of such Remedy is conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing. A “Burdensome Effect” means a material adverse effect on New Paramount and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Entities and their Subsidiaries), taken as a whole after giving effect to the Mergers.
(c) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall, if applicable (and Paramount and New Paramount shall cause their respective Affiliates and Skydance shall cause its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) and the Blocker Holders, in each case, if applicable, to), (i) as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) business days after the date of this Agreement make an appropriate filing of all Notification and Report forms as required by the HSR Act with respect to the Transactions, (ii) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement (unless Paramount and Skydance agree to a later date) make all other filings, notifications or other consents as may be required to be made or obtained by such Party under foreign Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws or Foreign Direct Investment Laws in those jurisdictions identified in Section 7.2(b) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter, which contains the list of the only jurisdictions where filing, notification, expiration of a waiting period, or consent or approval is a condition to Closing, and (iii) cooperate with each other in determining whether, and promptly preparing and making, any other filing or notification or other consent required to be made with, or obtained from, any other Governmental Body in connection with the Transactions.
(d) Without limiting the generality of anything in this Section 7.2, each Party shall, and Paramount and New Paramount shall cause their respective Affiliates to, and Skydance shall cause its Affiliates (including the Equity Investors) and the Blocker Holders to, (i) cooperate in all respects and consult with each other in connection with any filing or submission
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in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including allowing the other Parties to have a reasonable opportunity to review in advance and comment on drafts of filings and submissions, (ii) give the other Parties prompt notice of the making or commencement of any request, inquiry, investigation, action, or Legal Proceeding brought by a Governmental Body or brought by a third party before any Governmental Body, in each case, with respect to the Transactions, (iii) keep the other Parties reasonably informed as to the status of any such request, inquiry, investigation, action, or Legal Proceeding, (iv) promptly inform the other Parties of any material communication to or from any Governmental Body in connection with any such request, inquiry, investigation, action, or Legal Proceeding and permit such other Parties to review in advance any proposed communication to any such Governmental Body and incorporate such other Parties’ reasonable comments, (v) on request, promptly furnish to the other Party a copy of such communications, subject to a confidentiality agreement limiting disclosure to outside counsel and consultants retained by such counsel, and subject to redaction of documents (A) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements and (B) to remove references to valuation of Paramount or Skydance or their respective Subsidiaries, (vi) to the extent reasonably practicable, consult in advance and cooperate with the other Parties and consider in good faith the views of the other Parties in connection with any substantive communication, analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion, or proposal to be made or submitted in connection with any such request, inquiry, investigation, action, or Legal Proceeding and (vii) except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Body, permit authorized Representatives of the other Parties to be present at each meeting and telephone or video conference arising out of or relating to such request, inquiry, investigation, action, or Legal Proceeding. Each Party shall supply as promptly as reasonably practicable such information, documentation, other material or testimony that may be reasonably requested by any Governmental Body, including by complying at the earliest reasonably practicable date with any reasonable request for additional information, documents or other materials, including any “second request” under the HSR Act, received by any Party or any of its Affiliates from any Governmental Body in connection with such applications or filings for the Transactions. Any Party may, as it deems advisable and necessary, reasonably designate any competitively sensitive material provided to the other Parties under this Section 7.2 as “outside counsel only”. Such materials and the information contained therein shall be given only to the outside legal counsel of the recipient and shall not be disclosed by such outside counsel to employees, officers, or directors of the recipient, unless express written permission is obtained in advance from the source of the materials. Each Party shall use reasonable best efforts to share information protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, joint defense privilege, or any other privilege pursuant to this Section 7.2 so as to preserve any applicable privilege. All filing fees under the HSR Act and for any filing required under foreign Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws or Foreign Direct Investment Laws (if any) shall be borne equally by Skydance and Paramount.
(e) Paramount and Skydance shall consult in advance with each other and in good faith take each other’s views into account prior to taking any substantive position with respect to (x) the filings under the HSR Act, Communications Laws (including the FCC Consent) or required by any other Governmental Body under any applicable Antitrust Laws or Foreign Direct Investment Laws and (y) any written submission or, to the extent practicable, any discussion with any Governmental Body in connection with obtaining any necessary clearance under the HSR Act or any other Antitrust Law or any Foreign Direct Investment Law. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Skydance and Paramount (at the direction of the Paramount
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Special Committee) shall jointly control and direct all communications and strategy in dealing with any Governmental Body under the HSR Act, other Antitrust Laws, Communications Laws and Foreign Direct Investment Laws.
(f) The Parties shall not, and Paramount and New Paramount shall not permit any of their respective Affiliates to, and Skydance shall not permit any of its Affiliates (including any of the Equity Investors) or any of the Blocker Holders to, enter into any Contracts to acquire (by stock purchase, merger, consolidation, purchase of assets, license or otherwise) any ownership interests or assets of any Person that would be reasonably likely to: (i) materially increase the risk of imposing any delay in the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period beyond the End Date or materially increase the risk of not obtaining, any authorization, consent, clearance, decision, declaration, reporting, approval, or order of a Governmental Body necessary to consummate the Transactions, including any approval or expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act, any Communications Laws or any other applicable Law; or (ii) materially increase the risk of any Governmental Body entering, or materially increase the risk of not being able to remove or successfully challenge, any permanent, preliminary, or temporary injunction or restraining order, or other order, decree, decision, determination, or judgment that would delay beyond the End Date, prevent, enjoin, or otherwise prohibit consummation of Transactions (any of clause (i) or (ii), a “Regulatory Hurdle”).
(g) Subject to the proviso to this sentence, nothing in this Section 7.2 or any other provision of this Agreement shall require Skydance to cause its Affiliates (other than the Skydance Subsidiaries), the Equity Investors (or any of their Affiliates) or the Blocker Holders (or any of their Affiliates) to take any action or omission contemplated by this Section 7.2 with respect to any of their investments, businesses, divisions, products, rights, services, licenses, operations or assets, including with respect to any investment funds or investment vehicles affiliated with, or managed or advised by, any Skydance Member or any Blocker Holder, any portfolio company (as such term is commonly understood in the private equity industry) affiliated with Skydance, the Equity Investors or any Blocker Holder or, in each case, any interests therein, except, in each case, with respect to Skydance and its Subsidiaries; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) nothing in this Section 7.2(g) shall qualify or limit in any respect the obligations of Skydance, any Affiliates of Skydance (including any Equity Investor) and any Blocker Holder to make any necessary filings with or submissions to, or supply information or documentation to, or engage in communications with, Governmental Bodies as required by this Section 7.2 and (B) solely for purposes of Article IX, Skydance shall be deemed to be in material breach of its obligations under this Section 7.2 in the event that the failure to obtain clearance under the HSR Act or any other Antitrust Law, Communications Law or Foreign Direct Investment Laws is due to the failure of any Affiliates of Skydance (including any Equity Investor) or any Blocker Holder, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any equity financing source of any of the foregoing Persons, to make any necessary filings with or submissions to, or supply information or documentation to, Governmental Bodies as would be required by such Persons under this Section 7.2(g) if such Persons had the same obligations as Skydance to do so.
Section 7.3 Employee Benefits.
(a) From and after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, New Paramount shall honor, and shall cause the
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Surviving Entities and their applicable Subsidiaries to honor, all Paramount Employee Plans and Skydance Employee Plans and, to the extent applicable, shall assume any Paramount Employee Plan or Skydance Employee Plan that requires or contemplates assumption by its terms by an acquirer or successor; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit New Paramount or any of its Affiliates from amending or terminating any such Paramount Employee Plans and Skydance Employee Plans in accordance with their terms.
(b) For a period beginning on the Closing and ending on the later of the first anniversary of the Closing or the last day of calendar year 2025 (or, if earlier, until the applicable Continuing Employee terminates employment with New Paramount or any Subsidiary of New Paramount), New Paramount shall provide, or cause to be provided, to each employee of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, and each employee of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary as of immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable (in each case, including any such employee who is on disability or other approved leave), and who continues in employment with New Paramount or any Subsidiary (including any Surviving Entity or any Subsidiary thereof) immediately following the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable (each, a “Continuing Employee”), except to the extent that New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries implement changes (including reductions) to any Continuing Employee’s compensation and benefits in connection with any business unit-wide or business segment-wide reorganizations or restructurings following the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, (1) a base salary or base wage rate, as the case may be, and target short-term cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentive opportunities, that are no less favorable in the aggregate than the base salary (or base wage rates, as applicable) and short-term cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentive opportunities provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, and (2) retirement, health and welfare, severance and other benefits (excluding cash or equity-linked awards, defined benefit arrangements, retiree health and welfare arrangements and any retention or other special or non-recurring compensation or benefits) that are no less favorable in the aggregate than such retirement, health and welfare, severance and other benefits provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable.
(c) Subject to applicable Law, New Paramount will and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Subsidiaries of New Paramount (including the Surviving Entities and their respective Subsidiaries) to give credit under each of their respective employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements (the “Post-Closing Employee Plans”) to Continuing Employees for all service prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, with Paramount or Skydance or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, or any predecessor employer (to the extent that such credit was given by Paramount or Skydance or any of their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable) for all purposes for which such service was taken into account or recognized by Paramount or Skydance or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, for purposes of eligibility for participation, vesting (solely for purposes of defined contribution retirement accounts) and, solely for purposes of vacation, paid-time-off or severance benefits, accrual; provided that no such recognition of service shall be
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required to the extent crediting such service would result in duplication of benefits, or for purposes of defined benefits plans (including the Paramount U.K. DB Plans) or retiree medical or welfare plans, except to the extent required by applicable Law.
(d) For purposes of each Post-Closing Employee Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, vision or other health and welfare benefits to any Continuing Employee and his or her dependents, New Paramount will use its commercially reasonable efforts to, and to cause its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Entities and their respective Subsidiaries) to, (i) cause all waiting periods, pre-existing condition exclusions, evidence of insurability requirements and actively-at-work requirements of such Post-Closing Employee Plan to be waived for such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents, to the extent any such waiting periods, pre-existing condition exclusions, evidence of insurability requirements and actively-at-work requirements were waived or were inapplicable under the comparable Paramount Employee Plan or Skydance Employee Plan, and (ii) fully credit each Continuing Employee with all deductible payments, co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents under the medical, dental, pharmaceutical or vision benefit plans of Paramount or Skydance (or their respective Subsidiaries), as applicable, prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, during the plan year in which the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as applicable, occurs for the purpose of determining the extent to which such Continuing Employee has satisfied the deductible, co-payments, or maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents for such plan year under any pre-Closing Paramount Employee Plan or Skydance Employee Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical, vision or health and welfare benefits, as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such plan.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, New Paramount shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Entities and their respective Subsidiaries) to, provide each Continuing Employee who is, or becomes, covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the compensation and benefits required by such Collective Bargaining Agreement.
(f) New Paramount, Paramount and Skydance agree to, and will cause their respective Subsidiaries to, cooperate on matters related to the transition of employees as contemplated by this Agreement including, without limitation, notification and consultation required by any union, works council or other labor organization representing Paramount Associates or Skydance Associates.
(g) The Parties hereby acknowledge that the consummation of the Transactions shall constitute a “change in control” or “change of control” (or a term of similar import) for purposes of the Paramount Employee Plans and Skydance Employee Plans, in each case, set forth on Section 7.3(g) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or Skydance Disclosure Letter.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.3 are solely for the benefit of the Parties, no provision of this Section 7.3 is intended to, or shall, constitute the establishment or adoption of or an amendment to any employee benefit plan for purposes of ERISA or otherwise, and no current or former employee or other individual associated therewith shall be regarded for
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any purpose as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement or have the right to enforce the provisions hereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon any Paramount Associate or Skydance Associate, or any talent, cast or crew or other service providers of Paramount or Skydance any right to continue in the employ or service of New Paramount, the Surviving Entities, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way any right New Paramount, the Surviving Entities, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof may have to discharge or terminate the services of any Paramount Associate or Skydance Associate or any talent, cast or crew or other service providers of Paramount or Skydance at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
Section 7.4 Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
(a) New Paramount agrees that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, and exculpation by Paramount or Skydance existing in favor of those Persons who are current or former directors, officers, members or managers of (1) Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries (and any person who becomes a director, officer, member or manager of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time) (collectively, the “Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons”) or (2) Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary (and any person who becomes a director, officer, member or manager of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time) (collectively, the “Skydance D&O Indemnified Persons” and, together with the Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons, the “D&O Indemnified Persons”) for any act, omission or other matter occurring prior to the applicable Effective Time, as provided in the organizational documents of Paramount and its Subsidiaries or the organizational documents of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, as applicable (in each case, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement), or in any indemnification agreements in effect as of the date of this Agreement with (A) (1) Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries set forth on Section 7.4(a) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or (2) Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary set forth on Section 7.4(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, on the one hand, and (B) said D&O Indemnified Persons, on the other hand, shall survive the Mergers and shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be amended, repealed, or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any D&O Indemnified Person, and shall be observed by the Surviving Entities and their respective Subsidiaries to the fullest extent available under Delaware Law or California Law, as applicable, or other applicable Law for a period of six (6) years from the Closing, and any claim made pursuant to such rights within such six (6)-year period shall continue to be subject to this Section 7.4(a) and the rights provided under this Section 7.4(a) until disposition of such claim.
(b) From the New Paramount Merger Effective Time until the six (6)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Surviving Paramount Entity (together with its successors and assigns, the “Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law or other applicable Law, indemnify and hold harmless each Paramount D&O Indemnified Person against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments, or fines (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person due to such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person’s capacity as an officer, director, member or manager of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, based on, arising out of, or relating to, in whole or in part, (i)
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the fact that such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person is or was a director, officer, member or manager of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any action or omission, or alleged action or omission, in such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person’s capacity as an officer, director, member or manager of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, or taken at the request of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries (including in connection with serving at the request of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries as an officer, director, member, manager, agent, trustee or fiduciary of another Person (including any employee benefit plan), regardless of whether such action or omission, or alleged action or omission, occurred prior to or at the New Paramount Merger Effective Time), and (iii) with respect to the Transactions, as well as any actions taken by Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub with respect thereto (excluding any disposition of assets of the Surviving Paramount Entity or any of its Subsidiaries that is alleged to have rendered the Surviving Paramount Entity or any of its Subsidiaries insolvent). Without limiting the foregoing, from the New Paramount Merger Effective Time until the six (6)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties shall also, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, advance reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons in connection with matters for which such Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons are eligible to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 7.4(b) reasonably promptly after receipt by the Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties of a written request for such advance, subject to the execution by such Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons of appropriate undertakings in favor of the Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties to repay such advanced costs and expenses if it is ultimately determined in a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.4(b); provided, that if any Paramount D&O Indemnified Person delivers to the Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties a written notice asserting a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.4(b), then the claim asserted in such notice will survive the sixth (6th) anniversary of the New Paramount Merger Effective Time until such claim is fully and finally resolved. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Surviving Paramount Entity nor any of its Affiliates shall settle or otherwise compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, or otherwise seek the termination of, any Legal Proceeding for which indemnification may be sought by a Paramount D&O Indemnified Person pursuant to this Agreement unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such Legal Proceeding. Any determination required to be made with respect to whether the conduct of any Paramount D&O Indemnified Person complies or complied with any applicable standard will be made by independent legal counsel selected by the Surviving Paramount Entity (which counsel will be reasonably acceptable to such Paramount D&O Indemnified Person), the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Surviving Paramount Entity.
(c) From the Skydance Merger Effective Time until the six (6)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, New Paramount shall cause the Surviving Skydance Entity (such Person, together its successors and assigns, the “Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties”) to, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law or other applicable Law, indemnify and hold harmless each Skydance D&O Indemnified Person against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments, or fines (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person due to such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person’s capacity as an officer, director, member or manager of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries in
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connection with any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Skydance Merger Effective Time, based on, arising out of, or relating to, in whole or in part, (i) the fact that such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person is or was a director, officer, member or manager of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any action or omission, or alleged action or omission, in such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person’s capacity as an officer, director, member or manager of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries, or taken at the request of Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries (including in connection with serving at the request of Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary as an officer, director, member, manager, trustee or fiduciary of another Person (including any employee benefit plan), regardless of whether such action or omission, or alleged action or omission, occurred prior to, at or after the Skydance Merger Effective Time), as applicable, and (iii) with respect to the Transactions, as well as any actions taken by Skydance with respect thereto (excluding any disposition of assets of the Surviving Skydance Entity or any of its Subsidiaries that is alleged to have rendered the Surviving Skydance Entity or any of its Subsidiaries insolvent). Without limiting the foregoing, from the Skydance Merger Effective Time until the six (6)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties shall also, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, advance reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Skydance D&O Indemnified Persons in connection with matters for which such Skydance D&O Indemnified Persons are eligible to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 7.4(c) reasonably promptly after receipt by the Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties of a written request for such advance, subject to the execution by such Skydance D&O Indemnified Persons of appropriate undertakings in favor of the Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties to repay such advanced costs and expenses if it is ultimately determined in a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.4(c); provided, that if any Skydance D&O Indemnified Person delivers to the Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties a written notice asserting a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.4(c), then the claim asserted in such notice will survive the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Skydance Merger Effective Time until such claim is fully and finally resolved. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of New Paramount, the Surviving Skydance Entity nor any of their respective Affiliates shall settle or otherwise compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, or otherwise seek the termination of, any Legal Proceeding for which indemnification may be sought by an Skydance D&O Indemnified Person pursuant to this Agreement unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such Legal Proceeding. Any determination required to be made with respect to whether the conduct of any Skydance D&O Indemnified Person complies or complied with any applicable standard will be made by independent legal counsel selected by New Paramount or the Surviving Skydance Entity (which counsel will be reasonably acceptable to such Skydance D&O Indemnified Person), the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by New Paramount or the Surviving Skydance Entity.
(d) From the applicable Effective Time until the six (6)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, New Paramount shall maintain directors’ and officers’ and fiduciary liability insurance policies for the benefit of the D&O Indemnified Persons with respect to their acts and omissions occurring at or prior to the applicable Effective Time in their capacities as directors, officers, members or managers of Paramount or Skydance (as applicable), on terms with respect to coverage, deductibles and amounts no less favorable than the existing policies of
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Paramount or Skydance and from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as Paramount’s or Skydance’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance; provided that, at or prior to the applicable Effective Time, each of Paramount and Skydance may (and at the request of New Paramount shall) purchase a six (6)-year “tail” policy for the existing directors’ and officers’ and fiduciary liability policies effective as of immediately prior to the applicable Effective Time and if an applicable “tail” policy has been obtained, it shall be deemed to satisfy all obligations to obtain or maintain insurance pursuant to this Section 7.4(d) in respect of the applicable policy. If Skydance or Paramount purchases a “tail” policy prior to the applicable Effective Time, the Surviving Entities shall (and New Paramount shall cause the Surviving Entities to) maintain such tail policy in full force and effect for a period of no less than six (6) years after the applicable Effective Time and continue to honor its obligations thereunder.
(e) If the Surviving Paramount Entity, the Surviving Skydance Entity, or any of their respective legal successors or permitted assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving Person of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or otherwise conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or consummates any division transaction, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the legal successors and permitted assigns of the Surviving Paramount Entity or the Surviving Skydance Entity shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 7.4.
(f) The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall survive the consummation of the Transactions and may not be terminated, amended or otherwise modified in any manner that adversely affects any D&O Indemnified Person without the prior written consent of such D&O Indemnified Person. Each D&O Indemnified Person is, and is intended to be, a third party beneficiary of this Section 7.4, with full rights of enforcement as if a party to this Agreement. The rights of D&O Indemnified Persons in this Section 7.4 will be in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights that such Persons may have, including any rights pursuant to (i) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Paramount; (ii) the articles of organization of Skydance and the Skydance LLC Agreement; (iii) the organizational documents of the Subsidiaries of Paramount; (iv) the organizational documents of the Skydance Subsidiaries; (v) any and all indemnification agreements entered into with Paramount, Skydance, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; or (vi) applicable Law (whether at Law or in equity).
(g) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to, or shall release, waive, or impair any right pursuant to any indemnification agreement or any directors’ and officers’, employment practices and fiduciary liability insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Subsidiaries for any of their respective directors, officers or other employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.4 is not prior to or in substitution for any such claim under such policies or agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate or require the Surviving Entities or any of their respective Subsidiaries to indemnify any Specified Stockholder in connection with any Legal Proceeding with respect to the Transactions, or any actions taken by Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub with respect thereto, other than in any Specified Stockholder’s capacity as a director of Paramount.
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Section 7.5 Securityholder Litigation. Prior to the applicable Effective Time, each of Skydance and Paramount shall notify the other Party promptly of the commencement of any securityholder or equity holder litigation brought or threatened in writing against Paramount or Skydance, as applicable, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers relating to the Transactions (“Securityholder Litigation”) and shall promptly advise the other Party of any material developments with respect to, and keep the other Party reasonably informed with respect to, the status thereof. Each of Skydance and Paramount (acting at the direction of the Paramount Special Committee) shall jointly be entitled to direct and control the overall defense, negotiation and settlement of any such Securityholder Litigation; provided that, Paramount’s Representatives and Skydance’s Representatives named as defendants in any Securityholder Litigation (including any member of a committee of the Paramount Board, such as the Paramount Special Committee) shall have the right to manage their own defense of such Securityholder Litigation in cooperation with Skydance and Paramount. Paramount shall not, and shall cause its Representatives (including any member of a committee of the Paramount Board, such as the Paramount Special Committee) not to, settle or agree to settle any Securityholder Litigation or consent to the same without the written consent of all of the other Parties who are defendants in such Securityholder Litigation (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided further that Paramount’s Representatives and Skydance’s Representatives named as defendants in any Securityholder Litigation (including any member of a committee of the Paramount Board, such as the Paramount Special Committee) may enter into any settlement of claims brought against such Person so long as such settlement (a) does not, in the aggregate together with all such settlements, involve payment of monetary damages in excess of the amount set forth on Section 7.5 of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or any injunctive or other equitable relief, (b) does not directly or indirectly attribute to Skydance, Paramount, the Equity Investors, the Blocker Holders or any of their respective Affiliates any admission of liability, (c) does not impose on Skydance, the Equity Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, or Paramount or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, any judgment, contribution obligation, fine, penalty or any other liability and (d) does not involve the admission of any wrongdoing by any Person (it being agreed that a settlement entered into in accordance with this proviso shall not be deemed to in any way qualify or limit the obligation of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries (or, following the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, New Paramount), or Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries (or, following the Skydance Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Skydance Entity), as applicable, to indemnify such Person in connection with such settlement, or to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in respect of such Person).
Section 7.6 Disclosure. No Party or any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of its and their Affiliates or Representatives acting on their behalf, shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or otherwise make any public statement, disclosure, or communication with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions except (i) with respect to any matters expressly permitted by Section 6.4 or Section 6.6 (including any Superior Proposal Termination) solely during the Go-Shop Period (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)), (ii) as may be required by any applicable Law, court process or the rules or regulations of any applicable United States securities exchange or interdealer quotation service, or (iii) with the prior written consent of (A) Skydance, in the case of any such public statement, disclosure, or communication by the Paramount Parties or their Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives acting on their behalf or (B) Paramount, in the case of any such public statement, disclosure, or communication by the Blocker Holders, the Skydance Parties, their respective Subsidiaries or their respective
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Affiliates or Representatives acting on their behalf; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any public statement, disclosure, or communication so long as the statements, disclosures, or communications therein concerning this Agreement or the Transactions are substantially similar in substance to previous public statements, disclosures, or communications made by Paramount, the Blocker Holders or Skydance or their respective Affiliates or Representatives in compliance with this Section 7.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Skydance Members and the Blocker Holders may, without such consent, make disclosures and communications to existing or prospective general and limited partners, equity holders, members, managers and investors of such Person or any Affiliates of such Person, in each case who are subject to customary confidentiality restrictions, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
Section 7.7 Takeover Laws. The Parties shall take all reasonable and lawful action within their power so that no Takeover Law is or becomes applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers, the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction or any other Transactions. If any Takeover Law may become, may purport to be, or does become applicable to the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction or any other Transactions, each of Skydance, each Merger Sub and Paramount and the members of their respective boards of directors or managers (including the Paramount Special Committee), as applicable, shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to grant such approvals and take such reasonable and lawful actions as are necessary so that the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction and any other Transaction, as applicable, may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms and conditions contemplated hereby and the definitive agreements governing such transactions and otherwise take such reasonable and lawful actions as are necessary to eliminate or minimize the effect of any Takeover Law on the Transactions.
Section 7.8 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, Paramount and New Paramount, including the Paramount Board and the New Paramount Board or an appropriate committee of each such board, shall take such further actions, if any, as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to ensure that all transactions in equity securities (including any derivative securities) of Paramount and New Paramount pursuant to the Mergers and the other Transactions by any officer, director or other Person who is or will become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act (or any other persons who may be deemed subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act as a “director by deputization,” including any such persons who may be a “director by deputization” promptly following the Mergers) are exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.
Section 7.9 Stock Exchange Listing. Paramount shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the New Paramount Class B Shares to be issued in the New Paramount Merger and the Skydance Merger to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time.
Section 7.10 Tax Matters.
(a) Intended Tax Treatment. Each Party and each Blocker Holder shall use its reasonable best efforts, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to use their reasonable best efforts, to take or cause to be taken any action necessary (i) to cause the Transactions to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment (including by refraining from any action that such party knows, or
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is reasonably expected to know, is reasonably likely to prevent the Intended Tax Treatment) and (ii) permit Paramount to, and Paramount shall use its reasonable best efforts to, obtain the Tax Opinion or any other tax opinion to be filed in connection with the Registration Statement regarding the Intended Tax Treatment in accordance with Section 7.1(b). Each Party and each Blocker Holder shall file, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to file, all Tax Returns consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment and shall not take any position (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, unless required to do so by applicable Law or a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or applicable state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law).
(b) Skydance Tax Returns. The Skydance Nominee shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, at the expense of the Skydance Members, each income Tax Return filed by or with respect to Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary after the Closing, to the extent that items reflected on such Tax Return are also reflected on the Tax Returns of one or more Skydance Members (or direct or indirect owners thereof) as a result of the status of Skydance as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (or, as applicable, state and local income Tax purposes) for any taxable year or period thereof that ends on or before the Closing Date (any such Tax Return, a “Pass-Through Tax Return”). The Skydance Nominee shall deliver a draft of each Pass-Through Tax Return, at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date (taking into account any extension of the applicable due date) for the filing of such Pass-Through Tax Return, to New Paramount for New Paramount’s review and approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed and Skydance Nominee shall consider in good faith all reasonable comments that are made timely by New Paramount thereon. All Pass-Through Tax Returns shall be prepared by treating items on such Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the past practices of Skydance to the extent such practices are supportable at a “more likely than not” level of comfort or higher. The Parties agree that all items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit for any taxable period of Skydance that includes the Closing Date shall be allocated based on the “interim closing method” under Section 706 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable. The “partnership representative” (within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code) and “designated individual” designated on any such Pass-Through Tax Return shall be the partnership representative and designated individual appointed by Skydance pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Skydance LLC Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time.
(c) Skydance Tax Contests. New Paramount and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Skydance Nominee, on the other hand, shall promptly notify each other upon receipt by such Party of written notice of any inquiries, claims, assessments, Legal Proceedings, audits or similar events with respect to any Pass-Through Tax Return (or the Taxes relating to any Pass-Through Tax Return) for a tax year or period thereof ending on or before the Closing Date (any such inquiry, claim, assessment, Legal Proceeding, audit or similar event, a “Pass-Through Tax Matter”). The Skydance Nominee shall control the conduct of any Pass-Through Tax Matter at the expense of the Skydance Members; provided that, to the extent such Pass-Through Tax Matter would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect New Paramount or its Affiliates after the Closing, (i) New Paramount shall have the right to participate in the defense of such Pass-Through Tax Matter at its own expense, (ii) the Skydance Nominee shall keep New Paramount reasonably informed concerning the progress of such Pass-Through Tax Matter and (iii) the Skydance Nominee may not settle such Pass-Through Tax Matter without the prior written
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consent of New Paramount, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. In no event shall Skydance, Skydance Nominee or New Paramount make an election under Section 6226 of the Code, use any procedure described in Section 6225(c)(2) of the Code, or take any other action causing the Skydance Members to bear any Taxes imposed on Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary as a result of a Pass-Through Tax Matter.
(d) Cooperation. Each of the Parties and the Skydance Nominee agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify each other of any challenge to the Intended Tax Treatment by any Governmental Body or if such Party or the Skydance Nominee becomes aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be likely to prevent or impede the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties and the Skydance Nominee (and, with respect to Skydance, its Affiliates) shall reasonably cooperate in good faith with each other and their respective counsel (or other tax advisors) to document and support the Intended Tax Treatment, including providing reasonable factual support and customary representation letters supporting the Intended Tax Treatment to the extent reasonably requested by a Party, the Skydance Nominee or Tax counsel for purposes of rendering the Tax Opinion or a tax opinion in connection with the Registration Statement in accordance with Section 7.1(b) (the “Tax Representation Letters”). Each of the Parties shall (and shall cause its respective Affiliates to) cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by another Party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns, and any audit or tax proceeding, including any such items relating to the Intended Tax Treatment, to a Pass-Through Tax Return or Pass-Through Tax Matter, or otherwise. Such cooperation may include the retention and (upon another Party’s request) the provision (with the right to make copies) of records and information reasonably relevant to any tax proceeding or audit, making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. After the Closing, the Party or the Skydance Nominee (on behalf of the Skydance Members) requesting such cooperation shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the other Party or the Skydance Nominee, as applicable.
(e) Post-Closing Tax Actions. Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, with the express written consent of the Skydance Nominee (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or as required by applicable Law, neither New Paramount nor any of its Affiliates shall (i) make any income Tax election after the Closing outside the ordinary course of business with respect to Skydance, which election is effective on or before the Closing Date, (ii) amend any income Tax Return of Skydance in respect of any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date (including any Pass-Through Tax Return), or (iii) make any voluntary disclosures to, or initiate discussions or examinations with, Taxing Authorities regarding Taxes with respect to any Pass-Through Tax Return (or the Taxes relating to any Pass-Through Tax Return) for a tax period ending on or before or otherwise including the Closing Date, in each case, to the extent such Tax election, amendment or action could impose any material Tax liability on any Skydance Member.
(f) Certain Other Tax Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Parties shall comply with the requirements set forth on Section 7.10 of the Paramount Disclosure Letter.
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(g) Tax Matters Survival. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.10 concerns covenants and agreements which by their terms contemplate performance after the applicable Effective Time. Accordingly, these provisions shall survive the applicable Effective Time and shall not be terminated pursuant to Section 10.3.
Section 7.11 Financing Matters.
(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, to the extent reasonably requested by Skydance, Paramount shall, at the sole expense of Skydance, use reasonable best efforts to (i) arrange for the repurchase, amendment or redemption of any Existing Paramount Notes and (ii) promptly obtain any consents or amendments as necessary to permit the consummation of the Transactions (in the manner as set forth in this Agreement) under the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility and the Existing Paramount LC Facility, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of Paramount and Skydance (it being understood and agreed that the draft amendments delivered to Paramount on July 7, 2024 shall be deemed to be reasonably satisfactory to Paramount and Skydance for purpose of this clause (a)(ii)) (collectively, the “COC Amendments”); provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (A) any such termination, repurchase or redemption of any Existing Paramount Notes shall be conditioned upon the occurrence of Closing and any such termination, repurchase, redemption, consent or amendment shall not be a condition to the consummation of the Transactions, (B) the operative provisions of the COC Amendments to permit the consummation of the Transactions and the payment of any fees by Paramount or its Subsidiaries in connection therewith shall, in each case, be conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing and (C) the obtaining of the COC Amendments shall not be a condition to the consummation of the Transactions. In addition, prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, Paramount shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives to, at the sole expense of Skydance, provide all customary cooperation and all customary historical financial information, in each case that is reasonably requested by Skydance or its Affiliates in connection with the COC Amendments, any other bank debt financing or any capital markets debt financing obtained or to be obtained by Skydance or its Affiliates for the purpose of financing the Mergers, the NAI Transaction, the PIPE Transaction, the other Transactions or any other transaction undertaken in connection therewith (such financing, together with any equity financing, the “Transaction Financing”) to the extent such financial information is reasonably available to Paramount and its Subsidiaries.
(b) Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to, using reasonable best efforts to:
(i) promptly upon execution of this Agreement, reasonably assist Skydance in the preparation and negotiation of the COC Amendments and, upon the written request of Skydance, cause appropriate members of management of Paramount to execute and deliver such COC Amendments;
(ii) reasonably assist Skydance with the preparation and negotiation of the documents with respect to any Transaction Financing that is bank debt
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financing (any such financing, a “Debt Financing” and the documents in connection therewith, “Debt Financing Documents”);
(iii) make appropriate senior officers of the Paramount and its Subsidiaries available to participate in a reasonable number of lender meetings, due diligence sessions, meetings with ratings agencies and road shows, in each case, at reasonable times and locations mutually agreed and upon reasonable prior notice;
(iv) provide to Skydance such financial and other pertinent information regarding Paramount and its Subsidiaries as reasonably requested by Skydance to the extent that such information is required in connection with the Debt Financing or of the type and form customarily included in marketing materials for financings of the type contemplated by the Debt Financing;
(v) deliver, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and, if applicable, customary FinCEN beneficial ownership certificate, in each case to the extent requested by the Debt Financing Sources in writing at least ten business days prior to the Closing Date; and
(vi) taking such other reasonable actions and providing such other reasonable assistance requested by Skydance that are within its control to the extent customary for financings of the type contemplated by the Debt Financing and the COC Amendments and reasonably necessary for the arrangement of the Debt Financing and the COC Amendments.
(c) Paramount hereby consents to the reasonable use of Paramount and its Subsidiaries’ logos solely in connection with any marketing of the Transaction Financing; provided that such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage Paramount or its Subsidiaries or the reputation or goodwill of Paramount or its Subsidiaries.
(d) During the Pre-Closing Period, except (i) as and to the extent required under this Agreement or by applicable Law or (ii) with the written consent of Skydance (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed other than in each case for any subsequent amendments to the COC Amendments), Paramount shall not amend, waive, terminate, refinance, renew or otherwise modify, directly or indirectly, the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility or the Existing Paramount LC Facility, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement and as otherwise amended in accordance with Section 7.11(b)(i), in each case, in any manner that (A) would be material and adverse, taken as a whole, to Paramount and its Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by Paramount in consultation with Skydance) or (B) would modify any provision applicable to the Transactions.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in Section 7.11(a) or Section 7.11(b) shall require any such cooperation or assistance to the extent that it would require Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to:
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(i) pledge any assets as collateral prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time;
(ii) other than in connection with the undertaking pursuant to Section 7.11(b)(i), agree to pay any fee, bear any cost or expense, incur any other liability or give any indemnities to any third party or otherwise commit to take any similar action in connection with the Transaction Financing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any repurchase or redemption of any Existing Paramount Notes) that would be effective prior to the Closing;
(iii) take any actions to the extent such actions would, in Paramount’s reasonable judgment, (A) unreasonably interfere with the ongoing business or operations of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) subject any director, manager, officer or employee of Paramount or any of its Affiliates to any actual or potential personal liability, (C) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice, or lapse of time or both) under, the organizational documents of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, any applicable Law or any Contract to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound, (D) require any such entity to change any fiscal period or (E) cause (x) any closing condition set forth in this Agreement to fail to be satisfied or (y) any other breach of this Agreement;
(iv) waive or amend any terms of this Agreement;
(v) commit to take any action under any certificate, document or instrument or enter into any definitive agreement, in each case, that is not contingent upon the Closing;
(vi) provide access to or disclose information that Paramount reasonably determines would risk the loss of or waive any attorney-client privilege of, or conflict with any confidentiality requirements applicable to, Paramount or its Subsidiaries;
(vii) cause any director, manager or equivalent, or any officer or employee of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to pass resolutions to approve the Transaction Financing or authorize the creation of any agreements, documents or actions in connection therewith, or to execute or deliver any certificate in connection with the Transaction Financing (other than any director, manager or equivalent, or officer or employee of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries who will continue in such a position following the Closing and the passing of such resolutions), in each case, that are not contingent on the Closing or would be effective prior to the Closing;
(viii) deliver any legal opinion (other than as required in connection with Section 7.11(b)(i)) or negative assurance letter; or
(ix) provide or prepare (A) pro forma financial statements, pro forma adjustments (including regarding the Transaction Financing, any synergies or cost savings), projections or an as-adjusted capitalization table, (B) any description of all or any component of the Transaction Financing, including any such description to be included in
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liquidity and capital resources disclosure or any “description of notes”, (C) risk factors relating to all or any component of the Transaction Financing, (D) “segment reporting” (to the extent not required in SEC filings of Paramount), subsidiary financial statements or any information of the type required by Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10, Rule 3-16, Rule 13-01 or Rule 13-02 of Regulation S-X, (E) information regarding officers or directors of Paramount (except information of any of such persons that will remain officers, directors or managers after the Closing), executive compensation and related party disclosure (unless Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries was party to any such related party transactions prior to the Closing and such transactions will continue in place after the Closing) or any Compensation Discussion and Analysis or information required by Item 302 (to the extent not so provided in SEC filings of Paramount) or 402 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and any other information that would be required by Part III of Form 10-K (except to the extent previously filed with the SEC), (F) projections or monthly financial statements that are not readily available to Paramount without undue effort or expense and are not prepared in the ordinary course of its financial reporting practice or (G) any other information customarily excluded from an offering memorandum for private placements of non-convertible high-yield bonds pursuant to Rule 144A.
(f) Skydance shall reimburse Paramount for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives in connection with any cooperation requested by Skydance pursuant to Section 7.11(a) or Section 7.11(b), promptly after receipt of a written request therefor from Paramount; provided that such reimbursement obligation shall not extend to, and Paramount shall be solely responsible for, costs and expenses incurred by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives in connection with the preparation of any financial statements or data that would be prepared by Paramount in the ordinary course of business, including, for the avoidance of doubt, costs and expenses incurred in connection with obtaining ordinary course financial statement audits. Skydance shall indemnify and hold harmless Paramount, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, costs or expenses suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with the arrangement of the Transaction Financing, the performance of their respective obligations under Section 7.11(a) or Section 7.11(b) and any information used in connection therewith, except to the extent such liabilities arise from (A) a material breach of this Agreement by Paramount or (B) the gross negligence, fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct of Paramount, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective Representatives.
(g) Skydance acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of Skydance to consummate the Transactions are not in any way contingent upon or otherwise subject to the consummation of any financing arrangement, Skydance, or any of its Affiliates obtaining any financing (including the Transaction Financing), the availability, grant, provision or extension of any financing to Skydance or any of its Affiliates (including the Transaction Financing) or the obtaining of the COC Amendments.
(h) Paramount shall be deemed to have complied with this Section 7.11 for the purpose of the condition set forth in Section 8.3(b), unless (i) Paramount has materially breached its obligations under this Section 7.11, (ii) Skydance has notified Paramount of such breach in writing in good faith, detailing in good faith reasonable steps that comply with this
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Section 7.11 in order to cure such breach, (iii) Paramount has not taken such steps or otherwise cured such breach with reasonably sufficient time prior to the End Date to consummate the Debt Financing and (iv) the Debt Financing has not been consummated prior to the End Date and the material breach by Paramount is the proximate cause of such failure.
Section 7.12 Ancillary Agreements. Each of Paramount, New Paramount and Skydance shall, or shall cause its applicable Affiliates (including, in the case of Skydance, the Equity Investors) to, execute and deliver, at or prior to the Closing, each Ancillary Agreement to which it is or will be a party as of the applicable Effective Time.
Section 7.13 Withholding Tax Certificates.
(a) Skydance shall provide at or prior to the Closing (a) a Skydance FIRPTA Certificate and (b) a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9 of each Skydance Member to New Paramount at or prior to the Closing; provided that, if Skydance fails to provide a FIRPTA Certificate or IRS Form W-9 at or prior to the Closing, New Paramount’s only remedy for such failure shall be New Paramount’s right to withhold in accordance with Section 1.7 with respect to the Party that failed to so deliver a FIRPTA Certificate or IRS Form W-9.
(b) Each Blocker Holder shall provide at or prior to the Closing a Blocker FIRPTA Certificate by each Blocker, along with written authorization for New Paramount to deliver such Blocker FIRPTA Certificate to the IRS on behalf of the Blocker upon Closing; provided that, if the Blocker Holder fails to provide such certification at or prior to the Closing, New Paramount’s only remedy for such failure shall be New Paramount’s right to withhold in accordance with Section 1.7 with respect to the Blocker Holder that failed to so deliver such certification.
(c) Paramount shall provide at or prior to the Closing a Paramount FIRPTA Certificate, along with written authorization for New Paramount to deliver such Paramount FIRPTA Certificate to the IRS on behalf of Paramount upon Closing; provided that, if Paramount fails to provide such certification at or prior to the Closing, New Paramount’s only remedy for such failure shall be New Paramount’s right to withhold in accordance with Section 1.7.
Section 7.14 Skydance and Skydance Sports Phantom Units. At the Skydance Merger Effective Time, each award of Skydance Phantom Units and each award of Skydance Sports Phantom Units, in each case, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time will be canceled and terminated and converted into the right to receive the applicable portion of the Skydance Merger Consideration as set forth in the Allocation Statement (collectively, the “Skydance Phantom Unit Consideration”), with such Skydance Phantom Unit Consideration being issued to the former holders of such cancelled Skydance Phantom Units and Skydance Sports Phantom Units in accordance with Section 2.3, and in any event no later than sixty (60) days following the Skydance Merger Effective Time. Any withholding Taxes required to be withheld from the Skydance Phantom Unit Consideration will be satisfied by New Paramount retaining that number of shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock from the Skydance
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Phantom Unit Consideration having a value equal to the aggregate amount of such required withholding Taxes (in any case, based on maximum statutory withholding rates).
Section 7.15 Integration Committee.
(a) Establishment of an Integration Committee. Each of Skydance and Paramount agree to appoint their respective appointees (as set forth in Section 7.15(a) of the Skydance Disclosure Letter) to the Integration Committee within five (5) Business Days after the date of this Agreement. If any of the initial appointees ceases to be employed by the Party which designated such appointee (or such Party’s Affiliates), such designating Party shall appoint a replacement within five (5) Business Days.
(b) Meetings of the Integration Committee. The Integration Committee shall meet (either in person, virtually or telephonically) from time to time, as mutually agreed by Skydance and Paramount.
(c) Authority of the Integration Committee. Each of the Parties shall provide such support and assistance to the Integration Committee as it shall reasonably request, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7.15 or elsewhere in this Agreement is intended to, nor shall it operate in any way so as to, provide operational control over the business of Skydance or its Affiliates (including Skydance) to the Paramount Parties or the business of the Paramount Parties to Skydance or to otherwise remove operational control from the Paramount Parties or the Skydance Parties in conflict with, or in violation of, any Legal Proceeding or applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary and without limiting any of the obligations of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries contained elsewhere in this Agreement, prior to the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, none of Paramount nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be obligated to take any action, or to refrain from taking any action, as a result of any of the discussions or meetings of the Integration Committee or otherwise, unless such actions are contingent upon the occurrence of the Closing and compliant with all applicable Laws.
Section 7.16 Uncured Breach. In the event that an Uncured Breach exists at the Closing with respect to any Blocker Holder, (i) such Blocker Holder shall consequently not be treated as a Blocker Holder for all purposes of this Agreement (such person, a “Non-Participating Blocker Holder”), (ii) such Non-Participating Blocker Holder shall not be permitted to participate in the Blocker Contribution and Exchange with respect to any of the Blocker Securities held by such Non-Participating Blocker Holder and (iii) in lieu of such Non-Participating Blocker Holder participating in the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, each Skydance Membership Unit held by or with respect to the Blocker owned by such Non-Participating Blocker Holder shall be converted automatically into the right to receive a number of shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.1(c). In furtherance of the foregoing, an Uncured Breach by a Non-Participating Blocker Holder shall not be deemed to affect, in any way, the Parties’ (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Non-Participating Blocker Holder’s) obligation to effect the Closing on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Section 7.17 Restructuring.
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(a) Prior to the Closing, the Blocker Holders and their Subsidiaries shall cause the transactions set forth on Section 7.17 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter, subject to the modifications described herein (the “Restructuring”), to be consummated at the sole cost, liability and expense of the Blocker Holders. The steps set forth on Section 7.17 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter may be modified by the Blocker Holders and, to the extent the Blocker Holders wish to make any such modification, the Blocker Holders shall deliver a statement setting forth such modified steps to Paramount and Skydance as promptly as practicable following any such decision to modify; provided that the Blocker Holders shall not modify such steps without the prior written consent of each of Paramount and Skydance (in the case of (i) any modifications that adversely affect Paramount, which may be withheld in Paramount’s sole and absolute discretion, and (ii) any other modifications, which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No later than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, the Blocker Holders shall provide copies of the material Restructuring documents to Paramount and Skydance, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Paramount and Skydance.
(b) Prior to the Closing, the Blocker Holders shall take all actions necessary to cause (i) the extinguishment or repayment of all indebtedness of the Blockers owed to any Blocker Holder with no continuing obligation of the Blockers and (ii) the payment of all Blocker Taxes accrued for any pre-Closing period (including the Closing Date). At or prior to the Closing, the Blocker Holders shall provide evidence of such extinguishment, repayment or payment to Paramount and New Paramount.
Section 7.18 Exclusion Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, New Paramount shall have the right to: (a) exclude any Equity Investor that is a “foreign person”, as such term is defined in Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (the “DPA”), from access to any information, facilities or properties of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries; and (b) prohibit any such Equity Investor from acquiring (i) access to any “material nonpublic technical information” (as such term is defined in the DPA) in the possession of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) membership or observer rights on, or the right to nominate an individual to a position on, the board of directors or equivalent governing body of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) any involvement, other than through the voting of shares, in substantive decision making of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries regarding (A) the use, development, acquisition, safekeeping or release of “sensitive personal data” (as such term is defined in the DPA) of U.S. citizens maintained or collected by New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) the use, development, acquisition or release of any “critical technology” (as such term is defined in the DPA) or (C) the management, operation, manufacture or supply of “covered investment critical infrastructure” (as such term is defined in the DPA); or (iv) “control” (as such term is defined in the DPA) of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries. To the extent that any term in this Agreement would afford any of the foregoing to a foreign person, such term shall have no effect with respect to such Person. New Paramount shall have the right to prohibit any such Equity Investor from engaging in discussions and communications with personnel of New Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, if New Paramount determines in its sole discretion that such exclusion is necessary or appropriate to enforce the limitations set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (a) and (b).
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ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING
Section 8.1 Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the Closing. The respective obligations of each Party to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Skydance or by Paramount, on its own behalf and on behalf of New Paramount and each Merger Sub, in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable Law), at or prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. The Paramount Stockholder Vote shall have been obtained.
(b) No Legal Restraints. (i) No injunction or similar order by any Governmental Body having jurisdiction over any Party or any of its Subsidiaries (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) shall have been issued that prohibits the consummation of the Mergers or that would impose a Burdensome Effect and shall continue to be in effect; and (ii) no Law shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated, enforced, or deemed applicable by any Governmental Body having jurisdiction over any Party or any of its Subsidiaries that has the effect of making the Mergers illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Mergers or imposing any Burdensome Effect (any such injunction, order or Law in clause (i) or (ii), a “Legal Restraint”).
(c) Regulatory Approvals. (i) Any waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the Transactions (and any extension thereof) shall have expired or been earlier terminated; (ii) all other authorizations, consents, orders, approvals, filings, decisions, and declarations, and all expirations of waiting periods, required under the applicable Antitrust Laws, Foreign Direct Investment Laws and Communications Laws specified in Section 8.1(c) of the Paramount Disclosure Letter with respect to the Transactions shall have been made, expired, terminated, or obtained, as the case may be (all authorizations, consents, orders, approvals, filings, decisions and declarations and the lapse of all such waiting periods, including under the HSR Act and of such jurisdictions contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii), the “Requisite Regulatory Approvals”); (iii) all Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall be in full force and effect and the Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall not, individually or in the aggregate, impose, or require the acceptance of, a Burdensome Effect; and (iv) any timing agreement(s) with a Governmental Body applicable to the consummation of the Transactions shall have expired or otherwise not prohibit the consummation of the Transactions.
(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and remain in effect, and no Legal Proceedings for that purpose shall have commenced or been threatened in writing by the SEC, unless subsequently withdrawn.
(e) Listing. The shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock issuable pursuant to the New Paramount Merger and the Skydance Merger shall have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and authorized for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
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(f) Information Statement. The Information Statement shall have been mailed to the Paramount stockholders and at least 20 calendar days shall have elapsed from the date of completion of such mailing for purposes of Rule 14e-2 of the Exchange Act.
(g) Contemporaneous Transactions. The NAI Transaction and the PIPE Transaction shall each have been consummated immediately prior to or substantially concurrent with the Closing in accordance with Section 1.1(d).
Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs to Effect the Closing. The obligations of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs to effect the Closing are further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Paramount, on its own behalf and on behalf of New Paramount and each Merger Sub, to the extent permitted by applicable Law), at or prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of Skydance or the Blocker Holders, as applicable, set forth in (i) Section 4.2(a) shall be true and correct (except for de minimis inaccuracies), both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (ii) Section 4.7(a) and Section 4.15(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (iii) Section 4.1(a), Section 4.1(d), Section 4.2 (other than Section 4.2(a)), Section 4.3 and Section 4.24 shall be true and correct in all material respects, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (iv) Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 5.3, Section 5.5, Section 5.6(g) and Section 5.8 (in each case under this clause (iv), subject to Section 7.16) shall be true and correct in all material respects, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); and (v) the other Sections of Article IV and Article V (disregarding all materiality and Skydance Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein) shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except with respect to this clause (v) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Skydance Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Skydance and each Blocker Holder shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time.
(c) Skydance shall have delivered to Paramount a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of Skydance, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b) and Section 8.2(e) have been satisfied.
(d) Skydance shall have delivered to Paramount duly executed counterparts of each of the Ancillary Agreements to which a Skydance Party (or an Equity Investor) is a party.
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(e) No Skydance Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement and be continuing.
(f) Paramount shall have received the Tax Opinion.
Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Skydance and the Blocker Holders to Effect the Closing. The obligations of Skydance and the Blocker Holders to effect the Closing are further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Skydance to the extent permitted by applicable Law), at or prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of Paramount set forth in (i) Section 3.2(a) shall be true and correct (except for de minimis inaccuracies), both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (ii) Section 3.8(a) and Section 3.16(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); (iii) Section 3.1(a), Section 3.1(d), Section 3.2 (other than Section 3.2(a)), Section 3.3 and Section 3.24 shall be true and correct in all material respects, both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date); and (iv) the other Sections of Article III (disregarding all materiality and Paramount Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein) shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except with respect to this clause (iv) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Paramount Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each of Paramount, New Paramount and each Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time.
(c) Paramount shall have delivered to Skydance a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of Paramount, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b) and Section 8.3(e) have been satisfied.
(d) Paramount shall have delivered to Skydance duly executed counterparts of each of the Ancillary Agreements (on behalf of itself and New Paramount, as applicable) to which a Paramount Party is a party.
(e) No Paramount Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement and be continuing.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
Section 9.1 Termination and Abandonment. This Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time:
(a) by the mutual written consent of Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) and Skydance;
(b) by either Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) or Skydance in the event that any of the Subscription Agreements or the NAI Stock Purchase Agreement is terminated in accordance with its respective terms;
(c) by either Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) or Skydance in the event that the Skydance Merger Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before April 7, 2025 (as such date may be extended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or by the mutual written consent of Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) and Skydance, the “End Date”); provided that (i) if, as of such date, all conditions set forth in Section 8.1, Section 8.2, and Section 8.3 shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that are to be satisfied by action taken at the Closing, each of which is capable of being satisfied) other than the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b), Section 8.1(c) or Section 8.1(g) (but only to the extent the applicable Legal Restraint relates to Antitrust Laws, Foreign Direct Investment Laws or Communications Laws), then such date shall automatically be extended by ninety (90) days on up to two (2) occasions and (ii) the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c) shall not have breached (and in the case of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs shall also not have breached) in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that has been a principal cause of the failure to consummate the Mergers on or before such date;
(d) by either Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) or Skydance in the event that (i) any Governmental Body having jurisdiction over Skydance or Paramount shall have issued a Legal Restraint permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Mergers and such Legal Restraint shall have become final and nonappealable and (ii) the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d) shall not have breached or failed to perform (and in the case of Paramount, New Paramount and the Merger Subs shall also not have breached or failed to perform) in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that has been a principal cause of the imposition of such Legal Restraint or the failure of such Legal Restraint to be resolved or lifted;
(e) by Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) in the event that Skydance shall have breached in any material respect any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement in this Agreement, in each case, which breach (i) would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.2(b) and (ii) cannot be cured by the End Date or, if curable, is not cured by the earlier of (x) the End Date and (y) thirty (30) Business Days following Paramount’s delivery of written notice to Skydance stating Paramount’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(e) and the
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basis for such termination; provided that Paramount shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(e) if any of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, agreement, or covenant in this Agreement such that Skydance would have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(g);
(f) by Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee), prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)), if (and only if) (i) the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee has determined that an Acquisition Proposal made during the Go-Shop Period (as may be extended for Excluded Parties in accordance with Section 6.4(a)) constitutes a Superior Proposal in accordance with the terms of Section 6.6(b), (ii) the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee has authorized Paramount to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Superior Proposal (subject only to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(f)), (iii) concurrently with the termination of this Agreement, Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee), subject to complying with the terms of Section 6.6(b), enters into a definitive agreement providing for the Superior Proposal referred to in clause (i) hereof and (iv) prior to or concurrently with such termination, Paramount pays to Skydance the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 9.3(a)(i); and
(g) by Skydance, in the event that Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub shall have breached in any material respect any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement in this Agreement, in each case, which breach (i) would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) or Section 8.3(b) and (ii) cannot be cured by the End Date or, if curable, is not cured by the earlier of (x) the End Date and (y) thirty (30) Business Days following Skydance’s delivery of written notice to Paramount stating Skydance’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(g) and the basis for such termination; provided that Skydance shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(g) if Skydance is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, agreement, or covenant in this Agreement such that Paramount would have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(e).
Section 9.2 Effect of Termination. The Party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 shall give written notice of such termination to the other Parties in accordance with Section 10.8, specifying the provision of this Agreement pursuant to which such termination is effected and the basis for such termination, described in reasonable detail. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1, (a) this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect and the Transactions shall be abandoned, each as of the date of termination, and (b) there shall be no liability to any Person on the part of any Party following any such termination; provided that (i) Section 3.27, Section 4.27, this Section 9.2, Section 9.3, Article X and the expense reimbursement and indemnification provisions of Section 7.11(f) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) each of the Confidentiality Agreement and the Clean Team Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect, in accordance with its terms (it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding anything in the Confidentiality Agreement to the
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contrary, in the event that Skydance, any Equity Investor, any Specified NAI Entity or any of their respective Affiliates breaches in any material respect any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in any Transaction Document in any manner that has substantially contributed to the termination of this Agreement or the failure of any condition set forth in Article VIII to be satisfied, the provisions of paragraph 9(a) of the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive such termination of this Agreement with respect to any acquisition involving NAI (including any acquisition of the Paramount Shares held by any of the Specified Stockholders) in accordance with its terms), and (iii) subject to Section 10.3, the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any liability for Fraud or Willful Breach. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Paramount Party have any liability under this Agreement or otherwise to any Skydance Party for any breach by any Specified Stockholder of the Voting Agreement or any other act or failure to act by NAI or the Specified Stockholders in connection with the Transactions or the NAI Transaction.
Section 9.3 Termination Fee .
(a) If this Agreement shall be terminated:
(i) by Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) pursuant to Section 9.1(f), then Paramount shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Skydance $400,000,000 (the “Termination Fee”) in accordance with Section 9.3(b); and
(ii) by Skydance or Paramount (acting with the prior approval of the Paramount Special Committee) pursuant to Section 9.1(c) or Section 9.1(g); provided that (A) on or before the date that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with such provision, a bona fide Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly announced or publicly disclosed and not withdrawn at least ten (10) Business Days prior to such date and (B) within one year after the date that this Agreement is terminated, Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries consummates any Acquisition Proposal or enters into a definitive agreement to effect any Acquisition Proposal and such Acquisition Proposal is subsequently consummated (even if after such one-year period), then Paramount shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Skydance the Termination Fee.
(b) In the event the Termination Fee becomes payable by Paramount pursuant to Section 9.3(a), it shall be paid to Skydance (or Skydance’s designees) by Paramount in immediately available funds within two Business Days after the date of the event giving rise to the obligation to make such payment so long as Skydance has provided Paramount with wire instructions for such payment; provided that, in the case of Section 9.3(a)(ii), Paramount shall not be required to pay (or cause to be paid) the Termination Fee until two Business Days after the date of the consummation of the Acquisition Proposal referred to in Section 9.3(a)(ii). In no event shall (i) Paramount be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion (even if the Termination Fee is payable under one or more provisions of Section 9.3(a)) and (ii) Skydance be entitled to both specific performance to cause Paramount to consummate the Closing in accordance with the terms hereof and the payment of the Termination Fee pursuant to this Section 9.3. While Skydance may pursue both a grant of specific performance in accordance with Section 10.5 and the payment of the Termination Fee under this Section 9.3, under no circumstances shall Skydance be permitted or entitled to receive both a grant of specific performance that results in the
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consummation of the Mergers and any money damages, including all or any portion of the Termination Fee.
(c) The Parties agree that the agreements contained in this Section 9.3 are an integral part of the Transactions, and that, without these agreements, the Parties would not have entered into this Agreement. Each of the Parties further acknowledges that the payment of the amounts by Paramount specified in this Section 9.3 is not a penalty, but, in each case, is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Skydance Parties in the circumstances in which such fees are payable for the efforts and resources expended and the opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Transactions, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision. Accordingly, if Paramount fails to promptly pay any amount due pursuant to Section 9.3(b) and, in order to obtain such payment, Skydance commences a claim that results in a judgment against Paramount for the Termination Fee or any portion thereof, Paramount will pay to Skydance its out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with such claim, together with interest on the amount due at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date that such payment was required to be made through the date that such payment was actually received, or, if legally required, a lesser rate that is the maximum permitted by applicable Law.
(d) Subject in all respects to Skydance’s rights set forth in Section 10.5, in the event this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and the Termination Fee is paid to Skydance in circumstances for which such fee is payable pursuant to Section 8.3(a), payment of the Termination Fee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Skydance Parties against the Paramount Parties for any losses or damages suffered as a result of the failure of the Transactions to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder or otherwise relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions, and upon payment of such amount, and, if applicable, the costs and expenses of Skydance pursuant to Section 9.3(c) in accordance therewith, the Paramount Parties shall not have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of (i) this Agreement or the Transactions, (ii) the failure of the Merger or the other Transactions to be consummated or (iii) any breach (or threatened or alleged breach) of, or failure (or threatened or alleged failure) to perform under, this Agreement or any of the other documents delivered herewith or executed in connection herewith or otherwise, except in the case of Fraud or Willful Breach.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 10.1 Amendment. Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, prior to the Skydance Merger Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended with the approval of each of the Paramount Board (on the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) and the Skydance Board at any time. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties (in the case of Paramount, only if such action has been recommended by the Paramount Special Committee (it being agreed that Skydance and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to assume, by Paramount executing any such written instrument, that the Paramount Special Committee has recommended such action)); provided that this proviso of Section 10.1, Section 10.14(b) and the definitions of Debt Financing Sources, Debt Financing and
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Debt Financing Documents shall not be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified in a manner that is adverse in any material respect to the Debt Financing Sources, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Debt Financing Sources that have committed to provide the Debt Financing.
Section 10.2 Waiver. No failure on the part of any Party to exercise any power, right, privilege, or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any Party in exercising any power, right, privilege, or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege, or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege, or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege, or remedy. No Party shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege, or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege, or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Party (in the case of Paramount, only if such action has been recommended by the Paramount Special Committee (it being agreed that Skydance and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to assume, by Paramount executing any such written instrument, that the Paramount Special Committee has recommended such action)); and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.
Section 10.3 No Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants. None of the representations and warranties or covenants in this Agreement, the Paramount Disclosure Letter, the Skydance Disclosure Letter or any certificate or schedule or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Mergers, except that those covenants that by their terms survive or contemplate performance after the applicable Effective Time (which shall survive until fully performed) and this Article X and any applicable defined term in Exhibit A shall survive the applicable Effective Time.
Section 10.4 Entire Agreement; Counterparts. This Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto), the Paramount Disclosure Letter, the Skydance Disclosure Letter, the Subscription Agreements, the Voting Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letters and the Limited Guarantees constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior and concurrent agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the Parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided that each of the Confidentiality Agreement and the Clean Team Agreement shall remain in full force and effect (it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding anything in the Confidentiality Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of paragraph 9(a) thereof shall survive the entry into of this Agreement with respect to any acquisition involving NAI (including any acquisition of the Paramount Shares held by any of the Specified Stockholders)); provided, further, that, if the New Paramount Merger Effective Time and the Skydance Merger Effective Time occur, each of the Confidentiality Agreement and the Clean Team Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by PDF shall be sufficient to bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 10.5 Applicable Laws; Jurisdiction; Specific Performance; Remedies.
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(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, Delaware Law, without giving effect to any law, rule, or provision that would cause the application of any Law other than Delaware Law. The Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that: (i) the requirements of 6 Del. C. § 2708 are satisfied by the provisions of this Agreement and that such statute mandates the application of Delaware Law to this Agreement, the relationship of the Parties, the Transactions, and the interpretation and enforcement of the rights and duties of any Party; (ii) the Parties have a reasonable basis for the application of Delaware Law to this Agreement, the relationship of the Parties, the Transactions, and the interpretation and enforcement of the rights and duties of any Party; (iii) no other jurisdiction has a materially greater interest in the foregoing; and (iv) the application of Delaware Law would not be contrary to the fundamental policy of any other jurisdiction that, absent the Parties’ choice of Delaware Law hereunder, would have an interest in the foregoing.
(b) Subject to Section 10.5(d), in any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions (including any amount due or payable in connection therewith or any matter arising out of or relating to the termination of either of them), each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally: (i) consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom or, if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any other state or federal court in the State of Delaware (the “Chosen Courts”); (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction of such Chosen Court by motion, other request for leave, or other Legal Proceeding; (iii) agrees that any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions shall be brought, tried, and determined only in the Chosen Courts; (iv) waives any claim of improper venue or any claim that the appropriate Chosen Court is an inconvenient forum; and (v) agrees that it will not bring any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions in any court or elsewhere other than the Chosen Courts. Each of the Parties irrevocably consents to service of process in the same manner as for the giving of notices under Section 10.8 or any other manner permitted by applicable Law. A final judgment in any Legal Proceeding commenced in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s right to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, such final trial court judgment.
(c) The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any Party does not perform its obligations under the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or otherwise breaches such provisions. Subject to the following sentence, the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance, or other non-monetary equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the Chosen Courts without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement. No Party shall oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance, or other equitable relief on the basis that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is unenforceable, invalid or not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. Any Party seeking any injunction or other equitable relief to prevent any breach of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 10.5(c) shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.
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(d) EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BETWEEN OR AMONG THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY HEREBY (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.5(d).
Section 10.6 Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided that neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder may be assigned without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any attempted assignment of this Agreement or any such right or obligation without such consent shall be void ab initio and of no effect.
Section 10.7 No Third-Party Beneficiary. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall confer upon any Person (other than the Parties) any power, right, privilege, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except for the provisions of (1) Article II (which, from and after the New Paramount Merger Effective Time, shall be for the express benefit of, and enforceable by, each holder of Paramount Common Stock or Paramount Equity Awards as of the New Paramount Merger Effective Time), (2) Section 7.4 (which, from and after the applicable Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of the D&O Indemnified Persons), and (3) Section 10.14(a) (which shall be for the express benefit of, and enforceable by, the Non-Recourse Parties).
Section 10.8 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received (a) upon receipt when delivered by hand, (b) two (2) Business Days after being sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or by nationally recognized overnight courier or express delivery service, (c) if sent by email transmission prior to 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, upon transmission (provided that no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) or (d) if sent by email transmission after 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, on the Business Day following the date of transmission (provided that no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto); provided that, in each case, the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth beneath the name of such Party as follows (or to such other physical address or email address as such Party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other Parties):
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if to Skydance: | ||
Skydance Media, LLC | ||
2900 Olympic Boulevard | ||
Santa Monica, CA 90404 | ||
Attention: | David Ellison | |
Email: | dellison@skydance.com | |
with a copy to: | ||
smckinnon@skydance.com | ||
jsisgold@skydance.com | ||
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||
Latham & Watkins LLP | ||
1271 Avenue of the Americas | ||
New York, NY 10020 | ||
Attention: | Justin Hamill | |
Bradley Faris | ||
Ian Nussbaum | ||
Max Schleusener | ||
Email: | Justin.Hamill@lw.com | |
Bradley.Faris@lw.com | ||
Ian.Nussbaum@lw.com | ||
Max.Schleusener@lw.com | ||
if to Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub: | ||
Paramount Global | ||
1515 Broadway | ||
New York, NY 10036 | ||
Attention: | General Counsel | |
Email: | ParamountGlobalLegalNotices@paramount.com | |
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP | ||
Two Manhattan West | ||
375 Ninth Avenue | ||
New York, NY 10001 | ||
Attention: | Faiza J. Saeed | |
Daniel J. Cerqueira | ||
Claudia J. Ricciardi | ||
Email: | fsaeed@cravath.com | |
dcerqueira@cravath.com | ||
cricciardi@cravath.com |
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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | ||
425 Lexington Avenue | ||
New York, NY 10017 | ||
Attention: | Eric Swedenburg | |
Katherine Krause | ||
Email: | eswedenburg@stblaw.com | |
katherine.krause@stblaw.com |
if to an Upstream Blocker Holder, as set forth in such Upstream Blocker Holder’s signature page hereto.
Section 10.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties shall not object to the court making such determination having the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid, enforceable, and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power available to it in the prior sentence, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will most closely achieve the economic, business, and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.
Section 10.10 Expenses. Except as set forth in the last sentence of Section 7.2(d) or in Section 7.11(f), all Transaction Expenses shall be paid by the Party incurring such Transaction Expenses, if the Transactions are not consummated. If the Transactions are consummated, all Transaction Expenses shall be paid by New Paramount. Skydance and Paramount shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver to New Paramount, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, all outstanding invoices related to such Transaction Expenses. New Paramount shall concurrently with the Closing pay all Transaction Expenses.
Section 10.11 Obligations of the Parties. Paramount shall cause New Paramount and each Merger Sub to comply with, duly perform, satisfy, and discharge, on a timely basis, all of their respective covenants, obligations, and liabilities under this Agreement, and Paramount shall be liable for the due and timely performance, satisfaction, and discharge of each of the said covenants, obligations, and liabilities. Any consent or waiver by (a) Paramount under this Agreement shall be deemed to also be a consent or waiver by New Paramount and each Merger Sub and (b) Skydance under this Agreement shall be deemed to also be a consent or waiver by each Blocker Holder.
Section 10.12 Disclosure Letters. The disclosures set forth in any particular part or subpart of the Paramount Disclosure Letter or the Skydance Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to, and shall be deemed to apply to and qualify: (a) the representations and warranties
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or covenants of Paramount or Skydance, as applicable, that are set forth in the corresponding section or subsection of this Agreement and (b) any other representation and warranty or covenant of Paramount or Skydance, as applicable, that is set forth in this Agreement to the extent, in the case of this clause (b), the relevance of that disclosure as an exception to (or a disclosure for purposes of) such other representation and warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure. No Party may deem the mere inclusion of an item in the Paramount Disclosure Letter or the Skydance Disclosure Letter, as applicable, as (a) an exception to a representation and warranty or covenant as an admission that such item represents a material exception or material fact, event, or circumstance or that such item is material or constitutes a Paramount Material Adverse Effect or a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, as applicable (and no Party concedes such materiality or effect by its inclusion), or (b) an admission or indication of any non-compliance with, or breach or violation of, any third party rights (including any Intellectual Property Rights), any Contract or any Law, and no reference to, or disclosure of, any item or other matter in the Paramount Disclosure Letter or the Skydance Disclosure Letter shall necessarily imply that any other undisclosed matter or item having a greater value or significance is material.
Section 10.13 Construction.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; and one gender shall include all other genders.
(b) The Parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.
(d) Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Exhibits,” “Annexes,” and “Schedules” are intended to refer to sections of this Agreement and Exhibits, Annexes, and Schedules to this Agreement, as applicable.
(e) The phrase “made available,” when used in reference to anything made available prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Paramount, New Paramount, each Merger Sub, or any of their respective Representatives, in each case, shall be deemed to include anything (i) uploaded to the electronic data room maintained by or on behalf of Paramount or its Representatives for purposes of the Transactions prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement or (ii) publicly available in the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) database of the SEC prior to 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day before the date of this Agreement. The phrase “made available,” when used in reference to anything made available prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Skydance or any of its Representatives, in each case, shall be deemed to include anything uploaded to the electronic data room maintained by or on behalf of Skydance or its Representatives for purposes of the Transactions prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement.
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(f) The table of contents to this Agreement is for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement, and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The bold-faced headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement, and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(g) Any reference to (i) any Contract (including this Agreement) is to such Contract as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, or replaced from time to time (in the case of any Contract, to the extent permitted by the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms of this Agreement); (ii) any Governmental Body includes any successor to that Governmental Body; and (iii) any applicable Law refers to such applicable Law as amended, modified, supplemented, or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, includes any rule and regulation promulgated under such statute and any authoritative interpretations thereof (including applicable SEC interpretations thereof)) and references to any section of any applicable Law include any successor to such section (provided that, for purposes of any representation and warranty in this Agreement that is made as of a specific date, references to any Law or Contract shall be deemed to refer to such Law or Contract, as amended, and to any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, in each case, as of such date).
(h) The terms “Dollars” and “$” mean U.S. dollars.
(i) Any reference herein to “as of the date hereof,” “as of the date of this Agreement,” or words of similar import shall be deemed to mean the date set forth in the Preamble.
(j) When “since” is used in connection with a date, the period covered thereby shall be inclusive of such date.
(k) Any reference in this Agreement to a date or time shall be deemed to be such date or time in the City of New York, New York, U.S.A., unless otherwise specified.
(l) The word “or” will not be exclusive.
(m) Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to hereby are “facts ascertainable” (as such term is used in Section 251(b) of the DGCL) and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, are not a part of this Agreement.
(n) The words “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereby”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.
(o) All accounting terms used and not defined herein have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP, except to the extent otherwise specifically indicated or that the context otherwise requires.
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(p) References to “days” shall mean “calendar days” unless expressly stated otherwise.
Section 10.14 Non-Recourse.
(a) This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any Legal Proceeding based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Blocker Contribution and Exchange and the Mergers, may only be brought against, the entities that are expressly named as parties hereto and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such party, except for claims that may be asserted in accordance with the other Transaction Documents (in each case, solely in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof). Except (i) to the extent a named party to this Agreement (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such named Party) or (ii) as set forth in any Transaction Document (in each case, solely in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof), no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”) shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any Party under this Agreement or of or for any Legal Proceeding based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Party covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any other agreement referenced herein or in connection with any Transactions shall be sought or had against any Non-Recourse Party, except for claims that any Party may assert (i) against another Party solely in accordance with, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement or (ii) pursuant to any Transaction Document (in each case, solely in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof).
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (but in all cases subject to and without in any way limiting the rights, remedies and claims of Skydance or any of its Affiliates under any agreement entered into with respect to the Debt Financing), each Party (i) waives any and all claims and causes of action against the Debt Financing Sources relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any contract entered into with respect the Debt Financing, or the performance of any services thereunder, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, (ii) agrees that none of the Debt Financing Sources will have any liability to any party to this Agreement or any of its Affiliates relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any contract entered into with respect the Debt Financing, or the performance of any services thereunder, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, (iii) agrees not to seek to enforce commitments or other rights under any contract entered into with respect the Debt Financing against, or make any claims for breach of such commitments or such other rights against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, the Debt Financing Sources, or otherwise sue the Debt Financing Sources for any reason related to any contract entered into with respect the Debt Financing, except, in each case (i) through (iii), in the case of Skydance and its Affiliates, pursuant to or in connection with any contract relating to the Debt Financing, (iv) agrees that it will not bring or support, and will cause its Subsidiaries to not bring or support, any proceeding (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against any Debt Financing Source in any way relating to the Debt Financing, the Debt Financing
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Documents or the performance thereof or the transactions contemplated thereby, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any forum other than the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, or, if under applicable Laws exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the Federal courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and appellate courts thereof), (v) agrees that any proceeding (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) involving any of the Debt Financing Source that arises out of or relates to the Debt Financing, the Debt Financing Documents, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the transactions contemplated by the Debt Financing or the performance of services thereunder shall be (x) governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York and (y) subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of a state or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan within the City of New York and the appellate courts thereof, and (vi) agrees to irrevocably waive any and all rights to a trial by jury in any proceeding (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against any of the Debt Financing Sources. The provisions of this Section 10.14(b) shall be enforceable by each Debt Financing Source. Each Debt Financing Source is an intended third party beneficiary of, and may enforce, the proviso to Section 10.1 and this Section 10.14(b).
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
SKYDANCE MEDIA, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ David Ellison | |
Name: David Ellison | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
RB SKD AIV B, LP | ||
By: | RedBird Series 2019 GenPar LLC | |
By: | /s/ Gerald J. Cardinale | |
Name: Gerald J. Cardinale | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
PARAMOUNT GLOBAL | ||
By: | /s/ George Cheeks | |
Name: George Cheeks | ||
Title: Office of the CEO, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS | ||
NEW PLUTO GLOBAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Naveen Chopra | |
Name: Naveen Chopra | ||
Title: President | ||
PLUTO MERGER SUB, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Naveen Chopra | |
Name: Naveen Chopra | ||
Title: President | ||
PLUTO MERGER SUB II, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Naveen Chopra | |
Name: Naveen Chopra | ||
Title: President |
[Signature Page to Transaction Agreement]
SPARROW MERGER SUB, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Naveen Chopra | |
Name: Naveen Chopra | ||
Title: President | ||
Solely in its capacity as an Upstream Blocker Holder: | ||
KKR ASSOCIATES OPPORTUNITIES II SCSP | ||
as general partner of KKR Opportunities (EEA) Fund II SCSp and for and on behalf of KKR Opportunities (EEA) Fund II SCSp | ||
By: | KKR Opportunities II S.à.r.l., Its general partner | |
By: | /s/ Jeff Smith | |
Name: Jeff Smith | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Transaction Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement (including this Exhibit A):
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means any confidentiality agreement entered into by Paramount that contains confidentiality, use and standstill provisions that are, in each case, no less favorable, and the other provisions contained therein are no less favorable in the aggregate to Paramount than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, further, that an “Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” shall not include any provision (i) granting any exclusive right to negotiate with such counterparty, (ii) prohibiting Paramount or its Affiliates from satisfying its or their obligations hereunder or (iii) requiring Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries to pay or reimburse the counterparty’s fees, costs or expenses.
“Acquisition Proposal” means, with respect to Skydance or Paramount, as applicable, any offer, proposal, written inquiry or indication of interest from any third party relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving (i) any acquisition or purchase by any Person, directly or indirectly, of (x) 20% or more of the aggregate outstanding voting or equity securities of such Party or (y) 20% or more of the consolidated assets of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (measured by the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by such Party’s board of directors or any authorized committee thereof (in the case of Paramount, including the Paramount Special Committee)), (ii) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any Person beneficially owning 20% or more of the aggregate outstanding equity or voting securities of such Party or (iii) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, joint venture, liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or similar transaction involving such Party or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which (x) any Person would beneficially own 20% or more of the aggregate outstanding voting or equity securities of such Party after giving effect to the consummation of such transaction or (y) any Person would acquire 20% or more of the consolidated assets or revenues of such Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (measured by the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by such Party’s board of directors or any authorized committee thereof (in the case of Paramount, including the Paramount Special Committee)) or (z) equity holders of such Party immediately preceding such transaction hold less than 80% of the equity interests of the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (whether by voting power or economic interest). For clarity, New Paramount and the Merger Subs shall be Subsidiaries of Paramount for purposes of this definition. For purposes of Section 9.3(a)(ii), (x) each reference in this definition to 20% or 80% shall be deemed to be 50% and (y) the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall not include an acquisition, directly or indirectly, of NAI or any equity securities of NAI or any equity securities of Paramount owned directly or indirectly by NAI, in each case unless such acquisition has been approved by the Paramount Special Committee. For purposes of this definition, the term “Person” means any Person or “group,” as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For this purpose, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
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management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by Contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary herein, (a) except for purposes of Article IV, Section 6.1, Section 6.4, Section 7.1, Section 7.2, Section 7.6, Section 7.11, Section 7.12 and Section 10.14 and the definition of “Paramount Material Adverse Effect” and the definition of “Skydance Party”, Skydance and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of (i) any Skydance Member, (ii) any investment funds or investment vehicles affiliated with, or managed or advised by, any Skydance Member or (iii) any portfolio companies (as such term is commonly understood in the private equity industry) of any Skydance Member and (b) with respect to Paramount, “Affiliate” means any Person that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by Paramount.
“Affiliation Agreement” means any Contract relating to retransmission, affiliation, exhibition, distribution, subdistribution, carriage, display or broadcast of any programming service (including any Station, network, streaming service or feed), whether on a linear, on-demand, interactive, streaming or other basis, including with a network affiliate or a Distributor.
“Agreement” means the Transaction Agreement to which this Exhibit A is attached.
“Ancillary Agreements” means, collectively, the following agreements: (a) the Registration Rights Agreement and (b) the voting agreements, by and between New Paramount and each of the Equity Investors participating in the NAI Transaction, on substantially the terms forth in the Governance Term Sheet.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, the Anti-Bribery Laws of the People’s Republic of China, and any other similar applicable Law related to bribery or corruption.
“Antitrust Laws” means the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, state antitrust Laws, and all other applicable Laws and regulations (including non-U.S. Laws and regulations) issued by a Governmental Body that are designed or intended to preserve or protect competition, prohibit and restrict agreements in restraint of trade or monopolization, attempted monopolization, restraints of trade and abuse of a dominant position, or to prevent acquisitions, mergers or other business combinations and similar transactions, the effect of which may be to lessen or impede competition or to tend to create or strengthen a dominant position or to create a monopoly.
“Blocker FIRPTA Certificate” means a certificate, dated within 30 days prior to the Closing Date, that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1445-2(c) and 1 1.897-2(h)(1)(i) in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to New Paramount.
“Blocker Membership Units” means the Skydance Membership Units held by the Blockers.
“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday, or any other day on which commercial banks in the State of New York and in the State of California are authorized or required by applicable Law to be closed.
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“Buy-Out” means (i) securing and transferring the liabilities of either Paramount U.K. DB Plan to an insurance company which has permission under Part 4 of the U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect and carry out contracts of long-term insurance (any, an “Insurer”); or (ii) purchasing a bulk insurance policy to be held as an asset of either Paramount U.K. DB Plan from any Insurer.
“Class A Cash Consideration” means $23.00.
“Class B Cash Cap” means $4,288,338,180.
“Class B Cash Consideration” means $15.00.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collective Bargaining Agreement” means any collective bargaining agreement or Contract or understanding with a labor or trade union, works council, other labor organization, employee association or other bargaining unit representative, together with any addenda, side letters, memoranda of understandings, amendments and other ancillary agreements thereto.
“Communications Act” means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, inter alia, by the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as such statutes may be amended from time to time.
“Communications Laws” means (i) the Communications Act, (ii) FCC Rules and (iii) any other laws, rules, regulations, codes, published orders, directions, notices, guidelines, policies and decisions promulgated by Governmental Bodies governing the television, broadcast, media and communications industries, in each case, with jurisdiction over any of the services offered by Paramount, Skydance or any of their respective Subsidiaries anywhere in the world.
“Consent” means any approval, consent, ratification, permission, waiver, or authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).
“Content Activities” means activities in connection with the development, production, financing, acquisition or Exploitation of any Property.
“Contract” means any legally binding agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, sublease, understanding, instrument, bond, debenture, note, option, warrant, warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan, or other legally binding commitment or undertaking of any nature inclusive of all material amendments, supplements or modifications thereto (except, in each case, ordinary course of business purchase orders).
“Copyleft Software” means Software subject to a license that requires as a condition of use, modification or distribution of such Software that other Software or technology that incorporates, is derived from or is distributed with such Software (i) be disclosed or distributed in source code form, (ii) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (iii) be redistributable at no or minimal charge.
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“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and any evolution or variant thereof or any related or associated epidemic, pandemic, or disease outbreak.
“COVID-19 Measures” means quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar laws, directives, restrictions, guidelines, responses, or recommendations of, or promulgated by, any Governmental Body, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, or other reasonable actions taken, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19.
“Debt Financing Sources” means each party that has a commitment to provide or arrange or otherwise entered into agreements in connection with the Debt Financing and the parties to any joinder agreements or any definitive documentation entered pursuant thereto or relating thereto, together with their respective Affiliates and their and their respective Affiliates’ former, current and future officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives and their respective successors and assigns.
“Derivative Rights” means all rights to develop, produce, license, finance and otherwise Exploit all forms of derivative productions (including, without limitation, remakes, spin-offs, subsequent seasons, sequels or prequels) of a Property, or based upon any underlying material relating to such Property or any element thereof.
“Distributor” means any multichannel video programming distributor, virtual multichannel video programming distributor, other over-the-top platform or other distributor of any programming service (including any station, network, streaming service or feed).
“Effect” means an effect, event, change, occurrence, development, condition or circumstance.
“Effective Time” means the Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time, the New Paramount Merger Effective Time or the Skydance Merger Effective Time, as the context requires.
“Ellison” means Pinnacle Media Ventures, LLC, Pinnacle Media Ventures II, LLC, and Pinnacle Media Ventures III, LLC.
“Employee Plan” means any compensation, employment, individual consulting, individual independent contractor, salary, bonus, commission, vacation, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock purchase, equity or equity-based, phantom equity, severance pay, termination pay, death benefit, disability benefit, hospitalization, medical, dental, vision, health and welfare, life insurance, flexible benefits, supplemental unemployment benefit, profit-sharing, pension, retirement, change of control, transaction bonus, retention, perquisite, relocation, repatriation or expatriation plan, policy, practice, program, agreement, arrangement or Contract and each other “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), whether or not subject to ERISA and whether written or unwritten.
“Encumbrance” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, encroachment, claim, infringement, interference, option, right of first refusal, right of first offer, lease, covenant, condition, restriction, servitude, preemptive right, community property interest, or other similar restriction (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any
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restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset, and any restriction on the possession, exercise, or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset) and any conditional sales agreement, title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof. For clarity, the foregoing shall not include licenses of or other grants of rights to use Properties.
“Enforceability Exceptions” means legal limitations on enforceability: (a) arising from applicable bankruptcy and other similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally; (b) arising from Laws governing specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable remedies, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity; and (c) based on any indemnity against liabilities under securities laws in connection with the offering, sale, or issuance of securities.
“Entity” means any corporation (including any nonprofit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any company limited by shares, limited liability company, or joint stock company), firm, society, or other enterprise, association, organization, or entity.
“Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local, or foreign Law relating to pollution or protection of human health, worker health, or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface, or subsurface strata), including any Law or regulation relating to emissions, discharges, Releases, or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of Hazardous Materials.
“Equity Commitment Letters” means, collectively, those certain equity commitment letters from (a) The Lawrence J. Ellison Revocable Trust, u/a/d 1/22/88, as amended, and each of its affiliated entities, (i) Hikouki, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) Furaito, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (iii) Aozora, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to provide to Ellison, subject to the terms and conditions therein, cash to fund the Purchase Price (as defined in the Subscription Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and among Paramount, New Paramount and Ellison) payable by Ellison in connection with the PIPE Transaction, and (b) RedBird Capital Partners Fund IV (Master), L.P., dated as of the date hereof, to provide to RedBird, subject to the terms and conditions therein, cash to fund the Purchase Price (as defined in the Subscription Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and among Paramount, New Paramount and RedBird) payable by RedBird in connection with the PIPE Transaction.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person (whether or not incorporated) that, together with such Person, is or was at the relevant time considered under common control with or treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Excluded Party” means any Person or group of Persons from whom Paramount or any of its Representatives has received after the date of this Agreement and prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date (for the avoidance of doubt, not including any extensions of the Go-Shop Period), an Acquisition Proposal (provided that, for purposes of this definition of “Excluded Party”, the
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references to “20%” and “80%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”) that the Paramount Special Committee determines, during the Go-Shop Period (excluding any extensions), in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) is, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal; provided, that any such Person shall immediately and irrevocably cease to be an Excluded Party upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the ultimate equityholder(s) of such Person or group of Persons as of immediately prior to August 21, 2024 cease to constitute in the aggregate at least 75% of the equity financing (measured by each of voting power and value) of such Person or group of Persons at any time prior to the No Shop Period Start Date; (b) such Person or group of Persons withdraws, cancels or terminates its Acquisition Proposal or such Acquisition Proposal is abandoned or expires; or (c) the Paramount Special Committee determines in good faith that such Acquisition Proposal no longer is, or no longer would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal.
“Excluded Share” means any Paramount Share held by the Specified Stockholders, Paramount, Skydance, New Paramount, any Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries.
“Existing Paramount LC Facility” means the letter of credit facility under that certain Standby Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2023, by and among Paramount, the issuing banks named therein, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as LC agent, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent.
“Existing Paramount Notes” means Paramount’s 7.875% Senior Debentures due 2030, 5.50% Senior Debentures due 2033, 6.875% Senior Debentures due 2036, 6.75% Senior Debentures due 2037, 4.50% Senior Debentures due 2042, 4.375% Senior Debentures due 2043, 4.875% Senior Debentures due 2043, 5.85% Senior Debentures due 2043, 5.25% Senior Debentures due 2044, 4.85% Senior Debentures due 2034, 3.45% Senior Notes due 2026, 4.0% Senior Notes due 2026, 2.90% Senior Notes due 2027, 3.375% Senior Notes due 2028, 4.20% Senior Notes due 2029, 5.90% Senior Notes due 2040, 4.85% Senior Notes due 2042, 4.90% Senior Notes due 2044, 4.60% Senior Notes due 2045, 3.70% Senior Notes due 2028, 4.75% Senior Notes due 2025, 4.95% Senior Notes due 2031, 4.20% Senior Notes due 2032, 4.95% Senior Notes due 2050, 6.25% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2057 and 6.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062.
“Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2020, by and among Paramount, as a borrower, the subsidiary borrowers from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
“Existing Skydance Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility under that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit, Security, Guaranty and Pledge Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2023, by and among Skydance Productions, LLC, a California limited liability company, as borrower, Skydance Media, LLC, a California limited liability company, as parent, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as issuing bank (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
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“Exploit” means to release, exhibit, perform, broadcast, telecast, transmit, promote, publicize, advertise, license, sublicense, sell, transfer, dispose of, distribute, subdistribute, commercialize, merchandise, produce, market, use and otherwise exploit any Property (or portions thereof) and all allied, ancillary, and subsidiary rights related thereto or any Derivative Rights therein, in each case, to or for the general public by any and all means now known or hereafter developed. The term “Exploitation” shall have a correlative meaning.
“FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission, including any official bureau or division thereof acting on delegated authority, or any successor governmental agency performing functions similar to those performed by the Federal Communications Commission.
“FCC Consent” means the grant by the FCC of Consent pursuant to the Communications Act and FCC Rules necessary to consummate the Transactions and the NAI Transaction, regardless of whether the action of the FCC in issuing such grant remains subject to reconsideration or other further review by the FCC or a court.
“FCC Licenses” means the FCC licenses, permits and other authorizations, together with any renewals, extensions or modifications thereof, issued under Part 73 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations or subpart G of part 74 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations with respect to the Stations.
“FCC Rules” means the rules, regulations, published orders, policies and decisions promulgated by, and other applicable requirements of, the FCC and interpretations thereof by federal courts of competent jurisdiction.
“Fraud” means, with respect to any Person, an actual, intentional, and knowing common law fraud (and not a constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation, or omission, or any form of fraud premised on recklessness or negligence), by such Person in the making of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or any certificate executed and delivered by such Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Governmental Authorization” means any (a) permit, license, certificate, franchise, permission, variance, clearance, registration, qualification, or authorization issued, granted, given, or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to any Law or (b) right under any Contract with any Governmental Body.
“Governmental Body” means any (a) nation, state, supra-national body, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district, or other jurisdiction of any nature; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, or other government; (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature, including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, self-regulatory organization (including Nasdaq) or other organization, unit, body, or Entity; (d) any court, arbitrator, or other tribunal; or (e) communications regulator in any jurisdiction.
“Guilds” means guilds, unions or other labor organizations, domestic or foreign, that relate to the development, production or Exploitation of Properties (e.g., the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and American
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Federation of Musicians or other union if the bargaining unit is employed in connection with the development, production or Exploitation of Properties).
“Hazardous Materials” means any waste, material, or substance that is listed, regulated, or defined under any Environmental Law as a pollutant, chemical substance, hazardous or toxic substance, or hazardous waste (or words of similar import), including asbestos, toxic mold, radioactive material, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, or petroleum-derived substance or waste.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Indebtedness” means: (a) any indebtedness for borrowed money (including the issuance of any debt security) to any Person (other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries or Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, as applicable); (b) any obligation evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, or similar Contracts to any Person; (c) any obligation in respect of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances (other than letters of credit used as security for leases); or (d) any guaranty of any such obligation described in clauses (a) through (c) of any Person (other than, in any case, accounts payable to trade creditors and accrued expenses, in each case, arising in the ordinary course of business).
“Integration Committee” means a committee whose members shall be selected in accordance with Section 7.15, and whose purpose, subject to applicable Law, is to plan an efficient integration of Paramount and Skydance after the Closing and related post-Closing integration matters as the Integration Committee may reasonably determine is necessary from time to time.
“Intellectual Property Rights” means any intellectual property rights, including any of the following arising pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, brands, trade names, company names and similar indicia of source or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by any of the foregoing; (b) copyrights, works of authorship and database rights, together with all common law rights and moral rights therein; (c) trade secrets, proprietary know-how, inventions, designs and, to the extent protected as confidential, processes, procedures, data, databases, drawings, specifications, records, formulae, methods and confidential business information (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (d) industrial property rights, patents and other patent rights (including any and all substitutions, revisions, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, provisionals, interferences, reexaminations and reissues of the foregoing) (collectively, “Patents”); (e) rights in software (including source code, object code and related documentation and specifications) (collectively, “Software”); (f) name, image, likeness, biographical information and rights of publicity; and (g) Internet domain names, social media account identifiers and URLs; in each case, including any applications, registrations, issuances, extensions and renewals for any of the foregoing with any Governmental Body or internet domain name registrar.
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.
“IT Assets” means hardware, Software, systems, networks, databases, websites, applications and other information technology assets and equipment.
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“knowledge” with respect to an Entity, means with respect to the matter in question the actual knowledge of such Entity’s executive officers.
“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, multinational, or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, rule, regulation, or other legal requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or under the authority of Nasdaq, or any Order.
“Legal Proceeding” means any action, claim, suit, complaint, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative or appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit, examination, investigation or other proceeding commenced, brought, conducted, or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Body.
“Limited Guarantees” means, collectively, those certain limited guarantees from The Lawrence J Ellison Revocable Trust U/A 1/22/88 and RedBird Capital Partners Fund IV (Master), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, each in favor of Paramount and dated the date hereof.
“Malicious Code” means any undisclosed or hidden device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or otherwise impair the functioning of any Software or IT Assets or any “back door,” “time bomb”, “Trojan horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” or other malicious Software that permit unauthorized access or the unauthorized disablement of such Software or IT Assets.
“Material Affiliation Agreement” has the definition set forth in Exhibit A of the Paramount Disclosure Letter.
“Multi-Property Agreement” means each slate financing agreement, multi-property co-financing arrangement or other Contract pursuant to which multiple Properties are produced or financed; it being understood that a Contract for a single Property that contemplates subsequent cycles or derivatives based on such Property shall not be considered “multi-Property” solely on account thereof.
“MVPD” means any multi-channel video programming distributor or virtual multi-channel video programming distributor, including cable systems, wireline telecommunications companies, and direct broadcast satellite systems.
“NAI” means National Amusements, Inc., a Maryland corporation.
“NAI Letter” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of April 4, 2024, by and between Skydance and NAI, as amended.
“NAI Shareholders” means, collectively, (a) Sumner M. Redstone National Amusements Part B General Trust (also known as NA Part B Nonexempt General Trust), an irrevocable non-grantor trust established under a Declaration of Trust dated June 28, 2002, as amended, (b) Shari E. Redstone Trust, a revocable trust established under a Declaration of Trust dated October 18, 1999, and (c) Shari E. Redstone Qualified Annuity Interest Trust XIX, an irrevocable trust established under a Trust Agreement dated July 31, 2023.
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“NAIEH” means NAI Entertainment Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC or any successor thereto.
“New Paramount Common Stock” means, collectively, the New Paramount Class A Common Stock and the New Paramount Class B Common Stock.
“OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Order” means any judgment, order, ruling, decision, writ, injunction, decree, ruling, verdict or arbitration award of, or any conciliation or other agreement with, any Governmental Body.
“Paramount Associate” means each current or former officer, employee, individual independent contractor, individual consultant, or individual manager or director of Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, excluding any talent, cast or crew engaged in connection with one or more Properties.
“Paramount Class A Common Stock” means the Paramount Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Paramount.
“Paramount Class B Common Stock” means the Paramount Class B common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Paramount.
“Paramount Common Stock” means the Paramount Class A Common Stock and Paramount Class B Common Stock.
“Paramount Contract” means any Contract between Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any party other than Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand.
“Paramount DC Plans” means, collectively, Paramount’s two Deferred Compensation Plans for Outside Directors, Paramount’s two Excess 401(k) Plans, Paramount’s two Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives, Paramount’s two Bonus Deferral Plans, Paramount’s two Bonus Deferral Plans for Designated Senior Executives, Paramount’s Supplemental Employee Investment Fund, and Westinghouse Deferred Incentive Compensation Plan.
“Paramount Disclosure Letter” means the Disclosure Letter that has been prepared by Paramount in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement and that has been delivered by Paramount to Skydance on the date of this Agreement.
“Paramount Employee Plan” means an Employee Plan sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability (whether actual or contingent) to provide compensation or benefits to any Paramount Associate (including the Paramount U.K. DB Plans), in each case with respect to Paramount Associates, in all cases, excluding plans, programs or arrangements sponsored by any Governmental Body.
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“Paramount Equity Awards” means, collectively, Paramount Options, Paramount RSU Awards and Paramount PSU Awards.
“Paramount Equity Plans” means, collectively, Paramount’s 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Paramount’s 2016 Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, Paramount’s 2005 RSU Plan for Outside Directors, Paramount’s 2011 RSU Plan for Outside Directors and Paramount’s 2015 Equity Plan for Outside Directors in each case, as amended or restated from time to time.
“Paramount FIRPTA Certificate” means a certificate, dated within 30 days prior to the Closing Date, that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1445-2(c) and 1.897-2(h)(1)(i) in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to New Paramount.
“Paramount Franchise Property” has the definition set forth in Exhibit A of the Paramount Disclosure Letter.
“Paramount IP” means all Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or purported to be owned by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Paramount IT Assets” means the IT Assets that are owned or controlled by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Paramount Lease” means any Paramount Contract pursuant to which Paramount Leased Real Property is leased, subleased, licensed, used, or otherwise occupied by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, from another Person, including all material amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties, and other agreements with respect thereto, excluding any real property that is used or occupied on a short-term basis by any Subsidiary of Paramount in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection with Content Activities.
“Paramount Material Adverse Effect” means an Effect that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, or results of operations of Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that no Effect to the extent arising out of or resulting from any of the following shall be deemed either alone or in combination to constitute a Paramount Material Adverse Effect, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there is, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Paramount Material Adverse Effect: (a) any change in the market price or trading volume of Paramount’s securities or any change in the credit ratings or the ratings outlook for Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries (it being agreed, however, that (i) the underlying facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to any such changes in market price, trading volume, credit ratings or ratings outlook and (ii) the financial impact of any such change in credit ratings or ratings outlook, in each case, may be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be a Paramount Material Adverse Effect); (b) the execution of this Agreement or the terms of this Agreement (including the identity of Skydance or any Skydance Member or any Affiliate of the foregoing), including the impact of the foregoing on the relationships with officers, employees, Guilds, labor unions, works councils, customers, franchisees, suppliers, distributors, partners, lenders and other financing sources, Governmental Bodies, or others having business relationships with Paramount (other than for purposes of any representation or warranty in Section 3.4 or condition to Closing related thereto
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but subject to disclosures in Section 3.4 of the Paramount Disclosure Letter); (c) general changes or developments in the industries in which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries operates (including labor disruptions) or in the economy generally or other general market conditions; (d) any change in financial, credit, securities or capital market conditions, whether globally, in the United States or in any other country or region in the world, including interest rates, foreign exchange or exchange rates, fluctuations in the value of any currency and any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any security exchange or over-the-counter market; (e) any domestic, foreign or global political or social condition (including any actual or potential sequester, stoppage, shutdown, default, sanction or similar event or occurrence by or involving any Governmental Body affecting a national or federal government as a whole), any act of terrorism, war (whether or not declared), civil unrest, civil disobedience, riots, protests, public demonstrations, strikes, insurrection, national or international calamity, sabotage or terrorism (including cyberattacks, cyber intrusions, cyberterrorism or other cybersecurity breaches), pandemic or epidemic (including COVID-19 and compliance by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries with any COVID-19 Measure), or other outbreaks of diseases or quarantine restrictions, or any other similar event, any volcano, tsunami, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, other natural or man-made disaster, weather-related event, or act of God or other national or international calamity, or any other force majeure event (and, in each case, including any escalation or worsening thereof and any action taken by any Governmental Body in response to any of the foregoing); (f) the failure of Paramount to meet any internal, published, or analyst’s projection, expectation, forecast, performance, estimate or prediction in respect of revenues, earnings, or other financial or operating metrics for any period (it being agreed, however, that the underlying facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be a Paramount Material Adverse Effect); (g) any change after the date hereof in, or any compliance with or action taken for the purpose of complying with, any change in Law or GAAP after the date hereof, including the adoption, implementation, promulgation, repeal, modification, interpretation, reinterpretation, or proposal of any Law or new requirement under GAAP after the date hereof; (h) any action taken or omitted by Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the written request or direction of Skydance, or the taking or omission by Paramount or any Subsidiary of any action or omission in accordance with this Agreement that Paramount or any Subsidiary is specifically required to take or omit from taking (in each case, other than any actions or omissions required to be taken (or not taken) under Section 6.2(a)); or (i) any Legal Proceeding commenced after the date hereof by a securityholder of Paramount (on its own behalf or on behalf of Paramount) arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions; provided, however, that the exceptions set forth in subclauses (c), (d), (e) and (g), shall only apply to the extent that such Effect does not have a materially disproportionate adverse effect on Paramount and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies that operate in the industry in which Paramount and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse effect may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Paramount Material Adverse Effect).
“Paramount Merger Consideration” means, collectively, the Paramount Class A Merger Consideration and the Paramount Class B Merger Consideration.
“Paramount Notional Unit” means each notional investment unit with respect to Paramount Class B Common Stock subject to a Paramount DC Plan.
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“Paramount Option” means an option to purchase shares of Paramount Class B Common Stock (whether or not granted pursuant to any Paramount Equity Plan).
“Paramount Parties” means Paramount, any of its Subsidiaries, and any of their respective current or former stockholders, optionholders, unitholders, members, Affiliates or Representatives.
“Paramount Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Paramount.
“Paramount Property” means any Property as to which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries owns or controls any right, title or interest.
“Paramount PSU Award” means an award of restricted share units with respect to Paramount Class B Common Stock (whether or not granted pursuant to any Paramount Equity Plan), the vesting of which is conditioned in whole or in part on the satisfaction of any performance goals or metrics.
“Paramount Registered IP” means any Patent, trademark, copyright, or domain name included in Paramount IP that is registered or issued under the authority of any Governmental Body or internet domain name registrar, and any application for the registration of any of the foregoing.
“Paramount RSU Award” means an award of restricted share units with respect to Paramount Class B Common Stock (whether or not granted pursuant to any Paramount Equity Plan) which is not a Paramount PSU Award.
“Paramount Tax Counsel” means Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP or other tax counsel reasonably acceptable to Paramount.
“Paramount U.K. DB Plans” means the Paramount and UIP Companies Pension Plan, currently governed by a definitive trust deed and rules dated 1 July 1996, as amended from time to time, and the CBS Broadcast Services Ltd. Pension Fund, currently governed by a definitive trust deed and rules dated 5 April 2006, as amended from time to time.
“Parties” means Skydance, Paramount, New Paramount, the Merger Subs and, solely with respect to the Specified Upstream Blocker Holder Provisions, the Upstream Blocker Holders.
“Permitted Encumbrance” means (a) any Encumbrance for Taxes that is either (i) not yet due and payable or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of Paramount or Skydance (as applicable) to the extent required by GAAP, (b) any Encumbrance representing the right of any customer, supplier, or subcontractor in the ordinary course of business under the terms of any Contract to which the relevant party is a party or under general principles of commercial or government contract Law (including mechanic’s, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s, warehouseman’s, repairmen’s, landlords’, and similar liens granted or which arise in the ordinary course of business and for which amounts thereunder are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of Paramount or Skydance (as applicable) to the extent
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required by GAAP), (c) in the case of any Contract, any Encumbrance that is a restriction against the transfer or assignment thereof and is included in the terms of such Contract, (d) any Encumbrance for which appropriate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of Paramount, (e) any defect, imperfection of title, or other Encumbrance not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries or Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries (as applicable) in the ordinary course, (f) in the case of real property, (i) the rights of landlords, licensors or grantors under Paramount Leases or Skydance Leases (as applicable) set forth therein, (ii) any Encumbrances to which the fee (or any superior leasehold) interest in Paramount Leased Real Property or Skydance Leased Real Property (as applicable) is subject, (iii) all zoning, entitlement, building, and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Bodies having jurisdiction over such real property not materially interfering with, and not violated by, the conduct of the business of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries or Paramount and its Subsidiaries (as applicable) in the ordinary course thereat, (iv) any matters that would be disclosed by a current, accurate survey or physical inspection of Paramount Owned Real Property or Skydance Owned Real Property (as applicable) so long any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, do not and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the present use, utility or value of the applicable real property or otherwise would not materially impair the present or contemplated business operations at such location and (v) any Encumbrance that is an easement, right-of-way, encroachment, covenant, restriction, condition, or other similar Encumbrance that, individually or in the aggregate, does not and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the use (or contemplated use), utility or value of the applicable real property or otherwise materially impair the present or contemplated business operations at such location, (g) Encumbrances granted pursuant to Permitted Paramount Indebtedness or Permitted Skydance Indebtedness, and (h) Encumbrances granted in the ordinary course of business (e.g., liens to Guilds, completion guarantors, laboratories, distributors and production financiers) in connection with Content Activities and that are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of Paramount and its Subsidiaries or to Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries (as applicable), in each case, taken as a whole.
“Permitted Paramount Indebtedness” means, with respect to Paramount and its Subsidiaries, the Existing Paramount Revolving Credit Facility and any other Indebtedness that is not restricted by or is otherwise approved in accordance with Section 6.2.
“Permitted Skydance Indebtedness” means, with respect to Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, the Existing Skydance Revolving Credit Facility and any other Indebtedness that is not restricted by or is otherwise approved in accordance with Section 6.3.
“Person” means any individual, Entity, or Governmental Body.
“Personal Information” means any information or data, in any form, that is defined as “personal information,” “personal data,” “personal health information,” “nonpublic personal information,” “sensitive personal information,” “personally identifiable information,” or any similar term by applicable Privacy Law.
“Privacy Laws” means all Laws, rules, and binding industry or self-regulatory rules or standards relating to the privacy, security or Processing of Personal Information, data breach notification, website and mobile application privacy policies and practices, the Processing and
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security of payment card information, wiretapping, the interception of electronic communications, the tracking or monitoring of online activity, and marketing email, text message or telephone communications.
“Process”, “Processed” or “Processing” means any operation or set of operations that is performed on Personal Information, such as the use, collection, processing, storage, recording, organization, adaption, alteration, transfer, retrieval, consultation, disclosure, dissemination or combination of such Personal Information or is considered “processing” by any applicable Privacy Laws.
“Property” means any audio or audiovisual content or work of any kind or character whatsoever, produced for Exploitation in any medium and by any means now known or hereafter devised, and whether recorded or otherwise preserved for Exploitation by any means or media now known or hereafter devised.
“Public Stockholders” means all of the holders of the issued and outstanding shares of Paramount Common Stock, excluding the Specified Stockholders, their respective Affiliates and any other stockholders of Paramount affiliated with the Specified Stockholders or their respective affiliates. For purposes of this definition only, the term “Specified Stockholder” shall also include each immediate family member (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) of any Specified Stockholder and any trust or other entity (other than Paramount) in which any Specified Stockholder or any such immediate family member thereof holds (or in which more than one of such individuals collectively hold), beneficially or otherwise, a voting, proprietary, equity or other financial interest.
“RedBird” means RB Tentpole LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means a registration rights agreement on substantially the terms set forth in Exhibit D.
“Release” means any emission, spill, seepage, leak, escape, leaching, discharge, injection, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping, disposal, migration, or release of Hazardous Materials from any source into or upon the environment.
“Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s officers, directors, employees, managers, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, consultants, agents, financial advisors, other advisors, financing sources and other representatives.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory that is the target of comprehensive sanctions (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine).
“Sanctioned Person” means (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any Member State of the European Union, or the United Kingdom; (b) any Person operating, organized, or resident in a Sanctioned Country; (c) the government of a Sanctioned Country or the Government of Venezuela; or (d) any Person 50% or
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more owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons or acting for or on behalf of such Person or Persons.
“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United States (including OFAC and the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union Member State, or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Sharing Agreement” means a local marketing, joint sales, shared services or similar Contract.
“Sharing Company” means any entity with which Paramount or any of its Subsidiaries has a Sharing Agreement.
“Skydance Associate” means each current or former officer, employee, individual independent contractor, individual consultant, or individual manager or director of Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, excluding any talent, cast or crew engaged in connection with one or more Properties.
“Skydance Contract” means any Contract between Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any party other than Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary, on the other hand.
“Skydance Disclosure Letter” means the Disclosure Letter that has been prepared by Skydance in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement and that has been delivered by Skydance to Paramount on the date of this Agreement.
“Skydance Employee Plan” means an Employee Plan sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by Skydance or any of the Skydance Subsidiaries or with respect to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary has any liability (whether actual or contingent) to provide compensation or benefits to any Skydance Associate, in each case with respect to Skydance Associates, in all cases, excluding plans, programs or arrangements sponsored by any Governmental Body.
“Skydance Equity Plans” means, collectively, Skydance’s Second Amended and Restated 2016 Profits Interest Plan, Skydance’s 2019 Phantom Unit Plan, and Skydance’s 2020 Phantom Unit Plan, in each case, as amended or restated from time to time.
“Skydance FIRPTA Certificate” means a certificate, dated not more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to New Paramount.
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“Skydance Franchise Property” has the definition set forth in Exhibit A of the Skydance Disclosure Letter.
“Skydance IP” means all Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or purported to be owned by Skydance or any Subsidiary of Skydance.
“Skydance IT Assets” means the IT Assets that are owned or controlled by Skydance or any Subsidiary of Skydance.
“Skydance Lease” means any Skydance Contract pursuant to which Skydance Leased Real Property leased, subleased, licensed, used or otherwise occupied by Skydance or a Skydance Subsidiary, as applicable, from another Person, including all material amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto, excluding any real property that is used or occupied on a short-term basis by any Skydance Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection with Content Activities.
“Skydance LLC Agreement” means that certain Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Skydance, dated as of January 3, 2023, as amended on March 15, 2023 and as may be further amended from time to time (to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement).
“Skydance Material Adverse Effect” means an Effect that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, or results of operations of Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that no Effect to the extent arising out of or resulting from any of the following shall be deemed either alone or in combination to constitute a Skydance Material Adverse Effect, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there is, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Skydance Material Adverse Effect: (a) the execution of this Agreement or the terms of this Agreement (including the identity of Paramount, New Paramount or any Merger Sub or any Affiliate of the foregoing), including the impact of the foregoing on the relationships with officers, employees, Guilds, labor unions, works councils, customers, franchisees, suppliers, distributors, partners, lenders and other financing sources, Governmental Bodies, or others having business relationships with Skydance (other than for purposes of any representation or warranty in Section 4.4 or condition to Closing related thereto but subject to disclosures in Section 4.4 of the Skydance Disclosure Letter); (b) general changes or developments in the industries, in which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary operates (including labor disruptions) or in the economy generally or other general market conditions; (c) any change in financial, credit, securities or capital market conditions, whether globally, in the United States or in any other country or region in the world, including interest rates, foreign exchange or exchange rates, fluctuations in the value of any currency and any suspension of trading in securities (whether equity, debt, derivative or hybrid securities) generally on any security exchange or over-the-counter market; (d) any domestic, foreign or global political or social condition (including any actual or potential sequester, stoppage, shutdown, default, sanction or similar event or occurrence by or involving any Governmental Body affecting a national or federal government as a whole), any act of terrorism, war (whether or not declared), civil unrest, civil disobedience, riots, protests, public demonstrations, strikes, insurrection, national or international calamity, sabotage or terrorism (including cyberattacks, cyber intrusions, cyberterrorism or other
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cybersecurity breaches), pandemic or epidemic (including COVID-19 and compliance by Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary with any COVID-19 Measure), or other outbreaks of diseases or quarantine restrictions, or any other similar event, any volcano, tsunami, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, other natural or man-made disaster, weather-related event, or act of God or other national or international calamity, or any other force majeure event (and, in each case, including any escalation or worsening thereof and any action taken by any Governmental Body in response to any of the foregoing); (e) the failure of Skydance to meet any internal, published, or analyst’s projection, expectation, forecast, performance, estimate, or prediction in respect of revenues, earnings, or other financial or operating metrics for any period (it being agreed, however, that the underlying facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be a Skydance Material Adverse Effect); (f) any change after the date hereof in, or any compliance with or action taken for the purpose of complying with, any change in Law or GAAP after the date hereof, including the adoption, implementation, promulgation, repeal, modification, interpretation, reinterpretation, or proposal of any Law or new requirement under GAAP after the date hereof; (g) any action taken or omitted by Skydance or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the written request or direction of Paramount, or the taking or omission by Skydance or any Subsidiary of any action or omission in accordance with this Agreement that Skydance or any Subsidiary is specifically required to take or omit from taking (in each case, other than any actions or omissions required to be taken (or not taken) under Section 6.3(a)); or (h) any Legal Proceeding commenced after the date hereof by a securityholder of Skydance (on its own behalf or on behalf of Skydance) arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions; provided, however, that the exceptions set forth in subclauses (b), (c), (d) and (f), shall only apply to the extent that such Effect does not have a materially disproportionate adverse effect on Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies that operate in the industry in which Skydance and the Skydance Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse effect may be taken into account in determining whether there has occurred a Skydance Material Adverse Effect).
“Skydance Membership Units” means the “Class A Membership Units”, the “Class B Membership Units” (including any Class B Membership Units designated as “Profits Interest Units”), the “Class C Membership Units”, the “Class D Membership Units” or any other “Profits Interest Units”, as applicable (each as defined in the Skydance LLC Agreement).
“Skydance Merger Consideration” shall mean 316,666,667 shares of New Paramount Class B Common Stock.
“Skydance Nominee” means David Ellison.
“Skydance Parties” means Skydance or any of its current, former, or future stockholders, optionholders, members, Representatives or Affiliates.
“Skydance Phantom Unit Plan” means the Skydance 2019 Phantom Unit Plan, as amended from time to time.
“Skydance Phantom Units” means “Phantom Units” (as defined in the Skydance Phantom Unit Plan).
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“Skydance Profits Interest Units” means, collectively, the membership units issued by Skydance designated as “Profits Interest Units” in the books and records of Skydance and the holders of which having the rights to distributions and allocations set forth in the Skydance LLC Agreement, including the “Class B Membership Units” that are designated as “Profits Interest Units”, “Class C Membership Units” and “Class D Membership Units” (each as defined in the Skydance LLC Agreement).
“Skydance Property” means any Property as to which Skydance or any Skydance Subsidiary owns or controls any right, title or interest.
“Skydance Registered IP” means any Patent, trademark, copyright, or domain name included in the Skydance IP that is registered or issued under the authority of any Governmental Body or internet domain name registrar, and any application for the registration of any of the foregoing.
“Skydance Sports Phantom Unit Plan” means a phantom unit plan adopted by Skydance Sports, as amended from time to time.
“Skydance Sports Phantom Units” means phantom units issued under the Skydance Sports Phantom Unit Plan.
“Specified NAI Entities” means NAI, NAIEH and SPV-NAIEH.
“Specified Stockholders” means, collectively, (a) NAI, NAIEH and SPV-NAIEH and any permitted Subsidiary transferee to which any of the foregoing transfers its Paramount Shares and (b) other than for purposes of Section 2.1(b)(i)-(iii), Shari Redstone and her personal revocable trusts that hold Paramount Shares.
“Specified Upstream Blocker Holder Provisions” means Sections 1.1(a), 1.1(c), 1.1(d), 1.2, 2.1(c), 2.1(d), 2.1(f), 2.1(g), 2.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, 7.6, 7.10, 7.13, 7.16, 7.17, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 9.2, 9.3(c), 9.3(d) and Articles III, IV, V and X.
“SPV-NAIEH” means SPV-NAIEH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Station” or “Stations” means all transmitting television broadcast stations (including stations operated as “satellites” pursuant to Section 73.3555 Note 5 of the FCC Rules, but for the avoidance of doubt, not including programming channels carried via such stations), low power television stations (including Class A stations) and TV translator stations owned by Paramount, any of its Subsidiaries, or a Sharing Company.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least 50% of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions, (b) a general partner interest or (c) a managing member interest, in each case, is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries.
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“Superior Proposal” means any bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that is on terms that the Paramount Board (acting upon the recommendation of the Paramount Special Committee) or the Paramount Special Committee determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) and after taking into account the legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Acquisition Proposal (including the risks, conditions and timing of the consummation of such proposal) and this Agreement, (a) is reasonably capable of being consummated in accordance with its terms (taking into account whether the Specified Stockholders would reasonably be expected to approve such Acquisition Proposal), and (b) if consummated would result in a transaction more favorable to Paramount’s stockholders (solely in their capacities as such) from a financial point of view, than the Mergers and the Transactions (taking into account any proposed amendment or modification proposed by the Skydance Parties pursuant to Section 6.6(b)). For purposes of the reference to “Acquisition Proposal” in this definition, all references to “20%” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”.
“Takeover Laws” means any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “supermajority,” “affiliate transactions,” “business combination statute or regulation,” or other similar state anti-takeover Laws and regulations.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any tax of any kind whatsoever (including any income tax, franchise tax, license tax, capital gains tax, gross receipts tax, value-added tax, surtax, estimated tax, employment or unemployment tax, severance tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, transfer tax, alternative minimum tax, documentation or stamp tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, business tax, digital tax, withholding tax, or payroll tax), including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, in each case, imposed, assessed, or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Body.
“Tax Opinion” means an opinion from Paramount Tax Counsel, rendered on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion and the Tax Representation Letters, to the effect that the Mergers, the PIPE Transaction and the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, taken together, should qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code.
“Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, declaration, estimate, schedule, notice, notification, form, election, certificate, claim for refund or other document or information, including any amendment thereof, filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, or payment of any Tax.
“Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Body exercising Tax regulatory authority or otherwise imposing or administering any Tax.
“Trade Laws” means, (a) all applicable trade, export control, import, and antiboycott laws and regulations imposed, administered, or enforced by the U.S. government, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 1778), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1706), Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the U.S. customs laws at Title 19 of the U.S. Code, the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. §§ 4801-4861), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 C.F.R. Parts 120–130), the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774), the U.S. customs regulations at 19 C.F.R. Chapter 1, and
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the Foreign Trade Regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 30); and (b) all applicable trade, export control, import, and antiboycott laws and regulations imposed, administered or enforced by any other country, except to the extent inconsistent with U.S. Law.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Voting Agreement, the NAI Stock Purchase Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letters, the Limited Guarantees, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Clean Team Agreement.
“Transaction Expenses” means (a) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions by Skydance, Paramount, New Paramount and their respective Subsidiaries (including, for certainty, all fees and expenses payable to brokers, financial advisors and investment banks in connection with the Transactions), as applicable, and (b) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the PIPE Transaction by Paramount, New Paramount, their respective Subsidiaries and the Equity Investors (in the case of the Equity Investors, up to a maximum of $5,000,000) but, in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) without duplication of any such fees and expenses paid or reimbursed pursuant to the NAI Stock Purchase Agreement, (ii) other than as set forth in this definition, excluding any fees and expenses incurred by any Person other than Skydance, Paramount, New Paramount and their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (iii) excluding the fees and expenses of legal counsel incurred by the applicable Equity Investors in connection with the NAI Transaction.
“Transactions” mean, collectively, the Mergers, the Blocker Contribution and Exchange, the PIPE Transaction and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than the NAI Transaction).
“Trustee” means any trustee of either Paramount U.K. DB Plan from time to time.
“Uncured Breach” will be deemed to exist with respect to a representation or warranty set forth in Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 5.3, Section 5.5, Section 5.6(g) or Section 5.8 or any covenant of the Blocker Holders set forth in this Agreement only if (i) such representation or warranty or covenant, as applicable, has been materially breached as of a particular date and (ii) Skydance and the Blocker Holders have had at least fifteen (15) Business Days to cure such breach (or, if the Closing is required to occur within such fifteen (15) Business Day period, then Skydance and the Blocker Holders will be deemed to have until the End Date) and failed to do so in all material respects.
“Upstream Blockers” means those entities set forth on Exhibit B of the Skydance Disclosure Letter.
“WARN Act” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended, and any similar foreign, state or local law.
“Willful Breach” means any material breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to the date of its termination that is a consequence of any act, or failure to act, undertaken by the breaching Party with the knowledge that the taking of such act, or failure to act, would result in such breach.
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Other capitalized terms used herein and not defined in this Exhibit A shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the following Sections:
Acquisition Agreement | Section 6.4(b) | |
Adverse Recommendation Change | Section 6.6(a) | |
Aggregate Cash Consideration | Section 2.3(a) | |
Allocation Statement | Section 2.1(d) | |
Blocker | Recitals | |
Blocker Contribution and Exchange | Recitals | |
Blocker Holder | Recitals | |
Blocker Securities | Recitals | |
Book-Entry Shares | Section 2.1(b)(viii) | |
Burdensome Effect | Section 7.2(b) | |
California Law | Section 4.1(a) | |
Cancelled Shares | Section 2.1(b)(vii) | |
Certificate | Section 2.1(b)(viii) | |
Certificates of Merger | Section 1.3(c) | |
Chosen Courts | Section 10.5(b) | |
Class A Cash Election | Section 2.1(b)(ii) | |
Class A Non-Election Share | Section 2.1(b)(iii) | |
Class A Stock Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(iii) | |
Class A Stock Election | Section 2.1(b)(iii) | |
Class B Cash Election | Section 2.1(b)(v) | |
Class B Cash Election Number | Section 2.2(b)(i) | |
Class B Cash Election Share | Section 2.1(b)(v) | |
Class B Non-Election Share | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
Class B Stock Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
Class B Stock Election | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
Clean Team Agreement | Section 6.1(b) | |
CLLCA | Recitals | |
Closing | Section 1.2 | |
Closing Date | Section 1.2 | |
COC Amendments | Section 7.11(a) | |
Confidentiality Agreement | Section 6.1(b) | |
Continuing Employee | Section 7.3(b) | |
D&O Indemnified Persons | Section 7.4(a) | |
Debt Financing | Section 7.11(b)(ii) | |
Debt Financing Documents | Section 7.11(b)(ii) | |
Delaware Law | Section 3.1(a) | |
DGCL | Recitals | |
Dollars | Section 10.13(h) | |
DPA | Section 7.18 | |
DTC | Section 2.3(b)(ii) | |
Electing Holder | Section 2.2(c) | |
Election | Section 2.2(c)(i) | |
Election Deadline | Section 2.2(c)(iv) |
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Election Period | Section 2.2(c)(iii) | |
End Date | Section 9.1(c) | |
Equity Investors | Recitals | |
Exchange Agent | Section 2.3(a) | |
Exchange Fund | Section 2.3(a) | |
Foreign Direct Investment Laws | Section 7.2(b) | |
Form of Election | Section 2.2(c)(ii) | |
Fractional Share Cash Amount | Section 2.1(g) | |
GAAP | Section 3.7(b) | |
Go-Shop Period | Section 6.4(a) | |
Information Statement | Section 7.1(a) | |
Intended Tax Treatment | Recitals | |
Legal Restraint | Section 8.1(b) | |
Material Communications Licenses | Section 3.17(b) | |
Maximum Class B Cash Share Number | Section 2.2(a) | |
Merger Subs | Preamble | |
Mergers | Recitals | |
NAI Stock Purchase Agreement | Recitals | |
NAI Transaction | Recitals | |
New Paramount | Preamble | |
New Paramount Board | Recitals | |
New Paramount Class A Common Stock | Section 2.1(a)(i) | |
New Paramount Class A Share | Section 2.1(a)(i) | |
New Paramount Class B Common Stock | Section 2.1(a)(ii) | |
New Paramount Class B Share | Section 2.1(a)(ii) | |
New Paramount Merger | Recitals | |
New Paramount Merger Cancelled Shares | Section 2.1(b)(vii) | |
New Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger | Section 1.3(b) | |
New Paramount Merger Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
New Paramount Merger Effective Time | Section 1.3(b) | |
New Paramount Notional Units | Section 2.4(a)(iv) | |
New Paramount Option | Section 2.4(a)(i) | |
New Paramount PSU Award | Section 2.4(a)(iii) | |
New Paramount RSU Award | Section 2.4(a)(ii) | |
New Paramount Shares | Section 2.1(a)(ii) | |
Non-Election Shares | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
Non-Participating Blocker Holder | Section 7.16 | |
Non-Recourse Parties | Section 10.14 | |
No-Shop Period Start Date | Section 6.4(a) | |
NoT | Section 3.11(a)(viii) | |
Paramount | Preamble | |
Paramount Balance Sheet | Section 3.9 | |
Paramount Board | Recitals | |
Paramount Board Recommendation | Recitals | |
Paramount Class A Merger Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(iii) | |
Paramount Class A Share | Section 2.1(a)(i) |
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Paramount Class B Merger Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(vi) | |
Paramount Class B Share | Section 2.1(a)(ii) | |
Paramount D&O Indemnified Persons | Section 7.4(a) | |
Paramount D&O Indemnifying Parties | Section 7.4(b) | |
Paramount Data Partner | Section 3.12(a) | |
Paramount Leased Real Property | Section 3.10(b) | |
Paramount Material Contracts | Section 3.13(a) | |
Paramount Material Joint Venture | Section 3.1(e) | |
Paramount Merger Sub | Preamble | |
Paramount Merger Sub Board | Recitals | |
Paramount Merger Sub II | Preamble | |
Paramount Merger Sub II Board | Recitals | |
Paramount Multiemployer Plan | Section 3.19(e) | |
Paramount Owned Real Property | Section 3.10(a) | |
Paramount Pension Plan | Section 3.19(e) | |
Paramount Privacy Policies | Section 3.12(a) | |
Paramount Related Party Transaction | Section 3.25 | |
Paramount SEC Documents | Section 3.7(a) | |
Paramount Shares | Section 2.1(a)(ii) | |
Paramount Special Committee | Recitals | |
Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor | Section 3.23 | |
Paramount Special Committee Financial Advisor Engagement Letter | Section 3.23 | |
Paramount Special Committee Recommendation | Recitals | |
Paramount Stockholder Vote | Section 3.5 | |
Paramount Subsidiaries | Section 3.1(c) | |
Paramount Written Consent | Section 3.5 | |
Pass-Through Tax Matter | Section 7.10(c) , Section 7.10(d) | |
Pass-Through Tax Return | Section 7.10(b) | |
PBGC | Section 3.19(f) | |
PIPE Transaction | Recitals | |
Post-Closing Employee Plans | Section 7.3(c) | |
Pre-Closing Paramount Merger | Recitals | |
Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Cancelled Shares | Section 2.1(a)(iii) | |
Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Certificate of Merger | Section 1.3(a) | |
Pre-Closing Paramount Merger Effective Time | Section 1.3(a) | |
Pre-Closing Period | Section 6.1(a) | |
Reference Date | Section 3.2(a) | |
Registration Statement | Section 7.1(a) | |
Regulatory Approvals | Section 7.2(b) | |
Regulatory Hurdle | Section 7.2(f) | |
Remedy | Section 7.2(b) | |
Requisite Regulatory Approvals | Section 8.1(c) | |
Restructuring | Section 7.17(a) | |
Security Incident | Section 3.12(b) | |
Securityholder Litigation | Section 7.5 | |
Skydance | Preamble |
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Skydance Advisor Engagement Letters | Section 4.24 | |
Skydance Balance Sheet | Section 4.6(a) | |
Skydance Board | Recitals | |
Skydance Certificate of Merger | Section 1.3(c) | |
Skydance D&O Indemnified Persons | Section 7.4(a) | |
Skydance D&O Indemnifying Parties | Section 7.4(b) | |
Skydance Data Partner | Section 4.11(a) | |
Skydance Debt Payoff Amount | Section 6.7(b) | |
Skydance Financial Advisors | Section 4.24 | |
Skydance Financial Statements | Section 4.6(a) | |
Skydance Leased Real Property | Section 4.9(b) | |
Skydance Material Contracts | Section 4.12(a) | |
Skydance Material Joint Venture | Section 4.1(e) | |
Skydance Member | Recitals | |
Skydance Member Approval | Section 4.5 | |
Skydance Merger | Recitals | |
Skydance Merger Effective Time | Section 1.3(c) | |
Skydance Merger Sub | Preamble | |
Skydance Owned Real Property | Section 4.9(a) | |
Skydance Phantom Unit Consideration | Section 7.14 | |
Skydance Related Party Transaction | Section 4.25 | |
Skydance Subsidiaries | Section 4.1(c) | |
Skydance Written Consent | Section 4.5 | |
Specified Stockholder Class A Merger Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(i) | |
Specified Stockholder Class B Merger Consideration | Section 2.1(b)(iv) | |
Subscription Agreements | Recitals | |
Superior Proposal Termination | Section 6.6(b) | |
Surviving Entities | Recitals | |
Surviving New Paramount Entity | Recitals | |
Surviving New Paramount Entity Board | Section 1.6(c) | |
Surviving New Paramount Entity Bylaws | Section 1.5(b) | |
Surviving New Paramount Entity Organizational Documents | Section 1.5(b) | |
Surviving Paramount Entity | Recitals | |
Surviving Paramount Entity Charter | Section 1.5(b) | |
Surviving Skydance Entity | Recitals | |
Termination Fee | Section 9.3(a)(i) | |
Transaction Financing | Section 7.11(a) | |
Upstream Blocker Holders | Preamble | |
Upstream Blocker Securities | Recitals | |
Voting Agreement | Recitals |
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