SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT dated as of January 25, 2024 (this “Agreement”), among:
A. Forward Air Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Parent”);
B. EVE Omni Investor, LLC;
C. Omni Investor Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OIH” and, together with OIH’s Permitted Transferees, “E Investors”);
and any Permitted Transferees (as defined below) that execute joinders to this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.02 after the date of this Agreement.
WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated under that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 10, 2023, among Parent, Omni Newco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other parties thereto (as amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), the Investors (as defined below) will become holders of Parent Common Stock (as defined below) and Parent Series B Preferred Units, Parent Series C Preferred Units and/or Opco Units (each as defined below);
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, as of the date hereof, the E Investors and Parent, among others, have entered into the Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to establish certain rights, duties and obligations of the parties hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby acknowledge, covenant and agree with each other as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. (a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings:
“13D Group” means any group of Persons formed for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Voting Securities of Parent that would be required under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act to file a statement on Schedule 13D with the SEC as a “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Action” means any litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation.