As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 1, 2020

Registration No. 333-248313

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

StepStone Group Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		6282		84-3868757
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

StepStone Group Inc.

450 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 351-6100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Jennifer Y. Ishiguro

Chief Legal Officer & Secretary

StepStone Group Inc.

450 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 351-6100

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Andrew Fabens Edward Sopher Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166 Telephone: (212) 351-4000 Facsimile: (212) 351-4035		Daniel Bursky Andrew Barkan Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP One New York Plaza New York, NY 10004 Telephone: (212) 859-8000 Facsimile: (212) 859-4000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		☐				Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☒				Smaller reporting company		☐
						Emerging growth company		☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)		Amount of Registration Fee
Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share		$100,000,000		$12,980(3)

(1)	Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2)	Includes shares subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, if any.

(3)	Previously paid in connection with the prior filing of the registration statement.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This amendment is being filed solely to file certain exhibits to the Registration Statement.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuances and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Class A common stock being registered hereby. All of such expenses are estimates, other than the filing and listing fees payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange listing fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee		$	12,980
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Filing Fee			14,850
Stock Exchange Listing Fee			25,000
Fees and Expenses of Counsel			*
Printing Expenses			*
Fees and Expenses of Accountants			*
Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses			10,000
Miscellaneous Expenses			*
Total		$	*

* To be filed by amendment

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of being or having been in any such capacity, if he acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action, or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that with respect to an action brought by or in the right of the corporation such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees). Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Prior to the completion of this offering, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation, in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto, to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of the director’s fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for such limitations on liability for our directors.

We currently maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers. In connection with this offering, we will obtain additional liability insurance for our directors and officers. Such insurance would be available to our directors and officers in accordance with its terms.

Reference is made to the form of underwriting agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto for provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated under certain circumstances to indemnify our directors, officers and controlling persons against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

II-1

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Except as set forth below, in the three years preceding the filing of this registration statement, the registrant has not issued any securities that were not registered under the Securities Act.

In connection with the reorganization transactions described in the accompanying prospectus, the Registrant will issue              shares of Class A common stock to certain limited partners of StepStone Group LP in exchange for partnership interests of StepStone Group LP. These shares of Class A common stock will be issued in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 on the basis that the transaction does not involve a public offering. No underwriters will be involved in the transaction.

Also in connection with the reorganization transactions described in the accompanying prospectus, the Registrant will issue              shares of Class B common stock to certain owners of StepStone Group LP. The shares of Class B common stock will be issued in exchange for their interests in the General Partner in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 on the basis that the transaction does not involve a public offering. No underwriters will be involved in the transaction.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Schedules.

(a) Exhibits. A list of exhibits filed herewith is contained in the exhibit index that immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules. All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the information is included in the Registrant’s consolidated financial statements or related notes.

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(a)	The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

(b)	The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-2

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.		Description of Exhibit
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement
3.1***		Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of StepStone Group Inc.
3.2***		Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of StepStone Group Inc.
5.1**		Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
10.1*		Form of Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of StepStone Group LP
10.2***		Form of Tax Receivable Agreement (Exchanges)
10.3***		Form of Tax Receivable Agreement (Reorganization)
10.4***		Form of Exchange Agreement
10.5***		Form of Registration Rights Agreement
10.6***		Form of Stockholders Agreement
10.7***†		StepStone Group Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.8***†		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.9***†		Form of Indemnification Agreement to be entered into between StepStone Group Inc. and certain of its directors and officers
21.1**		List of Subsidiaries
23.1***		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2**		Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1***		Power of Attorney (included in signature pages)
99.1***		Consent of Scott W. Hart, as director nominee
99.2***		Consent of Jose A. Fernandez, as director nominee
99.3***		Consent of Michael I. McCabe, as director nominee
99.4***		Consent of David F. Hoffmeister, as director nominee
99.5***		Consent of Thomas Keck, as director nominee
99.6***		Consent of Mark Maruszewski, as director nominee
99.7***		Consent of Steven R. Mitchell, as director nominee
99.8***		Consent of Anne L. Raymond, as director nominee
99.9***		Consent of Robert A. Waldo, as director nominee

 

*	Filed herewith.

**	To be filed by amendment.

***	Previously Filed

†	Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on the 1st day of September, 2020.

 

STEPSTONE GROUP INC.
By:		/s/ Scott Hart
		Name: Scott Hart  Title:   Co-Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 1st day of September, 2020.

 

Signature		Title
*		Chairman of the Board of Directors, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Monte Brem
*		Co-Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Scott Hart
*		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Johnny Randel
* David Park		Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

*By:		/s/ Scott Hart
		Scott Hart
		As Attorney-in-Fact

EXHIBIT 1.1

STEPSTONE GROUP INC.

[                ] Shares of Class A Common Stock

Form of Underwriting Agreement

[            ], 2020

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

As Representatives of the

     several Underwriters listed

     in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

StepStone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [                ] shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Underwritten Shares”) and, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional [                ] shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company (the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares, together with the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”) are referred to herein as the “Stock.” Immediately prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Company will complete a reorganization transaction (the “Reorganization”) as described in “Organizational Structure” in the Registration Statement (as defined below).

For the avoidance of doubt, it shall be understood and agreed that any and all references in this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to include StepStone Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“StepStone”), and its subsidiaries. The Company and StepStone are collectively referred to herein as the “StepStone Parties” (each a “StepStone Party”).

In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, the Company will become the sole managing member of the general partner of StepStone, and will directly own a [    ]% partnership interest in StepStone (a [    ]% partnership interest in StepStone if all the Option Shares are purchased) consisting of [                    ] partnership interests of StepStone.

Any reference in this Agreement, to the extent the context requires, to the “Transactions,” shall include the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (as defined below) and the Reorganization. In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Transactions, (a) the Company will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of the existing direct investors in StepStone that will become direct investors in the Company (the “Tax Receivable Agreement (Reorganization)”); (b) the Company will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain of the existing direct investors in StepStone (the “Tax Receivable Agreement (Exchanges)”); (c) the Company will enter into a registration rights agreement with certain of the existing direct investors in StepStone (the “Registration Rights Agreement”); (d) StepStone will amend and restate its limited partnership agreement to, among other things, designate the Company as the sole general partner of StepStone (as so amended and restated, the “StepStone Limited Partnership Agreement”); (e) the Company and StepStone will enter into an exchange agreement with holders of the Class B partnership interests of StepStone (the “Exchange Agreement”); and (f) the Company will enter into a stockholders agreement with certain of the existing direct investors in StepStone (“Stockholders Agreement”). This Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement (Reorganizations), the Tax Receivable Agreement (Exchanges), the Registration Rights Agreement, the StepStone Limited Partnership Agreement, the Exchange Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to the Company’s directors, officers and employees (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Shares to be sold by Morgan Stanley and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program, at the direction of the Company, are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares.” Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

2

Each StepStone Party hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

1.    Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[            ]), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated [            ], 2020 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

“Applicable Time” means [                    ] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [            ], 2020.

2.    Purchase of the Shares.

(a)    The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $[            ] (the “Purchase Price”) from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto.

In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.

 

3

If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

(b)    The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c)    Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 at 10:00 A.M. New York City time on [            ], 2020, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date.”

Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection by the Representatives at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

4

(d)    Each StepStone Party acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the StepStone Parties with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the StepStone Parties or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the StepStone Parties or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The StepStone Parties shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor the other Underwriters shall have any responsibility or liability to the StepStone Parties with respect thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the StepStone Parties, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the StepStone Parties.

3.    Representations and Warranties of the StepStone Parties. Each StepStone Party represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to each Underwriter that:

(a)    Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the StepStone Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b)    Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the StepStone Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(c)    Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither of the StepStone Parties (including their respective agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity

 

5

as such) has prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by any StepStone Party or any of its agents or representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the StepStone Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d)    Emerging Growth Company. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

(e)    Testing-the-Waters Materials. Neither of the StepStone Parties (i) has alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act (IAIs) and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Section 5(d) of the Securities Act under the Securities Act or (ii) has authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. Each of the StepStone Parties reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

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by virtue of a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. Neither of the StepStone Parties has distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Annex B hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f)    Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been, to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the StepStone Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(g)    Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the StepStone Parties and their consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the StepStone Parties and their consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in

 

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the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the StepStone Parties and their consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby; and all disclosures included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h)    No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the StepStone Parties included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than (a) the Reorganization, (b) the issuance of equity interests of StepStone in connection with the Equity Contribution and Exchange Agreement, dated July [    ], 2020, among the signatories thereto (the “Equity Contribution and Exchange Agreement”), and (c) the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by any StepStone Party on any class of capital stock or partnership interests, as applicable (other than quarterly tax distributions or other distributions made by StepStone in each case in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prior practice), or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case (i), (ii) or (iii) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(i)    Organization and Good Standing. Each StepStone Party and each “significant subsidiary” (as defined below) thereof has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its respective businesses requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the StepStone Parties of their respective obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The StepStone Parties do not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement, except any such entities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a “significant subsidiary” as such term is defined under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

(j)    Capitalization. As of [                    ], StepStone Group has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. After giving effect to the Reorganization, the issuance of the Underwritten Shares and the use of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: each StepStone Party will have an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the “as adjusted” column of the capitalization table under the heading “Capitalization”; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and partnership interests of StepStone will have been duly and validly authorized and issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there will not be any outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries or partnership interests of StepStone, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary or partnership interests of StepStone, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company and partnership interests of StepStone will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary that will be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company will have been duly and validly authorized and issued, will be

 

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fully paid and non-assessable (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) and will be owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(k)    Equity-Based Grants. With respect to the stock options and any other equity-based awards (collectively, the “Equity-Based Grants”) granted pursuant to the equity-based compensation plans of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Equity-Based Grant intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of an Equity-Based Grant was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Equity-Based Grant was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors or similar governing body (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) of the applicable StepStone Party and any required equityholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, in each case to the extent applicable and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the applicable StepStone Party, except, in the case of each of the foregoing as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The StepStone Parties have not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of any StepStone Party of granting, Equity-Based Grants prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Equity-Based Grants with, the release or other public announcement (if any) of material information regarding the StepStone Parties or their subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(l)    Due Authorization. Each StepStone Party has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

(m)    Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each StepStone Party.

(n)    The Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing

 

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Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights. The Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered as provided therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Transaction Documents is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(o)    Other Transaction Documents. This Agreement has been, and at the Closing Date the other Transaction Documents will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the StepStone Parties to the extent each is a party thereto, and at the Closing Date the other Transaction Documents will constitute, valid and legally binding agreements of each such StepStone Party enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

(p)    Descriptions of the Transaction Documents. Each Transaction Document will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(q)    No Violation or Default. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any such StepStone Party or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is bound or to which any property or asset of any such StepStone Party or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the StepStone parties or any of their subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r)    No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by each StepStone Party of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of any StepStone Party or

 

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any of their subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s)    No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by each StepStone Party of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

(t)    Legal Proceedings. There are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, no such Actions are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(u)    Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain consolidated financial statements of the Company and StepStone, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company, StepStone and their respective subsidiaries (except that PricewaterhouseCoopers AG serves in such function with respect to Swiss Capital Alternative Investments AG and its subsidiaries), within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(v)    Title to Real and Personal Property. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease

 

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or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to their respective businesses, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the applicable StepStone Party and its subsidiaries or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w)    Intellectual Property. Except as otherwise disclosed to the Representatives, (i) each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, domain names and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information and all other worldwide intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used in the conduct of their respective businesses as now operated; (ii) the StepStone Parties’ and their subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim relating to Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, the Intellectual Property of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person, except, for in all cases, where the failure to own or possess such rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x)    No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(y)    Investment Company Act. Each StepStone Party is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(z)    Investment Advisers Act and Other Applicable Laws. Each of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries that is required to be in compliance with, or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Advisers Act”), the Investment Company Act, the Exchange Act, the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any other applicable law, is in compliance with, or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, such laws, rules and regulations (and such registration, license or qualification is in full force and effect), to the extent applicable, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure

 

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Package and the Prospectus or where the failure to be in such compliance or so registered, licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa)    Investment Advisory Agreements. Each of the investment advisory agreements to which any of the StepStone Parties or any of their subsidiaries is a party is a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto and in compliance with the Investment Advisers Act or other applicable law, except for any failure or failures to be valid, binding or in compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates is in breach or violation of or in default under any such agreement, which breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, there is no pending or threatened termination of any such agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb)    No Assignment. Consummation of the Reorganization and the Transactions, including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, has not constituted and will not constitute an “assignment” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act of any of the management or investment advisory contracts to which the StepStone Parties or any of their subsidiaries is a party.

(cc)    Taxes. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries has paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except for any taxes which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, or where the failure to pay or file would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, asserted against any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets. StepStone is properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(dd)    Licenses and Permits. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

 

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(ee)    No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, is contemplated or threatened, and no StepStone Party is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

(ff)    Certain Environmental Matters. (i) Each of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries (x) is and has been in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources, or the generation, use, storage, disposal, transportation, or release of or human exposure to Hazardous Substances, and human health and safety (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) has received and is and has been in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct its respective businesses; and (z) has not received notice, the subject matter of which is unresolved, of any actual or potential material liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential material violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of Hazardous Substances and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to any StepStone Party or its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any such costs or liabilities relating to the release or threatened release of, or exposure to, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants regulated or which could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws (collectively, “Hazardous Substances”) at, on, under, or migrating to or from any real property currently or, to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, formerly owned, leased or operated by any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, any third-party site), except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known to be contemplated, against any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries is aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning Hazardous Substances, that would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries, and (z) neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

 

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(gg)    Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), whether or not subject to ERISA, for which the StepStone Parties or any member of their “Controlled Group” (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the StepStone Parties within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the StepStone Parties under Section 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk status” (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in “endangered status” or “critical status” (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA); (v) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (vi) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification; (viii) neither the StepStone Parties nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (ix) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the StepStone Parties or their Controlled Group affiliates in the current fiscal year of the StepStone Parties and their Controlled Group affiliates compared to the amount of such contributions made in the StepStone Parties’ and their Controlled Group affiliates’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (ix) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(hh)    Disclosure Controls. To the extent required by applicable law, each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the applicable StepStone Party’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(ii)    Accounting Controls. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that has been designed (i) to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no StepStone Party is aware of any material weaknesses in any StepStone Party’s internal controls. The auditors of each StepStone Party have been advised of: (i) all deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which such StepStone Party believes to be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in such StepStone Party’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(jj)    Insurance. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; and neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(kk)    Cybersecurity; Data Protection. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information

 

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and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Protected Data”)) belonging to them, their respective customers, prospective customers, employees, and any other third parties, which are used in connection with their businesses. The IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required for the operation of the business of the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries as currently conducted, and are, to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. There has been no unauthorized use, alteration, misappropriation or modification of, or access to, the IT Systems or Protected Data, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries have been notified of, or have knowledge of, any event or condition that would have triggered any legal, regulatory or contractual duty to notify any other person, entity, or governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Protected Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Protected Data from unauthorized use, alteration, misappropriation, modification or access, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ll)    No Unlawful Payments. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, any director, officer or employee of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. Each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

 

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(mm)    Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of each StepStone Party and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the StepStone Parties, threatened.

(nn)    No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries, nor any directors, officers, or employees of the StepStone Parties or any of their subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor are any of the StepStone Parties or any of their subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the StepStone Parties will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the StepStone Parties and their subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with or on behalf of any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(oo)    No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. [                    ] the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of any StepStone Party is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to any StepStone Party, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to any StepStone Party any loans or advances to such subsidiary from such StepStone Party or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to any StepStone Party or any other subsidiary of any StepStone Party.

 

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(pp)    No Broker’s Fees. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their respective subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(qq)    No Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Organizational Structure—Registration Rights Agreement,” no person has the right to require any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares.

(rr)    No Stabilization. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries or affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(ss)    Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(tt)    Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(uu)    Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of any StepStone Party that has caused such StepStone Party to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(vv)    Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of any StepStone Party or, to the knowledge of any StepStone Party, any StepStone Party’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (collectively, the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans.

 

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(ww)    Company Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to the applicable rules under the Securities Act.

(xx)    No Ratings. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by any StepStone Party or any of their subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.

(yy)    Accurate Disclosure. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions: “Organizational Structure,” “Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale”, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries in all material respects of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present information required to be shown therein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission. The statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption: “Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of Class A Common Stock”, insofar as they purport to describe provisions of U.S. federal tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly and accurately summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects.

(zz)    Directed Share Program. Each StepStone Party represents and warrants, jointly and severally, that (i) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses comply in all material respects, and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all material respects, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no consent, approval, authorization, order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.

(aaa)    Reorganization. The Reorganization has been or, prior to the consummation of the issuance and sale of the Shares, will be consummated as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and has not been modified in any material respect or rescinded.

 

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4.    Further Agreements of the StepStone Parties. The StepStone Parties jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:

(a)    Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(b)    Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, upon request, four signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c)    Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

(d)    Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending

 

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the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e)    Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

 

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(f)    Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g)    Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement, it being understood and agreed that such earnings statement shall be deemed to have been made available by the Company if the Company is in compliance with its reporting obligations pursuant to the Exchange Act, if such compliance satisfies the conditions of Rule 158 and if such earnings statement is made available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

(h)    Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, the StepStone Parties will not, and will not publicly disclose the intention to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, to undertake any of the foregoing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, or any partnership interest in StepStone, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance of Stock by the Company and the transfer of partnership interests by StepStone pursuant to the Reorganization or the Exchange Agreement, provided that the recipients of such Stock or partnership interests pursuant to this clause (B) agree to be bound in writing by an agreement of the same duration and terms as provided in this section and provided, further, that no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the restricted period referred to above), (C) any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon

 

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the exercise of options granted under Company Stock Plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided that the recipient of any such shares of Stock shall deliver a “lock-up” agreement to the Representatives substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto with respect to such shares of Stock (or, if the recipient shall have previously delivered such a “lock-up” agreement, such shares of Stock will be made subject to the terms of such lock-up), (D) the issuance by the Company of shares of Class A Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, or other equity awards pursuant to Company Stock Plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) the filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto relating to Company Stock Plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (F) the sale or issuance or entry into an agreement to sell or issue shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Company’s acquisition of one or more businesses, products or technologies (whether by means of merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or otherwise) or in connection with joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions, provided that the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to this clause (F) shall not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement, provided, further, that the recipients of such shares of Common Stock pursuant to this clause (F) agree to be bound in writing by an agreement of the same duration and terms as provided in this section, (G) the issuance of equity interests of StepStone pursuant to the Equity Contribution and Exchange Agreement, provided that the recipient of any such equity interests of StepStone shall deliver a “lock-up” agreement to the Representatives substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto with respect to such equity interests of StepStone (or, if the recipient shall have previously delivered such a “lock-up” agreement, such equity interests of StepStone will be made subject to the terms of such lock-up); or (H) the issuance by the Company of shares of Class B common stock and the issuance of partnership interests by StepStone to the extent required pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the StepStone Limited Partnership Agreement.

If J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement described in Section 6(k) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(i)    Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.

 

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(j)    No Stabilization. Neither of the StepStone Parties nor any of their subsidiaries or affiliates will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

(k)    Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq Market”).

(l)    Reports. Until the third anniversary of the date hereof, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(m)    Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(n)    Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

(o)    Directed Share Program. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

(p)    Emerging Growth Company. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 4(h) hereof.

(q)    Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.

5.    Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a)    It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the

 

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Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b)    It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided, further that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

(c)    It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6.    Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the StepStone Parties, jointly and severally, of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a)    Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b)    Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each StepStone Party contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of each StepStone Party and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

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(c)    No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(d)    Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of a co-chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of each StepStone Party and one additional senior executive officer of each StepStone Party who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(f) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of each StepStone Party in this Agreement are true and correct and that each StepStone Party has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

(e)    Comfort Letters. (i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the StepStone Parties, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(ii) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, each StepStone Party shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of its chief financial officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(f)    Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the StepStone Parties. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, counsel for the StepStone Parties, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the StepStone Parties, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

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(g)    Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(h)    No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

(i)    Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of each StepStone Party and its significant subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and its good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(j)    Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

(k)    Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, between you and certain equityholders, officers and directors of the StepStone Parties relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(l)    Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the StepStone Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(m)    Transactions Completed. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Transactions shall have been completed as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and each of the Transaction Documents shall have been executed and delivered. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company shall have been filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware.

 

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All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7.    Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)    Indemnification of the Underwriters. Each StepStone Party agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 under the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonably incurred legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.

(b)    Indemnification of the StepStone Parties. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each StepStone Party and the directors and officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon

 

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that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the [                    ] sentence of the [                    ] paragraph and the [                    ] sentence of the [                    ] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c)    Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses

 

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of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the Indemnified Person’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the StepStone Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the StepStone Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the StepStone Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the StepStone Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the StepStone Parties or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e)    Limitation on Liability. The StepStone Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonably incurred legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be

 

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required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f)    Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g)    Directed Share Program Indemnification. Each StepStone Party agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless Morgan Stanley and each person, if any, who controls Morgan Stanley within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of Morgan Stanley within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“Morgan Stanley Entities”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; that arise out of, or are based upon, the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Morgan Stanley Entities.

(h)    In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Morgan Stanley Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (g) above, the Morgan Stanley Entity seeking indemnity, shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the StepStone Parties, upon request of the Morgan Stanley Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Morgan Stanley Entity to represent the Morgan Stanley Entity and any others the StepStone Parties may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Morgan Stanley Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Morgan Stanley Entity unless the StepStone Parties shall have agreed to the retention of such counsel or the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both any StepStone Party and the Morgan Stanley Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The StepStone Parties shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Morgan Stanley Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the

 

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fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Morgan Stanley Entities. Any such separate firm for the Morgan Stanley Entities shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley. No StepStone Party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, each StepStone Party agrees, severally and jointly, to indemnify the Morgan Stanley Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time a Morgan Stanley Entity shall have requested any StepStone Party to reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the StepStone Parties agree that they shall be liable, severally and jointly, for any settlement of any proceeding effected without their written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the StepStone Parties shall not have reimbursed the Morgan Stanley Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No StepStone Party shall, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Morgan Stanley Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Morgan Stanley Entity, unless (x) such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Morgan Stanley Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Morgan Stanley Entity.

(i)    To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (g) above is unavailable to a Morgan Stanley Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the StepStone Parties in lieu of indemnifying the Morgan Stanley Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Morgan Stanley Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (1) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the StepStone Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (2) if the allocation provided by clause 7(i)(1) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(i)(1) above but also the relative fault of the StepStone Parties on the one hand and of the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the StepStone Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Morgan Stanley Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the StepStone Parties on the one hand and the Morgan Stanley Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the any StepStone Party or by the Morgan Stanley Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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(j)    The StepStone Parties and the Morgan Stanley Entities agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (i) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Morgan Stanley Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (i) above. The amount paid or payable by the Morgan Stanley Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Morgan Stanley Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (i) above, no Morgan Stanley Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Morgan Stanley Entity has otherwise been required to pay. The remedies provided for in paragraphs (g) through (j) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(k)    The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in paragraphs (g) through (j) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of any Morgan Stanley Entity or any StepStone Party, the officers or directors of the Company or any person controlling the Company and acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.

8.    Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

9.    Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10.    Defaulting Underwriter.

(a)    If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-

 

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defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the StepStone Parties, except that each StepStone Party will continue to be jointly and severally liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d)    Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the StepStone Parties or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11.    Payment of Expenses.

(a)    Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the StepStone Parties, jointly and severally, will

 

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pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the StepStone Parties’ counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA (including the related reasonably incurred fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, provided that the reasonably incurred fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters described in this clause (viii) shall not, together, exceed an aggregate of $35,000); (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Market and (xi) all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

(b)    If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the StepStone Parties jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; provided that, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 10, the StepStone parties shall have no obligation to reimburse a defaulting Underwriter for such costs and expenses.

12.    Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13.    Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the StepStone Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the StepStone Parties or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the StepStone Parties or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof.

 

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14.    Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and, with respect to the Company, specifically includes StepStone, but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the StepStone Funds or their investments or portfolio companies or special purpose entities formed to make any such investments or acquire any such portfolio companies; (d) “StepStone Funds” means, collectively, all Funds (excluding their portfolio companies and investments and all special purpose entities formed to acquire any such portfolio companies and investments) (i) sponsored or promoted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries acts as a general partner or managing member (or in a similar capacity) or (iii) for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries acts as an investment adviser or investment manager and (e) “Fund” means any collective investment vehicle (whether open-ended or closed-ended) including, without limitation, an investment company, a general or limited partnership, a trust and any other business entity or investment vehicle organized in any jurisdiction that provides for management fees or “carried interest” (or other similar profits allocations) to be borne by investors therein.

15.    Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the StepStone Parties, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

16.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: [                    ]); Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282 (fax: [                    ]); Attention: [                    ] and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (fax: [                    ]); Attention: [                    ]. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at [                    ] (fax: [                    ]); Attention: [                    ].

(b)    Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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(c)    Submission to Jurisdiction. The StepStone Parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the StepStone Parties waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. Each of the StepStone Parties agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the StepStone Parties and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which any applicable StepStone Party is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

(d)    Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the StepStone Parties have or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from jurisdiction of any court of (i) the United States or the State of New York or (ii) any jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or assets or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, set-off or otherwise) with respect to themselves or their respective property and assets or this Agreement, each StepStone Party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

(e)    Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

(f)    Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 16(f):

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

39

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(g)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(h)    Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(i)    Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

40

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

 

Accepted: As of the date first written above   J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC   For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
By:
		Authorized Signatory
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC   For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
By:
		Authorized Signatory
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC   For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
By:
		Authorized Signatory

 

[Underwriting Agreement]

Schedule 1

 

Underwriter		Number of Shares
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Total

Annex A

 

a.	Pricing Disclosure Package

[None]

 

b.	Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters

Price per share: [                    ]

Number of shares: [                    ] Underwritten Shares plus [                    ] Option Shares

Annex B

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

Annex C

StepStone Group Inc.

Pricing Term Sheet

Exhibit A

EGC – Testing the waters authorization (to be delivered by the issuer to the Representatives in email or letter form)

In reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), StepStone Group Inc. (the “Issuer”) hereby authorizes J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”), Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman Sachs”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley” and collectively with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, the “Representatives”) and their respective affiliates and employees, to engage on behalf of the Issuer in oral and written communications with potential investors that are “qualified institutional buyers”, as defined in Rule 144A under the Act, or institutions that are “accredited investors”, within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Act, to determine whether such investors might have an interest in the Issuer’s contemplated initial public offering (“Testing-the-Waters Communications”). A “Written Testing-the Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act. As previously discussed, it is our and your expectation that, unless otherwise approved by the Representatives or the Issuer, neither the Issuer nor any Representative, respectively, will send or give to any potential investor any Written Testing-the-Waters-Communication.

The Issuer represents that (i) except as disclosed to the Representatives, it has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (ii) it has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Issuer agrees that it shall not authorize any other third party to engage on its behalf in oral or written communications with potential investors without the written consent of the Representatives.

The Issuer represents that it is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (“Emerging Growth Company”) and agrees to promptly notify the Representatives in writing if the Issuer hereafter ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company while this authorization is in effect. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Issuer will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

Nothing in this authorization is intended to limit or otherwise affect the ability of the Representatives, their affiliates and their and their affiliates’ respective employees, to engage in communications in which they could otherwise lawfully engage in the absence of this authorization, including, without limitation, any written communication containing only one or more of the statements specified under Rule 134(a) under the Act and/or any customary legal or regulatory legends or disclaimers. This authorization shall remain in effect until the Issuer has provided to the Representatives a written notice revoking this authorization. All notices as described herein shall be sent by email to the attention of [                         ], with a copy to [                         ].

Exhibit B

[Form of Waiver of Lock-Up]

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

StepStone Group Inc.

Public Offering of Class A Common Stock

            , 2020

[Name and Address of

Officer or Director

Requesting Waiver]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by StepStone Group Inc. (the “Company”) of              shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated             , 20     (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated             , 20    , with respect to              shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective             , 20    ; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

cc: Company

 

2

Exhibit C

[Form of Press Release]

StepStone Group Inc.

[Date]

StepStone Group Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, the joint book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of    shares of common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to    shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on              20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit D

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

             , 2020

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

As Representatives of the

    several Underwriters listed

    in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting

    Agreement referred to below

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Re:    STEPSTONE GROUP INC. — Public Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives of the several Underwriters (the “Representatives”), propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with StepStone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and StepStone Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“StepStone Group”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of the Company. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Class A Common Stock, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written

consent of each of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any direct or indirect affiliate to, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and ending at the close of business 180 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Public Offering Date”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, par value $[                ] per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock, partnership interests in StepStone Group (“StepStone Group Interests”) or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon vesting, settlement or exercise of a restricted stock unit, option, warrant or other right to purchase shares of Common Stock or StepStone Group Interests) (collectively with the Common Stock and StepStone Group Interests, the “Lock-Up Securities”), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, StepStone Group Interests or any other Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition (whether by the undersigned or any other person) or transfer of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Common Stock, StepStone Group Interests or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

The undersigned further confirms that it has furnished each of the Representatives with the details of any ongoing transaction the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, is a party to as of the date hereof, which transaction would have been restricted by this Letter Agreement if it had been entered into by the undersigned during the Restricted Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may:

(a) transfer the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities:

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes,

(ii) by will or other testamentary document or applicable laws of descent,

 

-2-

(iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, current or former marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin),

(iv) to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests,

(v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv) above,

(vi) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution to members or stockholders of the undersigned,

(vii) by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement,

(viii) to the Company from an employee or service provider of the Company upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case, of such employee or service provider,

(ix) pursuant to a sale of the undersigned’s shares of Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the Public Offering Date,

(x) to the Company in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments due as a result of the vesting, settlement, or exercise of such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights, provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement, and provided further that any such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights are held by the undersigned pursuant to an agreement or equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, each such agreement or plan which is described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or

 

-3-

(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (for purposes hereof, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons, of shares of capital stock if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity)); provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement;

provided that (A) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and each donee, devisee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement and (B) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (ix) and (x), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor, transferee, distributer or distributee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than (x) a filing on a Form 3 or Form 4 for a transfer in connection with the Reorganization pursuant to clause (d) or (y) a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above);

(b) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Lock-Up Securities, if then permitted by the Company; provided that (1) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period and (2) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or made voluntarily in connection with such trading plan;

(c) sell the undersigned’s StepStone Group Interests to the Company in return for a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering as contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package; and

(d) exchange, transfer or sell the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities solely in connection with, and as contemplated by, the Reorganization (as such term is defined in the Pricing Disclosure Package under “Organizational Structure—The Reorganization”).

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any Company-directed Class A Common Stock the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

 

-4-

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Class A Common Stock and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representatives may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to the undersigned in connection with the Public Offering, the Representatives and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the undersigned to participate in the Public Offering, enter into this Letter Agreement, or sell any Shares at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representatives or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by             , 2020, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

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This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

[Lock-Up Agreement]

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

 

FORM OF EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

STEPSTONE GROUP LP

 

 

Dated as of [            ], 2020

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
ARTICLE 1 ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS					1
1.1		Name			1
1.2		Principal Place of Business; Other Places of Business			2
1.3		Business Purpose			2
1.4		Amendments to Certificate and Other Filings			2
1.5		Designated Agent for Service of Process			2
1.6		Term			2
1.7		Rights			2
ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS					2
ARTICLE 3 CAPITAL; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND PARTNERS					15
3.1		Capital Contributions			15
3.2		Capital Accounts			15
3.3		Classes of Units			15
3.4		Additional Limited Partners			19
3.5		Irrevocable Proxy			19
3.6		Partner Capital			19
3.7		Partner Loans			19
3.8		Liability of Limited Partners			20
ARTICLE 4 DISTRIBUTIONS					20
4.1		General Distributions			20
4.2		Tax Distributions			20
4.3		Limitation on Distributions in Respect of Profits Units			21
4.4		Distributions of Class B2 Dilution Reserve			22
4.5		Distributions Upon Liquidation			22
4.6		Distributions to Reflect Additional Units			22
4.7		Other Distribution Rules			22
4.8		Distributions in Kind			23
4.9		Limitations on Distributions			23
ARTICLE 5 ALLOCATIONS OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES					23
5.1		Allocation Generally			23
5.2		Priority Allocations			24
5.3		Other Allocation Rules			26
5.4		Preparation of Partnership Tax Returns			27
5.5		No Right to Review Partner Tax Returns			27
5.6		No Inconsistent Positions			27
5.7		Tax Elections			27
5.8		Tax Representative			28
5.9		Partnership Audits			28
5.10		Information to be Provided by Partners to Partnership			29

 

i

5.11		Information to be Provided by Partnership to Partners			30
5.12		Survival of Obligations			30
5.13		Withholding			30
5.14		Taxes Other Than U.S. Federal Income Taxes			30
5.15		United States Person			30
5.16		Tax Classification			31
ARTICLE 6 OPERATIONS					31
6.1		Management Generally			31
6.2		Authority of and Approvals by the General Partner			31
6.3		Duties, Exculpation and Indemnification			31
6.4		Records; Reports; Schedules			33
6.5		Insurance			34
6.6		Other Activities			34
6.7		Certain Tax-Related Decisions			35
6.8		Expenses			35
ARTICLE 7 INTERESTS AND TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS					36
7.1		Transfers			36
7.2		Further Restrictions			36
7.3		Rights of Assignees			37
7.4		Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals			37
7.5		Withdrawal or Removal of Limited Partner			37
7.6		Admission of Assignees as Substitute Partners			37
7.7		Withdrawal of Partners			38
7.8		Exchange			38
7.9		Drag-Along Transaction			39
7.10		Adjustment Events Relating to Class B Units			41
7.11		Vesting of Class B2 Units			42
7.12		Anti-Dilution Issuances Related to Units Acquired by the 2019 Equity
		Investors Pursuant to the 2019 Equity Transaction			43
ARTICLE 8 DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP					43
8.1		Limitations			43
8.2		Exclusive Causes			43
8.3		Effect of Dissolution			43
8.4		No Capital Contribution Upon Dissolution			44
8.5		Liquidation			44
ARTICLE 9 MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION					44
9.1		Resolution of Disputes Among Partners			44
9.2		Single Arbitrator; Governing Rules			45
9.3		Discovery			45
9.4		Arbitration Hearing			46
9.5		Timely Determination			46
9.6		Award or Decision			46

 

ii

9.7		Limitations			47
9.8		Remedies			47
9.9		Statute of Limitations			47
9.10		Continuing Project			47
9.11		Jurisdiction and Venue			47
9.12		Fees			47
9.13		Coordination with Tax Receivable Agreements			48
ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS					48
10.1		Amendments			48
10.2		Voting			48
10.3		Accounting and Fiscal Year			48
10.4		Entire Agreement			48
10.5		Further Assurances			49
10.6		Notices			49
10.7		Governing Law; Certain Waivers			49
10.8		Approvals			49
10.9		Power of Attorney			49
10.10		Construction			50
10.11		Interpretation			50
10.12		Binding Effect			50
10.13		Severability			50
10.14		Counterparts			50
10.15		Spousal Consent			50

 

iii

FORM OF EIGHTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

STEPSTONE GROUP LP

AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) of StepStone Group LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), is made and entered into as of [            ] 2020, by and between StepStone Group Holdings LLC, as General Partner, and each of the persons admitted as a Limited Partner as of the date hereof or admitted from time to time after the date hereof as a Limited Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (collectively, the “Partners” with each being referred to separately as a “Partner”).

WHEREAS, since August 19, 2019, the Partnership has been governed by the Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement”);

WHEREAS, SSG intends to conduct or has conducted an initial public offering of shares of its Class A Common Stock (the “IPO”);

WHEREAS, SSG intends to contribute or has contributed a portion of the net proceeds from its issuance of Class A Common Stock in the IPO to the Partnership in exchange for Class A Units and intends to be or has been admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner;

WHEREAS, SSG and the Partnership will engage or have engaged in certain other transactions described in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the IPO (collectively, the “IPO Reorganization”); and

WHEREAS, the Partners desire to approve the actions described in these recitals, to document certain understandings set forth herein and to amend and restate the Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement to read in its entirety as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the Partners hereby agree (and each Person who subsequently shall become a Partner shall agree) as follows:

ARTICLE 1

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

1.1    Name. The name of the Partnership is StepStone Group LP. The Partnership may also conduct business at the same time under one or more fictitious names if the General Partner determines that such is in the best interests of the Partnership. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership, from time to time, in accordance with applicable Law.

 

1

1.2    Principal Place of Business; Other Places of Business. The principal place of business of the Partnership is located at 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 or such other place within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner may from time to time designate. The Partnership may maintain offices and places of business at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.

1.3    Business Purpose. The principal purpose of the Partnership is to engage in the business of providing private market and other alternative investment advisory services and engaging in and managing related investment activities. The Partnership may also engage in any and all lawful business, purpose or activity in which a limited partnership may be engaged under applicable Law (including, without limitation, the Act) as may be determined by the General Partner from time to time.

1.4    Amendments to Certificate and Other Filings. The General Partner may execute and file any duly authorized amendments to the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership from time to time in a form prescribed by the Act. The General Partner shall also cause to be made, on behalf of the Partnership, such additional filings and recordings as the General Partner shall deem necessary or advisable.

1.5    Designated Agent for Service of Process. The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware, and the name and address of the registered agent of the Partnership for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware, is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19801.

1.6    Term. The Partnership shall continue until terminated pursuant to this Agreement.

1.7    Rights. The rights and liabilities of the Partners of the Partnership shall be as provided in the Act, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. In the event of any inconsistency between any terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any non-mandatory provisions of the Act, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall govern. The Partnership has been established as a series limited partnership pursuant to §17-218 of the Act but no such series have been or, in the absence of a properly adopted amendment to this Agreement, will be, issued.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized words and phrases used and not otherwise defined elsewhere in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

2.1    “2018 Term Loan” means that certain Credit and Guaranty Agreement, to be entered into by and among the Partnership, as Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Partnership party thereto from time to time, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Issuing Lender, as such agreement may be amended, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

 

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2.2    “2019 Dilutable Units” means Units outstanding immediately after the 2019 Equity Transaction, other than the Class B2 Units and Units acquired by 2019 Equity Investors pursuant to the 2019 Equity Transaction.

2.3    “2019 Equity Investors” means the purchasers of Units in the 2019 Equity Transaction.

2.4    “2019 Equity Transaction” means the purchases and sales of Units that occurred on August 19, 2019.

2.5    “2019 Redeemed Partners” means the Limited Partners whose Units were redeemed in the 2019 Equity Transaction.

2.6    “Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from time to time.

2.7    “Active Partner” means a Class B Limited Partner or Class B2 Limited Partner employed by the SSG Group or actively engaged in a service provider capacity in the business or management of the SSG Group, for so long as there has not been a Termination Event with respect to such Limited Partner; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt none of (i) Argonaut Holdings, LLC, (ii) Sanford Energy, Inc. and (iii) any holder of Partnership Interests that is owned by an advisory fund or account advised or sub-advised by Davis Investment Holdings, LLC or one of its Affiliates shall be deemed Active Partners.

2.8    “Additional Limited Partners” means those Persons admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 3.4.

2.9    “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant fiscal period, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

2.9.1    Add to such Capital Account the following items:

(a)    The amount, if any, that such Partner is obligated to contribute to the Partnership upon liquidation of such Partner’s Interest; and

(b)    The amount that such Partner is obligated to restore or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or the penultimate sentence of each of Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and

2.9.2    Subtract from such Capital Account such Partner’s share of the items described in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

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2.10    “Adjustment Event” means, with respect to any Active Partner, any event the result of which is that such Limited Partner’s status as an Active Partner is Terminated for any reason.

2.11    “Adjustment Percentage” is defined in Section 7.10.1.

2.12    “Admission Agreement” means, with respect to any Limited Partner, the purchase, subscription or other agreement pursuant to which such Limited Partner agrees to become a Limited Partner, or other written agreement between the General Partner and/or the Partnership on the one hand and such Limited Partner on the other relating to such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership.

2.13    “Affected Partner” is defined in Section 7.10.1.

2.14    “Affiliate” means, with reference to a specified Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by”, and “under common control with”), with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, either through the ownership of a majority of such Person’s voting stock, by contract or otherwise.

2.15    “Agreement” is defined in the Preamble and shall include any Class Designation, which shall be an integral part of this Agreement.

2.16    “Anti-Dilution Trigger” is defined in Section 7.12.

2.17    “Anti-Dilution Units” is defined in Section 7.12.

2.18    “Arbitrator” is defined in Section 9.2.

2.19    “Assignee” means any Person (a) to whom a Limited Partner (or assignee thereof) Transfers all or any part of its interest in the Partnership, and (b) which has not been admitted to the Partnership as a Substitute Partner pursuant to Section 7.6.

2.20    “Assumed Tax Liability” is defined in Section 4.2.2

2.21    “Assumed Tax Rate” is defined in Section 4.2.2(b).

2.22    “Base Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Partner as of any date of determination, the fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the number of Units held by such Partner and the denominator of which is the number of Units held by all Partners. For purposes of this calculation, the Unvested Class B2 Units of any Class B2 Limited Partner shall be excluded (from both the numerator and the denominator).

2.23    “Beneficial Ownership” (including correlative terms) shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

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2.24    “Business Day” means any calendar day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required to close.

2.25    “Buyout Value” means, with respect to any Units as of any date of determination, the fair market value of such Units (as determined in good faith by the General Partner).

2.26    “Capital Account” is defined in Section 3.2.

2.27    “Capital Contributions” means, with respect to any Partner, the total amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of property (other than money) contributed to the capital of the Partnership by such Partner, whether as an initial Capital Contribution or as an additional Capital Contribution.

2.28    “Capital Stock” means (i) any class or series of capital stock of SSG now or hereafter authorized, (ii) any rights, options, warrants, or convertible or exchangeable securities that entitle the holder thereof to subscribe for or purchase, convert such securities into, or exchange such securities for, capital stock of SSG, and (iii) any indebtedness issued by SSG that provides any of the rights described in clause (ii).

2.29    “Cause” means, with respect to any Active Partner, that such Limited Partner commits any of the following acts and fails to cure said breach, if it is in fact curable, within thirty (30) days after written notice from the General Partner of said breach: (a) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any criminal act involving moral turpitude, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property; (b) commission of a material act of dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation which would reasonably be expected to adversely and materially affect the assets, business or prospects of the SSG Group; (c) willful breach of duty in the course of providing services as an Active Partner; (d) material breach of this Agreement; and/or (e) materially failing to satisfy, perform or comply with any obligations, duties or undertakings that a Limited Partner owes to the SSG Group.

2.30    “Change of Control” means: (i) an acquisition by any Person or group of Persons of Equity Securities of the Partnership (other than the Ownership Group, the SSG Group or a member of either of them), whether already outstanding or newly issued, in a transaction or series of transactions, if immediately thereafter such Person or group of Persons (other than the Ownership Group, the SSG Group or a member of either of them) has, or would have, directly or indirectly, Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined Equity Securities of the Partnership; (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, directly or indirectly, to any Person or group of Persons (other than the Ownership Group, the SSG Group or a member of either of them) in a transaction or series of transactions; or (iii) the consummation of a tender offer, merger, recapitalization, consolidation, business combination, reorganization or other transaction, or series of related transactions, involving the Partnership and any other Person or group of Persons (other than the Ownership Group, the SSG Group or a member of either of them); unless, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) of this definition, either (1) then-existing Partners, immediately prior to such transaction or the first transaction in such series of transactions, will Beneficially Own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined Equity Securities of the Partnership (or, if the Partnership will not be the surviving entity in such transaction or series of transactions, such surviving entity)

 

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immediately after such transaction or series of transactions or (2) Persons who are Partners immediately prior to such transaction or the first transaction in such series of transactions will be entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes for the Board of Directors of SSG (or the board of directors or equivalent body of such surviving entity, as the case may be) after the closing of such transaction or series of transactions. As used in this definition of Change of Control, the term “group” shall have the same meaning of such term is used in Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, a Change of Control shall not include, or occur as a result of, the IPO or IPO Reorganization.

2.31    “Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of SSG.

2.32    “Class A Units” is defined in Section 3.3.1(a).

2.33    “Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock of SSG.

2.34    “Class B Limited Partner” means a Limited Partner in its capacity as a holder of Class B Units.

2.35    “Class B Units” is defined in Section 3.3.1(a).

2.36    “Class B2 Dilution Reserve” means that portion of the purchase price paid by the 2019 Equity Investors in the 2019 Equity Transaction retained by the Partnership to fund distributions under Section 4.4.

2.37    “Class B2 Forfeiture Amount” is defined in Section 4.4.2.

2.38    “Class B2 Limited Partner” means a Limited Partner in its capacity as a holder of Class B2 Units.

2.39    “Class B2 Units” is defined in Section 3.3.1(a).

2.40    “Class B2 Vesting Amount” is defined in Section 4.4.2.

2.41    “Class Designation” means any document setting forth the rights, obligations, terms and conditions of the Units of any other class established by the General Partner in accordance with this Agreement.

2.42    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

2.43    “Death” means the death of a natural person that is an Active Partner, or the death of a natural person with respect to whom an estate planning vehicle is an Active Partner.

2.44    “Depreciation” for each Fiscal Year or other applicable period, an amount equal to the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable under United States federal income tax principles with respect to an asset for Fiscal Year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or period, Depreciation shall be computed in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3) or 1.704-3(d)(2), as applicable, as determined by the General Partner.

 

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2.45    “Designated Individual” is defined in Section 5.8.1(b).

2.46    “Distribution Record Date” means the record date established by the Partnership for the purpose of determining the Partners entitled to receive any distribution, which record date shall (unless otherwise determined by the Partnership) generally be the same as the record date established by SSG for a distribution to its stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

2.47    “Drag-Along Right” is defined in Section 7.9.2.

2.48    “Drag-Along Transaction” means a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated business, operations and assets of the SSG Group in one transaction or a series of related transactions that (a) would result in a Change of Control and (b) is designated as a Drag-Along Transaction by the General Partner or the Board of Directors of SSG.

2.49    “Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, any and all partnership interests, capital stock, options or other equity securities in such Person, and all securities exchangeable for or convertible or exercisable into, any of the foregoing.

2.50    “Equivalent Units” means, with respect to any class or series of Capital Stock, Units with preferences, conversion, and other rights (other than voting rights), restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption that are substantially the same as (or correspond to) the preferences, conversion and other rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of such Capital Stock as appropriate to reflect the relative rights and preferences of such Capital Stock as to the other classes and series of Capital Stock as such Equivalent Units would have as to the other classes and series of Units corresponding to the other classes of Capital Stock, but not as to matters such as voting for members of the Board of Directors that are not applicable to the Partnership. In comparing the economic rights of any Capital Stock with the economic rights of any Units, the effect of taxes shall be taken into account.

2.51    “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.52    “Exchange Agreement” means the Exchange Agreement, effective on or about the date of this Agreement, among the Partnership and the Partnership Unitholders (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

2.53    “FATCA” means Code sections 1471 through 1474, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations, any agreement entered into pursuant to Code section 1471(b)(1), any applicable intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any such intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code.

 

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2.54    “Fiscal Year” is defined in Section 10.3.

2.55    “Former Active Partner” means a Person who previously was an Active Partner, from and after a Termination Event with respect to such Limited Partner.

2.56    “Full Vesting Date” shall mean, with respect to any Class B2 Units, the date on which all of the Class B2 Units issued to a Class B2 Limited Partner in an Admission Agreement become fully vested in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 7.11.1.

2.57    “General Partner” means StepStone Group Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any other Person that becomes a successor or an additional general partner of the Partnership as provided in this Agreement, in each such Person’s capacity as general partner, in each case as the context requires.

2.58    “Gross Asset Value” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

2.58.1    The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset (other than money) contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset.

2.58.2    The Gross Asset Values of all assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values as determined by the General Partner as of the following times:

(a)    the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership (other than in connection with the execution of this Agreement) by a new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;

(b)    the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets as consideration for an interest in the Partnership, if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;

(c)    the grant of an interest in the Partnership (other than a de minimis amount) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a Partner capacity, or by a new Partner acting in a Partner capacity or in anticipation of being a Partner;

(d)    the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and

(e)    such other times as the General Partner shall reasonably determine necessary or advisable in order to comply with Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2.

 

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2.58.3    The Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset distributed to a Partner shall be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution, as determined by the General Partner.

2.58.4    The Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code section 734(b) or Code section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this Section 2.58.4 to the extent that the General Partner reasonably determines that an adjustment pursuant to Section 2.58.2 above is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this Section 2.58.4.

2.58.5    If the Gross Asset Value of a Partnership asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to Section 2.58.1, Section 2.58.2 or Section 2.58.4, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such Partnership asset for purposes of computing Net Profits and Net Losses.

2.59    “Imputed Underpayment” is defined in Section 5.9.1.

2.60    “Imputed Underpayment Share” is defined in Section 5.9.2.

2.61    “Incapacity” means the entry of an order of incompetence or of insanity, or the Death, permanent disability, dissolution, bankruptcy (as defined in the Act) or termination (other than by merger or consolidation) of any Person.

2.62    “Indemnitees” is defined in Section 6.3.3.

2.63    “Initial Class B2 Amount” is defined in Section 4.4.2.

2.64    “Intangible Asset Gain” means the gain realized by the Partnership with respect to any Intangible Assets in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of such Intangible Assets, including, but not limited to, gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of Partnership assets.

2.65    “Intangible Assets” means the assets of the Partnership that are of the type described in Code section 197(d), as well as interests in entities classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

2.66    “Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

2.67    “IPO” is defined in the Recitals.

2.68    “IPO Reorganization” is defined in the Recitals.

2.69    “IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service, or, if applicable, a state or local taxing agency.

 

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2.70    “Issuance Date” means, with respect to any Class B2 Units, the date of issuance of such Class B2 Units pursuant to an Admission Agreement or such other date as determined by the General Partner and set forth in the relevant Admission Agreement.

2.71    “JAMS” is defined in Section 9.1.

2.72    “JAMS Rules” is defined in Section 9.1.

2.73    “Law” means any applicable constitutional provision, statute, act, code (including the Code), law, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration, or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter of a governmental authority and shall include, for the avoidance of any doubt, the Act.

2.74    “Limited Partner” means, at any time, any Person who is at such time a limited partner of the Partnership and shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership, in its capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership.

2.75    “Liquidator” is defined in Section 8.5.1.

2.76    “Net Profits” or “Net Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year determined in accordance with Code section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit required to be stated separately pursuant to Code section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:

2.76.1    Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses pursuant to this Section 2.76 shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

2.76.2    Any expenditure of the Partnership described in Code section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses pursuant to this Section 2.76, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

2.76.3    Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of any asset of the Partnership with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

2.76.4    In lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year;

2.76.5    If the Gross Asset Value of any asset owned by the Partnership is adjusted in accordance with Section 2.58.2 or Section 2.58.3, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account in the taxable year of such adjustment as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses;

 

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2.76.6    to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset of the Partnership pursuant to Code section 734(b) is required pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Profits and Net Losses; and

2.76.7    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.76, any items that are allocated pursuant to Section 5.2 or Section 5.3.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Losses.

2.77    “Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c).

2.78    “Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2(b)(3) and 1.752-1(a)(2).

2.79    “Ownership Group” means Persons who, at the applicable time, are parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement.

2.80    “Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(b)(4) for the phrase “partner nonrecourse debt.”

2.81    “Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Partner Nonrecourse Debt, equal to Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.752-1(a)(2)), determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(3).

2.82    “Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i) for the phrase “partner nonrecourse deductions.”

2.83    “Partners” is defined in the Preamble.

2.84    “Partnership” is defined in the Preamble.

2.85    “Partnership Information” is defined in Section 6.4.3.

2.86    “Partnership Interest” or “Interest” means the interest or Units of a Partner in the Partnership at any particular time.

2.87    “Partnership Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d)(1) for the phrase “partnership minimum gain.”

2.88    “Person” means and includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an unincorporated organization, a government or any department or agency thereof, or any entity similar to any of the foregoing.

 

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2.89    “Proxy” is defined in Section 3.5.

2.90    “Push Out Election” means the election under Code section 6226 (or any similar provision of state or local law) to “push out” an adjustment to the Partners or former Partners, including filing IRS Form 8988 (Election for Alternative to Payment of the Imputed Underpayment), or any successor or similar form, and taking any other action necessary to give effect to such election.

2.91    “Qualified Transfer” means (a) with respect to a Limited Partner that is a Person other than an individual, the sale or transfer of Units by a Limited Partner to an Affiliate of such Limited Partner or to another Person who is a Limited Partner (or an Affiliate thereof) as of the date of the Qualified Transfer, or (b) with respect to a Limited Partner that is an individual, (i) transfers to ancestors, descendants or the spouse of a Limited Partner or to a trust for the benefit of the Limited Partner or members of the Limited Partner’s immediate family of which the Limited Partner is a trustee, or (ii) transfers to any Person pursuant to testate or intestate succession, provided, that in each case (whether pursuant to clause (a) or (b)), (x) the transferee agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect to the securities acquired by such transferee and (y) the transfer is effected in a transaction that is exempt from the registration and qualification requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

2.92    “Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, effective on or about the date hereof, among SSG and the othe persons party thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

2.93    “Regulations” means proposed, temporary and final Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding Treasury regulations). References to “Treas. Reg. §” are to sections of the Regulations.

2.94    “Regulatory Allocations” is defined in Section 5.2.9.

2.95    “Restrictive Covenant Agreement” means, with respect to any Limited Partner, the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, employment agreement or other agreement (if any) between such Limited Partner (or its Designated Individual) and the Partnership or an Affiliate, to the extent such agreement provides for any undertakings on the part of such Limited Partner or Designated Individual relating to non-competition with and/or non-solicitation of clients or employees of the Partnership or any Affiliate.

2.96    “Retirement” means, with respect to an Active Partner, the conclusion of such person’s status as an Active Partner as a result of resignation or involuntary termination other than for Cause, in the event that as of the Termination Date, the sum of (a) the number of such Active Partner’s years of age (which shall be at least 50) plus (b) the number of such Active Partner’s years as an Active Partner (which shall be at least 15) is equal to at least seventy (70).

2.97    “Safe Harbor Election” is defined in Section 3.3.5(h).

 

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2.98    “SCAI” means Swiss Capital Alternative Investments AG, a private company limited by shares incorporated in the canton of Zurich.

2.99    “SCAI Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Shareholders’ Agreement made on December 2, 2016 between SCP, SCAI and the Partnership.

2.100    “SCP” means SC Partner LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership that is party to the SCP Framework Agreement.

2.101    “SCP Framework Agreement” means the Framework Agreement made on May 11, 2016 between the Partnership, the General Partner, SCAI and SCP.

2.102    “SCP LPA” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of SCP made on December 2, 2016.

2.103    “SCP Partner” means each of the limited partners of SCP and any transferee of any such partner permitted under the SCAI Shareholders Agreement.

2.104    “Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement” is defined in the Recitals.

2.105    “Side Letter” is defined in Section 10.4.

2.106    “SSG” means StepStone Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successors.

2.107    “SSG Group” means SSG and its Affiliates, including the Partnership.

2.108    “Start Date” means with respect to any Class B Limited Partner, the date of commencement of such Active Partner’s status as an Active Partner or such other date established for purposes of any vesting provisions in such Partner’s Admission Agreement.

2.109    “Stockholders’ Agreement” means the Stockholders’ Agreement, effective on or about the date hereof, among SSG, the Partnership and the other Persons party thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

2.110    “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

2.111    “Substitute Partner” means any Person (a) to whom a Limited Partner (or assignee thereof) Transfers all or any part of its interest in the Partnership, and (b) which has been admitted to the Partnership as a Substitute Partner pursuant to Section 7.6.

2.112    “Target Balance” is defined in Section 5.2.10.

2.113    “Tax Distribution” is defined in Section 4.2.1

2.114    “Tax Items” is defined in Section 5.3.1.

 

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2.115    “Tax Receivable Agreements” means the Tax Receivable Agreement (Exchanges) and the Tax Receivable Agreement (Reorganizations), in each case effective on or about the date hereof, among SSG, the Partnership and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

2.116    “Tax Representative” means, as applicable, (a) the Partner or other Person (including the Partnership) designated as the “partnership representative” of the Partnership under Code section 6223, (b) the Partner designated as the “tax matters partner” for the Partnership under Code section 6231(a)(7) (as in effect before 2018 and before amendment by Title XI of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law No. 114-74), and/or (c) the Partner or other Person serving in a similar capacity under any similar provisions of state, local or non-U.S. Laws, in each case, acting solely at the direction of the General Partner to the maximum extent permitted under applicable Law.

2.117    “Termination” means, with respect to an Active Partner of the Partnership, such partner ceasing to provide substantive services to the SSG Group for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of resignation, termination (whether or not for Cause), or Retirement. “Terminate” and “Terminated” shall have a correlative meaning.

2.118    “Termination Date” means, with respect to any Active Partner, the date of the Termination Event with respect to such Active Partner.

2.119    “Termination Event” means, with respect to any Active Partner, the first to occur of: (a) the termination of the Partnership, or (b) such Active Partner’s Termination.

2.120    “Termination Without Cause” means, with respect to an Active Partner, the conclusion of such person’s status as an Active Partner as a result of involuntary termination other than for Cause.

2.121    “Transfer” means, with respect to any Limited Partner or Assignee, any sale, conveyance, exchange, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, gift, bequest, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition by any other means, of any or all of such Limited Partner’s Units (or an Assignee’s economic interest in the Partnership), whether for value or no value and whether directly or indirectly, voluntary or involuntary (including, without limitation, by operation of law), or an agreement to do any of the foregoing.

2.122    “Units” is defined in Section 3.3.1.

2.123    “Unvested Class B2 Units” means any Class B2 Units that have not vested in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.11.1.

2.124    “Vested Class B2 Units” means any Class B2 Units (or portion thereof) that have vested in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.11.1.

2.125    “Vested Quarter” means each of the successive three (3)-month periods during which a Limited Partner is an Active Partner for the entirety of such period, without proration.

2.126    “Waterfall Agreement” means the Waterfall Agreement made on December 2, 2016 between SCP, SCAI, the Partnership and StepStone Europe Limited.

 

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ARTICLE 3

CAPITAL; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND PARTNERS

3.1    Capital Contributions. Except as expressly provided herein with respect to SSG or in the Exchange Agreement, (i) no Partner shall be required to make any Capital Contributions to the Partnership without such Partner’s consent and (ii) no Partner shall be permitted to make any Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the General Partner’s consent.

3.2    Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (a “Capital Account”).

3.3    Classes of Units.

3.3.1    Upon effectiveness of this Agreement and immediately after giving effect to the IPO Reorganization:

(a)    The Interests of Limited Partners are represented by units of Partnership Interest (“Units”), which are divided into:

(i)    Class A Units (the “Class A Units”), which are issuable to SSG and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine;

(ii)    Class B Units (the “Class B Units”), which shall be issued only (x) in accordance with Section 3.3.4, and (y) with respect to and upon full vesting of Class B2 Units; and

(iii)    Class B2 Units (the “Class B2 Units”), none of which shall be issued after the IPO Reorganization;

(b)    each Unit designated as a “Class A Unit” that was outstanding immediately prior to the IPO Reorganization has been split into [            ] Units, and has been reclassified as Class B Units; and

(c)    each Unit designated as a “Class A2 Unit” that was outstanding prior to the IPO Reorganization has been split into [            ] Units, and has been reclassified as Class B2 Units.

3.3.2    The General Partner is authorized to establish and designate additional classes and sub-classes of Units, including preferred Units that rank senior to any then-existing Units and any other new class of Units whose rights, obligations, terms and conditions are set forth on a Class Designation. The General Partner may establish and determine the designations, priorities, powers, preferences, limitations and relative rights of any additional class or classes of Partnership Interests.

3.3.3    The Partnership may issue additional Units in exchange for cash or other consideration, including additional classes of Units, to such Persons, at such times, and having such terms as the General Partner may determine in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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3.3.4    Units and Capital Stock of SSG.

(a)    Each Class B Unit shall be associated with and stapled to one share of Class B Common Stock. Upon any issuance of Class B Units, each Limited Partner receiving such Units shall purchase from SSG, concurrently with the issuance of Class B Units, one share of Class B Common Stock for the consideration of the par value thereof. Upon any surrender, redemption or conversion of any such Class B Unit, the holder thereof shall concurrently surrender to SSG or the Partnership (as applicable) the associated share of Class B Common Stock in exchange for payment by SSG or the Partnership (as applicable) of the par value thereof. Without the specific approval of the General Partner, no Transfer of a Class B Unit shall be effected without a simultaneous Transfer of the corresponding share of Class B Common Stock.

(b)    Following the IPO, Class A Units may be issued only in accordance with Sections 3.3.4(c) and (f), and no additional Class B or Class B2 Units may be issued by the Partnership except in accordance with Section 3.3.4(f) below.

(c)    If, following the IPO, SSG issues shares of Class A Common Stock (other than an issuance pursuant to the Exchange Agreement), unless such net proceeds are used to purchase Units from Limited Partners, SSG shall promptly contribute to the Partnership all the net proceeds and property (if any) received by SSG with respect to such Class A Common Stock. Upon the contribution by SSG to the Partnership of all (but not less than all) of such net proceeds and property (if any) so received by SSG, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue a number of Class A Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so issued, registered in the name of SSG, such that, at all times, the number of Class A Units held by SSG equals the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

(d)    It is the intent that each unit of Capital Stock be generally equivalent in economic respects to an Equivalent Unit. Accordingly, if, following the IPO, SSG issues shares of Capital Stock other than Class A Common Stock, SSG shall promptly contribute to the Partnership all the net proceeds and property (if any) received by SSG with respect to such Capital Stock. Upon the contribution by SSG to the Partnership of all (but not less than all) of such net proceeds and property (if any) so received by SSG, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue a number of Equivalent Units equal to the number of shares of Capital Stock so issued, registered in the name of SSG, such that, at all times, the number of relevant class of Equivalent Units held by SSG equals the number of outstanding shares of the relevant class of Capital Stock.

(e)    If, at any time, any shares of Capital Stock are repurchased (whether by exercise of a put or call, pursuant to an open market purchase, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by SSG for cash or other consideration, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership, immediately prior to such repurchase of such Capital Stock, to redeem an equal number of Equivalent Units held by SSG, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase price of the Capital Stock being repurchased by SSG (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the Capital Stock being cancelled or retired by SSG.

 

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(f)    Any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of a class of Capital Stock shall be accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Equivalent Units to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Equivalent Units and the number of outstanding shares of the applicable class of Capital Stock. Any corrective action to maintain such ratios shall not be subject to a corresponding adjustment that would render the corrective action ineffective. In the implementation and administration of this Section 3.3.4, the General Partner shall have authority to amend this Agreement without the consent of any Limited Partner and shall have discretion to make such adjustments as it determines in good faith to be appropriate to reflect the economic equivalency intended hereby.

3.3.5    Class B2 Units. The Partnership has established the Class B2 Units which were issued to Active Partners as compensation for services rendered or to be rendered to or for the benefit of the Partnership or its Affiliates.

(a)    The Class B2 Units are subject to the limitations on distributions contained in Sections 4.3 and 4.4.

(b)    Each Class B2 Limited Partner shall have an initial Base Percentage Interest with respect to its Class B2 Units of zero percent (0%) and such Base Percentage Interest shall increase as its Class B2 Units vest in accordance with Section 7.11.1; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 4.1 and Section 4.7, a Class B2 Limited Partner’s Base Percentage Interest shall be zero percent (0%) with respect to any Class B2 Units (and shall not be entitled to any distributions in respect of any of its Class B2 Units under such Sections) until the Full Vesting Date of such Class B2 Units.

(c)    Upon a Termination Event with respect to a Class B2 Limited Partner, such Class B2 Limited Partner’s Class B2 Units shall be treated in accordance with Section 7.11.

(d)    No Class B2 Unit shall confer on the holder any right to vote or consent on any matter arising under this Agreement prior to the Full Vesting Date of such Class B2 Unit.

(e)    Treatment of Class B2 as Core Units. Class B2 Units shall be treated as, and shall automatically be redesignated as, Class B Units from and after the later to occur of (i) the Full Vesting Date and (ii) the time at which the Capital Account balance attributable to such Class B2 Units equals the Target Balance with respect to such Class B2 Units.

(f)    Intended Tax Treatment of Class B2 Units. The Class B2 Units are intended to be treated for tax purposes as “profits interests” within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343, and Rev. Proc. 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191. The receipt of the Class B2 Units is intended to be treated as a non-taxable event for the Partnership and the holder. Each holder of Class B2 Units agrees not to take any position

 

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inconsistent with the foregoing. The Partnership and the Partners shall treat each holder of Class B2 Units as a partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of the grant date of such holder’s Class B2 Units. Each holder of Class B2 Units shall take into account the distributive share of the Partnership’s income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit associated with its Class B2 Units in computing such holder’s income tax liability for the entire period during which such Person holds the Class B2 Units. Upon the grant of the Class B2 Units or at the time the Class B2 Units become substantially vested, neither the Partnership nor any of the Partners shall deduct any amount (as wages, compensation, or otherwise) for the fair market value of the Class B2 Units. No holder of Class B2 Units shall dispose of any Class B2 Units within two years of receipt without the express prior written consent of the General Partner.

(g)    Election Under Code Section 83(b). Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, each holder of Class B2 Units shall file a valid and timely election pursuant to Code section 83(b) with respect to its Class B2 Units and provide a copy of the election to the General Partner within thirty (30) days after issuance of the Class B2 Units.

(h)    Proposed Safe Harbor Election. Each holder of Class B2 Units authorizes the Partnership to make the safe harbor election provided for by the Revenue Procedure proposed in Notice 2005-43, 2005-2 C.B. 107, or any similar election provided in published guidance relating to the compensatory transfer of partnership interests (in any case, a “Safe Harbor Election”) in the manner that the General Partner determines will be most advantageous to the Partnership. Each such holder agrees to cooperate with the Partnership to perfect and maintain any Safe Harbor Election and to timely execute and deliver any documentation with respect thereto reasonably requested by the General Partner. Each of the Partnership and each such holder agrees to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor Election. A Safe Harbor Election once made may be revoked by the Partnership if permitted by the rules applicable to the Safe Harbor Election.

3.3.6     Swiss Capital Investors. Pursuant to the SCP Framework Agreement, the Partnership issued Partnership Interests to SCP, which Partnership Interests were redesignated as Class B Units. It is understood that SCP is a holding vehicle for the SCP Partners and it is agreed that for certain limited purposes set forth in this Section 3.3.6 SCP will be treated as holding separate Class B Units corresponding to the economic interests of the SCP Partners in SCP. The provisions of this Agreement will be applied and interpreted in accordance with the following principles:

(a)    The provisions of Section 3.5 shall not apply to the Class B Units held by SCP.

(b)    In the event the Partnership exercises its purchase right with respect to units of SCP under section 5 of the SCAI Shareholders’ Agreement, then upon the completion of such purchase in accordance with section 5.2 of the SCAI Shareholders’ Agreement, the Partnership shall cancel the portion of the Class B Units held by SCP corresponding to the A1 Units (as such term is defined in the SCP LPA) held by the relevant departing SCP Partner.

 

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(c)    The provisions of Section 7.1 shall not apply to transfers of interests in SCP to the SCP Partners.

(d)    The Class B Units held by SCP are not subject to reduction under the vesting provisions of Section 7.10.1.

3.4    Additional Limited Partners. Subject to Section 3.3.4, the General Partner is hereby authorized to issue interests in the Partnership and to admit one or more recipients of such interests as additional Limited Partners (“Additional Limited Partners”) from time to time, on such terms and conditions as the General Partner may determine; provided that the General Partner shall have determined before such admission that such admission will not create a material risk that the Partnership would become a “publicly traded partnership” (as such term is defined in Code sections 469(k)(2) or 7704(b)). As a condition to being admitted to the Partnership, each Additional Limited Partner shall execute an Admission Agreement and such other instruments as the General Partner may determine.

3.5    Irrevocable Proxy. Each Active Partner hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, the General Partner as its exclusive proxy and attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of such Partner, to the full extent of such Partner’s voting and other rights with respect to all such Partner’s Units, which proxy is irrevocable and which appointment is coupled with an interest, including for purposes of the Act, to vote, and to execute written consents with respect to, all such Partner’s Units on any matter arising under this Agreement. Each Active Partner hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof (the “Proxy”). Each Active Partner agrees to execute any further agreement or form reasonably necessary or appropriate to confirm and effectuate the grant of the Proxy contained herein. The Proxy shall bind the heirs, successors and assigns of the Active Partner. The General Partner agrees that it shall not take any action to exercise the Proxy granted by any Active Partner unless and until the earlier of (i) the Termination Date with respect to such Active Partner or (ii) any purported Transfer of any Units or rights with respect thereto by such Active Partner (whether voluntary or involuntary, including pursuant to Death, Incapacity or divorce) unless such Transfer has been approved by the General Partner and the Assignee has been admitted as a Substitute Partner in accordance with this Agreement.

3.6    Partner Capital. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement: (a) no Partner shall demand or be entitled to receive a return of or interest on its Capital Contributions or Capital Account and (b) no Partner shall withdraw any portion of its Capital Contributions or receive any distributions from the Partnership as a return of capital on account of such Capital Contributions.

3.7    Partner Loans. No Limited Partner (other than SSG) shall be required or permitted to make any loans or otherwise lend any funds to the Partnership. No loans made by any Limited Partner to the Partnership shall have any effect on such Limited Partner’s Base Percentage Interest, such loans representing a debt of the Partnership payable or collectible solely from the assets of the Partnership in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans were made.

 

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3.8    Liability of Limited Partners. Except as otherwise (i) required by any non-waivable provision of the Act or other applicable Law or (ii) provided herein: (a) no Limited Partner shall be personally liable in any manner whatsoever for any debt, liability or other obligation of the Partnership, whether such debt, liability or other obligation arises in contract, tort, or otherwise; and (b) subject to Section 4.7.2 and Section 3.3.4, no Limited Partner shall in any event have any liability whatsoever in excess of (i) the amount of its Capital Contributions, (ii) without duplication, its share of any assets and undistributed profits of the Partnership, and (iii) the amount of any wrongful distribution to such Limited Partner, if, and only to the extent, such Limited Partner has actual knowledge (at the time of the distribution) that such distribution is made in violation of Section 18-607 of the Act. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Limited Partner shall have any liability to any other Limited Partner or former Limited Partner, for making any discretionary decisions under this Agreement, or casting any vote for (or refraining from voting) in connection with the business and affairs of the Partnership.

ARTICLE 4

DISTRIBUTIONS

4.1    General Distributions. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 4, Article 8 or in any applicable Class Designation, the General Partner shall determine the timing and amount of all distributions. Subject to the terms of any applicable Class Designation and the other provisions of this Article 4, any distributions (including Tax Distributions, except to the extent provided in Section 4.2.4) shall be made pro rata in accordance with their Base Percentage Interests.

4.2    Tax Distributions.

4.2.1    Amount, Timing, and Treatment of Tax Distribution. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 4.1 to the contrary, but subject to Section 4.2.4, the Partnership shall distribute to the Partners pro rata in accordance with their Base Percentage Interests an amount of cash such that each Partner receives distributions of cash (including those made pursuant to Section 4.1) in respect of each Fiscal Year in an amount not less than the Partner’s Assumed Tax Liability for such Fiscal Year (that distribution, a “Tax Distribution”). Any Tax Distribution made to a Partner under this Section 4.2.1 shall be treated as an advance against, and shall reduce, future amounts due to such Partner under Section 4.1. For purposes of this Article 4, guaranteed payments for services (within the meaning of Code section 707(c)) shall not be treated as distributions.

4.2.2    Calculation of Assumed Tax Liability. For purposes of calculating the amount of each Partner’s Tax Distribution under
Section 4.2.2, a Partner’s “Assumed Tax Liability” means an amount equal to the product of:

(a) the sum of (i) the net taxable income and gain allocated to that Partner in the Fiscal Year and (ii) to the extent (x) determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion and (y) attributable to the Partnership, the amount the Partner is required to include in income by reason of Code sections 707(c) (but not including guaranteed payments for services within the meaning of Code section 707(c)), 951(a), and 951A(a); multiplied by

(b) the highest combined effective U.S. federal, state, and local marginal rate of tax applicable to an individual resident in San Francisco, California or New York, New York (whichever is higher), or such higher assumed tax rate as determined by the General Partner, for the Fiscal Year (such tax rate, the “Assumed Tax Rate”).

The calculation required by this Section 4.2.2 shall be made (i) taking into account (w) the character of the income or gain and (x) any limitations on, or the availability of, deductions and net operating losses, and (ii) disregarding (y) the effect of any special basis adjustments under Code section 743(b) and (z) the effect of the allocations required under Code section 704(c)(1)(A)).

 

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4.2.3    Timing of Tax Distributions. If reasonably practicable, the Partnership shall make distributions of the estimated Tax Distributions in respect of a Fiscal Year on a quarterly basis to facilitate the payment of quarterly estimated income taxes, taking into account amounts previously distributed by reason of this Section 4.2.3. Not later than sixty (60) Business Days after the end of the Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall make a final Tax Distribution in an amount sufficient to fulfill the Partnership’s obligations under Section 4.2.1.

4.2.4    Impact of Insufficient Cash Available for Distribution. If the amount of Tax Distributions to be made exceeds the amount of the cash available for distribution (taking into account any entity-level tax obligations or payments, including any related interest, penalties, or other costs), SSG shall receive the full amount of its Tax Distribution (but calculated by substituting the words “a corporation doing business” for “an individual resident” in the definition of “Assumed Tax Rate”) before the other Partners receive any distribution under this Section 4.2. The balance, if any, of cash available for distribution shall be distributed:

(a) First, to the Partners (other than SSG) pro rata in accordance with their Base Percentage Interests in an amount such that each such Partner has received distributions pursuant to this Section 4.2.4(a) not less than their Assumed Tax Liability (calculated by substituting the words “a corporation doing business” for “an individual resident” in the definition of “Assumed Tax Rate”); and

(b) Thereafter, the balance, if any, to the Partners (including SSG) pro rata in accordance with their Base Percentage Interests until each Partner has received the full amount of its Tax Distribution calculated in accordance with Section 4.2.2.

4.2.5    No Tax Distributions on Liquidation. No Tax Distributions shall be made in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership.

4.2.6    Compensation for Services and Self-Employment Tax Make-Whole Payments. The Partners acknowledge that certain Active Partners (including former Active Partners) will receive compensation for services, and such compensation may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as a guaranteed payment for services under Code section 707(c). For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership may, but is not required to, pay any Partner an amount such that, on an after-tax basis, the Partner receives the amount he or she would have received if the Partner had not been subject to self-employment tax by reason of the Partner’s ownership of Units in the Partnership (and instead had received his or her compensation as an employee for tax purposes). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any compensation or payments described in the two preceding sentences shall be treated as guaranteed payments for services within the meaning of Code section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions under this Article 4.

4.3    Limitation on Distributions in Respect of Profits Units.

4.3.1    No Distributions in Respect of Unvested Profits Interests. No Class B2 Limited Partner shall be entitled to participate in any distributions pursuant to Section 4.1 in respect of any of its Class B2 Units prior to the Full Vesting Date of such Class B2 Units (and then shall be entitled to participate in distributions only in respect of any fiscal quarter commencing after the Full Vesting Date).

4.3.2    Limitations on Distributions in Respect of Class B2 Units. The Partnership shall not make any distribution in respect of a Class B2 Unit to the extent that the General Partner determines that such distribution would (a) cause the Class B2 Unit to fail to qualify as profits interests (as that term is used in Section 3.3.5) or (b) cause an allocation of income or gain (other than Intangible Asset Gain) in respect of a Class B2 Unit that is disproportionate to the amount that would be distributed in respect of such Class B2 Unit but for this Section 4.3.2. For the avoidance of doubt, the limitations on distributions imposed by this Section 4.3.2 shall not apply to any holder of a Class B2 Unit that has a Capital Account balance at least equal to the relevant Target Balance.

 

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4.3.3    Continued Right to Tax Distributions. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.3 shall not alter the Profits Unit Holder’s right to Tax Distributions under Section 4.2. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, such Tax Distributions shall be calculated and made by the Partnership by treating all Unvested Class B2 Units as if they were “substantially vested” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.83-3(b).

4.4    Distributions of Class B2 Dilution Reserve.

4.4.1    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.1 or Section 4.2, the Partners hereby acknowledge and agree that the Class B2 Dilution Reserve shall be distributed as set forth in this Section 4.4. The General Partner shall maintain a schedule of persons entitled to distributions thereof and their respective potential shares of any distribution with respect to the Class B2 Dilution Reserve.

4.4.2    The General Partner shall calculate, at least annually, the number of Class B2 Units that have vested since the prior determination (the “Class B2 Vesting Amount”), the number of Class B2 Units that have been forfeited since the prior determination (the “Class B2 Forfeiture Amount”) and the number of Class B2 Units outstanding at time of the prior determination (or, if no determination has been made, as of August 19, 2019) (the “Initial Class B2 Amount”). Promptly after each such determination, a distribution shall be made from the Class B2 Dilution Reserve equal to (a) the ratio of the Class B2 Forfeiture Amount to the Initial Class B2 Amount, multiplied by (b) the Class B2 Dilution Reserve, to the 2019 Redeemed Partners pro rata based on the number of Units redeemed from each 2019 Redeemed Partner in the 2019 Equity Transaction. Promptly after each such determination, a distribution shall be made from the Class B2 Dilution Reserve equal to (a) the ratio of the Class B2 Vesting Amount to the Initial Class B2 Amount, multiplied by (b) the Class B2 Dilution Reserve, to the Limited Partners holding 2019 Dilutable Units, pro rata based on the number of 2019 Dilutable Units held by them at such time.

4.5    Distributions Upon Liquidation. Distributions made in conjunction with the final liquidation of the Partnership shall be applied or distributed as provided in Article 8.

4.6    Distributions to Reflect Additional Units. If the Partnership issues additional Units, subject to the terms of any applicable Class Designation, the General Partner is authorized to make such revisions to this Article 4 and to Article 5 as it determines are reasonably necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of such additional Units, including making preferential distributions to certain classes of Units.

4.7    Other Distribution Rules.

4.7.1    Record Date for Distributions. The Partnership may designate a Distribution Record Date for purposes of calculating and giving effect to distributions. All distributions attributable to a Unit with respect to which the Distribution Record Date is before the date of any Transfer shall be made to the transferor Partner or the tendering Partner (as the case may be) and, in the case of a Transfer other than an exchange pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, all distributions thereafter attributable to such Unit shall be made to the transferee Partner.

 

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4.7.2    Over-Distributions. If the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than the amount to which the Partner in entitled (e.g., by reason of an accounting error), the Partner shall, upon written notice of the over-distribution delivered to the Partner within one year of the over-distribution, promptly return the over-distribution to the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.7.2 applies to any distribution made under this Agreement.

4.7.3    Reimbursements of Preformation Capital Expenditures. To the extent a distribution (or reduction in a Partner’s share of Partnership liabilities for federal tax purposes) would otherwise be treated as proceeds in a sale under Code section 707(a)(2)(B), the Partners intend such actual or deemed distribution to reimburse preformation capital expenditures under Treas. Reg. § 1.707-4(d) to the maximum extent permitted by Law.

4.8    Distributions in Kind. No right is given to any Partner to demand or receive property other than cash as provided in this Agreement. The General Partner may make a distribution in kind of Partnership assets to the Partners, and such Partnership assets shall be distributed in such a fashion as to ensure that the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the General Partner) thereof is distributed and allocated in accordance with this Article 4 and Article 5 and Article 8.

4.9    Limitations on Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Partnership nor the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, shall make a distribution to any Partner on account of its Partnership Interests in violation of the Act or other applicable Law or to the extent such distribution would result in the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries being in default under any material credit agreement, loan agreement, note, indenture, or other agreement governing indebtedness.

ARTICLE 5

ALLOCATIONS OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES

5.1    Allocation Generally. Each Fiscal Year, after adjusting each Partner’s Capital Account for all contributions and distributions with respect to such Fiscal Year and after giving effect to the allocations under Section 5.2 for the Fiscal Year, Net Profits and Net Losses (or items thereof) of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner such that, after such allocations have been made, each Partner’s Capital Account balance (which may be a positive, negative, or zero balance) will equal (proportionately) (a) the amount that would be distributed to each such Partner, determined as if the Partnership were to (i) sell all of its assets for their Gross Asset Values, (ii) satisfy all of its liabilities in accordance with their terms with the proceeds from such sale (limited, with respect to nonrecourse liabilities, to the Gross Asset Values of the assets securing such liabilities), and (iii) distribute the remaining proceeds pursuant to Section 4.1 minus (b) the sum of (x) such Partner’s Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain and (y) the amount, if any (without duplication of any amount included under clause (x)), that such Partner is obligated (or is deemed for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be obligated) to contribute, in its capacity as a Partner, to the capital of the Partnership as of the last day of such Fiscal Year.

 

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5.2    Priority Allocations.

5.2.1    Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(f), if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in proportion to, and to the extent of, an amount equal to the portion of such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(g). This Section 5.2.1 is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

5.2.2    Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(4), notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to Partner Nonrecourse Debt during any taxable year, then each Partner who has a share of the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(4). This Section 5.2.2 is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

5.2.3    Qualified Income Offset. If any Partner unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be allocated, in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by such Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Partner as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2.3 shall be made if and only to the extent that such Partner would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.2.3 were not in the Agreement. It is intended that this Section 5.2.3 comply with the qualified income offset requirement in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

5.2.4    Gross Income Allocation. In the event that any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year that is in excess of the sum of (A) the amount (if any) that such Partner is obligated to restore to the Partnership upon complete liquidation of such Partner’s Partnership Interest and (B) the amount that such Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treas. Reg. §§ 1.704-2 (g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess to eliminate such deficit as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2.4 shall be

 

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made if and only to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.2.4 and Section 5.2.3 were not in the Agreement.

5.2.5    Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to Units, unless otherwise determined by the General Partner.

5.2.6    Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.752-2) with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Liability to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.704-2(i)(l).

5.2.7    Special Basis Adjustments. To the extent that an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code section 734(b) or Code section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a holder of Units in complete liquidation of its interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the holders of Units in accordance with their respective Base Percentage Interests in the event that Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Partner(s) to whom such distribution was made in the event that Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

5.2.8    Limitation on Allocation of Net Losses. No allocation of Net Losses (or items of loss) shall be allocated to a Partner to the extent that any such allocation would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as to the Partner.    The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied on a Partner-by-Partner basis and Net Losses (or items of loss) not allocable to a Partner as a result of such limitation shall be reallocated (A) first, among the other holders of Units in accordance with their respective Base Percentage Interests, and (B) thereafter, among the holders of other Units, as determined by the Partnership, in each case subject to the limitations of this Section 5.2.8.

5.2.9    Ameliorative Allocations. Any allocations made pursuant to Sections 5.2.1 through 5.2.8 (collectively, the “Regulatory Allocations”) shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the holders of Units so that to the extent possible without violating the requirements giving rise to the Regulatory Allocations, the net amount of such allocations of other items and the Regulatory Allocations to each holder of a Unit shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Partner if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.

5.2.10    Intangible Asset Gain. Intangible Asset Gain shall be allocated to each holder of Class B2 Units so as to cause the Capital Account balance of such Limited

 

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Partner (to the extent attributable to its Class B2 Units) to stand in the same ratio to the aggregate Capital Account balances attributable to all holders of Units as the number of Class B2 Units held by such holder bears to the total number of Units outstanding at the time of such allocation (such amount with respect to each such holder of Class B2 Units, the “Target Balance”). To the extent there is insufficient Intangible Asset Gain to reach the Target Balance for each holder of Class B2 Units, Intangible Asset Gain shall be allocated in such manner as may be determined by the General Partner.

5.3    Other Allocation Rules.

5.3.1    In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.3, for income tax purposes under the Code and the Regulations, each Partnership item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit (collectively, “Tax Items”) shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit (as calculated for purposes of allocating Net Profits or Net Losses, including items allocated under Section 5.2) is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1 and Section 5.2.

5.3.2    Section 704(c) Allocations. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 5.3.1 to the contrary, in accordance with Code section 704(c)(1)(A) (and the principles of those provisions) and Treas. Reg. § 1.704-3, Tax Items with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership, or after Partnership has been revalued under Treas. Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) or (s), shall, solely for United States federal, state and local tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such Partnership property to the Partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and its value as so determined at the time of the contribution or revaluation of Partnership property. The Partnership shall account for such variation under the traditional method as described in Treas. Reg. § 1.704-3(b). For the avoidance of doubt, allocations pursuant to this Section 5.3.2 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Partner’s Capital Account or such Partner’s share of Net Profits or Net Losses (or items thereof), or distributions under any provision of this Agreement.

5.3.3    Allocation of Excess Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of determining a Partner’s share of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Partnership within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.752-3(a)(3), each Partner’s interest in Partnership profits shall equal such Partner’s Base Percentage Interest with respect to Units, or such other share as the General Partner determines.

5.3.4    Allocations in Respect of Varying Interests. If any Partner’s interest in the Partnership varies (within the meaning of Code section 706(d)), whether by reason of a Transfer of a Unit, redemption of a Unit by the Partnership, or otherwise, Net Profits and Net Losses (and items thereof) for such Fiscal Year shall be allocated so as to take into account such varying interests in accordance with Code section 706(d) using the “interim closing of the books” method and/or such other permissible method or methods selected by the General Partner.

 

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5.3.5    Timing and Amount of Allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses. Net Profits and Net Losses (or items thereof) of the Partnership shall be determined and allocated with respect to each Fiscal Year as of the end of each such year, or at such other time or times determined by the General Partner.

5.3.6    Modification of Allocations. The allocations set forth in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article 5, the General Partner shall be authorized to make, in its reasonable discretion, appropriate amendments to the allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses (or items thereof) pursuant to this Agreement (i) in order to comply with Code section 704 or applicable Regulations or (ii) to allocate properly items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to those Partners who bear the economic burden or benefit associated therewith. If there are any changes after the date of this Agreement in applicable tax Law, regulations or interpretation, or any errors, ambiguities, inconsistencies or omissions in this Agreement with respect to allocations to be made to Capital Accounts that would, individually or in the aggregate, cause the Partners not to achieve the economic objectives underlying this Agreement, the General Partner may in its discretion make appropriate adjustments to such allocations in order to achieve or approximate such economic objectives.

5.4    Preparation of Partnership Tax Returns. The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns required of the Partnership for federal, state, and local income tax purposes.

5.5    No Right to Review Partner Tax Returns. With respect to the financial statements or tax returns of a Partner or its Affiliates, none of the Partnership, the General Partner, the other Partners, such other Partner’s Affiliates or any of their respective representatives, will be entitled to review such financial statements or tax returns for any purpose, including in connection with any proceeding or other dispute (whether involving the Partnership, between the Partners, or involving any other Persons).

5.6    No Inconsistent Positions. Except as required by applicable Law or previously authorized in writing by the Partnership, which authorization may be withheld in the sole discretion of the Partnership, no Partner shall (a) independently act with respect to tax audits or tax litigation affecting or arising from the Partnership, or (b) treat any Partnership item inconsistently on such Partner’s income tax return with the treatment of the item on the Partnership’s tax return and/or the Schedule K-1 (or other written information statement) provided to such Partner.

5.7    Tax Elections. The Partnership shall have in effect (and shall cause each Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect) an election pursuant to Code section 754 (and any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for the Partnership for the Fiscal Year that includes the date of the IPO and each Fiscal Year in which a sale, exchange, or redemption (whether partial or complete) occurs. This Section 5.7 shall not apply with respect to any Subsidiary that the Partnership cannot cause to make a section 754 election, with respect to Subsidiaries that would not customarily make a section 754 election at the Partnership’s request, or with respect to any other Subsidiary that the General Partner determines is immaterial or otherwise insignificant. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the General Partner shall determine whether to make any other available election pursuant to the Code.

 

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5.8    Tax Representative.

5.8.1    Appointment of Tax Representative and Designated Individual.

(a)    Tax Representative. The General Partner shall act as the Tax Representative, but the General Partner may designate another Person to act as the Tax Representative and may remove, replace, or revoke the designation of that Person, or require that Person to resign.

(b)    Designated Individual. If a Person that is not an individual is the Tax Representative, the General Partner shall appoint a “designated individual” for each taxable year (as described in Treas. Reg. § 301.6223-1(b)(3)(ii)) (a “Designated Individual”).

5.8.2    Authority of the Tax Representative; Delegation of Authority. The Tax Representative shall have all of the rights, duties, powers, and obligations provided for under the Code, Regulations, or other applicable guidance; provided, however, that if a Person other than the General Partner is the Tax Representative, the Tax Representative shall in all cases act solely at the direction of the General Partner. The Tax Representative may delegate its authority under this Section 5.8 to a Designated Individual; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that each Designated Individual shall in all cases act solely at the direction of the General Partner.

5.8.3    Costs and Indemnification. The Partnership shall pay, or to the extent the Tax Representative or Designated Individual pays, indemnify and reimburse, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Tax Representative or Designated Individual, for all costs and expenses, including legal and accounting fees (as such fees are incurred) and any claims incurred in connection with any tax audit or judicial review proceeding with respect to the tax liability of the Partnership.

5.9    Partnership Audits.

5.9.1     Determinations with Respect to Audits. The General Partner shall make all decisions and determinations with respect to, and shall have sole authority with respect to the conduct of, audits of the Partnership, including whether to cause the Partnership or any Subsidiary to make a Push Out Election with respect to any adjustment that could result in an imputed underpayment (within the meaning of Code section 6225) (an “Imputed Underpayment”). No Partner shall take any action or make any filing inconsistent with the actions of the Tax Representative or Designated Individual.

5.9.2    Imputed Underpayment Share. To the extent the Partnership (or any Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is liable for any Imputed Underpayment, the General Partner shall determine the liability of the Partners for a share of such Imputed Underpayment, taking into account the Partner’s Units and the status and actions of the Partners (including any related interest, penalties or other costs, such share, an “Imputed Underpayment Share”). The General Partner shall cause each Partner to bear its Imputed Underpayment Share solely by reducing the amount of distributions made to such Partner pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 8.5.

 

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5.10    Information to be Provided by Partners to Partnership.

5.10.1    Notice of Audit or Tax Examination. Each Partner shall notify the Partnership within five days after receipt of any notice regarding an audit or tax examination of the Partnership and upon any request for material information by United States federal, state, local, or other tax authorities.

5.10.2    Information Relating to FATCA. Each Partner shall provide the Partnership with any information, representations, certificates or forms relating to such Partner (or its direct or indirect owners or account holders) that are reasonably requested from time to time by the Partnership and that are necessary in order for the Partnership or any entity in which the Partnership or holds (directly or indirectly) an interest (whether in the form of debt or equity) and any Partner of any “expanded affiliated group” (as defined in Code section 1471(e)(2)) to (i) enter into, maintain or comply with any agreement required to be filed with the IRS as contemplated by Code section 1471(b), (ii) satisfy any requirement imposed under FATCA in order to avoid any withholding required under FATCA (including any withholding upon any payments to such Partner under this Agreement) or (iii) comply with any information reporting or withholding requirements under FATCA. In addition, each Partner shall take such actions as the Tax Representative may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing. If any Partner fails to provide any of the information, representations, certificates or forms (or undertake any of the actions) required under this Section 5.10.2 in a timely manner, the Tax Representative shall have full authority to take steps (after providing such Partner with written notice) that the Partnership determines in its reasonable discretion are necessary to comply with FATCA and to mitigate the effect on the Partnership of such failure including, but not limited to, withholding on payments or distributions made to such Partner and requiring such Partner to transfer its Units or otherwise withdraw from the Partnership. If requested by the Partnership, such Partner shall execute any and all documents, opinions, instruments and certificates to effectuate the foregoing. If a Partner fails to comply with the terms of this Section 5.10.2 and, as a result of such failure, any withholding tax is imposed under FATCA on distributions to the Partnership, such Partner shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Partnership, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership and its Affiliates for all losses, costs, fees, expenses, damages, claims, and demands (including any withholding tax, penalties or interest suffered by the Partnership).

5.10.3    Other Information. Each Partner shall provide to the Partnership upon request tax basis information about assets contributed by it to the Partnership and such other tax information as reasonably requested by the Partnership and necessary for it to prepare its financial reports or any tax returns, or otherwise to comply with applicable Law.

 

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5.11    Information to be Provided by Partnership to Partners.

5.11.1    Communication with IRS. The Partnership shall, within thirty (30) days after receipt, forward to each Partner holding more than twenty percent (20%) of the Units a photocopy of any material correspondence relating to the Partnership received from the IRS and, within thirty (30) days after occurrence, advise each Partner in writing of the substance of any material conversation affecting the Partnership held with any representative of the IRS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may withhold information from the Partners to the extent the Partnership determines that providing such information could result in the waiver of any privilege or otherwise be harmful to the Partnership.

5.11.2    Notice of Tax Benefits. The Partnership shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to each Partner notice of any tax-related benefit (as reasonably determined by the Partnership) that any Partner may be able to claim with respect to taxes imposed on the Partnership or any investment, within a reasonable period of time of the Partnership’s becoming aware of that benefit.

5.12    Survival of Obligations. For purposes of this Article 5, the term “Partner” shall include a former Partner except to the extent the General Partner determines that such inclusion is inconsistent with the intention that former Partners be liable for their appropriate share of the Partnership’s taxes. The rights and obligations of each Partner and former Partner under this Article 5 shall survive the Transfer by such Partner of its Units (or withdrawal by a Partner or redemption of a Partner’s Units) and the dissolution of the Partnership until ninety (90) days after the applicable statute of limitations. Section 5.8, Section 5.9, and this Section 5.12 shall not be amended without the prior written consent of any Partner or former Partner that would be materially and adversely impacted by such amendment.

5.13    Withholding.    Each Partner acknowledges and agrees that the Partnership may be required by Law to deduct and withhold taxes or to fulfill other similar obligations of such Partner on any amount paid, distributed, disbursed, or allocated by the Partnership to that Partner, including upon liquidation, and any assignee or transferee of a Partner’s interest or substituted Partner shall, by reason of such transfer, assignment or substitution, acknowledge, and agree to any such withholding by the Partnership, including withholding to discharge obligations of the Partnership with respect to prior distributions, allocations, or a Imputed Underpayment Share. All amounts withheld with respect to any allocation or distribution shall, except as otherwise provided in or determined by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.9 be treated as amounts distributed to such Person pursuant to the provision of this Agreement that would have applied if such amount had actually been distributed.

5.14    Taxes Other Than U.S. Federal Income Taxes. The provisions of this Agreement with respect to U.S. federal income tax shall apply, mutatis mutandis, with respect to any similar provisions of state, local, or non-U.S. tax law as determined by the Partnership. References in Section 5.9, Section 5.10, Section 5.12, and Section 5.13 to “taxes” shall include any interest penalties, and additions to tax with respect to such taxes.

5.15    United States Person. Other than (i) persons who are Partners as of the date of this Agreement or (ii) Partners with respect to whom the General Partner has waived the application of this Section 5.15 in writing, each Partner represents and covenants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is and will at all times remain a “United States person,” within the

 

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meaning of Code section 7701, or is and will at all times remain a disregarded entity the assets of which are treated as owned by a United States person under Treas. Reg. §§ 301.7701-1, 301.7701-2, and 301.7701-3.

5.16    Tax Classification. The Partnership shall be classified as a partnership for United States federal, state and local tax purposes. Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, the Subsidiaries of the Partnership shall be classified either as disregarded entities or as partnerships for United States federal, state and local tax purposes. No Person shall take any action inconsistent with such classifications.

ARTICLE 6

OPERATIONS

6.1    Management Generally. The management and control of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. Persons dealing with the Partnership are entitled to rely conclusively upon the power and authority of the General Partner as set forth herein. The Limited Partners shall have no part in the management or control of the Partnership and shall have no authority or right to act on behalf of the Partnership or deal with third parties in connection with any matter.

6.2    Authority of and Approvals by the General Partner. The General Partner shall have the power to do any and all acts necessary or convenient to or for the furtherance of the purposes described herein, including all powers, statutory or otherwise, possessed by limited partnerships under the laws of the State of Delaware. Without limitation of the foregoing, the General Partner is hereby authorized to execute, deliver and perform any document on behalf of the Partnership without any further act of any person or entity.

6.3    Duties, Exculpation and Indemnification.

6.3.1    This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Partners (including, without limitation, the General Partner) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, the Partners hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by Law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Partnership are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement and those required by the Act.

6.3.2    To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Partner (including, without limitation, the General Partner) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to another Partner, the Partners (including without limitation, the General Partner) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Partnership or to any such other Partner for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Partner (including without limitation, the General Partner) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Partners relating thereto (including without limitation, the General Partner).

 

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6.3.3    None of the General Partner, the Limited Partners, the Tax Representative, the Designated Individual or the Affiliates, agents, officers, partners, employees, representatives, directors, members, managers or shareholders of the General Partner or the Partnership (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) shall be liable, responsible, or accountable, in damages or otherwise, to the Partnership or any Partner thereof for doing any act or failing to do any act, the effect of which may cause or result in loss or damage to the Partnership or such Partner if: (a) the act or failure to act of such Indemnitee was in good faith, within the scope of such Indemnitee’s authority and in a manner it reasonably believed to be in, or not inconsistent with, the best interest of the Partnership, and (b) the conduct of such Person did not constitute fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.

6.3.4    Indemnitees shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Partnership and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Partnership by any Person as to matters the Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Partnership, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses or cash flow or any other facts pertinent to the existence or amount of assets from which distributions to Partners might properly be paid.

6.3.5    The Partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnitee to the greatest extent permitted by law against any liability or loss as a result of any claim or legal proceeding by any Person (including by or through the Partnership and/or any Partner) relating to the performance or nonperformance of any act concerning the activities of the Partnership or in furtherance of the Partnership’s interests (including serving at the request of the Partnership as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise) if: (a) the act or failure to act of such Indemnitee was in good faith, within the scope of such Indemnitee’s authority and in a manner it reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Partnership, and (b) the conduct of such Person did not constitute fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence. The indemnification authorized by this Section 6.3.5 shall include any judgment, award, settlement, the payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expense incurred in settling or defending any claims, threatened action or finally adjudicated legal proceeding.

6.3.6    From time to time, as requested by an Indemnitee, the attorneys’ fees and other expenses described in Section 6.3.5 may, in the discretion of the General Partner, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition of such claims, actions or proceedings upon receipt by the Partnership of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized hereunder.

6.3.7    Any indemnification provided hereunder shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Partnership, as an expense of the Partnership, unless otherwise determined by the General Partner.

 

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6.3.8    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever an Indemnitee is required or permitted to make a decision, take or approve an action, or omit to do any of the foregoing: (a) in its “discretion” or “sole discretion,” under a similar grant of authority or latitude, or without an express standard of behavior (including, without limitation, standards such as “reasonable” or “good faith”), then such Indemnitee shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors, including its own, as it desires, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty or obligation to consider any other interests or factors whatsoever, or (b) with an express standard of behavior (including, without limitation, standards such as “reasonable” or “good faith), such Indemnitee shall comply with such express standard but shall not be subject to any other, different or additional standard.

6.3.9    The provisions of this Section 6.3 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Person.

6.3.10    The provisions of this Section 6.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. No amendment, modification or deletion of this Section 6.3 shall apply to or have any effect on the right of any Indemnitee to indemnification for or with respect to acts or omissions of such Indemnitee occurring prior to such amendment, modification or deletion.

6.4    Records; Reports; Schedules.

(a)    Subject to the discretion of the General Partner, the General Partner shall cause to be kept, at the principal place of business of the Partnership or at such other location as the General Partner shall reasonably deem appropriate, full and proper ledgers, other books of account, and records of all receipts and disbursements, other financial activities, and the internal affairs of the Partnership for at least the current and past three fiscal years.

(b)    Subject to the discretion of the General Partner, the financial statements of the Partnership shall be prepared in accordance with such principles as the General Partner shall determine.

(c)    The General Partner shall maintain, as part of the books and records of the Partnership, a schedule, which shall set forth the name, address, the number and Class of Units owned by each Limited Partner, and the respective Base Percentage Interests associated with such Units held.

6.4.2    The General Partner shall cause to be sent to each Limited Partner of the Partnership, within a reasonable time following the end of each Fiscal Year of the Partnership, a report that shall include all necessary information required by the Limited Partners for preparation of their federal, state and local income or franchise tax or information returns, including each Limited Partner’s pro rata share of Net Profits, Net Losses and any other Tax Items for such Fiscal Year.

6.4.3    Limited Partners (personally or through an authorized representative) may, for purposes reasonably related to their Interests, examine and copy (at their own cost and

 

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expense) the books and records of the Partnership that pertain to the Partnership generally and the inspecting Limited Partner, including, if applicable the inspecting Limited Partner’s Capital Account, Units and Partnership Interest, and Base Percentage Interest (collectively, the “Partnership Information”); provided, however, that such access shall be upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, and that such Limited Partner shall not use such Partnership information in a manner inconsistent with such Limited Partner’s obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Limited Partner who is a Former Active Partner shall be entitled to reasonable access to Partnership Information reasonably related solely to such Former Active Partner’s economic interest in allocations and distributions hereunder where the Former Active Partner can demonstrate a reasonable need for such access; provided, however, that such access shall be upon at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice, during normal business hours and shall be subject to supervision by Partnership personnel at the Partnership’s sole discretion, and that as a condition of access to such limited Partnership Information, such Former Active Partner shall not be permitted to copy, reproduce or use such Partnership Information in a manner competitive with the Partnership. Access to any records of the Partnership pursuant to this Section 6.4.3 shall be subject to the execution of a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement at the request of the General Partner.

6.4.4    In any event, access to any Partnership Information marked, labeled or otherwise designated as “confidential,” “proprietary” or similarly designated, shall be subject to the Partnership’s reasonable confidentiality restrictions then in effect. No other person or entity (including any spouse or former spouse of a Partner) shall be entitled to access to Partnership Information unless such access is approved by the General Partner or as otherwise required by the Act.

6.5    Insurance. The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance, to the extent and in such amounts as determined by the General Partner or its designee, on behalf of any of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as determined by the General Partner or its designee, against any liabilities that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by any such Person in connection with the activities of the Partnership or such Indemnitees, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liabilities under the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise. The Partnership may enter into indemnity contracts with any or all of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine.

6.6    Other Activities. Each Class B Limited Partner or Class B2 Limited Partner that is an Active Partner, for so long as he or she is an Active Partner and unless otherwise approved by the General Partner, shall devote substantially all of his or her business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Partnership and its Affiliates.

 

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6.7    Certain Tax-Related Decisions. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, (i) any tax-related decision or determination that is to be made by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the General Partner and (ii) any tax-related action that is to be taken by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken by the Partnership, acting at the direction of the General Partner. In making decisions or determinations or causing the Partnership to take actions pursuant to this Section 6.7, the General Partner shall act in a commercially reasonable manner.

6.8    Expenses.

6.8.1    Subject to Section 6.8.3, the Partnership shall be liable for, and shall reimburse the General Partner on an after-tax basis at such intervals as the General Partner may determine, for all (i) overhead, administrative expenses, insurance and reasonable legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of the General Partner, (ii) franchise and similar taxes of the General Partner and other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of the existence of the General Partner, and (iii) reasonable expenses paid by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership. Such reimbursements shall be in addition to any reimbursement of the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 6.3.

6.8.2     Subject to Section 6.8.3, the Partnership shall be liable for, and shall reimburse SSG on an after-tax basis at such intervals as the General Partner may determine, for all (i) overhead, administrative expenses, insurance and reasonable legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of SSG, (ii) expenses of SSG incidental to being a public reporting company, (iii) reasonable fees and expenses related to the IPO (other than the payment obligations of SSG under the Tax Receivable Agreements) or any subsequent public offering of equity securities of SSG or private placement of equity securities of SSG, whether or not consummated, (iv) franchise and similar taxes of SSG and other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of the existence of SSG, (v) customary compensation and benefits payable by SSG; provided, that the Board of Directors of SSG may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) determine that SSG, rather than the Partnership, shall bear any specific items of the foregoing to the extent such items relate exclusively to the business and affairs of SSG and should not be borne by the Partnership. Such reimbursements shall be in addition to any reimbursement of SSG as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 6.3. If SSG issues shares of Class A Common Stock and contributes the net proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership, the reasonable expenses incurred by SSG in such issuance will be assumed by the Partnership.

6.8.3    To the extent practicable, Partnership expenses shall be billed directly to and paid by the Partnership. Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, no reimbursement or indemnification payment made pursuant to this Section 6.8 shall be considered a distribution to the payee.

6.8.4    Unreimbursed Expenses. From time to time, Limited Partners may incur expenses directly related to duties carried out on behalf of the Partnership. The General Partner, in its discretion, may agree to cause the Partnership to reimburse certain expenses or categories of expenses, but to the extent not so agreed then any such expenses, although directly related to duties carried out on behalf of the Partnership, are the responsibility of and shall be borne by the Limited Partners incurring such expenses and are not reimbursable by the Partnership.

 

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ARTICLE 7

INTERESTS AND TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

7.1    Transfers.

7.1.1    No Limited Partner or Assignee may Transfer all or any portion of his, her or its Units (or beneficial interest therein) without (a) the prior written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion and (b) in the case of a Class B Limited Partner, the simultaneous transfer of an equal number of shares of such Limited Partner’s Class B Common Stock corresponding to such Units to the transferee of such Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Qualified Transfers by a Limited Partner do not require the consent of the General Partner; provided, that the transferee shall be subject, pursuant to an Admission Agreement and the vesting provisions of this Agreement (in the case of Class B Units and Class B2 Units), and all other provisions of this Agreement as if the transferring Limited Partner held the Units and under no circumstances shall a person other than a transferring Class B Limited Partner be allowed to have any voting or management role with respect to the Partnership and (ii) Transfers pursuant to the Exchange Agreement do not require the consent of the General Partner. Any purported Transfer that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

7.1.2    In the event of a purported Transfer of any portion of any Class B Units or Class B2 Units to a spouse of an Active Partner or Former Active Partner (or Assignee of an Active Partner or Former Active Partner in a Qualified Transfer) incident to a divorce (whether pursuant to a divorce decree, community property partition or other agreement between such Limited Partner and such Limited Partner’s spouse), the relevant Interest shall be subject to all vesting provisions set forth in this Agreement.

7.1.3    A Partner making a Transfer permitted by this Agreement shall, unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, (i) have delivered to the Partnership an affidavit of non-foreign status with respect to such transferor that satisfies the requirements of Code section 1446(f)(2) or other documentation establishing a valid exemption from withholding pursuant to Code section 1446(f) or (ii) ensure that, contemporaneously with the Transfer, the transferee of such interest properly withholds and remits to the IRS the amount of tax required to be withheld upon the Transfer by Code section 1446(f) (and promptly provide evidence to the Partnership of such withholding and remittance). In connection with any such Transfer, the transferor and transferee of such interest shall agree to jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership against any loss (including taxes, interest, penalties, and any related expenses) arising out of any failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 7.1.3.

7.2    Further Restrictions. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, any otherwise permitted Transfer shall be null and void if the General Partner determines that:

7.2.1    such Transfer would create a material risk that the Partnership would be classified other than as a partnership for federal, state or local income tax purposes;

7.2.2    such Transfer would create a material risk that registration of the Transferred Units would be required pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities laws;

7.2.3    such Transfer would create a material risk that the Partnership would become a “publicly traded partnership,” as such term is defined in Code section 469(k)(2) or 7704(b);

7.2.4    such Transfer would create a material risk of subjecting the Partnership to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, each as amended;

 

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7.2.5    such Transfer would create a material risk that the Partnership would become a reporting company under the Exchange Act or fail to meet the “private placement” safe harbor described in Treas. Reg. § 1.7704-1(h);

7.2.6    such Transfer would result in a violation of applicable Law;

7.2.7    such Transfer would be made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Units; or

7.2.8    the Partnership does not receive written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the General Partner (as determined in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion).

7.3    Rights of Assignees. Until such time, if any, as a transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article 7 is admitted to the Partnership as a Substitute Partner pursuant to Section 7.6: (a) such transferee shall be an Assignee only, and only shall receive, to the extent Transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, or similar items to which the Limited Partner that Transferred its Units would be entitled, and (b) such Assignee shall not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Limited Partner, such other rights remaining with the transferring Limited Partner. In such a case, the transferring Limited Partner shall remain a Limited Partner even if he or she has transferred his or her entire economic interest in the Partnership to one or more Assignees. In the event any Assignee desires to make a further Transfer of any economic interest in the Partnership, such Assignee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make such a Transfer.

7.4    Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals. No Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner except in accordance with Section 3.4 (in the case of Persons obtaining an interest in the Partnership directly from the Partnership) or Section 7.6 (in the case of transferees of a permitted Transfer of an interest in the Partnership from another Person). Except as otherwise specifically set forth in Section 7.7, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to retire or withdraw from being a Limited Partner of the Partnership without the written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’ sole and absolute discretion. No admission, withdrawal or removal of a Limited Partner shall cause the dissolution of the Partnership. Any purported admission, withdrawal or removal which is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.

7.5    Withdrawal or Removal of Limited Partner. If any Limited Partner attempts to withdraw from the Partnership (other than pursuant to Section 7.7) without the consent of the General Partner, then, notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 7.4, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, permit such withdrawal (without waiving, in any manner, any other rights available to it or the Partnership at law or in equity and in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies to which it or the Partnership may be entitled).

7.6    Admission of Assignees as Substitute Partners. As a condition to being admitted to the Partnership, each Substitute Partner shall execute an Admission Agreement, and such

 

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other instruments, in such manner, as the General Partner shall determine. Upon the admission of any Assignee as a Substitute Partner in accordance with this Article 7, all Partners are deemed to consent to the Assignee being admitted to the Partnership and authorize the General Partner to constitute the Assignee a Substitute Partner on the books and records of the Partnership in respect of the relevant Units and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the relevant information relating to the predecessor of such Substitute Partner.

7.7    Withdrawal of Partners.

7.7.1    If a Limited Partner has Transferred all of its/his/her Units to the Partnership as provided in this Agreement then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership upon such Transfer. If a Limited Partner has Transferred all of its/his/her Units to one or more Assignees, then such Limited Partner shall withdraw from the Partnership if and when all such Assignees have been admitted as Substitute Partners in accordance with this Agreement.

7.7.2    A General Partner will not be entitled to transfer all of its Interest or to withdraw from being a General Partner of the Partnership unless another General Partner shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or withdrawn).

7.8    Exchange.

7.8.1    The Class B Limited Partners, Class B2 Limited Partners, the Partnership and SSG have entered into an Exchange Agreement contemplating the exchange of Class B Units and shares of Class B Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange Agreement (i) on an elective basis from time to time by the Limited Partner and (ii) on a mandatory basis in the circumstances described in Section 7.8.2.

7.8.2    Units are subject to mandatory exchange in accordance with the Exchange Agreement in each of the following circumstances:

(a)    unless otherwise agreed by the General Partner, upon any Transfer of Units to a Person other than in a Qualified Transfer;

(b)    unless otherwise agreed by the General Partner, upon any breach by a Limited Partner or its Designated Individual of its Restrictive Covenant Agreement, as to all Units held by such Limited Partner;

(c)    in the discretion of the Class B Committee (as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement), upon failure to comply with or material breach of the Stockholders’ Agreement by any Class B Limited Partner, such Class B Limited Partner may be required to exchange all of the Units held by such Class B Limited Partner;

(d)    in the discretion of the General Partner, upon the occurrence of an Adjustment Event (whether or not involving a Termination for Cause), the Affected Partner may be required to exchange all of the Units held by such Class B Limited Partner; and

 

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(e)    in the discretion of the General Partner, with the consent of Limited Partners whose Units represent Base Percentage Interests exceeding seventy-five percent (75%) of the Base Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners in the aggregate, all Limited Partners may be required to exchange all Units then held by the Limited Partners.

7.8.3    Any discretion exercised by the General Partner or the Class B Committee under Section 7.8.2 need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Limited Partners, whether or not such Limited Partners are similarly situated.

7.9    Drag-Along Transaction.

7.9.1    The terms of this Section 7.9 shall apply to a Drag-Along Transaction. There shall be no liability on the part of SSG, the General Partner or the Partnership or any other Person to any Partner if any sale of Units pursuant to this Section 7.9 is not consummated for whatever reason.

7.9.2    Drag-Along Rights

(a)    If there should be a Drag-Along Transaction, the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, require (the “Drag-Along Right”) each Limited Partner (other than a Class A Limited Partner) to (A) sell all (but not less than all) of the Units (together with an equal number of the associated shares of Capital Stock, if any) then held by that Partner to the purchaser in accordance with this Section 7.9 or (B) require that Partner to surrender those Units (together with an equal number of the associated shares of Capital Stock, if applicable) for redemption by the Partnership, as the transaction may require, subject to all applicable provisions of this Section 7.9. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, allow any Person owning Units of record or beneficially that is employed by the SSG Group to retain, and exclude from a Drag-Along Transaction, a portion of those Units in connection with any Drag-Along Transaction.

(b)    The General Partner shall give notice to each other Partner, not fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any contemplated Drag-Along Transaction, setting forth the principal terms of the Drag-Along Transaction (including the proposed closing date) in reasonable detail and advising as to whether its Drag-Along Rights are exercised or waived.

(c)    If the General Partner elects to exercise the Drag-Along Right in connection with a Drag-Along Transaction, it shall provide to each other Partner and to each beneficial owner of that Partners’ Units all documents required to be executed by each of them to consummate the Drag-Along Transaction, not fewer than ten (10) days prior to the closing date of the Drag-Along Transaction. Each other Partner shall deliver

 

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(or cause to be delivered) to the General Partner, at least five (5) days before the proposed closing date of the Drag-Along Transaction, all such documents. If any Partner fails to deliver (or cause to be delivered) these documents and the Drag-Along Transaction is subsequently consummated, the Partnership shall cause its books and records to show that the Units owned of record or beneficially by the defaulting Partner or beneficial owner, as applicable, are bound by the provisions of this Section 7.9 and that they may be Transferred only to the Persons who purchased the Units in the Drag-Along Transaction or, in the case of a Drag-Along Transaction that is structured as a redemption of Units, to the Partnership for redemption.

7.9.3    The consideration for any Units included in a Drag-Along Transaction shall be the same as the price per share of Class A Common Stock that is paid in that transaction; provided, however, that if for any reason, Units of the Partnership are included in the transaction at a higher price, that higher price shall be the price of the Units. The form of consideration for any transaction pursuant to an exercise of the Drag-Along Right shall be cash.

7.9.4    If a Drag-Along Transaction is consummated, promptly after such consummation, the General Partner shall notify the Partnership and each other Partner to that effect and furnish such evidence of the sale and of the terms thereof as any other Partner may reasonably request. The General Partner shall also cause to be remitted to each other Partner that has complied with its obligations hereunder or who is deemed to have sold its Units pursuant hereto the proceeds of the sale attributable to the sale of such Partner’s Units (subject to any agreed holdbacks or escrows in connection with such sale, and net of such Partner’s pro rata portion of all costs and expenses incurred by SSG or the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership and the Partners in connection therewith). Likewise, upon receipt of any deferred consideration (such as pursuant to the release of an escrow or holdback, the payment of an earnout, or the receipt of a tax refund, for example), SSG, the General Partner or the Partnership, as applicable, shall cause to be remitted to each other Partner its pro rata portion of that amount. For the purposes of this Section 7.9, each Partner’s “pro rata” portion of any amount shall be the amount that is equal to the percentage obtained by dividing the number of Units held by that Partner and included, redeemed or exchanged in the Drag-Along Transaction by the aggregate number of Units of all Partners that are included in or redeemed in the transaction.

7.9.5    In connection with any Drag-Along Transaction, each Partner shall use his, her or its commercially reasonable best efforts to aid SSG, the General Partner and the Partnership in the consummation of the transaction and shall take all actions necessary, proper or advisable in connection therewith as are requested by the General Partner, including casting votes or providing written consents in favor of the transaction if required by applicable Law or requested by the General Partner. As part of this cooperation, each Partner shall: execute and deliver the definitive transaction documents and all related documentation and take such other action in support of the sale as shall be reasonably requested by the General Partner, and make such representations and warranties and provide such indemnification as may be reasonably requested by the purchaser, provided that the liability for indemnification, if any, of such Partner shall not

 

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exceed the amount of consideration actually paid to such Partner. No Partner shall have any liability for any representation or warranty made by another Partner, and the terms and conditions of any Partner’s participation in a Drag-Along Transaction shall be substantially identical to the terms applicable to all other Persons selling securities in that transaction.

7.10    Adjustment Events Relating to Class B Units.

7.10.1    The Partners hereby acknowledge and agree that Class B Units have been and are being issued or Transferred to Active Partners of the Partnership in consideration of the valuable services being rendered by such Class B Limited Partners to or for the benefit of the SSG Group. In recognition of the fact that any Class B Limited Partner in respect of which an Adjustment Event occurs (an “Affected Partner”) will cease to render such services, upon the occurrence of an Adjustment Event, an Admission Agreement may provide that such Affected Partner shall be entitled to retain only a portion of the Class B Units held by such Class B Limited Partner immediately prior to the Adjustment Event (the “vested portion”), which vested portion shall be calculated by multiplying the Base Percentage Interest held by the Affected Partner immediately prior to the occurrence of the Adjustment Event by a percentage (the “Adjustment Percentage”) determined in accordance with the applicable Admission Agreement, which may be by reference to the time that has elapsed between the Start Date and the occurrence of the Adjustment Event; provided, that (i) in no event shall such Adjustment Percentage exceed one hundred percent (100%), and (ii) the General Partner shall have the authority to increase the Adjustment Percentage (i.e., reduce the reduction in Base Percentage Interest that would otherwise apply) in its sole and absolute discretion.

7.10.2    Unless expressly stated in any applicable Admission Agreement that the provisions of this Section 7.10.2 are to be overridden, (i) in the event of an Adjustment Event by reason of Death or permanent disability, the Adjustment Percentage shall be 100% and (ii) the Adjustment Percentage shall equal one hundred percent (100%) in the event of a Drag-Along Transaction or Change of Control.

7.10.3    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, and whether or not the Affected Partner is otherwise subject to any vesting provisions, an Affected Partner whose Adjustment Event constitutes a Termination for Cause (as determined by the General Partner) shall equal zero percent (0%), regardless of when such Adjustment Event occurs. In the event that the Affected Partner disagrees with any determination that such Affected Partner’s Adjustment Event constituted a Termination for Cause, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Article 9. If it is determined pursuant to Article 9 that the Adjustment Event did not constitute a Termination for Cause, then the Affected Partner’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to have its Adjustment Percentage recalculated pursuant to this Section 7.10 taking into account the fact that the Adjustment Event did not constitute a Termination for Cause.

7.10.4    All Units of an Affected Partner forfeited pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or an Admission Agreement shall be canceled by the Partnership. The General Partner shall determine the consequences of such forfeiture and cancellation with

 

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respect to the Capital Accounts of the Partners. Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, the amount of any such reduction shall be reallocated to the remaining Active Partners with respect to which an Adjustment Event has not occurred, pro rata in accordance with the relative percentage of the Class B Units held by each such Class B Limited Partner on the date of the Adjustment Event.

7.10.5    It is acknowledged that the Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement (and preceding iterations) contained a vesting schedule that was generally applicable to all Units designated as “Class A Units” that were outstanding prior to the IPO. Immediately prior to the IPO, the relevant “Class A Units” will have fully vested under such vesting schedule, and from and after the effectiveness of this Agreement, the vesting provisions of Section 7.10.1 do not apply to the Class B Units of any Active Partner unless specifically stated in such Partner’s Admission Agreement.

7.11    Vesting of Class B2 Units.

7.11.1    For so long as a Class B2 Limited Partner is an Active Partner, the Class B2 Units issued to a Class B2 Limited Partner in an Admission Agreement shall vest as follows: (a) zero percent (0%) during the first three (3) years from the Issuance Date, (b) thirty percent (30%) on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Issuance Date, (c) five and eighty-three one hundredths percent (5.83%) for each Vested Quarter after the third (3rd) anniversary of the Issuance Date; provided, that the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of any Class B2 Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Class B2 Limited Partner is an Active Partner through the closing of a Change of Control, all of his or her Class B2 Units shall become one hundred percent (100%) vested upon the occurrence of such Change of Control.

7.11.2    The Partners hereby acknowledge and agree that Class B2 Units have been issued to Active Partners of the Partnership in consideration of the valuable services being rendered by such Class B2 Limited Partners to or for the benefit of the SSG Group. In recognition of the fact that an Affected Partner will cease to render such services, (a) upon the occurrence of an Adjustment Event prior to the Full Vesting Date of any Class B2 Units held by such Affected Partner (i) in the event such Adjustment Event constitutes a Termination Without Cause or Retirement, such Affected Partner shall be entitled to retain such Class B2 Units that are Vested Class B2 Units, if any, and such Class B2 Units that are Unvested Class B2 Units shall be forfeited to, and canceled by, the Partnership and (ii) in the event such Adjustment Event does not constitute a Termination Without Cause or Retirement, all such Class B2 Units (including all such Vested Class B2 Units and all such Unvested Class B2 Units) shall be forfeited to, and canceled by the Partnership, and (b) upon the occurrence of an Adjustment Event on or following the Full Vesting Date of any Class B2 Units held by such Affected Partner, (i) in the event such Adjustment Event does not constitute a Termination for Cause, such Affected Partners shall be entitled to retain all such Vested Class B2 Units and (ii) in the event such Adjustment Event constitutes a Termination for Cause, all such Vested Class B2 Units shall be forfeited to and canceled by the Partnership.

 

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7.11.3    In the event that the Affected Partner disagrees with any determination that such Affected Partner’s Adjustment Event constituted a Termination for Cause or was a Termination Without Cause, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Article 9. If it is determined pursuant to Article 9 that the Adjustment Event was a Termination Without Cause, then the Affected Partner’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be retain its Vested Class B2 Units.

7.12    Anti-Dilution Issuances Related to Units Acquired by the 2019 Equity Investors Pursuant to the 2019 Equity Transaction. Upon the Full Vesting Date of any Class B2 Unit or immediately prior to the closing of a Change of Control or Drag-Along Transaction in respect of which any Class B2 Unit would be entitled to participate in the receipt of proceeds (each such occasion, an “Anti-Dilution Trigger”), the Partnership will issue to each 2019 Equity Investor holding Units at the time of such Anti-Dilution Trigger its pro rata share (based on its respective Units originally acquired pursuant to the 2019 Equity Transaction and still held as compared to all Class B Units originally acquired by the 2019 Equity Investors pursuant to the 2019 Equity Transaction) and for no additional consideration, of additional Class B Units (“Anti-Dilution Units”) representing 0.14375 times the sum of (i) the number of B2 Units that are becoming fully vested or participating, as the case may be, in such Anti-Dilution Trigger plus (ii) the number of Anti-Dilution Units so issued.

ARTICLE 8

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

8.1    Limitations. The Partnership may be dissolved, liquidated, and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article 8, and the parties hereto do hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Partnership or a sale or partition of any or all of the Partnership assets.

8.2    Exclusive Causes. Notwithstanding the Act, the following and only the following events shall cause the Partnership to be dissolved, liquidated, and terminated:

(a)    the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership;

(b)    by the election of the General Partner; or

(c)    judicial dissolution.

Any purported dissolution of the Partnership other than as provided in this Section 8.2 shall be a dissolution in contravention of this Agreement.

8.3    Effect of Dissolution. The dissolution of the Partnership shall be effective on the day on which the event occurs giving rise to the dissolution, but the Partnership shall not terminate until it has been wound up and its assets have been distributed as provided in Section 8.5. Notwithstanding the dissolution of the Partnership, prior to the termination of the Partnership, the business of the Partnership and the affairs of the Partners, as such, shall continue to be governed by this Agreement.

 

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8.4    No Capital Contribution Upon Dissolution. Each Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for all distributions with respect to the Partnership, its Capital Contribution thereto, its Capital Account and its share of Net Profits or Net Losses, and shall have no recourse therefor (upon dissolution or otherwise) against any other Partner. Accordingly, if any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which the liquidation occurs), then such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other person for any purpose whatsoever.

8.5    Liquidation.

8.5.1    Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall appoint a “Liquidator” of the Partnership, which may be the General Partner. The Liquidator shall liquidate the assets of the Partnership, and after allocating (pursuant to Article 5) all income, gain, loss and deductions resulting therefrom, shall apply and distribute the proceeds thereof as follows:

(a)    first, to pay the costs and expenses of the winding-up, liquidation and termination of the Partnership;

(b)    second, to the payment of the obligations of the Partnership,

(c)    third, to the setting up of any reserves for contingencies which the Liquidator may consider necessary; and

(d)    thereafter, to the Partners in accordance with Article 4.

8.5.2    Notwithstanding Section 8.5.1, in the event that the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of all or any portion of the Partnership assets would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator, in order to avoid such loss to the extent not then prohibited by the Act, may either defer liquidation of and withhold from distribution for a reasonable time any Partnership assets except those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations, or distribute the Partnership assets to the Partners in kind.

ARTICLE 9

MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION

9.1    Resolution of Disputes Among Partners. If a dispute arises out of or in any way related to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or any other aspect of the business relationship of the parties, and if said dispute cannot be settled through direct discussions, the parties must first endeavor to settle the dispute in an amicable manner by mediation before resorting to arbitration. Such mediation shall be conducted before a third party neutral in either New York, New York or San Diego, California (at the option of the Partnership), selected or appointed from the panel of neutrals maintained by Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“JAMS”)

 

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pursuant to the process outlined in Rule 15 of JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures (the “JAMS Rules”) in effect as of the date hereof. The costs of the mediation shall be split between the parties. Thereafter, any unresolved dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in any way related to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or any other aspect of the business relationship of the parties, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in accordance with Sections 9.2 through 9.13.

9.2    Single Arbitrator; Governing Rules. Any dispute that is not resolved through mediation shall be resolved by confidential mandatory, binding arbitration conducted in accordance with this Article. The party desiring to arbitrate such dispute shall file and serve a written demand for arbitration on all other parties to the dispute. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”) in either New York, New York or San Diego, California (at the option of the Partnership) selected or appointed from the lists of arbitrators maintained by JAMS. A panel of arbitrators is neither intended nor permitted. The arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the JAMS Rules in effect as of the date hereof, as modified herein. The Arbitrator shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties to the arbitration or, if the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, shall be selected or appointed in accordance with the procedures specified in the JAMS Rules. This provision shall not prohibit the parties from seeking provisional remedies in aid of arbitration from a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

9.3    Discovery. In agreeing to the arbitration procedures and rules set forth in this Article 9, the parties specifically intend to control and limit the time, money, and other resources committed to resolving any disputes or issues that may arise among them. Therefore, the parties specifically waive the discovery rights they might otherwise have under the JAMS Rules, California Code of Civil Procedure sections 1283, 1283.05, 1283.1, and 2016 through 2036, or similar laws or regulations of the United States or any other state, including without limitation, New York, and instead agree that each party to any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement may conduct only the following limited discovery:

(a)    Up to fifty (50) document production requests or interrogatories, in any combination thereof, without subparts;

(b)    Up to two (2) depositions of other parties or percipient witnesses, not to exceed one seven (7)-hour day per deposition, provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall limit a party’s right to conduct up to one seven (7) hour deposition of any witness designated to testify at the arbitration hearing; and

(c)    Depositions of any expert witnesses, provided, however, that no party may designate or call as witnesses more than three (3) experts.

Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, the Arbitrator may, on application of any party, for good cause and under extraordinary circumstances, permit such additional discovery as the Arbitrator deems necessary to resolve the issues in dispute, consistent with the parties’ stated intent to control and limit the time, money, and other resources committed to resolving those issues. In the event any arbitration commenced hereunder involves extra-contractual claims, regardless of whether those are the exclusive claims raised in the arbitration, the parties agree

 

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that Sections 9.3(a) and 9.3(b) shall be modified as follows to provide for the following discovery (and Section 9.3(c) shall continue to apply without modification):

(x)    up to seventy (75) document production requests or interrogatories, in any combination thereof, without subparts; and

(y) up to three (3) depositions of other parties or percipient witnesses, not to exceed one seven (7)-hour day per deposition, provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall limit a party’s right to conduct up to one seven (7) hour deposition of any witness designated to testify at the arbitration hearing.

9.4    Arbitration Hearing. The arbitration hearing shall take place in New York, New York or San Diego, California (as selected by the Partnership) at a location and at dates and times specified by the Arbitrator. The Arbitrator will give all parties adequate notice of the dates, times, and location of the arbitration hearing. The length of the arbitration hearing shall be limited to five (5) days of no more than eight (8) hours per day. The time allotted for the arbitration hearing shall be allocated equally among the parties to the hearing. Unless the Arbitrator allows adjournment for good cause, the arbitration hearing shall be continued on successive Business Days until it is concluded. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to proceed with the arbitration notwithstanding the failure or refusal of any party to comply with these rules or with the Arbitrator’s orders or directions, or to attend any hearing, but only after giving that party written notice that the Arbitrator intends to do so. In conducting the arbitration hearing, the Arbitrator shall be governed by the evidentiary rules and principles set forth in the California Evidence Code, and may order any party to produce and to supply copies of any documents in the party’s custody, possession, or control that the Arbitrator deems to be relevant to determination of the issues in dispute.

9.5    Timely Determination. The parties agree to act at all times so as to facilitate, and not to frustrate or to delay, the efficient, expeditious, and inexpensive resolution of the matters in dispute. The Arbitrator is authorized and directed to make orders, on his or her initiative or upon application of any party to the dispute, to ensure that the arbitration proceeds in an efficient, expeditious and inexpensive manner, and in particular, to enforce strictly the time limits provided for in these rules or set by order of the Arbitrator. The parties acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that arbitration hearing will commence as soon as possible, but in any event, no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after appointment of the Arbitrator, which deadline has been set recognizing the time required to complete the limited discovery authorized under Section 9.3 above. However, upon his or her own motion or the application of any party to the arbitration, and for good cause shown under extraordinary circumstances, the Arbitrator may extend the time for commencement of the arbitration hearing.

9.6    Award or Decision. The Arbitrator shall make a written award or decision permitted under this Agreement. The award or decision of the Arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties, whether participating in the proceeding or not. The Arbitrator is directed to make all reasonable efforts to make his or her award within fifteen (15) days following completion of the arbitration hearing. The parties agree that any judge the New York Supreme Court or the United States District Court sitting in New York County or of the San Diego County Superior Court or of the United States District Court sitting in San Diego shall have the power to enforce or enter judgment based on the Arbitrator’s award.

 

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9.7    Limitations. Subject to Section 9.8, the Arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any dispute subject to this Article 9. In rendering a decision, the arbitrators shall apply the applicable law of the State of Delaware.

9.8    Remedies. This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment relationship among the parties or any of them. Other than for cases involving extra-contractual claims, the parties specifically acknowledge and agree that their remedies against one another are limited to compensatory damages and, if necessary and appropriate to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, specific performance, declaratory relief and injunctions. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to award punitive damages or interest on an award for extra-contractual claims only and, for the avoidance of doubt, for any arbitration involving both contractual and extra-contractual claims, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award punitive damages or interest on an award in the arbitrator’s discretion only for the portion of the arbitration involving extra-contractual claims.

9.9    Statute of Limitations. The demand for arbitration must be filed and served within one (1) year of the date of the acts, events, or transactions giving rise to the claims alleged in the demand become known to the Person making such claims. The Arbitrator shall dismiss as time-barred any claim not properly identified in a timely filed and served demand for arbitration.

9.10    Continuing Project. Any aspect of this Agreement not at issue in and not materially affected by the arbitration proceedings and all non-disputed terms of this Agreement shall continue during any arbitration proceedings.

9.11    Jurisdiction and Venue. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in New York County, New York and San Diego County, California and hereby waive any challenge to the exercise of personal jurisdiction by a court thereof.

9.12    Fees. The Arbitrator may award all reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party or parties in the arbitration hearing. A party who prevails on one or more but less than all of its claims shall be entitled only to a proportionate share of fees corresponding to those claims on which it prevailed to be determined by the Arbitrator. Such costs shall include witness fees, deposition transcript fees, travel costs, expert witness fees, photocopying charges and fees charged by the Arbitrator. In any judicial enforcement or confirmation proceeding, the prevailing parties or Partner(s) shall be entitled to recover its/their reasonable costs incurred in connection therewith.

 

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9.13    Coordination with Tax Receivable Agreements. To the extent any provision of this Article 9 is inconsistent with a provision of the Tax Receivable Agreements, the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements shall control.

ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1    Amendments.

10.1.1    Subject to the rights of any Partner set forth in a Class Designation, this Agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the written consent of the General Partner in its sole discretion without the approval of any other Partner or other Person; provided, that to the extent that any such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification would adversely affect the legal rights of the holders of any given class of Units in relation to other classes of Units, such amendment shall require the consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Units of each such adversely affected class.

10.1.2    In making any amendments, there shall be prepared and filed by, or for, the General Partner such documents and certificates as may be required under the Act and under the Law of any other jurisdiction applicable to the Partnership.

10.2    Voting. With respect to all Partnership decisions as to which Partners are entitled and/or required to vote, consent, or give approval under the provisions of this Agreement or the Act, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, each Partner shall be entitled to one vote for each Unit.

10.3    Accounting and Fiscal Year. Subject to Code section 448, the books of the Partnership shall be kept on such method of accounting for tax and financial reporting purposes as may be determined by the General Partner, pursuant to Section 6.4. Unless otherwise required by Code section 706, the fiscal year of the Partnership (“Fiscal Year”) shall end on March 31 of each year, or on such other date permitted under the Code as the General Partner shall determine.

10.4    Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto and any Class Designation), together with the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreements and the Registration Rights Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and fully supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof. The parties hereto acknowledge that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Partnership, without any act, consent or approval of any other Partner, may enter into side letters or other writings to or with one or more Limited Partners which have the effect of limiting, but not otherwise supplementing, the rights under this Agreement (each, a “Side Letter”). The parties agree that any limits established in a Side Letter to or with one or more Limited Partners shall govern solely with respect to such Limited Partner(s) notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.

 

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10.5    Further Assurances. Each of the parties hereto does hereby covenant and agree on behalf of itself, its successors, and its assigns, without further consideration, to prepare, execute, acknowledge, file, record, publish, and deliver such other instruments, documents and statements, and to take such other action as may be required by law or reasonably necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

10.6    Notices. Any notice, consent, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (a) delivered personally to the Person or to an officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, or (b) sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to any Partner at the principal executive office of the Partnership or at such other address as such Partner may from time to time specify by notice to the Partnership, or (c) sent by e-mail to the e-mail address maintained by the Partnership. Any such notice shall be deemed to be delivered, given and received for all purposes as of: (i) the date so delivered, if delivered personally, or (ii) on the date of receipt or refusal indicated on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage and charges prepaid and properly addressed, or (iii) on the date when such e-mail is transmitted, provided that email notice shall not be effective if the transmitter of the e-mail receives a non-deliverable or similar message indicting that the email has not been received.

10.7    Governing Law; Certain Waivers. This Agreement, including its existence, validity, construction, and operating effect, and the rights of each of the parties hereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to otherwise governing principles of conflicts of law. The Partners waive any and all rights they may have to a jury trial, and any and all rights they may have to punitive, special, exemplary, or consequential damages, in respect of any dispute based on this Agreement.

10.8    Approvals. Except as otherwise explicitly provided herein to the contrary, whenever a Partner’s approval or consent is required (other than the approval of SSG or the General Partner), such approval or consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If the General Partner provides written notice to a Partner requesting that the Partner approve or consent to an action or proposal, which action or proposal is specified in the written notice, the Partner’s approval or consent (as the case may be) shall be deemed given thirty (30) days thereafter if the Partner has not responded to the notice from the General Partner prior to such thirtieth (30^th) day.

10.9    Power of Attorney. Each Partner (other than SSG and the General Partner) authorizes the General Partner and its designees to act as its attorney-in-fact to execute such documents, certificates and filings as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the terms of this Agreement, including the execution of any amendments to this Agreement permitted under the terms hereof.

 

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10.10    Construction. This Agreement shall be construed as if all parties prepared this Agreement.

10.11    Interpretation. Any titles or captions contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of the text of this Agreement. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as appropriate. References to “including” shall be read as “including ,without limitation”. Any reference to an entity which has been the subject of a conversion shall be deemed to include reference to such entity’s predecessor or successor (as the case may be), and any reference to an agreement shall be deemed to include any amendment, restatement or successor agreement.

10.12    Binding Effect. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the Partners, their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and all other Persons hereafter holding, having or receiving an interest in the Partnership, whether as Assignees, Substitute Partners or otherwise.

10.13    Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement as applied to any party or to any circumstance, shall be adjudged by a court to be void, unenforceable or inoperative as a matter of law, then the same shall in no way affect any other provision in this Agreement, the application of such provision in any other circumstance or with respect to any other party, or the validity or enforceability of the Agreement as a whole.

10.14    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which shall constitute one agreement, binding on all parties hereto.

10.15    Spousal Consent. Each Partner agrees to use reasonable efforts, as requested by the General Partner, to obtain the consent of such Partner’s spouse, if applicable, to all of the terms of this Agreement that are or may become applicable to such spouse, and to prevent any marital dissolution from interfering in any way with the activities and business of the Partnership, its Affiliates or any of its Partners.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Limited Partnership Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

The undersigned                      is the spouse of                      and acknowledges that he/she has read the draft Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of StepStone Group LP (as amended or restated, the “Agreement”) circulated in connection with the proposed initial public offering of Class A Common Stock of StepStone Group Inc. and the related summaries.

The undersigned acknowledges that, by the provisions of the Agreement, he/she and his/her spouse have agreed to the transfer restrictions contained therein and that those restrictions affect all of his/her Units in the Partnership, including any community property interest or quasi-community property interest, in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Agreement.

Because community property rights are affected by the Agreement, each Partner and each Partner’s spouse is being advised to seek the advice of counsel of his or her choosing with respect to the Partnership Agreement and the waivers contained therein and this consent.

The undersigned hereby expressly approves of and agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement in its entirety, including, but not limited to, those provisions relating to the sales and transfers of Units and the restrictions thereon. If the undersigned divorces or predeceases his or her spouse when such spouse owns any Units in the Partnership, he/she hereby agrees not to make any claim thereon or devise or bequeath whatever community property interest or quasi-community property interest he/she may have in the Partnership in contravention of the Agreement.

 

Dated:
Signed: